what I have to share existing conflict with many popularly held beliefs of
with many popularly held beliefs of
with many popularly held beliefs of faith and justice my heart beats for
faith and justice my heart beats for
faith and justice my heart beats for justice and equality for the value and
justice and equality for the value and
justice and equality for the value and dignity of all people regardless of
dignity of all people regardless of
dignity of all people regardless of nationality age gender sexual
nationality age gender sexual
nationality age gender sexual orientation or religious belief and it
orientation or religious belief and it
orientation or religious belief and it is because of this conviction that I
is because of this conviction that I
is because of this conviction that I choose to identify myself as a feminist
choose to identify myself as a feminist
choose to identify myself as a feminist unapologetically I didn’t always
unapologetically I didn’t always
unapologetically I didn’t always associate myself with feminism and a lot
associate myself with feminism and a lot
associate myself with feminism and a lot of people asked me why don’t I just call
of people asked me why don’t I just call
of people asked me why don’t I just call myself a humanist and although I will
myself a humanist and although I will
myself a humanist and although I will always stand for all people I choose to
always stand for all people I choose to
always stand for all people I choose to say feminist in the same way that we
say feminist in the same way that we
say feminist in the same way that we choose to say black lives matter because
choose to say black lives matter because
choose to say black lives matter because there are some people within our society
there are some people within our society
there are some people within our society that face disproportionate rates of
that face disproportionate rates of
that face disproportionate rates of oppression and so we choose to use our
oppression and so we choose to use our
oppression and so we choose to use our influence to stand with them to make
influence to stand with them to make
influence to stand with them to make things better now for me this isn’t a
things better now for me this isn’t a
things better now for me this isn’t a political statement
political statement
political statement although sometimes it pushes me into the
although sometimes it pushes me into the
although sometimes it pushes me into the realm of politics or directs the
realm of politics or directs the
realm of politics or directs the lifestyle choices that I make on a daily
lifestyle choices that I make on a daily
lifestyle choices that I make on a daily basis and just to be clear being a
basis and just to be clear being a
basis and just to be clear being a feminist does not mean that I wish to
feminist does not mean that I wish to
feminist does not mean that I wish to push down or talk poorly of men in fact
push down or talk poorly of men in fact
push down or talk poorly of men in fact it is just the opposite I work for the
it is just the opposite I work for the
it is just the opposite I work for the Equality and the unity of all people on
Equality and the unity of all people on
Equality and the unity of all people on the very basis of their human dignity
the very basis of their human dignity
the very basis of their human dignity nothing more nothing less
nothing more nothing less
nothing more nothing less now people come to an understanding and
now people come to an understanding and
now people come to an understanding and a self-identification of feminism
a self-identification of feminism
a self-identification of feminism through many different journeys and all
through many different journeys and all
through many different journeys and all different belief systems for me it was
different belief systems for me it was
different belief systems for me it was Jesus that made me a feminist
Jesus that made me a feminist
Jesus that made me a feminist and I understand that this might be
and I understand that this might be
and I understand that this might be surprising to some so please let me
surprising to some so please let me
surprising to some so please let me explain from a very young age I was
explain from a very young age I was
explain from a very young age I was raised in a home that seeks to follow
raised in a home that seeks to follow
raised in a home that seeks to follow Jesus but in my adolescence I was very
Jesus but in my adolescence I was very
Jesus but in my adolescence I was very deeply hurt by local leaders within our
deeply hurt by local leaders within our
deeply hurt by local leaders within our local church and this experience which
local church and this experience which
local church and this experience which hit very close to home set me on a
hit very close to home set me on a
hit very close to home set me on a course of evaluating what I truly
course of evaluating what I truly
course of evaluating what I truly believed and why I researched many
believed and why I researched many
believed and why I researched many different religions and many different
different religions and many different
different religions and many different philosophies but in the end I found
philosophies but in the end I found
philosophies but in the end I found myself right back where I began with
myself right back where I began with
