Liberal Christianity

[smile_n_cuddle]

I have found myself quite at home with liberal Christianity. In my mind, liberal Christians do not judge others, they may or may not believe homosexuality is a sin, they may or may not believe in living together before marriage, they may or may not believe in evolution. But the bottomline is that they are a persecuted minority who band together to accept one another - and to accept others, whoever they are, whatever walk of life they come from or are leaving. They are affirming others' in the faith while not judging them or trying to impose their beliefs on anyone else. The point of liberal Christianity, IMO, is not to "convert the world", but to love them, accept them, and affirm one another. To celebrate spirituality with one another, in whatever venue each may seek it.

I was reading a few articles during my lunch break about liberal Christianity. One excerpt is:

Why is the liberal brand of Christianity in decline, while the conservative church is not only growing in membership but also attracting America's youth? Is the liberal church becoming irrelevant in America and can it be salvaged?

IMO, as long as there are thinking people who question what they believe, question the norm, and seek another form of Christian spirituality, there will always be liberal Christians. Why are we trying to be the majority? Are we anti-conservatives? No, not in my opinion. Are we trying to convert others to our ways of thinking? NO! That's precisely anti-liberal Christianity!

Another book I saw is called "Liberal Christianity at the Crossroads". The author is stating that liberal Christians need to find a unified body. LOL - again, isn't that precisely the opposite purpose of liberal Christianity? Liberal Christians are ones who accept whatever others believe without judgment. They are the most diverse group. Why are we trying to unify??? There's beauty in difference. I appreciate others' spirituality so much - and even more so when they appreciate mine and don't challenge it!

*sigh*

Comments

curious...

[xeriah.livejournal.com]

Do you know when liberal Christianity was first conceptualized? There have always been ppl who challenged the status quo, but at what point did they decide to hold onto the ideal of Christianity with an acceptance for diversity that the fundamentalists are incapable of doing? It'd be interesting to find out how it came about and under what circumstances.

[liveandinperson.livejournal.com]

Wow, I so agree with you. It's amazing, because ever since I started going to college, my views on a lot of things have changed. I used to be a really ultra-conservative Christian, but now I find myself accepting others for WHO THEY ARE instead of trying to conform them to my way of life. I've actually never been the type of person to "preach" at other people, and even though I'm going into the preaching ministry field, I can still hold liberal views. It's kind of like...a lot of conservative Christians believe that women pastors are DEAD WRONG and sinful and all that, and I'm like...what in the WORLD! If God's given me the gifts of preaching and teaching, I'm gonna freaking USE them, so get off your stupid high-horse and let me be me. I've become so much more accepting to people. I don't think I should have to conform to what Christians think I should be. I've gotta be myself, and if that means believing things that conservative Christians wouldn't DARE believe, than by-golly, I'm gonna do that. I just think it should be about peace and love...like, the hippie era!