On my 13th birthday, my well-intended parents took me out to a fancy waterfront restaurant, where they announced that I was becoming a young lady, and it was time for “the talk.” It was a super awkward affair that essentially boiled down to “Don’t have sex until you get married.”
So sorry for the harm done to you in childhood and subsequently in your later teenage years. Your story confirms that God weeps and is angry about a paternalistic power culture in the church that silences the concerns of women and their very important voice. And He calls you His beloved as you have bravely fought for wholeness and goodness. Keep speaking.
As an independent Baptist Church Pastor, your article and experience breaks my heart. This battle of belittling women and degrading them is so rampant in the circles I come from and often still run in. The peer pressure on Pastors, silences them. I pray for you and the many women I meet that have been devastated by the church. Thank you for not quitting on Jesus.
Thank you for writing this. I read the TGC article and was grossed out and discouraged. You articulated the issues so well. I think some of this stuff is so ingrained in Christian culture that it’s hard for some people to see.
As someone planted in complementarian circles, and who remains because I've actually seen so much humility and strong stands against abuse from young men -- mostly in some of the rural churches -- AGREED 100%!!! .....Ironically it's so many grown men who have been living out a rebellious spirit. On the whole I still see men generally being imbued by God with a certain directionality of leadership, a generative, creative, building, dragon-slaying ability that differs from our awesome nurturing creativity in ways that I have yet to express... that energy has to be channeled in Godly ways. ***I groan inwardly when people try to write off complaints about many males' sex-obsession, abuse, violence and tyranny as simply 'angry/illogical feminism' -- it is so wrong. So so off-base and so wrong.***
We as women are grieved -- so many of us traumatized by men in the church -- and accountability is part of the healing regimen for us all, men and women. God bless you for writing this! I believe many men are quietly listening. May they reflect prayerfully on their sisters, wives, mothers 🙏
Thank you for naming and putting into words the forces I have come against as a female leader for decades and still have trouble articulating. The sexualized objectification of women who are told to submit is rampant and has not been calmed. I'm very concerned for the Evangelical church that continues this narrative.
Purity Rings, John MacArthur, and That Wretched TGC Article
God love you, Kaeley. We've lived different lives, but we have so much in common. Never quiet down. Never "go home."
Wow. You articulated the problem so well. Thank you for writing it.
Excellent article!! The “patriarchy” is falling!
Your story could be my wife's. Thank you for the courage to write it
So sorry for the harm done to you in childhood and subsequently in your later teenage years. Your story confirms that God weeps and is angry about a paternalistic power culture in the church that silences the concerns of women and their very important voice. And He calls you His beloved as you have bravely fought for wholeness and goodness. Keep speaking.
As an independent Baptist Church Pastor, your article and experience breaks my heart. This battle of belittling women and degrading them is so rampant in the circles I come from and often still run in. The peer pressure on Pastors, silences them. I pray for you and the many women I meet that have been devastated by the church. Thank you for not quitting on Jesus.
Thank you for writing this. I read the TGC article and was grossed out and discouraged. You articulated the issues so well. I think some of this stuff is so ingrained in Christian culture that it’s hard for some people to see.
Best I’ve read on the matter, thank you!!!
James 2:13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
This should be a fearful verse to a good many men in Christendom. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, experiences, and observations.
Excellent article! Thank you for voicing the story and frustration of many of us.
This is beautiful. Thank you for writing this.
Dropping 🔥🔥🔥🔥
God bless you. And bless you and bless you and bless you.
As someone planted in complementarian circles, and who remains because I've actually seen so much humility and strong stands against abuse from young men -- mostly in some of the rural churches -- AGREED 100%!!! .....Ironically it's so many grown men who have been living out a rebellious spirit. On the whole I still see men generally being imbued by God with a certain directionality of leadership, a generative, creative, building, dragon-slaying ability that differs from our awesome nurturing creativity in ways that I have yet to express... that energy has to be channeled in Godly ways. ***I groan inwardly when people try to write off complaints about many males' sex-obsession, abuse, violence and tyranny as simply 'angry/illogical feminism' -- it is so wrong. So so off-base and so wrong.***
We as women are grieved -- so many of us traumatized by men in the church -- and accountability is part of the healing regimen for us all, men and women. God bless you for writing this! I believe many men are quietly listening. May they reflect prayerfully on their sisters, wives, mothers 🙏
Deenah Joseph
Thank you.
Thank you for naming and putting into words the forces I have come against as a female leader for decades and still have trouble articulating. The sexualized objectification of women who are told to submit is rampant and has not been calmed. I'm very concerned for the Evangelical church that continues this narrative.