What is a Christian?

     I wander around the internet from time to time and enjoy reading articles and comments about a variety of topics.  Recently I found a page designed for those who have left the Church and/or Christianity.  I read many stories of hurt and anger as people shared their experiences of being misled, forced to believe outdated beliefs, and an overall sense that Christianity is an irrelevant faith.  One of the things that caught my attention was that many of the shared experiences were things that indicate some branches of Christianity, but don't represent all Christians.  Yet it became clear that among these comments was the belief that all Christians are perceived as the same. 
     It makes me sad, and angry, to know that the Church has become something that is perceived as manipulative, forcing people to believe specific things and behave in ways that can be hurtful.  For example, those who believe that the creation stories of Genesis are literally true are viewed as trying to force those who believe in science to reject scientific evidence.  There are plenty of Christians who see the creation stories of the Bible, yes there are two,  as poetic writing rather than historical documents.   For these less literal Christians, Scripture was written as a tool to help us encounter and understand God by looking for what a story shows us about God, inviting us to contemplate new thoughts, rather than as an operating manual that tells us what we have to believe.  
     Some have left the church because they see the beliefs of Christians as false mythology.  They would likely be surprised to know that there are Christians who agree that there is plenty of mythology in Christianity.  But that doesn't mean that it is all falsehood.  Mythology has been a literary means of wrestling with the world we live in and discerning truth.  Creation stories, flood stories, and others can draw people into conversation with historic voices helping them discern the nature and relationship we have with God, helping them discern truth.  
      At it's very core, the Bible is the telling of how human beings have understood God and a guide to understanding God's covenant relationship with creation.  Depending on the time and place of a biblical text, it is possible to find images of an angry, wrathful God who fights injustice and liberates his/her people.  But throughout the Bible there are images of a God who loves us and helps us live together in peace and love.  This is the heart of Jesus' life and teachings.  Too often, Christians have placed emphasis on believing in the virgin birth and the exclusive nature of  Jesus, resulting in those on the outside seeing Christians as exclusionary, self-righteous, and even cruel.  I don't think this is what Jesus intended when he founded his community.  But the voice of some has been drowning out the voices of Christians who believe that faith is more than a dogmatic code, but rather a pathway to living with God in a community of peace.  As a result, people are missing out on the opportunity to know a God of unconditional welcome and love that desires to dwell in community with us.  They miss the opportunity to work together for good with others.  They miss the opportunity to bring their questions and doubts and lay them on the table for fair and open conversation. 
     There are some basic expectations of Christianity that are important to Christian faith, but they don't necessarily look the same in every Christian community. Christianity is not a black and white organization.  It is my prayer that God will continue to speak through the Church, but more importantly, I pray that the work Jesus began will continue to thrive.  Jesus said that all who believe in him are to seek to live lives of justice, mercy, peace and above all, love.  May we find our way to the community Jesus intended rather than the faith community humanity has fabricated.  May those who have been hurt by the Church find their way to a community that heals and nurtures them.  
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