Growing up as the oldest sibling in an Evangelical family is a large part of why I valued certainty so much growing up. I’m sure that my anxiety also had something to do with it.
I was good at deep dives and studying when I needed to be. And I wanted to be right and to have certainty as much as possible, so I researched a lot.
What I didn’t acknowledge, at the time, was how much I changed my mind. When the research showed something different than my presumption, and it wasn’t an earth shattering realization, I would easily change my mind. For example, learning about the real Anastasia. Not only was the movie version not real, but she likely was one of the last of her siblings to die a brutal death. Oof. That crushed my spirit for a good while, but it wasn’t earth shattering (or world view shattering).
But here are examples of 5 times where I realized that I was wrong. And it did feel earth shifting. I changed my mind,
The full version of this post cant be found at Read Real Reviews here. This post has been shortened significantly.
Since this is a heavier post, let’s start with a light one…
Number 1: Veggies Changed my Mind
Now this may seem silly. But part of my identity had been, for so long, being a picky eater. I didn’t realize until college that your taste buds changed constantly and you could learn to like other things.
*Bonus food lesson:
I didn’t like Nutella because I had never tried it. Once I did… um, it’s marvelous!! But I realize that there are people who will never like it because it’s nut based or chocolate. Nothing can please everyone.
Number 2: Gender
The term ‘binary’ in particular. In my small private high school I had to do a project on the circles of hell. I put post modernists in the first circle. And then my teacher told me that she was actually a post modernist and I changed my mind.
But it doesn’t end there. I thought that binary was just a droid language. One that C-3PO understands but prefers not to speak. I learned that it was a gender identity.
I’m so grateful for the work that Kathy Baldock has done on the intersection of the LGBTQIA community and Christianity. Here’s our review of the 1946 documentary that details that a little more extensively.
The people I know that belong to the LGBTQIA community deserve just as much as I do.
Number 3: Saving Babies
I once was so sold out to the pro-life movement that I became a missionary for it.
I was devastated to discover that our supportive church community was only truly supportive of the birth and adoption picture. If it was a five minute testimony, a fundraiser, or an adoption story- good to go. But otherwise, completely unsupportive and in some cases- harmful. I can’t fit all the disappointment into a paragraph.
I no longer subscribe to the pro-life movement. Because there is no part of my belief, morality, or experience that is OK with the harm that the evangelical movement has inflicted on kids in foster care. And the propaganda that tells me their parents deserve less than I do.
Turns out saving babies means supporting their births and lives. Not forcing people to give birth, pay for it, and punishing them for it socially.
Number 4: Sit Down, Don’t Stand Up
Before I began working at churches, I believed that they were being oppressed. But when I started working at the church, the math didn’t math.
I’ve heard again and again that it’s time for the church to stand up. To pick up the slack from government funding. But they can’t even fund their own local missions work, which is why they are considered non-profits… So how are they supposed to pick up millions and billions locally and internationally? I think it’s very important for the church to sit down. And figure out how the New Apostolic Reformation, 7 mountains theology, and nationalism have poisoned American evangelical culture and theology so much that dehumanization is acceptable and empathy is toxic. Standing up WITH businesses, other religious institutions, and government institutions to bind together the social safety net. Here’s a well written article by a modern theologian on this topic.
Number 5: Parenting
I was a really great one before I had kids. I also believed that it was all about sacrificing your life to raise more Christ followers. And I don’t believe that at all anymore.
Parenting is hard and good work. I don’t have to sacrifice myself or force Jesus on my kids.
I’m so thankful for all my education and trauma training. And for a true partner in the work of raising our kids.
What’s the point?
It’s a good thing to change your mind. Especially when you are presented with new information.
And maybe, like I have in the past, you voted Republican in this election cycle because you honestly believed it was the best choice for your family and the country. But you’ve changed your mind.
I voted straight ticket Republican in my first election because I believed it was the only moral choice. I was wrong. And the day that Oklahoma voted for a dentist for secretary of education over an educator was the day I realized voting straight ticket was irresponsible.
Groceries
You might have thought that grocery prices were going to be a priority. And didn’t realize that a tariff war most benefits the rich who can buy up all the stocks when it crashes. Source
Kids
You might have thought that children living would be a priority. Instead of cutting support programs for new parents. Raising day care costs. Cutting food and low income programs for kids in foster care. And taking significant chunks out of programs from Head Start to college admittance. Source 1, 2, 3, 4
Neighbors
You might have thought that your neighbors were a threat to your well being. Instead of realizing that our immigration system is very difficult and could take a person over a decade to navigate legally. That being undocumented is the same kind of offense as walking across the street without a crosswalk. That people are being kidnapped by deputized bounty hunters in face masks and gear anyone can get online, without the ability to even prove whether or not they are a citizen. That they would be breaking up drug rings instead of kindergarten graduation ceremonies. If you’re a Christian and struggling with this topic, consider the work Women of Welcome are doing. Consider donating to Catholic Charities and RAICES who are working tirelessly to care for our neighbors.
Jobs
You may have thought your job was threatened by low income people. Now realizing that your job is actually threatened by the billionaire CEO’s who want more money but don’t want to pay you more. The ones who are automating more and more with AI. The ones who don’t want to pay cost of living or healthcare. And then point to the mom working two jobs to afford rent who needs food assistance and tell you that she’s the enemy. While they try and get rid of your job so they don’t have to pay you.
Red Letters
Maybe you thought that Christian values would be leading this administration. But the red words of Jesus haven’t been honored at all. Empathy has been labeled as toxic, greed as honorable. And Nationalism has been inflated with an enticing false theology.
Here’s some red words that keep coming to mind…
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Matthew 25: 35-40
Merit
Maybe you thought that there needs to be more meritocracy. Instead of DEI. And didn’t realize that when the playing field isn’t leveled for everyone, the only people that get ahead are the ultra wealthy and those that pander to them. Or 22 year olds. (Source) And now you’re worried about your job again.
If this sounds like you. It’s even more important for you to contact your representative. Especially if you voted for them. Tell them this is unacceptable. Dehumanization is unacceptable. Pushing aside middle and lower class Americans is unacceptable.
Contacting your reps can be intimidating. But many of them have e-mails or online communication forms. They accept snail mail and post cards. Writing a simple paragraph is all that’s needed. Our voices do make a difference. You can find your representatives here. And the five calls app is helpful in knowing what to say if you don’t already have something in mind.
Learning and growth are not possible without accepting new information and changing our minds.
Sometimes changes aren’t life altering. Dehumanization doesn’t take as big a shift. It’s insidious. Easy. And in my opinion, it’s the most important thing to watch out for in an authoritarian situation.
What have you changed your mind about recently?
The full version of this article can be found on Read Reel Reviews, here!