The C Word

Today I was called the dreaded "C" word.

Conservative.

Note this: I'm not claiming that I am on the other hand "liberal." Quite frankly, I despise both labels, but for the sake of the story, and because these two labels are household expressions, I am reduced to using them.

I was recently in a conversation with some friends, one a believer and one not. The believer was asking me questions about my newlywed sex life. (Which, may I just interject here a resounding, "None ya business!") Apparently my answers were disappointing to this friend. That's when my non-believing friend piped in: "Well ___________ (insert name here), you have to remember Emily is a lot more conservative than you!"

I make the distinction between "believer" and "non-believer" only to point out that my defintion of conservative and my non-believing friends' definition of conservative are two very, very different things.

Needless to say I took this to heart. By "conservative" my friend was implying that I am a square (even as a married woman, set free to be able to sex up my husband any time that I'd like!) :)

Uncomfortable yet?

However, I find myself to be quite the opposite. The following are some reasons why people within the Christian community may find me (and my husband and my entire church for that matter) more on the liberal side:

• I take seriously the Gospels. When I see Jesus doing miracles and then commissioning his friends to go out and heal the sick, cast out demons, and raise the dead (Matthew 10:1-42 is one of my favorite stories ever) I really and truly believe that this applies to me. In this day. 2008.
• Two words: liberty and moderation (Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial.)
• Sometimes, sleeping in on a Sunday and spending some solid alone time in the Word is ok.
• I have worship moves... dance moves... and they're good too. :) (OK, that one is just a little on the silly side... but I've been told I do!)
• I believe that not all Republicans are Christians and not all Democrats are inherently evil.
• It's ok to never attain a two story house, three kids, and an SUV. In fact...
• It's ok to want your children to grow up in another country, being surrounded by new experiences and learning to love people with skin color that looks different from theirs.
• Electric drum sets never, ever sound good in a "contemporary" worship service. Never.

Call me a rebel. Call me conservative. Call me a believer in the man of Jesus Christ and the revolution that he brought with his dwelling on earth. Not a revolution of power and arms, but of a mindset that is always counter to the culture in which you find yourself.