She had been reading her Bible.1 She had read it before, lots of times, but this time, something had changed. It was catching her differently.
“Can I talk to you?”
She was seeing some of the women in the Bible, this time around. Sarah, giving her slave, Hagar, to her husband, because she couldn’t get pregnant herself. (So many levels of wrong.) Leah and Rachel, unhappy, unless they had a plethora of sons to give them worth. Other stories of women who were seen as less-than.
“Is … is that what God wants? For women? I thought male and female were both created in the image of God.”
I sighed. “Ugh, I know, right? And what about the story of Esther? The king gets a different woman every night, and whichever one he likes becomes queen. What on EARTH?!”
She was visibly relieved. “Yes! So I’m not crazy for thinking these things?!”
I shook my head. We talked. About ancient patriarchal cultures. About parts of the Bible that are “what God says” and other parts that are “what happened anyway”. About Rahab, a prostitute, intentionally listed, not hidden away, in the genealogy of Jesus; and described elsewhere as a woman of faith. About Mary, sitting in the posture of a student - *gasp* as if she was one of the men, how inappropriate! - in order to learn from Jesus.
(He totally backed her, by the way.)
We talked about the strangeness of the early church, with its descriptor of “neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus”2 - a stunning and baffling statement of equality in a highly-stratified world.
And we talked about that moment at the empty tomb. When Jesus told Mary, “Go tell the men.” As if her voice carried weight, was a voice to be trusted.
Jeff and I visited Israel early in 2020. For many, it is a spiritual pilgrimage. I confess, though it was fascinating, it wasn’t that way for me.
Except at the garden tomb.
Hard to find, tucked behind a noisy bus station, cared for by volunteers. A small empty tomb, believed to be where Jesus’ body had been placed upon His death. As I emerged from it into the quiet garden, suddenly, so clear it seemed audible, silent but thunderous in its impact, I heard the statement, deep in my soul, “This is where Jesus gave women a voice.”
I told her.
She gasped.
I nodded, remembering the power of that moment.
“So …” she searched for words. “God isn’t saying to me, ‘Girl, sit down’?”
I leaned forward. “No way,” I said. “God is saying to you, ‘Girl, RISE UP!’”
She smiled. We talked some more. Laughed. Prayed. Hugged.
And why do I tell this story? Because … and pastors, this part is for you … I have been her pastor for several years.
I, a woman. Her Lead Pastor is a woman.3
And still, she wasn’t sure. She wasn't even sure if it was ok to ask. The messaging of previous churches and pastors had driven deeply into her that she should Be Quiet. Sit Down.4
And if she comes to my church, I guarantee that someone just like her goes to yours.
Tell her. I’m begging you.
Tell her that she is not less.
Tell her that no man mediates her faith.
Tell her that she can lead and speak up and learn. That, indeed, she must.
Tell her that she can hear the voice of the Spirit and share what the Spirit says to her.
Tell her that the church - her church (your church) - welcomes her voice, her experience, her gifts.
“Dear God, thank You for my sisters. I’ve often thanked You for my brothers, but this time, I thank You for my sisters. Women, invited to a seat at Your table. Help me to be one who pulls out the chair beside me, making room for the new one, the uncertain one. Help her to find her place, and her voice. Amen.”
Although I am not naming her, I am publishing this post having first obtained her permission.
This is a quote from the Bible, in a letter to a church in ancient Galatia, emphasizing the freedom and welcome of all who wanted to follow Jesus. Galatians 3:28.
No, I won’t argue online about this. If you are genuinely interested in this theological perspective, perhaps you might like to start here, and then follow the recommended reading from there. If you are part of our church and have questions, come and talk to any of us in leadership.
*ahem* “Go home,” as was once said. (if you know, you know!)
“So …” she searched for words. “God isn’t saying to me, ‘Girl, sit down’?”
I leaned forward. “No way,” I said. “God is saying to you, ‘Girl, RISE UP!’”
Love this.
Love it. Thank you!