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.
Holly, thanks for your thoughtful comment. It's interesting that though we are in different countries, the general structure and culture of the evangelical church took such similar forms. This points to the influence of voices outside of individual churches. So much that was taught and preached in individual evangelical churches was a parroting of these voices. I find it heartening to see how many people are honestly assessing their experience in the church, both in how it impacted them individually and in how it (evangelical sub-culture) impacted society as a whole. This kind of honest assessment is able to reflect upon negative and positive.
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.
Holly, thanks for your thoughtful comment. It's interesting that though we are in different countries, the general structure and culture of the evangelical church took such similar forms. This points to the influence of voices outside of individual churches. So much that was taught and preached in individual evangelical churches was a parroting of these voices. I find it heartening to see how many people are honestly assessing their experience in the church, both in how it impacted them individually and in how it (evangelical sub-culture) impacted society as a whole. This kind of honest assessment is able to reflect upon negative and positive.