Does that box come in my size?
I shouldn’t let things get under my skin, but sometimes they do.
So for the record: Yes, I am a Christian. Yes, I was raised in a traditional Anabaptist [read:Mennonite] environment. Yes, in some ways that makes me a traditionalist. Yes, I was raised in Midwestern farmland and deer huntin’ territory.
BUT- and this is a very BIG, very emphatic BUT- the above facts to not make me:
- Conservative
- Republican
- Pro-Life
- Pro-Gun
- Naive
- Isolated
- Stupid
- Anti-gay rights
- Pro “traditional marriage”
- Pro-war
Some of the things people assume about me based solely off of the fact that I am a Christian display nothing but their own ignorance. For example: I am a Christian, therefore someone assumes I am right-wing and pro-war. Nope, buddy. For one thing, I am also an Anabaptist, and the Mennonite movement has been traditionally anti-war and pro-civil rights. So if a person is to hear that I am Mennonite and they instinctively think “long skirts, conservative, watch out baby this one is a crazy”, um… nope. Sorry, you are totally and in all ways wrong. My tradition is one that is pro-protecting the environment, passionately pacifistic and accepting to people in all shapes and sizes and even sexual orientations. In fact, the Mennonite Brethren have had a gay rights council since ’76.
And the fact that I am and was raised Christian does not mean I am naive. I am sick and tired of people patronizing me as if the only reason a girl would believe in God is because she hasn’t checked out all her options. I left the church for several years. I studied Buddhism and Taoism and mysticism. I studied the Latter Day Saints faith, I thought about simply stomping my own path forward and then I did. And guess where years of introspection and experimenting landed me? Back in the faith of my youth, one that I chose of my own free will, not because I was brainwashed. I am aware that there are other options out there. I am aware that my own God, my Lord, the Lion of Judah, cannot be logically proven to anyone. But just because something cannot be logically proven does not mean that people can not theoretically believe in it. (String theory, anyone?)
And, for the LOVE OF GOD, politically active Christians DO NOT HAVE TO BE REPUBLICAN. I feel like every time I speak I have to literally spell out the fact that I am a liberal independent, or people just assume that I am republican. I’m not. The Republican party does not have the “religious vote” signed and sealed. While I am personally a certain way, for instance, pro-life- that does not mean that my political leanings are immediately following in suit. A recent example being that while I think that John Edwards is a major m*&%^$&f*&%^ing @$$hole for cheating on his wife, I don’t really care, it doesn’t erase years of political life and honorable lawyering.
Sorry to subject all of my blog readers to this, it’s just that every once in a while I get really steamed, and feel the need to reiterate. I am a Christian. I am a gay-affirming pro-choice left-wing loony pacifist environmental nutjob Christian.
I exist.
It happens.
Red Wine Gums replied:
I am a gay-affirming pro-choice left-wing loony pacifist environmental nutjob Christian.
And we love you for it
August 14, 2008 at 5:38 pm. Permalink.
e2tc replied:
“it happens.”
Yep – sure does!
- from another wacko evangelical pro-human rights, anti-racist, etc. etc. etc. chick
August 14, 2008 at 5:44 pm. Permalink.
SanityFound replied:
… and we LUFF you!!! Don’t ever change and have been meaning to tell you for a while now… you give Christians a good name!
Listen, coming from me that is major.
oh did I mention that we LUFF you? Ok then there it is!
August 14, 2008 at 5:50 pm. Permalink.
Mssc54 replied:
Lol Lindsey your post is a perfect example of the querry I made last week “Steriotypes, where do they come from?”
Isn’t it interesting what people expect when they read the “lable”.
I must disagree with you on the filandering, selfish, lieing, I don’t care if I hurt my wife or children Senator Edwards. You are correct that his “lack of good judgement” does not erase his record as a trial lawyer or Senatorial record. It rather reveals the character and hidden flaws he MAY have resorted to too achieve his perceived “success”.
August 14, 2008 at 5:53 pm. Permalink.
anita replied:
Hmmmm…I long suspected as much.
August 14, 2008 at 5:59 pm. Permalink.
Tony replied:
I think you’re an example of a globally aware and socially introspective young person more than anything. I’ve pointed out before that our upbringings were similar, only yours a slight bit more extreme, and surprise surprise we see eye to eye on just about all things. The big reason for most of our divergiances I think is the differences in the economic state of our respective areas and the fact that my chief mentor in my latter youth was not a pacifist at all.
