An Evangelical's Apology

Before you read: I’ve been wrestling with these words for over a week now.  Language is difficult and delicate.  These words, once made public, become permanent, but the thoughts, emotions, and even knowledge behind them are very fluid.  So I hope that you will have some grace for these words as I know they are imperfect, but they are the best that I have for now.

Hello.

For those of you I haven’t met, my name is Dan.  I am a 32 yr. old, white, American-born male.  I am also an evangelical Christian.  And I need to apologize to you.

I’ve woken up every morning since the election with a heavy heart, deeply saddened by the direction this country is heading.  This is not because I place my faith or hope in a government, person, or any construct of people.  My hope is in God alone and I know that He is still sovereign and nothing that happens in this world will change that.  But my heart laments and grieves over what this means for this country, what it says about the current moral and ethical fiber of this culture, and specifically the message clearly sent by “evangelicals” and the American church.

Through actions, words, and votes, an overwhelming portion of the church has communicated that racism, xenophobia, religious intolerance, sexual assault, the denigration and objectification of women, hatred, exclusion, greed, arrogance, slander, selfishness, violence, and utterly offensive behavior on all fronts are all acceptable or even celebrated.  That as long as Christians get the protections and freedoms that we want, we are not concerned with making sure anyone else has the same.  This directly contradicts and opposes the gospel of Jesus, which is of love, forgiveness, justice, and mercy, and it absolutely breaks my heart.

I grieve knowing how you must feel.  I am deeply troubled, saddened, and angered by the hateful, vicious, and unloving way that our president elect and many people bearing the label of Christian have acted, spoken, and voted over the past months and years.  I am sorry for the frequent narrow-mindedness and ignorance.  I am sorry that issues such as abortion and/or Supreme Court Justices were placed above and against making sure you knew you are loved and cared for.  I’m sorry that we do not love our neighbors like ourselves and that many people who consider themselves evangelicals care far more about their own security and prosperity than they do yours.  I am sorry that you now are likely facing fears and uncertainties about what human rights or privileges may be taken away from you in the coming years.  I grieve that many of you may now be worried about being separated from family or losing incomes.  I’m sorry that the church has largely done such a poor job of welcoming people in and instead has stood in judgement or condemnation.  I am sorry for the fact that right now, many of you probably feel like Christians and possibly God do not care about you.  And for whatever part I have played in contributing to any of this, I am sorry.

I want you to know that these things are not the heart of God.

No matter what errant message you may be receiving right now from a lot of Christians, you are absolutely loved by God and by people truly following him.  God created you in His own image.  He is for you.  He longs to heal those who are sick and restore what is broken.  He does not condemn.  He loves you, cherishes you, and offers you the same love, grace, forgiveness, peace, joy, and place in His Kingdom that he offers to every believer.

The church is made up of very broken, flawed people.  I am one of them.  That Jesus died so wretched, undeserving people could have eternal life is the very foundation of Christianity, yet we Christians so often forget that we are still broken.  We become selfish or prideful, failing to reflect the undeserved love, grace, and forgiveness that Christ mercifully gives to us.  And right now, we’re as guilty as ever.  We need your grace and forgiveness.

Fortunately, God’s heart does not change based on the screw-ups of His followers.  His love, grace, sovereignty, and plans are not altered when we misinterpret them or go rogue.  So despite being supported by an overwhelming majority of Christians (polls estimate that 81% of white evangelicals voted for Trump), the words and actions of Donald Trump and many of his supporters are not reflections of what it looks like to follow Jesus.  And there are Christians and churches out there who don’t agree with or accept the prevailing sentiments coming from the church or our culture and are every bit as frustrated and disheartened by what is happening as you are.  We are imperfect, but we’re committed to praying through times of struggle, humbling ourselves, serving others, opening our doors, showing the love of God to everyone, and listening to God for how He wants to heal and restore this broken world.  And we are here to love you and stand with you and for you during whatever comes.

I know these words fall short of providing any real peace or healing, but if you want to talk through anything, I am here.  If you need a hug or a shoulder to cry on, I could use those as well.  If you have fears, I will walk with you.  If you have any questions, I will do my best to patiently and humbly answer.  And if you are angry, hurt, or upset and just want to vent your frustrations with the church/Christians, I will listen.  God loves you and He is 100% for you, and I am as well.