Things To Leave in 2016: Christianity Edition.

Things to Leave in 2016

• Using Christianity to defend homophobia. At this point we have reevaluated the significance behind Levitical Law and also the importance of procreation and life. If you justify homophobia through biblical text but fail to acknowledge why contraceptives and murder are equally threatening based on the same interpretation used above then there is a problem.
• Using Christianity to excuse misogyny. Even considering the reality of women not being seen as equal to men in many areas of the bible, some of the most significant female images are present. Women were the first evangelists of Christ and the last to be created in the creation story. Time and time again we have been chosen by God. Misogyny is corny.
• Deborah- arguably one of the greatest judges.
• Yael- the woman who killed Sisera, opposing military commander against the Israelites.
• Rahab- supported Joshua's spies investigating the Kingdom of Jericho even when her life was threatened.
• Esther- Queen (and wife of Xerxes) who protected the Jews from genocide. 
• White Jesus. Representation does matter and when we glorify an image and call a foreign figure our Savior, we further the enslaved conditioning of a White Male who will make us safe. If there is one thing we have seen in 2016, it is that White Men have generally been more of a threat to the quality of life of POCs in the U.S. than anyone else. You know it's real when I add a link to my blog. 
• "Christianity is Not African". Honestly, you can look up Thomas Oden. He has two significant books, How Africa Shaped The Christian Mind, and Mark the African. The gospel of Mark was written by an African man, something we fail to discuss. Also the women are Rahab, Tamar, and Bathsheba. Kelly Brown Douglass also makes a very clear argument for Mary', mother of Jesus', blackness as well in The Black Christ.  
• Pastors that do not use their prophetic voice. If we are to remain silent in the face of oppression, we are giving power to the oppressor. In 2017 we believe in, see something say something.
• Pastors dont seek new information. Just because you are out of seminary does not validate being lazy. We cannot afford to be stagnant in teaching the Good News to communities that are continuously challenging each other.
• Using Christianity to shame women. Women do not belong to you. Women have agency over their own bodies. It should not be up to the pastor or the congregation to determine whether or not a woman should be able to worship with you due to their paternity status or how they dress. Virginity is a social construct and respectability politics in the church are corny. Respectability politics haven't stopped the Deacon from hitting on the Vicar now has it. 
• Prosperity Gospel. This just gotta go.

#ReclaimMissionary