“Some people have called me a rebel-rouser..” I explained to a colleague recently. She couldn’t contain her laughter at this statement. I may come across with comfortable with this identification, but you have to understand, I came from a background of striving furtively and desperately to obtain the label of “good Christian girl.” My conservative …
Why it’s hard for me to talk about my spiritual abuse… Read More »
I didn’t #PantsSuitUp yesterday on Tuesday to go and vote, but I did yesterday. I did because #Iamwithallthehers. I am with the hers who are shocked and disappointed because their candidate lost. I am with the hers in the LGTBQ community. I am with the hers of all races, nationalities, and ethnicities. I am with …
“This is the body of Christ broken for you. And Christ blood shed for you.” “Thank you, sweetheart…I mean pastor. Thank you, pastor.” As the older gentleman put the bread soaked in juice in his mouth, I smiled. This is what we need: self-correction, self-awareness. We need the simple acknowledgement that language that demeans and …
The release of the video on Friday that reveals the rape culture in America and the reason there are so many women who have stories of sexual assault, sexual violence, and rape was appalling to many. And in light of this video, there were many, many brave women who shared their stories. Stories of being raped, of …
I didn’t know I grew up in the Purity Culture. I didn’t realize that my age corresponded to a growing movement called True Love Waits that reached national attention right as I entered a conservative, evangelical youth group. I didn’t realize that for years and years the church governed mostly by men had been determining and …
Spiritual Abuse and Name Calling in the Purity Culture Read More »
I grew up in a faith community that strongly emphasized a purity culture. That emphasis resulted in a lot of shaming that still lingers in my heart and mind. Shame for wanting to express my innate sexuality that isn’t about just a physical act, but rather about stepping wholly and fully into who I was created …
For as long as I can remember, I had words floating overhead and in my head and around my head. But for a long time I didn’t have many words to share. I was an incredibly shy child. For a long time the words floating overhead were overwhelming, intimidating, and unreachable. I knew they were there. …
Two men were killed by police authorities this week. Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. If you are like me, you want to know how and why this happened because you can’t sit in the truth that this is the way the world is and this is the way the world will be because #blacklivesmatter. In …
Spiritual Abuse and Alton Sterling and Philando Castile Read More »
As I hear more and more stories of spiritual abuse, I am discovering that many people who are victims of spiritual abuse shy away from saying they experienced spiritual abuse. I understand their sentiments because to name yourself as someone who has experienced spiritual abuse is to identify a community of faith as a place …
I remember in seminary, discussing a case study in which someone was asking to become a member of Baptist church. In the case study, the person had been baptized as an infant and did not want to be rebaptized. This was rich fodder for us as future ministers because many of us were serving in …
