To the Christian Lady Who Called Me a Snowflake Today

I am a Christian too.

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay,

To the Lady Who Called Me a Snowflake Today,

Somehow you have decided that I am not a good person because I do not vote like you do. This, I simply do not understand. You see, I am a Christian too, and as your Christian sister I am especially hurt that you call me names in the name of God. I know our God well enough to know that this is not His way.

I know Jesus well enough to know that he would not embrace the political flag you are waving at me. He would be more concerned about love. He would be concerned about charity, faith, and how we treat our fellow man — all of them, not just the white ones that serve the same God we do.

He would chastise greed and selfishness and hatred. These are not honorable reasons for policies; they are flaws.

I want you to know that I forgive you and I know that you think that cheering for your team is the Christian thing to do; but God does not belong to a political party. Surely you must know this?

Many of my Christian friends vote with you because they are afraid to vote for anyone that supports the woman’s right to choose. They fight for the unborn with their vote. Their compassion and empathy for the unborn is notable, but they are also moved by the propaganda and myriad of disturbing information put out to sway them — a lot of which is simply untrue. I am concerned that others take advantage of your conviction and your compassion and put out false information to sway you. I know you are smart, but conviction of the heart is a very powerful thing.

But I see it from a differing perspective and I don’t think it is wrong.

I am pro-life. Personally. For myself. And this is my choice. For others — I do not believe in telling other people how to live their life, who to love, or who to worship. I believe we demonstrate God’s love — and that is what we, as Christians should be doing. Creating grass-roots programs that support our values. But judging others and trying to control them is not the way.

If we show people our relationship with God and they want the same peace and love they see us living — then we have been evangelists for our faith.

If we create an accepting and loving environment for mothers of unwanted pregnancies, show incredible support and love, and help to create for them options, then we have demonstrated our faith and encouraged a culture of pro-life. Changing hearts with love not law is what we Christians should be doing.

I believe in loving people — all people, not just the ones who deserve it because we think they do.

I think that God expects us to take better care of this earth. Just because the science around climate change is difficult to understand, does not mean that it is faked or wrong. You don’t have to choose between faith and science. Really, you don’t. But our faith teaches us to care for the environment. Whether you believe the science or not, we are stewards.

I think that our leaders should be held to a higher standard of morality, not excused for sexual assault, permitted to abuse people verbally, and given free passes to lie their way into the greatest power they can find. It is utterly embarrassing to see the excuses people make for President Trump’s very un-Christian-like behavior, and combine it with a raging judgement against others. How does this represent Christ?

But the babies, the unborn babies. Don’t you see that this issue is being used to divide us? Don’t believe the lie that you must vote a certain way if you are a Christian.

Don’t believe the lie that Christians cannot be liberal.

Don’t think that because you love Rush Limbaugh and I think he is a complete disgrace — that we aren’t both still people of faith.

Because I see these social issues differently than you do — that does not make me wrong, and you right. Maybe we’re both wrong. Did you think of that? Maybe Jesus would rage in the Capital building, smashing statues and screaming that we are all so very, very wrong.

I just want to ask you, because you are my Christian sister, if you can try to remember when you are calling names of the opposition, that you are speaking of me too? I want you to remember the Christians who are uncomfortable coming to churches because of the way judgemental people look down their noses at them. Because they don’t vote like you do, look like you do, love like you do. Err on the side of inclusion and love. Jesus did it, so can you.

We all have the same Bible. We have the same instructions. We interpret them in so many ways — but when there are disagreements, we must err on the side of kindness and love and acceptance and hope and a welcoming spirit — all things that Christ embodied and showed us. If your faith is being used as a weapon to hurt others, it is misguided and subject to persuasion by those in power who wish to use you for their agenda. God’s agenda is love. That should matter more than political party.

If you must call me a snowflake, do it because they are wondrous, beautiful, unique and loved by God. Do it because you love me, even though we do not think the same way. Do it because it is the right thing to do — not because it is the politically-charged norm or the latest trend in political insults.

I believed for a long time that I had to vote a certain way because I am a person of faith. I’ve learned over the years that if I am truly to love others as Jesus calls me to, I can’t limit that love to only Christian, (largely) white, Republican people. And I’ve decided I won’t vote that way anymore. I’ll vote my heart and hope it pleases God. I’ll pray about my vote, same as you, but I may not come to the same conclusion as you.

This does not negate my faith.

Sincerely,

Christina

PS — Please, please stop the name-calling. It is not representative of our faith. It makes us all look bad.

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