Galatians 5:1 “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

Though I may not subscribe to all that this speaker and Adventist may believe – I probably have more in common than not these days considering the Christ of the Bible removed from the lens of evangelical rhetoric I once bought into.

Such as the myopically hopeless, deceptively prideful & demoralizing focus on Indwelling SIN, the Doctrine of Original SIN and the all infamous “I am the worst sinner I know, and you are the worst sinner you know” still being preached in still too many churches by men many once trusted, now trusted by a whole new crowd and millennial generation save a remnant of now behind the scenes validational “elders” and lifers. A small but convincing number of which are always necessary to sell this brand of “gospel centered” ideology to an emerging less experienced generation eager to do good and live “right” “in His eyes” almost at any cost. I know, I was once there and almost dragged my children through this system of beliefs managed by modern day charismatic, self ascribed intermediaries for “god”.

Nor would I call myself a full-fledged feminist but I spend significant time listening to other voices outside the evangelical community and hive culture (always have) without “losing my faith” in any way- although I have been labelled a “militant atheist” after 30 years of being a Christian by those bound within such toxic cultures, simply for addressing church rhetoric and blatant destructive hypocrisy. 😉

Keisha McKenzie’s reiterating statements below of something that has apparently been observed for decades by others are incredibly insightful- obviously where was I? Drinking from this cup of self deprecating perversion of truth of the “Darkness of indwelling sin so that Christ might shine that much more glorious” maybe? Finely woven threads of captivating thinking that over time with nauseating repetition result in the minds of so many being and continuing to be bound and wrapped by these unchallengeable cords of “biblical”, “respectful” and “appropriate” “fear of god” presented by dogmatic evangelicalism. And this nonsense continues to be “taught” from pedestals acting as stages for these charismatic predominantly or more accurately exclusively male wizards or 21st century religion. Be sure to read the scathing points of supposed “parallel” on pages 4 and 5 of this linked pdf and come to your own conclusion, not theirs.

I have come to realize and respect that it’s quite powerful what some of those outside that environment have observed and articulated so very accurately what I have seen over my near 30 years as a card carrying, compliant or should I say “obedient Christian”. Occasionally bucking the system but also disregarding my own thoughts, questions, feelings and intuitions. Even though these outside voices may espouse different beliefs, their clear thinking and observations are no less valid or true and vital .

Many of such observations are often considered heretical by the tribal leaders of even local evangelicalism never mind their celebrity superstars all of whom often feel threatened to even hear other people talk while processing how to biblically respond first not having genuinely listened. Leaders who need an all or nothing buy in to their biblical brand of Jesus, or control and livelihoods come to a screeching halt at any question posed with any degree of intellectual intelligence.

“Womenist theology more broadly challenges the ways Christian theology both around atonement specifically and in general has tended to lionize suffering, and that lionizing of suffering has meant that people going through social oppression aren’t taught to value themselves such that they resist oppression but they are taught to treat their oppression as imitation of Jesus who suffered in silence and so on all the way to the cross.”
“And so there’s this sense in which religion has been used to justify both peoples mistreatment and to discourage their challenge of that mistreatment.” – Keisha McKenzie

As a “mere layman“ I find her words so true because the indoctrination she addresses effectively and conveniently demonizes dissent and silences much existent reproach. Life altering condescension that the Jesus of the Bible I’ve read very clearly was vehemently opposed to regarding the weak, the oppressed or the socially vulnerable, or anyone for that matter imposed upon by the self ascribed religious elites of historic and current day religion. Those skirmishes were almost His whole life until it was time to give, through His own volition, what only He at the time knew couldn’t be taken from Him.

The dichotomy Keisha McKenzie addresses in her short statement is one of several foundational pillars of control used in much of political, power hungry evangelicalism- the use and abuse of scripture as a weapon and coercive management tool as well as a powerful means of determining “faithful loyalty” while coupled with the bold practice of viewing “giving” records to determine if someone should be heard. I could name names here, although I have in the past but such surreptitious practice is still very much prevalent… even celebrated.

Any thoughts or other opinions on the quote by Keisha McKenzie?