the thing of it is that i am a christian and i am a liberal. in today's world that statement is considered an oxymoron and i'm frustrated by it.
fact is, my faith is the most important thing in my life... yes, the most important thing, above all other things, God is it.
everything else is second or third or somewhere else on the list of important things and i think that's the way it should be. the first commandment is to "have no other gods." and it's the first commandment for a reason: so that God comes first. and for me putting God first means that my priorities take on new meaning: my family becomes more dear, my life more precious, and my duty to others more necessary. you need to know that about me before i say anything else.
so... i'm a christian liberal... an oxymoron. the part of me that's a liberal has been tempered by the fact that now i'm a mom. things that could be potentially harmful to my children seem fair game even when i take a step back. i remember the whole hoopla over parental advisories on music. as a parent it makes such sense, but as a liberal... i hate the fact that someone else gets to decide for me what's appropriate and what isn't.
ok, so here it is, the thing that really kills me: i no longer want to apologize for my faith in order to be a liberal... and i don't want to defend it anymore either. the same thing in reverse. i don't want to hide the fact that i am pro-choice or pro-gay in order to be faithful or defend my liberal views to my christian brothers and sisters.
so i'm coming out of the closet. i am a christian liberal and i'm proud! i love Jesus and the bill of rights! i don't believe there should be organized prayer in school! but i want teachers and principals and students to be able to wear crosses in school and not have to hide the fact that they are believers. i want organized sports to stop playing on sundays and i want to freely admit that i have friends who are pagans and i don't think that they are doomed to hell!
wow, do i feel better.
4 comments:
YEAH!!! WOO HOO!!! I thought I was the only one left!!! I too am a Christian and a liberal. I think you should get to make your own mind up about things that affect your life and the way you live it. If you want to make poor choices then do it but don't come whining to me unless you want me to point you to the bible afterwards! And yes, you SHOULD be able to wear a cross (or a star of David or any other symbol you want) on a necklace to school. And teachers should be able to hug their kids without it being the end of the world. And say the pledge of allegiance...ALL OF IT.
Whew. I feel sooooo much better!
I could have told you that about yourself years ago, but I suppose hearing it from your Jewish Half isn't as important as proclaiming it to the skies. Your faith always made me feel more secure within my own (differing) one. Oh, and thanks for preferring to police your own children rather than having others censor the media.
cats,
Thanks for putting into words what I have been feeling for some time now.
Hope you're feeling better.
Wayne
YES YES YES!
Thank you for this post!
I too am so so so tired of fitting in nowhere!
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