Thread by @sheilagregoire

I remember feeling like I had to tolerate a church that didn’t consider women fully in the image of God, because other local churches didn’t believe the Bible. I was wrong. Many denominations don’t tolerate sexism & still preach John 14:6. You have a choice!

#sbc18 #churchdv

At that church, while leading worship, I once said between songs, "whatever is on your heart today as you enter here, give it to Jesus. Let it go, and spend this time looking on Him." That was very contentious, because I might have been "preaching".

Their deacons' board spent a year debating whether I could pray or speak from the music stand. I was to debrief with the pastor every week to ensure I didn't step over the line. I kept going because I believed I had no choice. All Bible believing churches ignore women's gifts.

We since left that church, and found a thriving local congregation focused on outreach, on changing people's lives, on community--that fully embraces salvation, teaches the Bible, and frees people to use their gifts. I didn't know that church existed at the time.

Sometimes we get in faith circles where we think only churches of certain denominations really believe the Bible. My advice? Go listen. Ask the hard questions. See where the Spirit is moving. Go where you are freed to serve, and where your sons & daughters are freed to serve.

God is shaking the North American church right now. It will not be pretty. But I encourage people to ask themselves: What are you tolerating because you're afraid that other churches don't really believe the Bible? What if that line--that others aren't biblical--is just a line?

What if there IS a choice? What if you could serve God and believe the Bible but also honour women, also have marriages that are based on respect and love and mutual servanthood rather than power and hierarchy? MOST Christians want this.

MOST in the pews just want to live a life of service to Jesus, by serving others. If most in the pews pushed for a church that wasn't sexist and wasn't racist and wasn't hypocritical--if we moved with our feet and our wallets--we'd see change.

No more cover-ups of sexual assaults. No more telling women, "it's a sin to divorce an abusive husband." No more quashing 50% of your congregation's gifts. Churches that are fully Jesus, fully biblical, fully alive are out there. Find them!

#sbc18 #churchdv