Good word, Savannah! Thanks for this, and thank you for footnoting your work. At a time when almost anyone can claim anything, I am glad when writers have concrete references to claims about the truth!
I’m old enough to be the parent of most on this thread :) I remember the idealistic days when everything had a solution, i was certain of the things I knew and I was convinced my generation would improve upon the last. I have decided it’s impossible to know the unintended consequences of all our well intentions in our time. I have to trust God works his will in the good and the bad of every generation.
On July 4th, I cannot overstate how thankful I am to enjoy the benefits, generosity and sacrifice so many have made in our country. It is a privilege to live here even with its flaws. I’m thankful our leaders ask God for guidance. None of us actually know what was stated in the prayer pictured above.
As local followers, our entire life is “in Christ” - same for our Christian politicians, politicians are elected to serve as public officials. For example, when we vote we are electing a President of the United States not a Pastor of the United States. Thankfully our government is based in Christian values. It’s difficult to hold a public official who administers and creates the law to the teachings of Paul and the church. What is asked of our private Christian lives is different from governing. I make this distinction because the roles demand different things. I would imagine many of the elected Christian leaders honor God in ways privately we will never know. Praying for us all!
It’s unfortunate these Christians praying don’t share the same interpretation of the Gospel as you, Savannah. All of their prayers and holy talk is a performativity—I think they want the snapshot, because the association is a form of currency.
My challenge with Christianity these days is that practicing in any form in the United States seems to ever give power to these guys praying for these hateful bills to pass, guys that are involved in dislocation and economic warfare on impoverished people. I no longer wish to associate with a tradition that enables and empowers men like this, even indirectly. Arguing over which Christian interpretation is correct from within still lends associational currencies, in my view.
I can take an historic Jesus as an admirable exemplar of someone (human) in deep opposition to hierarchical power through radical care for marginalized persons, like many humans we might come to know through world literature and our recorded histories and exemplify without deifying them. I no longer think it necessary to give my time, energy and associational currency to a ‘Church’ that is more interested in a metaphysics of hierarchy and protection of its institutions (buildings; salaries; cultures) more than caring for the real physical needs of the marginalized people groups Jesus was interested in anymore.
It seems to ever go this way: people proclaim to follow a god (or Jesus, in this case), claim a divine right to Truth and then persecute other humans under its banner.
I often wonder what would happen if those who practice Christianity, who share your interpretation of it, made the decision to leave their churches in droves to take back their associational currency with an act of disassociation.
Why fly a banner that continuously cycles into authoritarianism? It seems to be a question I come around to often these days…
Good word, Savannah! Thanks for this, and thank you for footnoting your work. At a time when almost anyone can claim anything, I am glad when writers have concrete references to claims about the truth!
Christ have mercy.
Thank you for writing such a thoughtful and poignant piece. That photo is so upsetting.
What a read. Bless you. You speak truth. <3
Thank-you for this. <3
Thank you Savannah 💙
I’m old enough to be the parent of most on this thread :) I remember the idealistic days when everything had a solution, i was certain of the things I knew and I was convinced my generation would improve upon the last. I have decided it’s impossible to know the unintended consequences of all our well intentions in our time. I have to trust God works his will in the good and the bad of every generation.
On July 4th, I cannot overstate how thankful I am to enjoy the benefits, generosity and sacrifice so many have made in our country. It is a privilege to live here even with its flaws. I’m thankful our leaders ask God for guidance. None of us actually know what was stated in the prayer pictured above.
As local followers, our entire life is “in Christ” - same for our Christian politicians, politicians are elected to serve as public officials. For example, when we vote we are electing a President of the United States not a Pastor of the United States. Thankfully our government is based in Christian values. It’s difficult to hold a public official who administers and creates the law to the teachings of Paul and the church. What is asked of our private Christian lives is different from governing. I make this distinction because the roles demand different things. I would imagine many of the elected Christian leaders honor God in ways privately we will never know. Praying for us all!
It’s sad you have to write such a piece, but I’m grateful you did.
It’s unfortunate these Christians praying don’t share the same interpretation of the Gospel as you, Savannah. All of their prayers and holy talk is a performativity—I think they want the snapshot, because the association is a form of currency.
My challenge with Christianity these days is that practicing in any form in the United States seems to ever give power to these guys praying for these hateful bills to pass, guys that are involved in dislocation and economic warfare on impoverished people. I no longer wish to associate with a tradition that enables and empowers men like this, even indirectly. Arguing over which Christian interpretation is correct from within still lends associational currencies, in my view.
I can take an historic Jesus as an admirable exemplar of someone (human) in deep opposition to hierarchical power through radical care for marginalized persons, like many humans we might come to know through world literature and our recorded histories and exemplify without deifying them. I no longer think it necessary to give my time, energy and associational currency to a ‘Church’ that is more interested in a metaphysics of hierarchy and protection of its institutions (buildings; salaries; cultures) more than caring for the real physical needs of the marginalized people groups Jesus was interested in anymore.
It seems to ever go this way: people proclaim to follow a god (or Jesus, in this case), claim a divine right to Truth and then persecute other humans under its banner.
I often wonder what would happen if those who practice Christianity, who share your interpretation of it, made the decision to leave their churches in droves to take back their associational currency with an act of disassociation.
Why fly a banner that continuously cycles into authoritarianism? It seems to be a question I come around to often these days…