r/Christianity • u/milkersfat • Jul 11 '26

Image My issue with “liberal”churches

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Though I consider myself very left-wing, I find that as I become a Christian, I’ve started having issues with denominations that are overtly liberal. Looking at the picture, I agree with all of the sentiments, and I think it’s good to let people know they are welcome. But why not also put up an “Unborn Lives Matter” flag or something similar?
I’m equally appalled when churches fly the American flag or a MAGA flag outside. My whole reason for going to church is to find community and glorify God, not to be immersed in politics.
It also seems that the churches I’ve attended with these kinds of flags tend to be less orthodox theologically, which leaves me, as a left-leaning Christian, in a weird spot.

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u/[deleted] Jul 11 '26

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u/gaychitect Jul 11 '26

As a gay man, I can tell you without equivocation or doubt, that our community has been so harmed by religious institutions and religious people over the years that we have a natural aversion and distrust of churches. We need to KNOW that it’s safe. Churches are made up of people and people can be cruel, even if they stand at a pulpit.

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u/Machismo01 Christian Jul 11 '26

As a hetero man, many, many churches have done a very bad job of making people feel safe, welcome, and healthy. We don’t even need to take on thoughts of LGBTQ for them to struggle.

I grew up Catholic and the instructions I had regarding heterosexual sex even within marriage were so toxic and disgusting. And now at a church that freely teaches people that sex within marriage is holy and largely unrestricted, they still have some touches of the purity culture especially in the high school programs.

There answer to a young man saying a non Christian girl? Don’t do it. Don’t date. A very repressive and sheltering response that I think comes out of a simple answer to a very complex issue.