myself right back where I began with Jesus but this time I was encountering a
Jesus but this time I was encountering a
Jesus but this time I was encountering a side of Jesus that I had never seen
side of Jesus that I had never seen
side of Jesus that I had never seen before and I was absolutely fascinated
before and I was absolutely fascinated
before and I was absolutely fascinated with what I found I found that there are
with what I found I found that there are
with what I found I found that there are many things within his life that were
many things within his life that were
many things within his life that were extremely culturally relevant today
extremely culturally relevant today
extremely culturally relevant today being born to an uneducated adolescent
being born to an uneducated adolescent
being born to an uneducated adolescent mother of a racially oppressed people
mother of a racially oppressed people
mother of a racially oppressed people group throughout his life he
group throughout his life he
group throughout his life he consistently empowered and uplifted the
consistently empowered and uplifted the
consistently empowered and uplifted the voices of women at times even taking
voices of women at times even taking
voices of women at times even taking personal Direction under the leadership
personal Direction under the leadership
personal Direction under the leadership of women which was completely
of women which was completely
of women which was completely countercultural for a man to do at the
countercultural for a man to do at the
countercultural for a man to do at the time he educated women alongside and as
time he educated women alongside and as
time he educated women alongside and as equals to men placing them in positions
equals to men placing them in positions
equals to men placing them in positions of leadership within his work
of leadership within his work
of leadership within his work interestingly in one historical document
interestingly in one historical document
interestingly in one historical document it is actually a woman who first
it is actually a woman who first
it is actually a woman who first identifies Jesus as Messiah and after
identifies Jesus as Messiah and after
identifies Jesus as Messiah and after Jesus is crucified it is two women whom
Jesus is crucified it is two women whom
Jesus is crucified it is two women whom he reveals himself first and asked them
he reveals himself first and asked them
he reveals himself first and asked them to spread the good news of his
to spread the good news of his
to spread the good news of his resurrection
resurrection
resurrection but his radical nature didn’t end then
but his radical nature didn’t end then
but his radical nature didn’t end then it wasn’t directed solely towards the
it wasn’t directed solely towards the
it wasn’t directed solely towards the liberation of women but for all people
liberation of women but for all people
liberation of women but for all people he fed the hungry healed the sick valued
he fed the hungry healed the sick valued
he fed the hungry healed the sick valued those with disabilities and he condemned
those with disabilities and he condemned
those with disabilities and he condemned a materialistic nature that worships
a materialistic nature that worships
a materialistic nature that worships money and wealth in
money and wealth in
money and wealth in I often wonder in light of the current
I often wonder in light of the current
I often wonder in light of the current refugee crisis what would Jesus say or
refugee crisis what would Jesus say or
refugee crisis what would Jesus say or would he side with a specific political
would he side with a specific political
would he side with a specific political party questions that I asked myself what
party questions that I asked myself what
party questions that I asked myself what I do know is that he consistently
I do know is that he consistently
I do know is that he consistently offended the value of those who are most
offended the value of those who are most
offended the value of those who are most vulnerable in our societies the widow
vulnerable in our societies the widow
vulnerable in our societies the widow the orphan the immigrant the refugee
the orphan the immigrant the refugee
the orphan the immigrant the refugee among us making clear the justice and
among us making clear the justice and
among us making clear the justice and right living was at the core of his
right living was at the core of his
right living was at the core of his message and he had no problem calling
message and he had no problem calling
message and he had no problem calling out the religious hypocrisy of the day
out the religious hypocrisy of the day
out the religious hypocrisy of the day this hierarchy that would pick and
this hierarchy that would pick and
this hierarchy that would pick and choose who was worthy and who was not
choose who was worthy and who was not
choose who was worthy and who was not instead everyone was given a seat at the
instead everyone was given a seat at the
instead everyone was given a seat at the table everyone has value everyone had a
table everyone has value everyone had a
table everyone has value everyone had a place to belong I came to the conclusion
place to belong I came to the conclusion
place to belong I came to the conclusion that Jesus is for justice of all people
that Jesus is for justice of all people
