I apologize in advance, because I’m invariably going to piss off at least some of my readers at some point. This is because I want to try, here, to speak from my convictions, and some folks may find those convictions run counter to their understanding of what it means to be a Christian. Others, meanwhile, may find themselves questioning my politics. LOL While watching the film “One Half the Kingdom” many years ago, I heard some one describe herself as “too Feminist for the Jews and too Jewish for the Feminists”, and it’s a self-description I can really relate to! I often find myself in a similar position with regard to being a Christian on the Left.
In addition, I’m a strongly empathetic person. I consider it a gift of the Spirit. I’m always trying to imagine what the world is like for the other side – to get where the other person’s coming from. I think it goes along with being an artist, because that kind of empathetic imagination is really critical to creating good music or writing or whatever. But it means that I can often see both the progressive and conservative sides of an issue, and even, though certainly not always, have sympathy for both. And while I definitely have my own values, I think it’s really important to be able to get where the other person’s coming from! Because, that’s how we open up real dialogue and break out of the Devil’s deadly game of divide and conquer. That’s part, I believe, of why Jesus explicitly teaches us to love our neighbours regardless of who they are, including our enemies.
That all being said, though, I really apologize for any distress that any of this causes any of my readers! Please know that that’s not my intention. My intention is only ever to speak from my faith, my heart, and my own experience. And may the words of my mouth/hands, and the meditations of my heart and mind, be guided always by the Holy Spirit, and may God use them for his work of transforming love! Amen.
Phantom of the Cross 