Since June 1, I’ve been an intern at the Institute on Religion and Democracy (IRD). Summer is now closing in and my university classes begin in just a few weeks. The end of my internship is near, and I can’t help but reflect on the eye-opening experiences and education gained about the shocking behind-the-scenes unorthodox going-ons of the Church, especially within my own Evangelical realm.
After reflecting, I’ve crafted a list of five shocking things I’ve learned about liberalism in the church while working at the IRD:
(1.) Who’s Jim Wallis?
At the beginning of this Summer I transcribed audio recordings from the 2016 Justice Conference. My mind was blown by what Sojourners President Jim Wallis, who I’d never heard of before, had to say. He basically spent an entire speech white-shaming Christians. Interesting, considering he is a 68-year-old white male. During his racial grievance speech, Wallis used a family Christmas gathering as an example of innate racism among white people. “My little guy Jack, he’s 12 and he’s 5’7 ½,” explained Wallis. “[Family and friends] said Jack you’re so big, strong, athletic, impressive. No one said Jack you look threatening or scary.”
Now, don’t get me wrong, I do believe racism exists. I believe in fighting racism (I’ve written about it here). However, white shaming Christian youth at a conference is not the way to go about it. Wallis’ whole approach is absurd. On what planet would a black 12-year-old go to visit his family and be told they look threatening? I might not be as old as Wallis, but I’m pretty sure it’s the Church’s position to unify people.
(2.) The UMC Just Elected an Openly Gay Bishop
I’m not Methodist, but I was utterly surprised by the election of Rev. Karen Oliveto as Bishop by the Western Jurisdiction on July 15. I learned Oliveto is the first openly lesbian bishop to be elected to the UMC. It’s fascinating to me that congregants elected leaders whose lifestyles are in direct contrast to their denomination’s doctrine. That’s something I’d never would have even considered as possible before working at the IRD. But stepping back and considering the social justice jargon being used to push liberal agenda in our communities, I guess I shouldn’t be shocked. I’m more surprised professing Christians are falling for it.
(3.) Wild Goose Festival
There’s not one specific speaker or topic from the 2016 Wild Goose festival than I can focus in on here. The entire festival was shocking to me. Wild Goose is a progressive Christian festival in Hot Springs, North Carolina filled with predominately white, older hippies, according to the IRD’s Chelsen Vicari, who traveled down to North Carolina to report. Since when do Christian workshops include “Creating a Trans-Friendly Church,” “A Progressive Evangelical Call,” and “Cosmic Mass”? Vicari noted, “I met several kind people who I’m sure love Jesus. I just pray they also learn to love his Truth too.” I could not have put it into better words myself. God’s truth needs to be recognized and valued as much as His love.
(4.) “The Queering Project of Jesus”
In June, United Kingdom Bishop Alan Wilson gave a shocking keynote address titled, “Same-sex marriage and the queering project of Jesus” during the Queering Paradigms Conference in the Cayman Islands. Wilson criticized the belief that the human body has natural uses and also rejected the notion that God created specific intentions when designing our bodies. He suggested that homosexuality offends some people because they hold a very simplistic idea of what the natural human being looks like.
Needless to say, I was surprised by his blatant dismissal of God’s creation of complementary gender norms. But I circle back to Vicari’s statement about Wild Goose Festival participants. It’s important to not only accept Christ’s love, but His truth as well. We cannot pick and choose what scriptures we want to use and which we do not in order to pander to those we disagree with. It is possible to show Christ’s love to people, while still accepting Biblical values.
(5.) More Sojourners Folks and the Justice Conference
I list the Justice Conference going-ons twice because, most shockingly, this is an Evangelical conference that attracts young Evangelicals just like me. So when Lisa Sharon Harper, Sojourners chief church engagement officer, spoke in the conference line-up, I knew Wallis’ bizarre discussion was not a fluke.
Similar to her boss Jim Wallis, Harper used her 20 minutes to present a racial grievance narrative and condemn a conservative Christian worldview. At one point Harper said, “We have transported the view of racial hierarchy, of sexual hierarchy, of gender hierarchy and we slapped some Bible on it and we called it a day.”
Again, racial reconciliation is an admirable point of issue to take up with young Christians, but the grievance rhetoric isn’t helpful. Instead of holding a normal church service, TD Jakes’ church The Potter’s House held a panel discussion about the state of racial relations following the deaths of Alton Sterling, Philando Castile, and five Dallas police officers. Instead of shame and guilt speech, an open honest conversation about steps for reconciliation took place. Again, isn’t that the way the Church should be addresses this hostile issue?
I’m so grateful to the IRD for allowing me to witness a fraction of the underbelly of the Church, with its unorthodox distortions and misleadings. It’s given me a greater appreciation for the gift of discernment.