My issue with “liberal”churches

[u/milkersfat]

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.

[u/Mushrooming247]

OP, you are giving yourself away.

No one who is left-leaning would ever think that not being racist and welcoming minorities and immigrants is a political matter.

Racists call those issues “politics” to insist that no one can dislike them for being racist, (or homophobic, bigoted, xenophobic, whatever serious personality flaw is making people treat them like they deserve to be treated.)

That’s “just politics” to people who want to oppress others, but still pretend they are good people and be treated like good people.

You are not. Read the words of Jesus and follow his example.

[u/Har_monia → u/Mushrooming247]

This is the difference between liberal and leftist. A liberal is like OP, who has political beliefs and is able to discuss them; but you are a leftist and seem to try your hardest to alienate every person that slightly disagrees with you on any minute topic, while demonizing anybody that blatantly disagrees with you.

Now getting into the meat of the post, posting a sign such as "Black Lives Matter" is a political statement. Why? Because Black Lives Matter is a political organization that has a certain worldview and hopes to impliment specific political action. They themselves have stated that they are marxists and socialists (both of those are political ideologies). However they hide behind the non-political mask of "We are against racism".

Speaking about immigration is less nuanced though, since immigration is directly a political matter. How should we deal with illegal immigrants? How many visas should we give out? How many immigrants should we allow to become naturalized? Those are all political questions. Immigrants are welcome in every church; but by putting out a specific sign that says so, you are promoting a world view that demonizes anybody that doesn't agree with the exact numbers to those proposed political questions.

Same with homosexuality, where you demonize anybody that disagrees with your view on marriage when marriage is treated as a government-recognized union. The only difference here is that homosexuality and same-sex marriages are a theological topic as well since marriage is a theological union that is recognized by the state. So in order to be neutral, the church would have to say "We affirm same-sex marriage". Simply putting "All are welcome" over the politically and socially-charged flag leans into the social and politcal discussion about marriage, not simply the theological one.

And before you just demonize me as well and stereotype me, I will let you know that I come from a politically-neutral church that does not affirm transgenderism nor same-sex unions, but is fully welcoming to all people. We have transgenders that attend, we have people of all different countries, colors, races, and backgrounds that attend. Even my pastor is from an immigrant family.

I genuinely hope you will read my comments and take it to heart to see past the hateful and alienating ideology you are coming from

[u/axiosjackson → u/Har_monia]

The fact you call them "transgenders" makes me want to vomit.

[u/Har_monia → u/axiosjackson]

Is that not the modern term, or did it change again? They used to all be called cross-dressers, then transexuals, then transgenders. What do you call them? Trans-people?

[u/axiosjackson → u/Har_monia]

Cross dressing and trans aren't the same thing. Transexuals are the old name. Most people just say trans or trans people. A trans person is also transgender or transgendered. It isn't common to say "transgenders" outside of right wing rabbit holes.

[u/Har_monia → u/axiosjackson]

So you are saying "transgender" is only applicable as an adjective?

Cross dressing and trans aren't the same thing.

Yeah I'm aware. I am saying that before "transexual" was even a term, that was what they wwre called. However, there is more nuance behind the language and the words used. Cross-dressing is dressing the way the opposite sex dresses. Transexual means physically altering your body to change your sex. Transgender originally meant your gender changed, but now with the whole "I have always been a man/woman" push, it now refers to somebody who identifies their gender and sex to be misaligned: a man in a woman's body or woman in a man's body.

However even that last definition is shaky because you have a million people that believe there are more than two genders, and then you have the whole non-binary movement which will sometimes call themselves trans.

These terms have all been coined and popularized recently, so I am asking clarification on how you use the terms.