Grappling with being Christian

[Anonymous]

I am a Christian, I love Jesus and I seek to live as he did. I want to be a soldier of the lord and follow scripture. But I have always, always struggled with church teachings: I’ve been to Catholic and Protestant services across the spectrum and have ALWAYS found the minister/priest to imbue their teachings with some political speech, and the level of sexism I’ve found is astounding.

I would love to find a community of Christians that don’t become co-opted by these political agendas. I don’t like how many people use Christianity as an excuse to demean and dehumanize others. In short, I have a very hard time relating to other (mainstream, American, white) Christians yet continue to yearn for community. I just find so much wrong with the “Christian” communities I encounter.

I would love any suggestions for readings, podcasts, or churches that might help me find meaning and community as it relates to my misgivings. Thank you so much. God bless you.

[Anonymous]

Op are you in the DC area?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op are you in the DC area?

I am not

[Anonymous]

^ but I travel there frequently - will be there next weekend in fact - my family is still there

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op are you in the DC area?

I am not

If you won't say where you are, it will be difficult for anyone to suggest a particular church - and they do vary, irrespective of denomination. Still, churches that are not likely to be compatible with your desire to avoid politics, are likely to be Roman Catholic or Evangelical. Avoid them.

Then just look/ask around for other churches.

[Anonymous]

You sound Episcopalian.

Kinda non sexist Catholic-lite.

fwiw - God and Jesus aren't sexist. Those teaching came about as a sign of the times. I sometimes wonder how they consider the Pope only being male and only being white in all the years since Jesus (except 3). This can't possibly be regarded well that PEOPLE still believe God only wants to speak through white males. Oh well, human nature sucks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You sound Episcopalian.

Kinda non sexist Catholic-lite.

fwiw - God and Jesus aren't sexist. Those teaching came about as a sign of the times. I sometimes wonder how they consider the Pope only being male and only being white in all the years since Jesus (except 3). This can't possibly be regarded well that PEOPLE still believe God only wants to speak through white males. Oh well, human nature sucks.

Consider that for centuries, the Catholic Church was only in Europe and is still patriarchal. That explains all the white guys.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You sound Episcopalian.

Kinda non sexist Catholic-lite.

fwiw - God and Jesus aren't sexist. Those teaching came about as a sign of the times. I sometimes wonder how they consider the Pope only being male and only being white in all the years since Jesus (except 3). This can't possibly be regarded well that PEOPLE still believe God only wants to speak through white males. Oh well, human nature sucks.

Consider that for centuries, the Catholic Church was only in Europe and is still patriarchal. That explains all the white guys.

And for centuries it hasn't been, yet nothing has changed. Catholicism started to spread in the 1400s, so 700-800 years and . . . Nothing changed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You sound Episcopalian.

Kinda non sexist Catholic-lite.

fwiw - God and Jesus aren't sexist. Those teaching came about as a sign of the times. I sometimes wonder how they consider the Pope only being male and only being white in all the years since Jesus (except 3). This can't possibly be regarded well that PEOPLE still believe God only wants to speak through white males. Oh well, human nature sucks.

Consider that for centuries, the Catholic Church was only in Europe and is still patriarchal. That explains all the white guys.

And for centuries it hasn't been, yet nothing has changed. Catholicism started to spread in the 1400s, so 700-800 years and . . . Nothing changed.

It started to spread, yes, but until the 20 century, there were no Cardinals outside of Europe.

https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/comment-how-the-conclave-of-cardinals-will-chose-next-pope/#:~:text=For%20many%20centuries%2C%20the%20College,in%20the%201903%20papal%20election.

"For many centuries, the College of Cardinals was dominated by Europeans; Italians, in particular. In fact, the first time a non-European cardinal actually cast a ballot in a conclave was only in the 20th century, when Baltimore’s archbishop, James Gibbons, voted in the 1903 papal election. Now, the College of Cardinals has members from over 90 countries, with Francis having appointed nearly 80 percent of them. "

I am not defending the Catholic Church. Just explaining, accurately

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You sound Episcopalian.

Kinda non sexist Catholic-lite.

fwiw - God and Jesus aren't sexist. Those teaching came about as a sign of the times. I sometimes wonder how they consider the Pope only being male and only being white in all the years since Jesus (except 3). This can't possibly be regarded well that PEOPLE still believe God only wants to speak through white males. Oh well, human nature sucks.

Maybe the omnipotent god should have known better and had Jesus be born to as an aboriginal woman in Australia. This is/was "his" one chance to convince humanity of the pathway to salvation (from "his" rules BTW).

[Anonymous]

I understand OP's quandary. Believe in Jesus and what he stands for, but not crazy about organized religion. The Episcopal Church seems to bring in a lot of Catholics who had enough and want a church more understanding of various types of people

[Anonymous]

Branches of Christianity that believe in sphere sovereignty won't include politics in their preaching because they think that's wrong.

[Anonymous]

If I had to guess, your politics are far outside the mainstream and so you view statements that others consider mainstream as political.

I can’t speak to Protestantism or other parts of the country but I have not seen this as an issue in Catholic churches in MD/DC or Boston when I used to live. Typically the most overtly political churches are the mainline ones with political flags and signs everywhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If I had to guess, your politics are far outside the mainstream and so you view statements that others consider mainstream as political.

I can’t speak to Protestantism or other parts of the country but I have not seen this as an issue in Catholic churches in MD/DC or Boston when I used to live. Typically the most overtly political churches are the mainline ones with political flags and signs everywhere.

Boston Catholic churches full of either Magas or Christmas and Easter Catholics. Its either cultural or political. Not a lot of living the faith types.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You sound Episcopalian.

Kinda non sexist Catholic-lite.

fwiw - God and Jesus aren't sexist. Those teaching came about as a sign of the times. I sometimes wonder how they consider the Pope only being male and only being white in all the years since Jesus (except 3). This can't possibly be regarded well that PEOPLE still believe God only wants to speak through white males. Oh well, human nature sucks.

Maybe the omnipotent god should have known better and had Jesus be born to as an aboriginal woman in Australia. This is/was "his" one chance to convince humanity of the pathway to salvation (from "his" rules BTW).

Would people have listened to her?