that Jesus is for justice of all people and was actually one of the originators
and was actually one of the originators
and was actually one of the originators of the women’s liberation movement and
of the women’s liberation movement and
of the women’s liberation movement and while the early church lived this out so
while the early church lived this out so
while the early church lived this out so beautifully the next 2,000 years of
beautifully the next 2,000 years of
beautifully the next 2,000 years of church tradition unfortunately did not
church tradition unfortunately did not
church tradition unfortunately did not follow and I honestly don’t know where
follow and I honestly don’t know where
follow and I honestly don’t know where in history this shift took place but
in history this shift took place but
in history this shift took place but even today there are some churches and
even today there are some churches and
even today there are some churches and some individuals that are phenomenal at
some individuals that are phenomenal at
some individuals that are phenomenal at lifting up women’s voices and putting
lifting up women’s voices and putting
lifting up women’s voices and putting women in positions of leadership and
women in positions of leadership and
women in positions of leadership and there are that some that are just not
there are that some that are just not
there are that some that are just not there yet and as a woman with roots in
there yet and as a woman with roots in
there yet and as a woman with roots in the church it is this tension that I’ve
the church it is this tension that I’ve
the church it is this tension that I’ve personally struggled with for many years
personally struggled with for many years
personally struggled with for many years on many occasions I have been overlooked
on many occasions I have been overlooked
on many occasions I have been overlooked disregarded or
disregarded or
disregarded or completely excluded on the very basis
completely excluded on the very basis
completely excluded on the very basis that I am a woman and according to some
that I am a woman and according to some
that I am a woman and according to some not to be included among the ranks of my
not to be included among the ranks of my
not to be included among the ranks of my male peers on one occasion I’ll always
male peers on one occasion I’ll always
male peers on one occasion I’ll always remember my dad who was also speaker was
remember my dad who was also speaker was
remember my dad who was also speaker was asked if he had a problem with me being
asked if he had a problem with me being
asked if he had a problem with me being invited to speak at big arenas as a
invited to speak at big arenas as a
invited to speak at big arenas as a woman when he was not and if I’m honest
woman when he was not and if I’m honest
woman when he was not and if I’m honest it breaks my heart a little bit every
it breaks my heart a little bit every
it breaks my heart a little bit every time I see a woman held back from
time I see a woman held back from
time I see a woman held back from pursuing the dreams that God has placed
pursuing the dreams that God has placed
pursuing the dreams that God has placed on her heart
on her heart
on her heart I can’t believe in a faith that treats
I can’t believe in a faith that treats
I can’t believe in a faith that treats me as a second-class citizen placing
me as a second-class citizen placing
me as a second-class citizen placing limitations of stained glass ceilings
limitations of stained glass ceilings
limitations of stained glass ceilings upon half of humanity holding us back
upon half of humanity holding us back
upon half of humanity holding us back based on gender it doesn’t make sense
based on gender it doesn’t make sense
based on gender it doesn’t make sense with what I know of Jesus and so again I
with what I know of Jesus and so again I
with what I know of Jesus and so again I took a leap I dove into the history of
took a leap I dove into the history of
took a leap I dove into the history of the Scriptures hoping that I would find
the Scriptures hoping that I would find
the Scriptures hoping that I would find what I believe in my heart to be true
what I believe in my heart to be true
what I believe in my heart to be true the Equality of all people if we go back
the Equality of all people if we go back
the Equality of all people if we go back to the beginning and we look at the
to the beginning and we look at the
to the beginning and we look at the history of the scriptures we look at
history of the scriptures we look at
history of the scriptures we look at Genesis 2:8 right in the very beginning
Genesis 2:8 right in the very beginning
Genesis 2:8 right in the very beginning when God creates Eve from Adam we see
when God creates Eve from Adam we see
when God creates Eve from Adam we see that the word used there is as air
that the word used there is as air
that the word used there is as air cuñado
cuñado
cuñado meaning helper now interestingly this
meaning helper now interestingly this
meaning helper now interestingly this word is used twice to describe Eve three
word is used twice to describe Eve three
word is used twice to describe Eve three times to describe a military ally and
times to describe a military ally and
times to describe a military ally and sixteen times to describe God
sixteen times to describe God
