Dragging the Soapbox Into the Middle of the Square

"that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield." Tennyson

What I'm about to write is something I've been thinking about at a low-grade level for quite some time. And I know I usually post about my kids, or friends, or our day-to-day or links to what I think are fun/funny or entertaining. But some things came to a head, and I felt like I had to write this out. In fact, I woke up at 6 this morning thinking about it.

The tagline of our site ('Just because we're Christian doesn't mean we have to like precious moments or country blue ducks') speaks to what I'm about to say. My thoughts came more to the surface when I read this post about 60 Minutes doing a story on 'evangelicals' at the Evangelical Outpost.

That same day I realized I needed to update my blogroll, because I read a lot more blogs regularly than I have listed. However, I felt a bit of a conundrum. On one hand, I'm a professing Christian, so I feel a certain pressure to have certain things only on this site. On the other hand, I'm me, and the things I read and enjoy aren't always thought to be 'super Christian' ( Gay Boyfriend and this t-shirt would be a case in point). And what's sad is, I'm not talking about anything that divergent, or different. I'm talking about sites I like to read that may not match up with my world view, or those who share my world view.

So, from those two things colliding in the space of a day came these thoughts. I am tired of Christians being labeled - and the label that is the most irksome is 'evangelical Christian fundie nutjob.' Can I just say that not all Christians are precious-moments-figurine-collecting, Thomas-Kinkade-loving, dowdy-dress-wearing, unhip, uninformed, classless, country-decorating, humorless, culture-less morons. There are those who are that way, and if I just described you, and you're offended, I'm sorry.

I can't speak for all Christians, but I can speak for us.

- We cannot stand precious moments, we think Thomas Kinkade is McArt. I took enough art history classes in college to talk flying buttresses and symbolic imagery with the best of them. My husband I both have degrees from a a great university. I plan to go back and get my master's degree (once I'm done breeding more children into our overpopulated world) in fine art. And you can love precious moments or Thomas Kinkade, and I promise not to hold it against you, either. In fact, some of our friends and family have an affinity - and we still love them. =)

- We love travel, culture (both popular and otherwise) and history. We've been to most of Western Europe (together and separately), and plan on seeing more of the world with our kids. We know how to go to other countries and absorb, and live amidst the inhabitants of said country without coming off as gum-chewing, mouth-breathing, camera-snapping, obnoxious, braying Americans.

- We love good food and good wine. I know a lot of Christians in our country have a puritanical view of alcohol, and that is totally fine with me. But I don't. And if I want to have a lemon drop in a cute glass with husband when we go out for a nice dinner together, I will. And I don't want to hear about it.

- And if I'm reallly mad, I might accidentally drop an F-bomb (even if I try not to), because as our pastor says, "When we're mad, sometimes we go back to our native language." I don't cuss in my day-to-day conversation, not because I think it's bad and wrong, but because I think it sounds coarse. In fact, when those letters as accesories started becoming really popular, Ross and I talked about getting an F and a U to put on a shelf right when people walked in - just because we thought it was funny!

- I am not a sheep, and I am informed. I read the news daily. I love to read (both high- and low-brow) books. I read voraciously. I love poetry, theater and music. And I gobble up as much of it as I can, whenever I can (in between the breeding and passing out of tracts, of course). I love Shakespeare, ee cummings, and I fell in love with poetry reading the Lovesong of J. Alfred Prufrock.

- I am not meek. I share my opinions. What I believe in, I believe in strongly. And that doesn't mean I approve of bombing hospitals that do abortions. That does not mean I get all up in arms (ba dum bum) about gun-rights. And I don't really think about gays in the military. Sorry.

- Humor is extremely important to us. My husband and I crack each other up. It's one of our greatest bonds. Our humor runs the gamut and is not limited. I find humor in tragedy and slapstick and everything in between. Because really, if you can't laugh, how can you make it through what gets thrown at you?

- I want a tattoo, and I used to have my bellybutton pierced (okay, that was about 10 years ago, but still).

- I like sex. I'm not a prude and my bodily functions don't freak me out.

- I can be sarcastic and I can rant (this entire entry, being that case in point). I am not meek, and I don't bend easily. If I have an opinion, I will usually let you know. This may not always be a good thing, but it's part of who I am. I believe God can shape and use it, so there it is.

