Voices Rising Up

"Cayla, I'm calling because we need to talk about Beth Moore."

I wouldn't say my mom was in crisis, but I'd definitely say disbelief, as we started to share back and forth about recent developments about our sister in Christ. 

I'm not going to go into the entire story of what happened -- so I will leave you with a way to read the story HERE.

To understand our utter disbelief and outrage over this situation, I have to explain the role that Beth has had in shaping mine and my mom's faith. Growing up in a Southern Baptist tradition, women didn't preach. Ever. Sure you had women Sunday School teachers, and they pretty much operated in every other space within the church -- but leadership, pastoring, and decision making was solely a man thing.

Beth Moore is Southern Baptist. She was an anomaly in our religious tradition. I remember as a young teenager, being gathered in my living room with other women of faith, listening to, dissecting, and studying scripture under the guidance of a Beth bible study. 

Beth's ministry was women. To show women that they are beloved by Jesus. And she did it with humor, spunk, and a sassy Southern accent. She was the voice of so many Southern Baptist women, who felt silenced so much of the time. 

As modern Christians, we don't have access to Biblical matriarchs such as Esther, Mary, or Phoebe. But we have Beth!

So why am I writing all of this? Over the last few months, I've felt a deep calling on my life to speak up. It's terrifying. Will I lose friends? What will my family think? What if someone calls me out? You know, all the excuses that fear gives you. 

And I can't help but sit here and think back to a time that Beth had that same calling. I can't imagine how utterly terrifying it must have been as a Southern Baptist woman to step out and say "You know what? I've got some things to say about this Bible and my Jesus."

But she dared. She was faithful to her calling.

I am the woman I am today in large part for having parents who weren't threatened by theology. Who weren't offended by a woman preaching. And a dad who taught me to always challenge back. 

We may not agree on all points. But one thing we will ALWAYS stand firm on is, JESUS is supreme. And because of that, nothing else is threatened. 

Truth is, Jesus championed women apostles.

Truth is, Jesus trusted his resurrection story to a woman.

Truth is, Jesus spoke to women in public. Even ones seen as enemies.

Truth is, Jesus called them "daughters".

Truth is, Jesus. The end.

Long gone are the days where men can sit in closed door rooms and belittle their sisters in Christ. Long gone are the days where men can tell women that they need to stay silent. 

When men say "go home". 

Jesus says rise up.