sixteen times to describe God specifically meaning that according to
specifically meaning that according to
specifically meaning that according to the Bible women were not created as
the Bible women were not created as
the Bible women were not created as secondary to men not some help fate
secondary to men not some help fate
secondary to men not some help fate which is traditionally believed someone
which is traditionally believed someone
which is traditionally believed someone who’s subordinate to man but rather a
who’s subordinate to man but rather a
who’s subordinate to man but rather a true ally in the full military sense of
true ally in the full military sense of
true ally in the full military sense of the word and after all that I have
the word and after all that I have
the word and after all that I have researched and all that I have read on
researched and all that I have read on
researched and all that I have read on the side
the side
the side I have come to the conclusion the age
I have come to the conclusion the age
I have come to the conclusion the age gender race sexual orientation none of
gender race sexual orientation none of
gender race sexual orientation none of these things are a factor and who can be
these things are a factor and who can be
these things are a factor and who can be used by God or in what capacity so if
used by God or in what capacity so if
used by God or in what capacity so if our traditions and her treatment of
our traditions and her treatment of
our traditions and her treatment of women is anything less than respectful
women is anything less than respectful
women is anything less than respectful and dignified I humbly suggest that
and dignified I humbly suggest that
and dignified I humbly suggest that we’ve gotten it wrong I challenge my
we’ve gotten it wrong I challenge my
we’ve gotten it wrong I challenge my fellow believers to seriously consider
fellow believers to seriously consider
fellow believers to seriously consider this and evaluate it in their own lives
this and evaluate it in their own lives
this and evaluate it in their own lives because it is very dangerous to use
because it is very dangerous to use
because it is very dangerous to use scripture to justify the mistreatment of
scripture to justify the mistreatment of
scripture to justify the mistreatment of another person this thinking has very
another person this thinking has very
another person this thinking has very real and very dangerous repercussions
real and very dangerous repercussions
real and very dangerous repercussions that extend far beyond the walls of the
that extend far beyond the walls of the
that extend far beyond the walls of the church into literally every level of
church into literally every level of
church into literally every level of society still today sexism and violence
society still today sexism and violence
society still today sexism and violence against women is rampant in our culture
against women is rampant in our culture
against women is rampant in our culture in our world
in our world
in our world domestic violence claims one in five
domestic violence claims one in five
domestic violence claims one in five lives every day rape culture has
lives every day rape culture has
lives every day rape culture has transformed parking garages social
transformed parking garages social
transformed parking garages social gathering spaces and college campuses
gathering spaces and college campuses
gathering spaces and college campuses into war zones where one in three women
into war zones where one in three women
into war zones where one in three women will be sexually assaulted at some point
will be sexually assaulted at some point
will be sexually assaulted at some point in her lifetime and when the worst case
in her lifetime and when the worst case
in her lifetime and when the worst case scenario does happen we blame the victim
scenario does happen we blame the victim
scenario does happen we blame the victim we ask what was she wearing
we ask what was she wearing
we ask what was she wearing what did she drink why was she there and
what did she drink why was she there and
what did she drink why was she there and we let up the perpetrator because we’re
we let up the perpetrator because we’re
we let up the perpetrator because we’re worried about what the consequences of
worried about what the consequences of
worried about what the consequences of his crime will be on his future
in the workplace there are very real
in the workplace there are very real glass ceilings that turn boardrooms into
glass ceilings that turn boardrooms into
glass ceilings that turn boardrooms into boys clubs and even today women still
boys clubs and even today women still
boys clubs and even today women still earn less pay for equal work even if
earn less pay for equal work even if
earn less pay for equal work even if they outperform their male peers and
they outperform their male peers and
they outperform their male peers and this does not mean that men are equally
this does not mean that men are equally
this does not mean that men are equally hard-working at their jobs it’s just a
hard-working at their jobs it’s just a
hard-working at their jobs it’s just a fact that we praise boys for their
fact that we praise boys for their
fact that we praise boys for their bravery their strength and their
bravery their strength and their
bravery their strength and their intelligence while we applaud girls for
