Christian Love is Not Conservative
I was raised in a Charismatic Evangelical church for most of my life. I was told that the word charismatic had to do with the belief in the Holy Spirit as a Living Spirit that guides a believer, and the evangelical part has to do with desiring to convert others to the faith. I did not consider myself an evangelist for many, many years. Faith seemed like too personal a journey for me to share it with other people. But despite my hangups on the denomination in which I was raised, I have come to identify myself as an evangelist. I’ve only recently come to accept this identity when someone told me that I talk about Jesus too much, something that I thought was entirely untrue until I was informed that yes, I do, because “it was the first thing I learned about you, after your name.” I was surprised, but flattered.
I would normally be proud to have finally accepted this identity as an evangelist, because it was something I strived to become since childhood. Back then it was indoctrinated into my head that I was supposed to tell everyone about Jesus but I was too ashamed to actually initiate these conversations. However, the term evangelical has seemed to change from when it was impressed into me that this was the title to which I should aspire. These days, I’ve observed, the term evangelical is used synonymously with bigot, because a particular brand of white Christian nationalists have changed the meaning and become gatekeepers of Christianity by alienating entire groups of people. The problem with these so-called Evangelicals, in my opinion, is that they are putting their principles, some of them God’s principles, I’ll admit, over people which is something I don’t think He would condone.
Captured by Kalia Blake
I have often thought that being a Christian progressive, Democrat-voting Leftist was a walking contradiction, but I have since come to change that thought process. I was DMed recently and asked if I wanted to participate in a conversation with three white people who desired to speak with me about my heart on social justice. It surprised me that they looked at my Instagram and came away with the impression that I was someone who felt strongly on the matter because I didn’t think I posted often about my feelings on the subject particularly because I don’t feel like arguing with people who were never trying to understand my point of view to begin with.
During this conversation I spoke about how my faith was the reason I am so passionate about my love for other people. That love for me translates to supporting progressive policies that are more in line with socialist ideals than capitalist ones. Namely: as a Christian, I want everyone to be able to afford to eat, house and clothe themselves. If they can't it's the government's responsibility to help them do these things. It ~should~ be the church's responsibility from a Biblical standpoint. (We have only to look at the original church in Acts for an example of this: "Acts 4: 32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.")
I am passionate about Jesus, therefore I am passionate about people. I am passionate about Black people being murdered by police, children that can't afford school lunches, young adults swimming in school debt, the LGBTQ+ community being discriminated against, protecting the environment of this beautiful planet that was gifted to us etc. etc. etc. I am passionate about mental health and therefore the strain that discrimination causes on a person's mental health.
A self-portrait
My love for others has allowed me to remain friends with people from all walks of life and to be able to love them for exactly who they are. My love for others inspires me to unlearn harmful stigma that would hinder someone’s ability to accept my love, which I know is an extension of Christ’s love.
So many people get caught up in God’s hatred of sin- which includes alllll sin and not just the big ticket items people like to point fingers at- and they forget that it is the Holy Spirit’s job to convict others. We as Christians are not ever supposed to judge non-believers. We can lovingly point out areas that our siblings in Christ need help with, and offer to hold them accountable, but we should also be able to trust that the Holy Spirit is able to do its job effectively. When we free ourselves of that burden, we should be able to free up some of that energy and use it to love people with reckless abandon, no matter how differently from us they may be.
The more I’ve dwelled on this concept of radical love and what loving like Jesus truly looks like the more scriptures I’ve seen to support my position.
“Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble.”-1 John 2:9-10, NIV
“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”- 1John 3:18, NIV
“And this is his command: to believe in the name of His son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as He commanded us.” -1 John 3:23
“Feed my sheep. Take care of my sheep” were Jesus’ last commands to Peter in John 21:15-17. Doing these were meant to prove one’s love for Jesus.
If we say we love somebody, as believers we must follow up those words with our actions. How can I say that I love God’s people and turn around and vote in favor of policy that would harm them? It doesn’t seem logical to me. It’s also illogical by Jesus’ standards himself.
Matthew 25 illustrates this point so clearly:
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” -Matthew 25: 34-40, NIV
Pastors these days seem more afraid of upsetting the Conservatives in their congregation than standing for the truth of God’s word. (I say this because of the startling silence I heard from multiple pulpits in reaction to the insurrection on January 6th, 2021. Very few pastors have come out and renounced white supremacy.) I know so many Bible believing Christians that are choosing to turn away from church- the entire institution- because of this. This is also something that grieves God’s heart because Christ’s bride is the global church, and yet we have so much dissension between our own pews.
Love and unity are wonderful things to aspire towards, but they require work to dismantle systems that keep others oppressed. Agape love, the unconditional love of God that we as christians are supposed to be pursuing, is one that has to move mountains, and has the ability . I believe in a love that is strong enough to bring world peace, but this is not something that will be achieved by merely whispering words of love that turn into sweet nothings. Our love has to become tangible, fierce and life-giving.
Captured by Kalia Blake
Believers ought to be wary and take the time to truly search their hearts. Do the policies you support benefit or harm the majority of people? Are your political stances formed by your love for others or is your love comprised of fruitless, empty words? Some may find that what they value most is the comfort that they have been afforded by white supremacy and capitalism. Remember that it is never too late to change your heart and to rectify wrongdoing while you are still alive. We may all think we are getting into Heaven but Jesus warns us that knowing Him is a prerequisite to being embraced in eternity. And we can’t know or love Him without knowing His heart, which has always been burdened for the lost and the suffering.
"On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers'" -Matthew 7:21-23, NIV
Looks like some people will be in for a rude awakening. Not me though; y’all be easy.
Thank you to Candice Blake for editing.
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