Leaving My Religion, My Party

This was originally published over a year ago. After I watched a segment on CBS' Sunday Morning, I think it bears repeating.

Nov. 26, 2023 - I watched a great piece on Sunday Morning today. Politics and the pulpit: How white evangelicals' support of Trump is creating schisms in the church (and elsewhere). Here’s a taste:

Costa asked, "What do you say to evangelical leaders who might hear your argument and say, 'You missed the point: Trump wins for evangelical Christians, he wins for conservative America'?"

"Wins what?"

"Supreme Court seats, a seat at the table at the White House?"

Alberta responded, "Show me where in scripture any of that matters."

Here’s my piece from a year ago. Please don’t worry about me. I’m doing well. The church and our political system, however, can use your prayers.

Last night in a dream the Professor left me. Initially I was terrified, desperate to hang on, consumed with the desire to return our relationship to the status quo. But just before I awoke I wondered, could separating from a relationship that no longer serves be a good thing? It is.

First, my dream’s interpretation is not literal. There’s no separation or divorce planned in my household. My dream was not about us but about me, or rather about two sides of me. One side sees with clarity that all is not as it seems and urges me to step away. The other clings to the way I’ve always done life, fearful of change. Each side struggles for control. The fear of the consequences of change have kept me in the status quo camp. No longer. I’m leaving what have been important identities in my life.

I no longer want to be considered a Christian or a Republican as they are defined today.

First, leaving Christianity (and the church). I’ve been questioning the practice of my faith for years. Many years of membership in Baptist (American and Southern) and nondenominational churches, evangelistic and charismatic manifestations, traditional and seeker churches, the organized church, home-church, and even a hobby-centered horse church didn’t bring me closer to God. And that’s made me feel exceedingly guilty. After all, I’ve been inside the religious system most of my life.

I’ve spent countless hours studying extra-scriptural laws and regulations. I’ve watched so-called shepherds behaving badly, exalting themselves, and sheep that would (and are required to) fall backwards on command or follow them over a cliff. These and now over twenty years of watching from outside the church have convinced me that while the concept of Christianity as outlined in the New Testament by Christ is sound, the practice of Christianity is flawed.

Much of what’s taught in church these days reflects unwritten commandments developed over many years. The church indirectly teaches worship of man and tradition in place of observing the Greatest Commandment. There’s a head table where the exalted sit to have supper, the front row and obsequious honors are afforded those in the top of church hierarchy and “distinguished” guests. We’re supposed to belong to a local church, teach Sunday School, support staff and programs, and only leave the local church when and if leadership believes we should or can. God and Christ have been overlaid by so much extra-biblical nonsense that it’s hard to find Him underneath it all.

In the face of that, as Doug Hooley writes in his book Leaving the Church to Find Jesus, the Bible says salvation boils down to just three things:

• Hope in Christ

• Faith in Christ

• Love

From these three Biblical requirements have sprung hundreds of denominations, each with its unique set of additional rules and requirements for salvation.

You must or mustn’t speak in tongues. You must be dunked or dripped as an adult or infant. You must have faith in what you want, spit it and git it. Never-mind that Jesus’ actions are sufficient. You must be under the covering of a husband, pastor, or apostle. Women must know their place and certainly never ever preach to men. You must give to this one and that one to be blessed. And most recently, you must accept that the church and its messengers are the abiters of Christianity, patriotism, and liberty.

I believe in faith, hope, and love. The organized church has jumped the track. If fulfilling all of their unBiblical requirements is necessary, I no longer am a Christian.

And no longer am I a Republican. My former party has occupied the political field in a similar manner. Originally founded on certain principles, both Republican and Democratic parties have added to them a host of other requirements. Frankly, so many of them that I no longer recognize the party that I affiliated with as an 18-year old first time voter.

I signed on for this:

• Fiscally prudent representative governance (with citizen participation)

• The rule of law, justice

• Low (not zero) taxation

• Free markets

• Personal freedom and responsibility (tempered by common sense and compassion to those in need)

I still believe in these, I just don’t believe in the party.

The Republican Party in Idaho (and elsewhere) has jumped its track. It wants to enter the voting booth with us and make us follow the party line. Some would also now choose the Republican candidates for their members. Freedom? Liberty? Hardly.

The party is no longer recognizable as the one I joined almost 50 years ago. It’s preoccupied with purity tests and exclusionary moves to retain or regain dominance. It waves a blood red flag of Christianity while acting like a devil. It’s now purely about loyalty to the party. Kinda like the church.

So in 2023, I’m leaving both. I aim to find out what it means to be a follower of Christ without being in the church or being a Christian. To be committed to the principles I still believe in as a citizen of these United States without being a Republican or a Democrat. I don’t need to belong to either.

You may not understand, you may not support my decisions, but don’t doubt my intent. I’m not leaving my faith and or my patriotism. I’m leaving people and organizations who’ve added to those things I believe and know to be true. I’m declaring my loyalty to common sense and clear-headed thinking. I’m resolving cognitive dissonance between what I was taught and what I have learned. I will no longer argue with myself. Or you.