intelligence while we applaud girls for
intelligence while we applaud girls for their beauty or sex appeal conditioning
their beauty or sex appeal conditioning
their beauty or sex appeal conditioning very early on what we expect out of
very early on what we expect out of
very early on what we expect out of women and what we think women are good
women and what we think women are good
women and what we think women are good for and while we’re on the topic we need
for and while we’re on the topic we need
for and while we’re on the topic we need to teach our children to own their own
to teach our children to own their own
to teach our children to own their own body it belongs to them we need to teach
body it belongs to them we need to teach
body it belongs to them we need to teach them to have confidence and to rock what
them to have confidence and to rock what
them to have confidence and to rock what they got but we also need to teach them
they got but we also need to teach them
they got but we also need to teach them about the importance of consent because
about the importance of consent because
about the importance of consent because sexual objectification and sexual
sexual objectification and sexual
sexual objectification and sexual violence are real and terrifying things
violence are real and terrifying things
violence are real and terrifying things for women of color or transgendered
for women of color or transgendered
for women of color or transgendered women the rates are even higher and for
women the rates are even higher and for
women the rates are even higher and for Aboriginal women all across the country
Aboriginal women all across the country
Aboriginal women all across the country they’re going missing and murdered at an
they’re going missing and murdered at an
they’re going missing and murdered at an alarming rate both here and in other
alarming rate both here and in other
alarming rate both here and in other colonized nations around the world and
colonized nations around the world and
colonized nations around the world and we cannot tolerate it because every day
we cannot tolerate it because every day
we cannot tolerate it because every day I witness the devastation of people of
I witness the devastation of people of
I witness the devastation of people of women being treated as less than human
women being treated as less than human
women being treated as less than human as commodities that can be bought or
as commodities that can be bought or
as commodities that can be bought or sold for profit or pleasure with human
sold for profit or pleasure with human
sold for profit or pleasure with human trafficking being the fastest-growing
trafficking being the fastest-growing
trafficking being the fastest-growing crime on the planet and the average
crime on the planet and the average
crime on the planet and the average entry age into prostitution being 11 to
entry age into prostitution being 11 to
entry age into prostitution being 11 to 13 years old
is not a choice this is a crime because
is not a choice this is a crime because virginity test and child marriage are
virginity test and child marriage are
virginity test and child marriage are still a thing because the three
still a thing because the three
still a thing because the three deadliest words on the planet are it’s a
deadliest words on the planet are it’s a
deadliest words on the planet are it’s a girl with many girl babies being denied
girl with many girl babies being denied
girl with many girl babies being denied the right to live simply on the fact
the right to live simply on the fact
the right to live simply on the fact that they are born female because boys
that they are born female because boys
that they are born female because boys bring value and girls bring burden in my
bring value and girls bring burden in my
bring value and girls bring burden in my eyes this is why we still need feminism
eyes this is why we still need feminism
eyes this is why we still need feminism I honestly wish we didn’t I wish we were
I honestly wish we didn’t I wish we were
I honestly wish we didn’t I wish we were past that power just not there yet but
past that power just not there yet but
past that power just not there yet but the good news is that we all hold within
the good news is that we all hold within
the good news is that we all hold within ourselves
ourselves
ourselves the power to change the system we can
the power to change the system we can
the power to change the system we can demand better with what we choose to say
demand better with what we choose to say
demand better with what we choose to say and do on a regular basis every day we
and do on a regular basis every day we
and do on a regular basis every day we vote for the kind of world we want
vote for the kind of world we want
vote for the kind of world we want through our actions our words and our
through our actions our words and our
through our actions our words and our purchases when I hear humor about a
purchases when I hear humor about a
purchases when I hear humor about a woman’s place or that makes light of the
woman’s place or that makes light of the
woman’s place or that makes light of the serious issue that is rape I speak up
and when it comes to entertainment
and when it comes to entertainment sexism is widespread I mean we are
sexism is widespread I mean we are
