I am so disappointed.
When men use their power and their platform to reinforce unbiblical and unfounded stereotypes about leadership, women and our roles. If I have to watch one more dude describe a woman’s role to me based on poor interpretations of a few key verses without taking into account Jesus’ actions and attitudes and teaching on the topic I’m gonna scream.
So, yeah, I guess I am emotional. Which according to this latest dude is the reason men are called to lead (which is an outright #LFTD…!! And the fact that he–and other men in power–can’t see it causes me to question their actual knowledge and acceptance of the truth).
(BTW, #LFTD=Lie From The Devil.)
I mean, if you prefer to approach it logically, we can discuss if lust is an emotion. Or greed. Or the desire for power. Or anger. Or aggression. Because these predominantly male traits might lead one to think that men’s emotions OFTEN get the better of them, especially in leadership positions. But I guess that’s just my opinion as a woman, which to most of these men doesn’t really carry weight.
I’m just so disappointed.
That men can’t figure out how to define their own God-given gifts and identity (which is “masculinity” only in their eyes) without putting women in a box. Look closely. You’ll see that most of these guys’ guys build their platforms based on gender roles and responsibilities and their own “emotional” perspectives, without actually telling us what it means to be transformed into the image of Christ. My guess is they’ve never once studied, like actually studied, what Paul really meant and how Jesus actually empowered women in a time where women had no legal rights and were seen as property.
And woah to those who think Jesus was a man’s man, creating a fraternity of dudes called to rule the world in true bro style. Because the first person Jesus connected with, invited in and performed a miracle for was a woman. His closest friends and followers were women. He fought for and elevated and equalized women throughout his ministry, without putting them in their place, reinforcing societal or patriarchal norms, or denegrating them to strengthen his position as a leader. In fact, he did the exact opposite.
Jesus didn’t fear the feminine. Not in himself, or in the image of God as seen in these humans he created, or in the actual women he surrounded himself with. His true servant leadership never saw women as less-than, there to prop him up, or as objects of sexual conquest or gratification. Because he saw the divine in their femininity, and he did not teach that women needed to be led around by men.
So, I guess I’ll just deal with my disappointment once again.
My disappointment in a man whom I thought actually had something to say, but instead decided to use his platform to reinforce patriarchal norms and outdated understandings of gender, leadership and equality.
And the saddest part is, these men have no idea how alienating and divisive their own words are.
They will continue to attract the toxic males who see everything in black and white and leaves very little room for growth, honest dialogue and partnership. Which could actually change everything. These men who need to hear this the most would never take the time to read such a post from a woman. I would be labeled feminist, emotional and accused of misinterpreting the Bible, (which I’m not.). These men, I hate to say, would not be inner circle, Jesus-dudes. (yep, I said that.)
I guess what makes me the most angry is that men are practically handed a platform. As soon as they claim to love God and wear their Jesus t-shirt, the Church practically parts the Red Sea to make room for them, while women are marginalized, ignored and the victims of this male favortism. The assumption that men are natural born leaders, teachers, filled with wisdom and insight the rest of us (women) need is really getting old.
Oh, and by the way, is egotistical an emotion?
Just curious.