Strange Times

These are strange times.

Strange times to be living abroad as a white-Southern-American-woman. Strange times to be raising children. Strange times to be teaching theology. Stranger times still, trying to live out that theology.

I am finding this especially the case in the strangeness of continuing to call myself an evangelical. But this particular strangeness is what has prompted me to finally start this Substack…the morning I read that 72% of white evangelicals approve of the way that Trump is currently handling his job as president.

From where I am sitting, this current administration is working against the ways of Jesus (though the book I recommend below traces this out long before Trump). Thus, my concern is less about Trump and more about the nearly unwavering support of those who claim to follow Jesus (at least, this is what I consider to be what “evangelical” means) and still endorse his leadership. Endorsement, alignment, is a choice. But what does misalignment look like?

This is partially what I want to write about in this post and likely more to come. I think misalignment can take many forms and I don’t believe all of them need to be posted on Facebook, X, or Insta. In fact, those spaces may be the least likely spaces to see productive engagement as we often lose people’s humanity in those mediums.

Those spaces, at least for me, foster a sense of overwhelm. The problems just feel so large, so hopeless, and I feel so far away and futile in any of my engagements. Yet then I feel guilty for not saying something, and then guilty for feeling self-important that I would have anything meaningful to say. Then I return to thinking about saying something but then feel responsible to say something about everything!

So, despite all of that inner tumult and, frankly, fear—I have decided to start this blog and to keep it as a place of my own reflections. As an “opt in” space, I do hope it avoids some of the vitriol and dehumanization that happens in those other platforms. As reflections, I also want to write with an open hand. I may be wrong in what I write and I may change my mind. This is what I think today.

Ultimately, even if this is only for me to have a place to process, that will be enough. However, if it helps anyone else to not feel so alone, or know you are not crazy (or that there are at least two of us who are!), then this will be a “win.”

So, here are some simple misalignments that I am pressing into in my own life:

• Slowing down and meditating on Scripture and the Spirit’s work all around me. I begin the day with Lectio 365 which helps me to slow down and remember that the world spins with or without me. I am not God.

• Reading history that helps me understand how we got here, and especially Christianity’s (bi-partisan) entanglement with our past and present. [I would highly recommend Mark Charles and Soong-Chan Rah Unsettling Truths: The Ongoing, Dehumanizing Legacy of the Doctrine of Discovery (IVP, 2019)].

• Walking to work and, instead of listening to a podcast or calling a friend, praying for every home I pass that God’s peace and joy would permeate those places.

• Praying blessing over those who have misunderstood or maligned me, and that God would help me to love them with a genuine love.

I have no clue how regularly I will post in this space, but thank you for reading it regardless.