The past few years has seen an increase in using the word "Liberal" as a term of derision. Some Christians cringe at the thought of bearing that label. They feel that it has the same stigma as the Scarlet A. Not me. I am unapologetic, and unashamed, and unafraid to proclaim that I am indeed a liberal.
Now, let me tell you what it means to me. It means that instead of reading the Bible looking for propositions to live by, I look for relationships to live for. It means that I take very seriously the creations stories found in Genesis 1 and 2, without trying to force some synergistic harmony upon them. It means that I don't have to blend Matthew, Mark, and Luke to get some high octane truth. I can read each gospel as a separate work of different authors who are attempting to shine a light on a particular aspect of God with us. They don't need to be harmonized, they need to be listened to.
It means I am free to move beyond the legalism demanded in much of the Old Testament and follow Jesus the Christ of God who fulfilled the law for us and offers all human beings grace.
It means I can see the face of God in all people regardless of race, gender, age, or creed. And it means that I can accept the fact that God can call and use whomever he chooses for whatever he chooses. If that means female leaders and pastors for churches, so be it.
It means I don't blame secular humanists for the situations we find our world in. I blame those of us who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ, but we spend more time arguing about being right rather than doing the right thing.
It means I struggle and strive to live by the one commandment Jesus said was most important, "To love the Lord God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength, and my neighbor as myself." It means that I honor your right to disagree with me without calling you evil, or saying that you are lost for all eternity because we don't share the same opinions. You are my neighbor and differing opinions do not define who we are in Christ.
Yes, I am a liberal and I am very much okay with it.
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