Discrimination Within the Church: Where Do You Stand?
I sat in the large office we all shared while my male peers gathered into the pastor’s office, closed the door, and spent an hour playing video games and bonding. The laughter rang in my ears as I tried to focus on the project in front of me. But I couldn’t shake the feeling of isolation. In that moment, I was keenly aware of my gender.
Gender, race, and other biases are problems in the Church today. When we should be an example of unity we instead tear each other down with insensitive comments and careless actions. My hope is that as you’re reading this, you’ll open your heart and mind to this problem. Because even if you think you may not discriminate, you likely may be in flashes of thoughts and micro responses.
GENDER BIAS IN THE CHURCH
This has become a hot topic lately with John MacArthur’s recent comments regarding Beth Moore. You can read more and watch the video here. In it, he essentially tells her to “go home” and condemns women in leadership roles.
I’ll be honest in that I’ve enjoyed MacArthur’s commentary for many years. I haven’t agreed with him on some issues but overall I found some great theological insight from him. In fact, I’ve quoted him in my books.
But his recent comments regarding Beth Moore and women in the Church are not acceptable. When I heard him say, “Go Home” I had to hold back tears. As a woman, it deeply hurt to hear a brother in Christ say that about his sisters.
Don’t be mistaken: there was no love or kindness in his words. And it has fed disunity within the body of Christ.
There’s no doubt God has always and will always have an important role for women to play in the Church.
If you are a woman who desires to serve her Creator and people, know this: there is a place for you at the table. This world needs the giftings and passions God Himself put inside of you. You were not called by men, but by God.
And if you are a man, please, don’t be silent about the treatment of women in the Church. Stand up for your sisters when you see neglect and hurt. Ask for their input and contributions. Pull up a chair to the table. You have no idea how grateful we are when a godly man cheers his sister on.
Beth Moore, you are a trailblazer for so many of us. We can because you did. Thank you for your years of service in the Kingdom. We are better off because of your contributions!
Now personally, I’ve experienced this biased treatment, unfortunately, quite a bit in ministry. And it’s been this biased treatment that has deeply hurt me at times and caused deep wounds within me. In fact, I’ve had to go through counseling for this kind of mistreatment from my male peers within the church.
When I first started off in ministry, I was actually part of an amazing church that celebrated the gifts women brought to the table. I was given incredible leadership opportunities in my twenties and I never felt less than. My experience within that church honestly made me unaware that gender bias was even a problem within the church.
But then I left and have worked for several other ministries since then and I’ve experienced the exact opposite. Case in point, my opening story. I’ve also been hindered from leading a ministry well because the volunteer leaders appointed to help me were strong men who did not like working for a female pastor. On a regular basis, they bypassed me and would often work only with my male superior. They joked about the “boys club” but I can tell you one thing: myself and the female volunteers were not laughing. And it negatively affected the health of the ministry, and thus, the church.
And these are only two of several experiences I’ve encountered as a woman in ministry. I felt utterly worthless in that place. I felt I had no value. And I’m not the only one. Women all over the world still face limitations within the workplace, and the church, because they are perceived as less than. As the weaker vessel.
Heck no this isn’t’ true! The Bible talks often and respectfully of women and their role in the Kingdom. How many were used by God to lead, finance, prophesy, and more. And that’s just the ones we know about!
Miriam led a nation in worship. Deborah was a political leader in Israel during the time of the judges. Esther saved her people. Jesus shared deep, theological truths with Martha. It was women at the cross as Jesus died and women at the tomb when he resurrected. Phoebe, Junia, and Priscilla were influential in the early church as teachers, elders, and leaders. And even Paul references women in the New Testament who prophesied and led.
I’m going to post a very thorough examination of what the Bible says about women in ministry and leadership in my notes below. It’s a three-part series written by the Assemblies of God and I would encourage you to go to the podcast page and read through that material.
As far as some practicality to this issue, for the men, you can do so much to help your sisters.
Invite us into the room and bring us to the table.
Ask for our input and insight.
Create opportunities at all levels for our gifts.
Don’t be afraid to include us because you’re afraid of offending or creating an awkward situation. And certainly not be leaving us out gives the men permission to be a little more relaxed, so to speak, behind closed doors.
Show us the respect you would for any man. And if another man doesn’t speak about us the way God would, then disengage. Don’t excuse the behavior but instead be an advocate for us.
I can tell you it means so much when a brother has our back!
RACISM WITHIN THE CHURCH
Let’s be honest: I don’t have any personal experience with this and know very little about it. But it’s happening and our black brothers and sisters are feeling it.
I did a podcast show on this topic and within it, I interviewed my friend Charaia Callabrass. I would encourage you to go listen to it; it’s perhaps the most important show I’ve ever done.
She does share a few points that are very important and if you are white, I hope you’ll receive it with an open heart.
Don’t be afraid to start the conversation. I know we may sometimes be afraid to say something because we don’t want to make it worse or don’t know what to say. But Charaia says that staying silent is actually more hurtful. Even if you’re not sure what to say, that’s okay—just get the ball rolling. Show them that you care.
Evaluate your heart and mind. Sometimes white people may think they aren't prejudiced because we aren’t “as bad as that person.” But we may indeed have prejudices in our thought patterns that are so micro we may miss them. However, evaluate thoughts you might have about a black person. For instance, she shared that a friend’s friend was upset her son didn’t get a job and accredited it to the company hiring for diversity. Why would it be hard to imagine that the black person who got the job actually deserved the role? Take an honest evaluation of your heart and thoughts.
Intentionally raise a race-conscious child. As a parent, we have a responsibility to raise our children to be race-conscious. This includes shattering the myth about being color-blind; to see peopel’s color and appreciate the beauty in it. And welcoming black people into your home. Charaia shares these thoughts much more eloquently on the podcast, so go take a listen.
HOW SHOULD WE RESPOND TO DISCRIMINATION?
At the end of the day, the Bible says people will know us by our love for each other.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Honestly, I’m not sure if we (the Church) have been doing a very good job of it because the world doesn’t seem to be interested in the dynamics we have going on right now.
We criticize Kanye for proclaiming Jesus. Which, by the way, go listen to his new album JESUS IS KING because it’s straight-up fire. We cut down sisters in Christ and tell them to “go home” because we don’t agree with their theology. We gossip about each other within the church because of our own insecurities. We cast judgment on those unlike us because we’re afraid of our differences.
If it was purely based on our love for one another, I can see why those in the world have a hard time believing Jesus is King. Why would they want to be part of a community that seems to tear down more than build up?
Christians should be the most beautiful example of love. We should be the ones in the messiest of trenches, serving those who choose a path so radically different than the one we are living. We should be the first to extend hugs and words of encouragement. We should be the first to extend forgiveness and rejoice at repentance. We should be LOVE because that’s exactly who our Savior is and what He represents—denying self for the love of the Father and others.
I’m not talking about excusing sin (that’s a whole other topic), but we should be an example of how to love another human being. If we are known as a Jesus follower by our love for others, then we better start loving fiercely. That’s what will make us stand out in this hurting and broken world.
Will you be an advocate for love and equality? Will you join me in standing up for others within the church, at work, and in this crazy society we live in? I hope so.