This time in American history when economic stress and generalized anxiety is abroad in the land, as it was in post-World War I Germany, Christianity seems once again prepared to serve up scapegoats as a lightning rod for anger and frustration in its majority white population.
Beyond economic insecurity, we know that the biggest threat to the American family and its children is good ole red blooded American as apple pie infidelity. Yet the loudest voices of American Christianity are offering up the gay community as the major threat to the institution.
The political far right has been encouraged by what the religiously cast anti-abortion message has been able to do in fundraising and electoral outcomes. Now that headway has been made through Supreme Court appointments on this issue, the far right has landed on opposition to the gay community as its newest lever in the toxic electoral mix that is Christian Nationalism.
Consider some inside biblical theology baseball on sexual sin. Jesus never mentions homosexuality. He does denounce divorce and remarriage, the former only permitted if there is infidelity and remarriage in any case constituting adultery. How is it today in American Protestantism to ordain and employ divorced and remarried clergy as spiritual leaders of congregations and bless the exchange of wedding vows in remarriages.
The comfort with divorce and remarriage surely reflects an acceptance of modern understandings of personality psychology and human relationships. Where is the same deference to modern psychological understandings in biblical interpretations of gender preference and identity.
Modern biblical interpretation has made it possible for divorced and remarried congregants and clergy to bask in the comfort and acceptance of their church communities. The hypocrisy is leaving their gay brothers and sisters out in the cold to be kicked around as political footballs.
Holly Wright
Easton
Tom Malone says
Wow – Right on!
DeirdreLaMotte says
Amen. The Rights real problem is their philosophy prioritizes selfishness over all of societal needs, values greed, bigotry, exclusiveness, and control over the Democrat’s philosophy of inclusion. They use gays, women, minorities, the environment you-name-it to spread fear and hate. All for money. Are we not on this
human voyage together yet we are all different, which is perfect?I I don’t believe a
society can flourish when a minority of this country are coerced. But, I will say that
these voters also need to be responsible for the negative and undemocratic people they elect. How can anyone listen to a Tucker or a Laura and not feel dirty?
darrell parsons says
Yes!
Carol chisholm says
Just FYI Holly, Hitler and his minions were most definitely not Christians. As he bullied his way to power he did it through fear, not love. Please be careful how you box other religions from your Unitarian perspective.
Holly Wright says
I am a Bible believing Christian whose Lord and Savior is JESUS CHRIST. Hitler and his minions certainly did not act like what my Savior would have approved of. It’s hard to imagine virulent anti-semitism outside the Christian social context and my readings on Germany history prior to and during the hollocaust suggest that. There have been times in our history when American Christianity has shown its dark underbelly and I fear we are moving into such a period when the faith and scripture are used to justify forms of exclusion and villification of our neighbors for political purposes. Now is a time I think that can’t have too many voices speaking up and saying this is not what Christianity is all about. While there were some Christian voices speaking up in post-World War I Germany. Clearly there were not nearly enough. There’s the lesson for us today.
Brian H Childs says
Actually the Nazis and Hitler were claiming Christian Nationalism as part of their quest for pure race. That is why the acclaimed Karl Barth had to leave Germany when he wrote his moving missive “Nein!”
Holly Wright says
I am a Bible believing Christian whose Lord and Savior is JESUS CHRIST. Hitler and his minions certainly did not act like what my Savior would have approved of. It’s hard to imagine virulent anti-semitism outside the Christian social context and my readings on Germany history prior to and during the hollocaust suggest that. There have been times in our history when American Christianity has shown its dark underbelly and I fear we are moving into such a period when the faith and scripture are used to justify forms of exclusion and villification of our neighbors for political purposes. Now is a time I think that can’t have too many voices speaking up and saying this is not what Christianity is all about. While there were some Christian voices speaking up in post-World War I Germany. Clearly there were not nearly enough. There’s the lesson for us today.
Barb Cannon says
I totally agree .Our Rightwing loves to spew God & Guns. The latter has ended the lives of more of our children in schools ,Churches and parks.Jesus led a unconventional life style and would be feeding the homeless,preaching to the prisoners ,and ministering to the Gay about God’s Love for & of them.The so called Christian Leaders today would shun him .Politicians today would ban his teaching.