sexism is widespread I mean we are capable of being more than just eye
capable of being more than just eye
capable of being more than just eye candy more than just a love interest in
candy more than just a love interest in
candy more than just a love interest in a movie or a song women carry
a movie or a song women carry
a movie or a song women carry interesting inspiring challenging
interesting inspiring challenging
interesting inspiring challenging stories just like men but the bottom
stories just like men but the bottom
stories just like men but the bottom line is that in a just society we need
line is that in a just society we need
line is that in a just society we need to hear all voices and all perspectives
to hear all voices and all perspectives
to hear all voices and all perspectives represented so let’s get some diversity
represented so let’s get some diversity
represented so let’s get some diversity rising up huh if you want to make a
rising up huh if you want to make a
rising up huh if you want to make a difference in your world or make your
difference in your world or make your
difference in your world or make your community or country a better place then
community or country a better place then
community or country a better place then don’t wait for somebody to give you
don’t wait for somebody to give you
don’t wait for somebody to give you permission get the job done
permission get the job done
permission get the job done run for office take up journalism defend
run for office take up journalism defend
run for office take up journalism defend the oppressed create new possibilities
the oppressed create new possibilities
the oppressed create new possibilities and new job markets to break the cycle
and new job markets to break the cycle
and new job markets to break the cycle of poverty for yourself or for others
of poverty for yourself or for others
of poverty for yourself or for others personally I want to see a national
personally I want to see a national
personally I want to see a national action plan to prevent sexual violence
action plan to prevent sexual violence
action plan to prevent sexual violence on college campuses I would love to see
on college campuses I would love to see
on college campuses I would love to see a media ranking system that highlights
a media ranking system that highlights
a media ranking system that highlights gender bias and film because what we see
gender bias and film because what we see
gender bias and film because what we see represented in mainstream culture
represented in mainstream culture
represented in mainstream culture affects how we think and act on a
affects how we think and act on a
affects how we think and act on a regular basis and we need to change how
regular basis and we need to change how
regular basis and we need to change how we think about women so we can change
we think about women so we can change
we think about women so we can change how we treat them we’re getting there
how we treat them we’re getting there
how we treat them we’re getting there but we’re not quite there yet this is
but we’re not quite there yet this is
but we’re not quite there yet this is why I stand for justice inequality this
why I stand for justice inequality this
why I stand for justice inequality this is why Jesus made a feminist out of me
is why Jesus made a feminist out of me
is why Jesus made a feminist out of me but furthermore beyond the teachings of
but furthermore beyond the teachings of
but furthermore beyond the teachings of faith or feminism all that aside this
faith or feminism all that aside this
faith or feminism all that aside this this is just good basic human decency
this is just good basic human decency
this is just good basic human decency that we treat one another with respect
that we treat one another with respect
that we treat one another with respect and we live our lives in a way that
and we live our lives in a way that
and we live our lives in a way that proves the women matter equally to men
proves the women matter equally to men
proves the women matter equally to men and men matter equally to women so here
and men matter equally to women so here
and men matter equally to women so here is my challenge for us all let us shine
is my challenge for us all let us shine
is my challenge for us all let us shine a light into the sexist oppressive
a light into the sexist oppressive
a light into the sexist oppressive shadows of our society let us confront
shadows of our society let us confront
shadows of our society let us confront what’s wrong in the world and multiply
what’s wrong in the world and multiply
what’s wrong in the world and multiply what is right when we see something that
what is right when we see something that
what is right when we see something that is degrading or dehumanizing to another
is degrading or dehumanizing to another
is degrading or dehumanizing to another person be brave enough to call it out
person be brave enough to call it out
person be brave enough to call it out whether that be a sexist joke a sexist
whether that be a sexist joke a sexist
whether that be a sexist joke a sexist action or a sexually violent behavior
action or a sexually violent behavior
action or a sexually violent behavior because every choice we make matters
I asked you to take the leap because we
I asked you to take the leap because we all deserve better
”
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