- I love fashion. I like reading fashion magainzes. No - it's not the most important thing in life. It's not even very high on the list. But it's something I enjoy. I like style, and when I am not in my postpartum body, (when I refuse to buy lots of clothes, lest I get stuck in that size) I am usually pretty fashionable. I know how others see me isn't important, but it's something I've always liked, so if I want to read a magazine, and shop in cute boutiques, sue me. I don't have to wear a floral sack dress that hides my shape to be a Christian.

All that to say. I am not a stereotype. And when I see articles or news stories like this that are trying to come across as solid, serious reporting, it drives me nuts!

Here's a quote from the article:
Central to evangelicals' faith is an event that can happen at any time called the Rapture, when God takes all true-believing Christians and children under 12 to a better place while all others suffer the tribulation and are damned.

That is not central to my faith! That's not even what my faith is about! Here's a pretty good definition of what being an evangelical means (also taken from evangelical outpost):

British historian David Bebbington approaches evangelicalism from this direction and notes four specific hallmarks of evangelical religion: conversionism, the belief that lives need to be changed; activism, the expression of the gospel in effort; biblicism, a particular regard for the Bible; and crucicentrism, a stress on the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.

That about sums it up for me. And I'm greatly saddened that the word 'evangelical' has been hijacked. Because, in the Famous words of Inigo Montoya, "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."

My faith is about ultimate sacrifice and grace and love. It is not about some pharisaical, judgemental, hypocritical perversion of what Jesus died for. And it makes me really sad that when you tell someone you're a Christian in this day and age that they automatically jump to the wrong conclusion about you.I understand that perception is reality. But your perception is not my reality.

Comments

[Dana]

>>I love Shakespeare, ee cummings, and I fell in love with poetry reading the Lovesong of J. Alfred <<

oh my gosh! did you jump into my brain and steal me!!!
****APPLAUSE APPLAUSE***
are you sure you don't want to move to florida. It will be very hard to become good couple friends at this distance!

[Heather]

Hubby has a hat from Furman University. On of his youth visited the college and her parents bought it for him. It is blue and says "FU." FU stands for Furman University, but you can take it or leave it right? LOL! I liked TK a lot better when I had to go out of my way to small galleries to see him. His work is quite beautiful, but he has gone too commercial for my liking. Anywho, good post.

[naomi]

...visiting via Dana (think pink) and what a breath of non leagalistic, non religeous fresh air, hear hear girl.

[Michelle Bowers]

AMEN SISTER!!! I think you speak for many of us who are strong Christians and are living a REAL life, enjoy REAL joys (reading, laughing, and oh yea- sex!), and raising REAL kids. Thank you!!

[Chloe]

Kel, I love your honesty. Refreshing as the morning dew. I agree, stereotypes suck, and Gayboyfriend is hysterical. Amen.

[Marieke]

Refreshing to read a Christian weblog that is not just religeous hysteria. I am fast on my way to almost detesting Christians and that is purely the result of what I hear and read about American Christians being almost fundamentalist (gays will burn in hell, abortion is ALWAYS murder, no contraception under any circumstance, harry potter should be banned and no sex education in schools... that sort of thing)

Thank you for writing a piece that makes me breathe again, knowing the world is not lost to fundamentalism.

I am not such a good writer, so in case people interpret this wrongly: I actually mean it as a compliment:)

[Andy the Geek]

Great post, Kel. Thanks for sharing!

[Gene]

Amen, Kel. I loved this post!

[Amber]

oh kelly, go! go! go!

'At all times preach the gospel if necessary, use words!' St Francis

[Misty]

I thought the part was so funny where you wrote "And if I want to have a lemon drop in a cute glass with husband when we go out for a nice dinner together, I will. And I don't want to hear about it."
I love that about you Kel. It's so easy to let loose with you, and just have fun and be yourself.

[Lisa]

I just found your blog--I must say I love this post. You have said exactly what I would like to say! I have been a Christian too since the days of youth group, and my husband and I would get along great with you. Also, if you haven't already found it, there is a great mag called Relevant Magazine--www.relevantmagazine.com. Check it out--I think you'll find it takes us Christians out of the box we are put in, by Christians and non-Christians alike. Again, amen, amen, amen!

[Sondra]

Well said!