No, Progressive Christian, You’re Not Insane

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Since the birth of Jesus upon the earth, those who choose His ways have been deemed by society as the freaks–the misguided–the losers–the libtards–the snowflakes. At points along the way, Jesus Himself was labeled as insane. Apparently, when you shake your fist at the forces of imperialism, greed, religiosity, and self-righteousness while bringing forth a cosmic movement of extravagant inclusion, equality, generosity, and grace, you’re going to get some dirt kicked in your face. Perhaps, even nailed upon a politically conspired cross constructed under sheets stained of religion. 

Yup, you’re going get the shit beaten out of you–emotionally, physically, socially, and spiritually. In fact, there’s a sure sense that if you aren’t being spun around like a breakdancer on crack for your resistance towards the conservative Evangelical Death Star, are you really even alive?

No doubt, it’s enough to cause even the bravest amongst us to shrink back and curl up in the fetal position of our discouragement. It seems like the forces of evil are taking the hill. The gaslighting is working. The Tweet storms hold their traction. What is up is down, and what is clear is clouded. The people of Light, the people of Love, the people of divine affirmation, the people of true equality, the people of humanity, the people of science, the people of generosity, the people of justice, the people of compassion, the people of Grace–we are the insane ones. 

Indeed, the patients are running the hospital. 

In moments like these it’s easy to wonder, “maybe I have lost my mind.” Maybe this life of solidarity with the least-of-these and fighting the forces of political and religious evil just isn’t worth it. The gravity of giving up weighs heavy, and conformity and surrender seem to be the only way out. Life could be so much easier if the blinds were closed, my eyes were turned away, and my heart was numbed. What difference does it make anyway?     

Yet, off in the distance a relentless voice is heard rising from the ashes, “Prepare the way of the Lord.” Make straight a path for justice to roll down like a mighty stream. Bind up the broken hearted. Declare the divine affirmation of all. Push aside all bigotry and hate. Pave every street with human equality. Line the sidewalks with social justice. Build statues of the least-of-these. Light every corner, crossing, and alley with the mind of Christ, that all truth and goodness might be revealed and seen.   

This is the voice upon your life.  

Take heart. 

No, you’re not insane.    

For if you gaze upon the horizon of much of American Christianity and it all makes you want to vomit, you’re not insane. 

If you have a growing suspicion that much of right-wing conservative Christianity is a diabolical, evil scheme that has little to do with Jesus and everything to do with power and privilege, you’re not insane. 

If you tire of a false gospel that puts conditions on love, fosters hypocrisy, inflames self-righteousness, and personifies God as an unpredictable monster, you’re not insane. 

If you’ve discerned that much of Christianity has raped and twisted God into a frequently-temperamental divine drunk storming out of a bar, you’re not insane. 

If you question a faith that features a hell of eternal torment designed for the divine torture of people who don’t return God’s love in all the conservative Evangelically prescribed ways, you’re not insane.

If something checks in your spirit about turning off your brain, subscribing to a 6,000 year old earth, requiring your wife’s submission, and joining a group of people who appear to excel at talking amongst themselves and judging the world, all while calling it faithfulness to Jesus, you’re not insane. 

If you’re super close to blowing yet another brain gasket the next time someone quotes Scripture at you in hopes of turning you into their spiritual project, you’re not insane. 

If your head is spinning and your heart is confounded at the sure reality that scores of conservative Christians boastfully claim loyalty to the ways of Jesus, yet still vehemently support an anti-Christ president, you’re not insane. 

If you’re fed up with feeling spiritually obligated to prequalify people for love, condemn the LGBTQ community, discriminate against minorities, embrace sexism, weaponize the Bible, and turn Jesus into the hood ornament of your world bulldozer as you seek the dominance and supremacy of your faith in all of society, you’re not insane.

If you see much of the same evils that plague conservative Christianity to also be rampant within progressive Christian circles, you’re not insane. 

