On the Word “Christian”
The word Christian has become complicated.
At its heart, the word simply means a follower of Jesus — someone seeking to live in the way of Christ, marked by love, humility, sacrifice, honesty, and care.
And yet, for many people today, the word “Christian” carries something very different.
Christianity and Political Identity
In recent decades, Christianity has become deeply entangled with political identity. In the United States especially, the word “Christian” is often associated with a particular political party or cultural stance.
For many, it signals exclusion rather than belonging. Power rather than humility. Control rather than compassion.
Historically, Christianity has at times been co-opted by institutions and individuals as a tool for dominance and authority. This reality cannot be ignored. It has caused real harm.
As someone who follows Christ, I grieve that.
Church Hurt and Christian Wounds
I have listened to many stories of church hurt.
Stories of judgment.
Stories of shame.
Stories of environments that felt rigid, unsafe, or misaligned with the loving intentions of Christ.
For some, even stepping into a church building can feel activating or overwhelming. That response makes sense in light of what many have experienced.
These wounds are real. They deserve tenderness, not dismissal.
Spiritual Bypassing in Christian Spaces
There is another dynamic that deserves to be named: spiritual bypassing.
Spiritual bypassing happens when faith language is used to avoid what is painful, complex, or unresolved. It can sound like:
“Just pray about it.”
“Everything happens for a reason.”
“You just need more faith.”
Instead of making room for grief, anger, doubt, or trauma, spiritual bypassing attempts to move quickly to resolution.
But following Christ is not about skipping over suffering. The Christian story itself is one of incarnation, lament, crucifixion, and resurrection. It makes room for tears. For questions. For not knowing.
When Christianity is used to silence pain rather than sit with it, something essential is lost.
Naming spiritual bypassing is not about rejecting faith. It is about honoring the depth of it.
Reclaiming the Meaning of Christian
For a time, this tension made me hesitant to use the word “Christian” to describe myself or my work as a spiritual director.
I wondered whether it would be easier to soften it. To use broader language. To avoid the term altogether.
But I’ve come to see something important:
When those who are sincerely trying to embody Christ’s way of love shrink back from naming their foundation, the word is left in the hands of those who distort it.
The solution to a distorted expression of Christianity is not silence. It is embodiment.
Following Christ is not about political dominance. It is not about cultural control. It is not about bypassing pain.
To follow Christ is to practice humility. To move toward the marginalized. To forgive. To tell the truth. To participate in “on earth as it is in heaven.”
A Contemplative Christian Foundation
My work in spiritual direction is rooted in the contemplative Christian tradition.
Contemplative Christianity emphasizes prayerful listening, humility, discernment, and attentiveness to the movement of the Spirit. It is less concerned with performance and more concerned with presence.
As a Christian spiritual director, my hope is not to persuade or argue. It is to embody a Christlike presence marked by:
Compassion
Curiosity
Non-judgmental presence
Deep listening
While I am grounded in following Christ, I do not require particular language or beliefs. I honor how each person names and experiences the Divine. Whether you speak of God, Spirit, Love, Higher Self, or something harder to articulate, your language will be respected in our time together.
I understand that many carry wounds around Christianity. I approach those wounds with care and without pressure.
At the same time, I will not hide the foundation I stand on.
I am a follower of Christ.
And I believe that following Christ, at its core, is about love.
Spiritual Direction for Those in Transition
If you are navigating faith shifts, church hurt, identity changes, grief, or vocational discernment, spiritual direction can offer a steady, grounded space to slow down and listen for the movement of God in your life.
My approach to spiritual direction is contemplative and non-directive. I hold open space for how you name and experience the Divine, even as I remain rooted in the Christian tradition.
You can learn more about my 1:1 spiritual direction offerings here.