Am I "too Liberal?"

Is there even such a thing as being "too Liberal?" And since when did the labels "Conservative" and "Liberal" get bad connotations? When did a word that means "free; marked by generosity; open-handed; broad-minded; not literal or strict" become a bad thing? By the same token, a word that means "marked by moderation or caution;marked by or relating to traditional norms of taste, elegance, style, or manners" become a bad thing either?

Why is it that people are apalled when they learn that I am a "LIBERAL?" And that I am a LIBERAL CHRISTIAN, at that. Why do people ask me "how can you be a Liberal AND a Christian?" Why did someone tell me today "You can't be a Christian, you're too Liberal."

Is it that Liberals are seen as too open-minded to accept or believe in the concept of Jesus Christ being the Messiah? Or is it that Christians have earned a repuation of late for being intolerant and close-minded, and there couldn't possibly be any Christians who aren't that way?

Where is the happy medium? And am I "too Liberal" for my Church? And how do you decide if the Church you are attending is the right fit for you? Let's examine this closer, shall we? You see, since I was younger I have felt "called" to be in a Leadership position (at work, in life, and especially at Church). I grew up in a Church that did not frown on women in Leadership roles, but rather accepted that as a fact : God calls women, so we'll let women be leaders. The conflict began in High School, because I didn't feel that the youth group was "Spiritual" enough for me. (And really, they weren't -- people were more concerned on "hooking up" on weekend retreats/camp/etc and less concerned with "filling up" on God.) So, I began going to a different Church entirely, with a different set of beliefs (doctrine) than I was raised with. It was at this Church that I met my husband, it was at this Church that I finally felt I belonged. EXCEPT for that one nagging problem : women can't Leadership roles. Is this a huge problem? Yes. It is an issue that I struggle with, and have struggled with for some time. Is it so large an issue that I have considered leaving the Church? Not really, but I have to admit that the attitude of many women at the Church (the attitude of "I have to have my husband's permission because he is the boss of me" and "women can't be leaders, it's wrong and goes against the Bible") really gets to me, because until the WOMEN decide to unite and take a stand, we will never be allowed to lead.

But I digress.

Am I too Liberal? And why do I dread telling people that I am? Is being a Liberal really that bad? Let's look at how I feel about certain "social" issues, shall we?

Abortion : I feel abortion as a means of birth control is evil, and I feel that abortion in the case of medical or emotional necessity is not wrong in the slightest. I do not feel that I could be strong enough to make that decision, and am thankful that I haven't been faced with it. HOWEVER, I also feel that it is not my place to tell another woman what she can or cannot do with her own body, because I DO feel that it is a woman's right to choose.

Death Penalty : I am so mixed on this, because I feel like we're playing God by deciding when people (albeit bad people) die. However, it is a form of punishment and when someone breaks the law they know it is a possibility. I just hate that it is so final, and if the person is later proven innocent then they were put to death for no reason, and whose head is that on? Having never been faced with the decision to put someone to death, I can honestly say I do not know how I would vote if I were a juror in a Capitol case.

Homosexuality : I believe a person is born this way. As to whether or not it is a sin, I do not have the authority to make that call. I DO know that while the Bible is supposedly "clear" on the subject, there are flaws and questions about the translation. The KJV of the Bible does not say "homosexuals" in the New Testament, but later editions of the Bible do. Is this because King James was supposedly a homosexual, and they wanted a more "King friendly" version of the Bible? I doubt this very seriously. It is more likely that the issues with the words themselves is more probable. Instead of "homosexual" it has been suggested that the word Paul uses is "male prostitute - one who sells himself to women" but will we ever know for sure? Maybe, but most likely we won't until we get to Heaven and I'll be sure to ask. In the meantime, I believe that homosexuals deserve the right to be happy and if that includes partnerships sanctioned by their respective state/federal governments, then so be it.

Stem Cell Research : DO IT! It can save lives, and can redeem lives that otherwise would have been lost. Enough said.

The War in Iraq : I don't understand why we went there in the first place, but I do understand why we're still there. Doesn't mean I agree with it. And I support the troops, I just hate the fact that they are over there in the first place. I want them brought home safely ASAP.

The President : I didn't vote for him the first time and I didn't vote for him the second time. I feel there was a better choice out there (not that John Kerry was the best choice necessarily, but he was, IMHO, a MUCH better choice).

My Political Affiliation : Independent. I vote for the best person for the job. I suppose I am left-leaning because more of what they believe in lines up with what I believe in. That doesn't mean that I wouldn't vote for a Republican if the person moved me to vote for them. I will be honest with you, if John McCain had been running for President I would have voted for him over John Kerry. I like his politics.

So, I submit to you : am I too Liberal?