August 14, 2008 at 9:19 pm. Permalink.
Red Wine Gums replied:
I read too fast sometimes. Have you already dealt with why you are pro-choice in another post? If not I’d be interested in hearing why.
August 14, 2008 at 10:17 pm. Permalink.
Matty replied:
Lindsey,
I am a gay-affirming pro-choice left-wing loony pacifist environmental nutjob Christian.
ME TOO!!! Can I use that?
With much LUFF… Matty
August 14, 2008 at 10:55 pm. Permalink.
Stephanie replied:
LOL! LOL!
You go girl, throw it down bold and loud!
I think perhaps your most favored line yet is the one most folks have already commented on…….
“I am a gay-affirming pro-choice left-wing loony pacifist environmental nutjob Christian.”
Amen! Me too!
Hey, perhpas you should make that a subtitle on your blog.
August 14, 2008 at 11:55 pm. Permalink.
vanessaleighsblog replied:
“I am a gay-affirming pro-choice left-wing loony pacifist environmental nutjob Christian.”
My favorite line as well; and proud to say I am one of those loony nutjobs also…… I like it when you get steamed up….. the energy in your writing is tremendous, and with the wit that you throw in, a great style for you!!!
August 15, 2008 at 12:13 am. Permalink.
PolitiPornster replied:
LOL!!!!
And you thought it would be fun to write articles with a political bent every once in awhile!
You’re priceless and us liberal Christians need to be heard. We are not all led by Dobson or Hagee.
August 15, 2008 at 2:34 am. Permalink.
Amber replied:
The last time I checked, none of those things you mentioned removes brain cells and ability to think and comprehend for yourself. People are ignorant and narrow because they choose to be. Period.
Thank God you made other choices for your life. Its what we all love about you.
August 15, 2008 at 2:53 am. Permalink.
littletiger replied:
Lindsey – I’ve gotta admit there are so many times that you say exactly what I’m thinking – I’m a Christian woman too and also a liberal independent, pro-choice, former Peace Corps Volunteer, pacifist, environmental nutjob too. And I live in Arizona – where I’m considered weird because of all of these things. Oh well – I like being different, weird, unusual etc just as long as I’m never considered main-stream.
August 15, 2008 at 2:49 pm. Permalink.
Linda Lee replied:
wow lindsey. it’s almost like we’re the same person! i have absolutely LOVED reading your blogs. you write what i can only think.
usually, i’m not a big fan of reading, but i totally look forward to reading your blogs every time you post one! keep it up. you are making such a difference.
thank you for affirming gay christians. you have no idea how hard it is to be gay and Christian and its so helpful to have straight people like you repping and supporting us Jesus freaks!
August 15, 2008 at 8:15 pm. Permalink.
Lindsey replied:
Everyone: Thanks! I luff you all, too!
SanityFound: especially big thanks to you!
Tony: As painful as it may be to hear, we’re not the same person! *lol* I think we are very, very similar- especially ideologically- but I agree, we’re in different economies and have attached ourselves to different mentors, not to mention that we’ve both had some past experiences that were radically different and colored our thinking a little. In fact, I sometimes find it creepy that with as different as we actually are that we are still so the same. It’s cool, though.
RWG: Here you go!
Matty: Knock yourself out. Well, not literally. Just- go ahead!
PolitiP: Thank God we’re not all led by Dobson, otherwise there’d be serious flooding every election cycle.
Amber: If any of those things DID reduce brain cells I’d shudder to think of how brilliant I may have been! *lol* Oh well, too late now!
littletiger and Linda Lee: It truly is such an honor to give thoughts voice. And who needs to be a cookie cutter person? Embrace your oddities and quirks and the fullness of who you are, and you’ve got at least one girl online whose got your back! (And I suspect many more, as well.)
August 16, 2008 at 11:03 am. Permalink.
e2tc replied:
(And I suspect many more, as well.)
I suspect you’re right!
August 16, 2008 at 7:49 pm. Permalink.
I’m Gay « SanityFound’s Rambling’s replied:
[...] the Girl God sees: a lesbian’s story, Gay Marriage Vs. Polygamy and Bestiality and Does that box come in my size? Vanessa’s post I am NOT an abomination! is also a must [...]
August 26, 2008 at 11:03 am. Permalink.