Category: #politics

On why I marched…

Stephanie Belcher2 Comments

Today, I marched with 10,000 other Michiganders in the state capital of Lansing.

For the last few months I’ve tried to remain fairly benign about politics on social media.

I have friends on every range of the political spectrum, and I don’t want to alienate relationships over political differences. I wrote two blog posts around the election: one advocating for the kingdom above politics, and another advocating relationships over politics.

But today, I marched. It was my first time marching, and there was a lot to take in. So, I took pictures of the thousands surrounding me. The capitol stands in the backdrop of people standing together in unity for women’s rights.

Before posting pictures on social media, I thought about it for an exceptionally long amount of time.

Will this alienate my friends? What will people think of me?

I was worried people would think I am no longer trusting God, but that is not true. And I find that rationale weird. Christ spoke out when he believed things were wrong, and that did not mean He lacked faith.

I was concerned people would think I want Donald Trump to fail, but I do not. I live in this country, wanting our President to fail would be damning myself.

I was worried people would think my signs mean I love Hillary Clinton, and although she received my vote I have serious concerns about some of Hillary’s decisions.

I was worried people would think I was a crazy liberal, but I refuse to defend that because the accusation is so insulting it doesn’t deserve a real defense.

The more I thought about it, I disliked how defensive I felt.

I marched for two reasons: 1) I believe women deserve rights and 2) I believe the President of the United States should not be using Twitter to insult or shame people. Women are sexually harassed, assaulted, and abused at astounding rates, and I would like those rates to decline. The man that is now President has made terrible remarks about women. I believe that not acknowledging that those remarks are disrespectful and wrong makes it seems like there were okay to say, but they are not – especially by the leader of a country.

Then, the more I thought about it I felt angry. I’m angry that I feel like I need to defend myself when I have done nothing wrong. I held a sign in a crowd. I didn’t burn down a building or harm personal property. I didn’t personally attack Donald Trump or his family. I have not started believing anything I find contradictory to my faith.

We are fortunate to live in a country where we can peacefully protest. I have the right to state my opinion, and other people are allowed to disagree with me.

Today, I stand with the thousands of women who believe we deserve the right to be heard. My head is held high, and I am grateful for this opportunity.

Peace, love, and blessings to you all.

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Can you please stop saying I’m not a Christian…

Stephanie Belcher2 Comments

In the last several months, I’ve heard my brothers and sisters from every side call into question the faith of other Christian brothers and sisters. From every corner of the internet and in public spaces, I’ve heard people question how anyone can call themselves a Christian and…

  •          Vote Trump
  •          Vote for Hilary
  •          Oppose Trump
  •          Oppose Hilary
  •          Be pro-choice
  •          Be anti-abortion
  •          Support Syrian refugees
  •          Not help Syrian refugees
  •          Be a liberal
  •          Be conservative
  •          Support smaller government
  •          Support larger government

The list is endless. There seems to be some person stating they know the “truth” on every corner of the internet. If you want to back up your own point of view, you’re just a google search away. I’m pretty certain I could find some crazy dude with stats on why being racist is a Christian thing to do.

But that isn’t my point.

People enjoy fun ideas. They like hearing about concepts and dreams. But if you want to start a fight, try to hammer out details in a room full of people. The devil lives in the details.

There is one simple truth that spans across Christianity:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Everything else is a detail.

Wine at communion? A detail.

Drums in church! A detail.

Women in leadership. A detail.

International aid versus local? A detail.

Please don’t misunderstand me, details are important. I spend my live digging through details.

But in this – in this fight – what are we really fighting against?

Are we fighting to spread the word of God across all nations? Are we fighting to show people that Jesus has died for them? Or are we just fighting?

I like debates, and I like heavy discussion. But it seems to me like most of these fights aren’t over God’s truth, they’re over whatever we believe personally – with a Wikipedia page to back it up.

The real fight is not against each other, it is against the devil and evil and darkness. And right now, the devil is kicking our asses because we’re so busy fighting over the details. And the details, is where that poop stain likes to live.

