According to Wikipedia progressivism is a political philosophy in support of social reform. It is based on the idea of progress in which advancements in science, technology, economic development and social organization are vital to the improvement of the human condition.
Prior to the deconstruction of my religious practice I would have never considered myself progressive. I would have likely identified as a politically socialist yet religiously conservative person. I don’t know how I ever rectified claiming either of those things and they clearly don’t coexist well. They are almost like an oxymoron. They do not go together, they actually fundamentally conflict with one another.
In my early 20’s I began to question my childhood upbringing in a fundamentalist evangelical church. I had very strongly believed the church I was raised in, until I hit young adulthood and realized life was not nearly as black and white as they made it seem, and there was a human experience behind many of the views I held on to, almost aggressively. There were individuals wounded by the churches stance on LGBTQ+ issues, and women silenced because of the continued complementarianism ideals perpetuated by male pastors. There were First Nations people being forgotten due to the resistance to acknowledging colonialism or residential schools, and rape victims being blamed because they wore the “wrong” clothes. Before I had faces and relationships that reflected these stories I only had “views” that were passed down by wounded men, grasping for power.
At the time I was unable to see the power dynamics shaping the rhetoric being indoctrinated in me. I only saw God’s word, and his believers following his commands. I had no understanding the fallibility of men and that God’s word could be skewed so harmfully in order to perpetuate continued power and control. My parents were equally victims of this indoctrination, and although I experienced significant spiritual abuse at their hands, I do believe they were just doing what they believed was right. It doesn’t change the fact that it caused me significant trauma, but it does help me extend them grace, knowing they were duped too.
After some soul searching, and a social work degree I came to the realization that life was a lot more grey than I wanted to accept in my adolescence. I saw people for people, not labels, or sexuality, or mental health issue or poverty. I realized that my ability to support and love others was not allowed to come with a BUT. That true love is just love… not love with conditions. Not love only if they stop “sinning” or change their views. Not love only because they do things to make themselves worthy or deserving of it. That just by being human, and being vulnerable enough to reach out, any person was worthy of my support and my love. This dramatically changed my life, and my worldview. It opened up the world to me, it allowed me to show others Jesus’ unconditional love, without pre-requisites or guidelines, just because He shows it to me and loves me even when I do nothing to “deserve” it, but just because I am.
As I began to love others without a BUT I began to realize that I could no longer justify the conservative views I once held. That issues like LGBTQ+ rights, or abortion were no longer things I had any authority over. I only could view them from my own privileged lense and that was not enough. If I wanted to really love others, I needed to listen to their stories, hear their trauma and no longer perpetuate the things that had caused so many, so much harm.
Did I end up progressive? I suppose you could say I did. I think my mother would have called it “wishy washy” or my religious friends call it “lukewarm” but I call it putting love first. Loving because Jesus loved me first, and called me to love as well....without conditions. Jesus loved surrounding himself with those who needed his love and support. He loved and encouraged them, and yes sometimes this meant encouraging them to look at new ways of living. However, he never screamed it at them from a pulpit, or guilted them into it with damaging purity analogies or fear of fire and brimstone. He sat with them, where they were at, and saw them and loved them just as they were. Knowing that his love could and would transform their lives.
I want to live that kind of love, with faith that God can transform our lives. Not just conform them to our man made ideas of morality, but transform them into the lives he intended for us.
Could you imagine if we didn’t live in fear of ourselves or others falling short, but in faith that his love will not let us? If that is progressive, I am all in.
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