Often it is difficult to accurately reflect upon things that have, in large part, shaped who we are and how we see the world. The evangelical church is going through a time of immense change. If you have been part of an evangelical church, if you still are, if you spent any formative years in an evangelical church, then to some degree the way you see the world and the way you see yourself has been shaped by evangelicalism. Much of our society is coming to see how it has been shaped by evangelicalism as well. Those of us in Canada might feel that this is more evident in the United States than it is here, but we are impacted strongly by American culture and our own country has been shaped in some key ways by evangelicalism.
It is not always easy to find thoughtful considerations of the impact of evangelicalism. Some assume that it is an entirely insidious force, largely to blame for colonialism, racism, misogyny, and just about every division in our society. This is not accurate. One of the troubling things about critiques of evangelicalism is that so many are not critiques at all, but simply angry polemics. The anger may well be warranted, but such totalizing criticism is as fundamentalist as much of the fundamentalism that is supposedly being examined.
On the other hand, the evangelical church as a whole has largely failed to be honest in its assessment of itself. Evidence of this is that so many people, who are honest and willing to critique, are faced with backlash from supposed true believers, which demonstrates a lack of faith and confidence. So often it can seem that evangelicals are angry at those who are not interested in what they believe or upset at people whose view of the world does not include concepts that they see as essential. Real faith does not include such anger and fear. As Karl Barth noted, true evangelical theology (he was using the word evangelical before it took on largely political and tribal meanings) is modest. True theology demonstrates its truth in that it does not require anger, frustration or haste in its communications. For Barth, true theology does not require loud declaration.
I bring all of this up because more and more there is reflection upon the impact of evangelicalism on individuals, families, groups and society. This past week I came across a thoughtful article in VOX on evangelicalism and pop culture. It considers some new music, and some new writing from people who have been largely shaped by the evangelical church. The article is worth reading. You might find that much of it resonates. You might disagree with some of it, or with its approach. That’s okay. What matters to me is that the discussion is happening. I include some quotes from the article:
“It’s contradictory to be told, ‘God loves you no matter what’ and then also, ‘If you sin you’re bad, and you could go to hell,’” Dacus says. “I hope for all my friends that were raised in shame to break out of it. You almost get addicted, and you can incorporate it in a way that’s really hard to get away from.” The evangelical church is one of the foremost forces in America today, but it’s one that is too often poorly understood by those who aren’t regularly interacting with it. The value of art is in how it can open up space between hardcore believers and those of us who either never believed or fell away. The artists in question, then, act as interpreters, bringing an important subculture into relief, without sparing it criticism, precisely when understanding that subculture is more important than ever.
On these albums, the church isn’t the subject of every single song, but it’s always looming in the background.
But what’s striking about all of these albums is that they aren’t polemics. Even when the church isn’t the right place for someone, it’s possible to miss the sense of community it can bring to your life. Leaving behind something you no longer believe in can provoke relief and a sense of freedom, but it also leaves you with an absence where something once existed. Finding something to fill that void is rewarding, but it doesn’t mean the loss wasn’t real.
“I went to tons of friends’ churches, and the only goal was to make sure kids didn’t have sex. There was overt homophobia, transphobia, racism, then justifications for those things. That freaked me out a lot,” Dacus said. “So I had an impetus to change Christianity from the inside. But I think I must have given up on that.”
Some people might see articles like this as only critical. I didn’t see it that way. I think that the article spoke about the positives of community and faith that are present in evangelicalism. However, it is apparent to me that articles like this identify the ongoing need for theological renewal in the Christian church. Many people, like one of the artists featured in the article, at one point hoped for such renewal, but then gave up. As more and more of us articulate a hopeful, non-divisive theology it might be that such hope is a blessing, not only for such people, but also for those parts of the evangelical church that are open to change.
I belonged to an evangelical community during my formative college years. The sense of support and community was palpable. Yet, as I reflect on those days almost 20 years later, I realized that it was young 20-somethings leading older adolescents. And it stuns me that the ministry was run by people who were still developing in their own right. I benefitted a lot from their leadership, but I also suffered some big trauma due to manipulation, bad theology, anti-women and anti-LGBTQ theology.
The Christian community I was part of in college told my closest friend that it was Jesus or coming out as gay. She came out as gay, and never forgave the group for attempting to pray the gay out of her. I stuck with her -- we're still friends to this day. But I could tell that her trust in our friendship was challenged by my participation in this Christian community.
The challenges facing evangelical society today are warranted. The community must face its allegiance with the political forces in the United States that align with being politically conservative. I appreciate all the Christians who stick with their tradition to show another way -- a way of love, acceptance and radical social justice. If it wasn't for these people of faith and the presence of my 7 year old son, I would've left the church long ago.