For a while, can we stop fighting over these things?

For a while, can we stop calling into question the faith of our brothers and sisters? What purpose is that serving?

Can we take a step back from the details, and look at this big picture. The big picture where Christ died for all so we could be redeemed. The big picture where we are forgiven, if we too forgive. The big picture where we are all children of God, even if we disagree about the details.

 

On all these politics…

Stephanie Belcher2 Comments

I actually like politics. Nay – love it.

In college, I was on student senate all four years. My senior year I was President.

So I LOVE debates, but although I love them – I’ve been struggling recently.

On the Myers Briggs I’m an INTJ. INTJ’s are exceptionally rare, and are most scarce among women. My most extreme trait – is thinking. My colleagues and my friends took the MBTI, and among all of them I scored the lowest percentage for ‘feeling.’ So if you want a cold, calculating, rational, objective person – I’m your gal.

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On a practical level, this means that the majority of my decisions are based on thoughts and evidence, and not how I feel (although, it’s totally arguable that I just rationalize my feelings). Please note here that I’m NOT saying my way of thinking is superior to others; it isn’t. There are many valid ways to come to a decision. And this isn’t to say I never make decisions based on feelings. Two months ago I bought an inflatable donut because I just liked it; I try to allow myself 6 feelings-based decisions a year (let’s not get too crazy).

In regards to politics, this means that I’m fully capable of having a best friend that I totally disagree with on politics. And in reality – I do. One of my best friends – politically – is the complete opposite of me. I say tomato, she says tomato. But what we have in common is the fact that we enjoy debate, and can put feelings aside to engage in a thoughtful argument. I’m salivating just thinking about it.

The thing is, most people are not capable of putting their feelings aside.

And honestly – I can’t always do it. And I am scientifically the most rational person I know.

For the last few months, how people respond to politicians has seemed like a weird, hazy blur of irrationality to me.

I see what someone posts on Facebook, and all I can see is lines of hypocrisy.

Sally said: “This is just SO MEAN.”

Followed by…

Sally commented that: “These people are FUCKING IDIOTS.”

 OR

Jim said: “Hillary Clinton is SUCH a liar.”

Followed by…

Jim said: “Trump’s honesty will lead us to greatness.” (ahem… wha?…)

I’m not telling you how to vote here, because science has proven you wouldn’t listen to me anyways.

I am, however, tired of the hypocrisy. And the person I’m most tired of hearing it from – is myself.

I’m calling out Sally and Jim, but I’d be lying if I said I’d never written a scathing post or comment.

I say I’m rational. I say I’m evidence based. But when I think of why I dislike a candidate, its mostly based on a deep feeling. A deep feeling that they are X, and Y, and Z. And I don’t know what to do with that?

I want to trust these feelings. But I’ve seen how feelings play out on Facebook and in business, and usually…. It doesn’t end well. Yet here I sit – feeling pissed off.

Pissed off at the hypocrisy. Angry at people who aren’t doing what they said they would. And angry that the root of it all is a feeling, and not a thought derived from evidence. I mean – why do we even HAVE science?

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And I’m one of them.

And at this point, I always come to the same question: “What would Jesus want from me?”

Would he want me to write a comment tearing a brother or sister apart? Probably not.

Would he want me to tie a Bible verse to a political position? Unlikely (although I’d be REALLY good at it).

Would Jesus vote for Hilary, or Trump, or Jill, or Gary? That is impossible to be known.

I don’t have every answer (who does?). But I think what Jesus would want, is for me to love my brothers and sisters. He would want me to listen to them, and share my views – as kindly as I can. He would want me to forgive errors I see and to look hard within myself to understand my own failings.

And I think – he’d want me to try to feel as much love for my brothers and sisters – especially those I disagree with – as he would have for me.

Because at the end of the day, worshipping a false idol is just wrong (Exodus 20:3).

And at the end of the day, we’re called to love each other (1 Peter 4:8).

And at the end of the day, Jesus is The King (Revelation 17:14).

 I think and I feel that is true.

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So let’s just CTFO!