God & Politics

God and politics
My stomach clenches and jaw tightens every time I hear a reference to God in the current Republican leaders. I hear comments from leaders saying the leadership is “God’s plan,” thanking God after airstrikes, and a leader dismissing concerns about medicare cuts because we will all die someday, and if we’re concerned about this we should accept the Lord Jesus for everlasting life. Not to mention, the political assassinations and shootings completed by someone affiliated with the evangelical community. 

Evangelicalism for everyone 
I am a former evangelical and remember the ways I held onto my beliefs completely and they could not be shaken, until one day they were. But, when I was in, I was in. And part of the evangelical’s narrative is that their way is the best way for everyone. I was bought into this 100%. It was my world, perspective, identity. An example of this from my past is when gay marriage became legal, I remember being concerned and upset because, at the time, my beliefs aligned with the evangelical world about queer lifestyles. In that landscape, I did not have the capacity to separate my way of living and believing from allowing others the autonomy to live differently and believing their way of life could also be good. This is a key hallmark in most evangelical communities.

Not every evangelical 
It feels important to me to not paint a picture of “every” evangelical. I’m sure there are exceptions. Evangelicals who do not support the current leadership, those who are supportive of queer relationships and identities and who don’t buy into the mission of saving souls from hell. Of course, being a part of the evangelical system signals support and if one is in that system and does not fully agree, especially if your kids are involved, it’s important to have conversations about these differences and nuances with your kids. And also, I don’t want one to assume certain things about me because I am a woman, left leaning, therapist, mom, vegetarian; so I don’t want to assume certain things about someone simply because they are an evangelical.

However, it’s concerning 
And at the same time, it’s concerning, unsettling and scary to see how God is being twisted up in the agenda of a certain political party. The evangelicals have the
ultimate power over its participants; eternal life, avoiding unending burning in hell. This is powerful leverage, right. And I will not claim that the leaders see it as leverage; many of them completely believe it and therefore are extremely passionate about helping people enter heaven instead. So, if the evangelical community has the ultimate power of fear, they also then have the ability to stir up fear about any other aspect of modern day reality.

I get the experience of an evangelical 
For those who have not been a part of the evangelical community, it can be hard to understand how people become so radicalized, close minded and stuck in one perspective only. The evangelical world can quickly become just that, its own little world. They have their own music artists, radio stations, movies, branded “celebrities,” catchy worship, terms and along with that, often discourage outside information; alternate perspectives. If you get involved, it can quickly become all of you. You’re also taught what to think from stage, not how to think, because that is often seen as “bad, dangerous, sinful,” to have your own thoughts or questions that differ from one of the spiritual leaders.

When you want to belong 
The evangelical community offered me so much belonging and acceptance when that was all I desperately wanted and needed. Becoming a part of it gave me feelings of special-ness, superiority and importance. I was praised from the older generation of family members, given leadership opportunities in the church and felt “on the inside.” These are addictive feelings that never leave one satisfied, just wanting more. There are many reasons people are drawn towards evangelicalism; answers, stability and security, born into it, power, a sense of purpose. Belonging seems to be one of the top though, we are wired for relationships and evangelicalism has mastered the art of connecting people. 

I don’t claim to know God and God’s plan 
Just like I don’t agree with how the evangelical community is proclaiming “God’s plan,” or using the ultimate fear to project their agenda onto others, I can’t claim I can define “God.” I’d like to believe there is a higher power, but I can’t know 100%. But at the end of the day, I’m sure we’d agree, that if there is a higher power, it aligns with love, compassion, acceptance, curiosity. And that, sadly, does not seem to be the thread holding together the evangelical community. 

I have compassion for the evangelicals, also rage, and also hope. May there be a way forward that looks different.