There have been so many preachers and teachers that I’ve followed over the years that have recently shown themselves to be extremely racist and bitterly disrespectful to women.
“Christian” convention says I should “eat the meat and spit out the bones”, so to speak. That I should look past their behavior because the message is what is important.
However. As a Black woman, how am I supposed to receive their message while overlooking the facts that they don’t think I’m “smart enough” or worthy of their “Gospel”? In their minds and hearts this good news they preach is only for those who look and sound like them.
God the Father was and is not a respecter of persons. In Him there is no Jew or Greek, male or female, race or creed. His message is Truth and applies to everyone, everyone who believes.
So how have I reconciled this?
I have dropped them like the false teachers and prophets they are. If you are preaching one thing but producing the fruit of another thing, I DON’T HAVE TO LISTEN TO YOU. I don’t have to follow your ministry. I don’t have to understand your human frailty and lack of empathy and understanding. I don’t have to accept your racism and misogyny. I don’t.
So I won’t.
If I only have to follow one ministry, the ministry of Jesus Christ Himself, for the rest of my life, I’ll be golden! Yes men are fallible. I’ll be the first to tell you I’m the chief of fallibility. BUT if I find myself being challenged by the Word or my brother or sister in Christ that tells me I’m walking in error, I’m going to go, repent, repair and rise above that mistake or shortcoming. I’m not going to double-down on my sin and refuse to accept correction from my Father.
For those of you who say im being judgmental, YEP. I sure am. I’m using the good and sound judgment and wisdom that Abba has given me to navigate what is right and what is wrong. I don’t care how famous your ministry is, how many books you’ve written and what your congregation is made of. If you are racist, bigoted and hate-mongering against minorities and women, you’ve lost my support and respect.