If you feel like ditching the whole “Christian” label all together, you’re not insane. 

If you feel like the true spiritual path of your life is to simply find your own way with the Spirit’s guidance alone, you’re not insane.

If you tire of the racism that is fostered primarily by white male Christians, you’re not insane. 

If you want to vomit every time a white person says they are “color blind” but then wants to rub your face in “black on black” crime, you’re not insane. 

If you want to punch white Christians in the throat who want to declare “all lives matter” yet send their gay children to the curb, keep immigrants in cages, criminalize and dehumanize black people, celebrate the stripping of benefits for Transgender people, and hope to erase the LGBTQ community from the planet, you’re not insane. 

If it strikes you as ironic that some white people who want to help black people gain true equality, don’t see other white voices who are trying to help too as equal and equally valued, you’re not insane.

If it pisses you off that some Christians care more about their convenience than wearing a mask for the protection of others, you’re not insane.

If your neck veins pop out in rage because it’s becoming all too clear, even for Christians who declare loyalty to Jesus, that money is more important than people, you’re not insane.

If you want to denounce your pride and affection for “America” because of the unjust, bigoted, racist, and white supremacy-ladened sewer we have become, you’re not insane.

If you want to scream, “F*ck it all” at the top of your lungs as you pound the chest of your despair, you’re not insane.

No, you’re not insane. 

You’re not a heathen. You’re not a heretic, nor a snowflake.

No, you are Jesus.

 

Grace is brave. Be brave.

 

17 Comments

  1. Jodi Corey

    Nailed it. Thank you- I thought I was losing it. Also, let’s be friends on Facebook.

    • ckratzer

      Jodi, thanks for reading and commenting!

      • ckratzer

        Also, let’s be friends on FB! 🙂

      • ckratzer

        Let’s be friends on Facebook! 🙂

  2. Ray

    Want to meet who wrote this before I go insane. And I’m 74 & don’t have much time!

    • ckratzer

      Ray, trust me, you’re not going insane. Message me at chrisamykratzer@gmail.com. Would be honored to schedule a phone call.

    • Priscilla

      Ray, not far behind you at 68. I have left the Church, but not the Lord. Hang on and press on.

  3. Marion Wiley

    That relentless voice- Prepare ye the way. Thank you for reminding me. Years ago, I was led to the verse, Cast up, cast up, prepare the way. Take up the stumbling blocks out of the way of my people. Isaiah somewhere, don’t remember. Back then, I saw stumbling blocks as works/religion. This mess we’re in now puts a whole different light on things. Or maybe not. Any thoughts from anyone out there?

    • ckratzer

      Thanks for taking the time to read and comment, I understand your line of thinking!

  4. Michelle Benton

    This came up on my Facebook timeline at just the right time. Thank you so much for sharing this with us who are feeling so insane and hurt and ostracized. I don’t want to be like so many people I am surrounded by,and found myself unable…now unwilling…too fit in. I rarely say anything about it to them but I always appreciate ideas of loving ways to disagree, discuss,ask questions, answer questions,etc if I can get them.

    • ckratzer

      So glad you were able to connect with this article, thanks for taking the time to comment!

  5. Dick Modderkolk

    “If you feel like ditching the whole “Christian” label all together, you’re not insane. ”
    Maybe it’s me reading to much into things, but I think your getting closer.

  6. Trent Okerson

    2020 is the year that broke me of American Christianity….yet I’ve never felt more alive, free, and secure in the authentic hope and grace of Jesus. Thank you for this encouragement and for being courageous in speaking out!

  7. Priscilla

    Thanks for the reassurance, Chris. I needed this so much.

    • ckratzer

      Absolutely, Priscilla!

    • ckratzer

      Absolutely, Priscilla

  8. mary

    Late to comment here but i just wanted to say thanks for this. i have been barely hanging on to faith and this article is a huge help. it’s so encouraging. it sums up my feelings exactly. thanks again.

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