An Unfair Review of The Making of Biblical Womanhood by Beth Allison Barr I thought the title should just reflect what white evangelical critics of my work will probably call it. I’m all about the preemptive strike. So here goes... When I first heard about this book, the title made me hopeful. When I heard … Continue reading An Unfair Review
evangelical
A Seat at the Table
Could one famous pastor use his power for change? This past week’s discourse between ex-evangelicals and Presbyterian pastor & author Tim Keller has left me raw, emotional and resolute. It’s a mixed bag of emotions really. Memories from my past, conversations with pastors or bits of sermons have been floating through my brain as I … Continue reading A Seat at the Table
Why Power Dynamics Matter in Evangelical Spaces
There has been some interesting pushback on some of the responses to Beth Moore’s slow awakening, as it were. And I wanted to take a deeper dive into why this isn’t just a story of a woman in the patriarchy seeing the light for the first time. Beth is not an ordinary white evangelical woman. … Continue reading Why Power Dynamics Matter in Evangelical Spaces
On Today’s Episode of White Christians With Platforms…
Is Beth Moore really deconstructing? The world may never know. It was once said that white evangelical women are the foot soldiers of patriarchy. They put in the work, let me tell you. They write bible studies and Christian self-help books, they go on tour and preach to millions of women and teenage girls all … Continue reading On Today’s Episode of White Christians With Platforms…
One White Pastor vs A Generation of Leavers
It's the battle of the century, and no one is waving a white flag anytime soon. This series of tweets last week came as a barrage of sex-negative, heteronormative word salad from none other than Timothy Keller himself. Pastor, author, theologian, who in the past has not been quite so controversial in the Twitter-verse. He's … Continue reading One White Pastor vs A Generation of Leavers
Tackling Core Beliefs: Sin
Something I've been working on in therapy lately is addressing all the negative things I believe about myself. Those pervasive, absolute truths that provide our default way we feel about ourselves, and ultimately how we view the world around us. Being born into Christianity, some of our core beliefs about ourselves are formed by indoctrination. … Continue reading Tackling Core Beliefs: Sin
The Problem of Grace
"Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound) That sav'd a wretch like me!"John newton (1772) Evangelical Christians love to talk about grace. It’s this blanket word, used to comfort and also clobber believers. Not ready or willing to forgive your abuser? You need to offer grace. You made a mistake that caused real harm? Thank goodness … Continue reading The Problem of Grace
Longing To Belong (in the wrong place)
Well that escalated quickly. Yesterday a tweet I posted went as viral as I'll probably ever be, completely by accident. The funny thing is, anyone who knows me knows that I'm a happily married woman (to the same guy I was married to back when I was trying to be the perfect Christian wife). I … Continue reading Longing To Belong (in the wrong place)
Dear Church, Culture is Not the Enemy.
We hear this term a lot in church lingo, its part of “Christianese,” if you will. This idea of “culture” and giving into it. That culture is the enemy of bible believing Christians. And what they really mean by “culture” is; secularism. Culture to them, essentially means living your life outside the church community while … Continue reading Dear Church, Culture is Not the Enemy.
My Spiritual Deconstruction: Part 1
The Early Years Before I get started, let me emphasize my parent’s love for their kids and how they shaped our family in a way I’m grateful for. I do not see them as the enemy or the direct result of my leaving evangelicalism behind. They were evangelized themselves. Found refuge in the church from … Continue reading My Spiritual Deconstruction: Part 1