Black Christian communities are typically God-fearing and Gospel-driven areas that nourish its members into becoming the perfected versions of themselves. Unfortunately, there are still some that uphold misogyny, patriarchy, homophobia and the like all masked as "boldly professing and practicing Biblical principles." Of course, many groups of people have distorted scriptures to fit their agenda, and some churches are not the exception. Black churches have been and continue to be upholders of dangerous systems that marginalize women.
The bodies of Black women are policed since their youth. The Black Church has participated in this scrutiny, especially the developing features of adolescent girls and young adults. If their hips are too wide or their backsides too rounded, they’re lectured on “being careful”. Little Black girls are rarely allowed to simply be. There are always someone’s insecurities and sins being projected onto them. Of course, every event has appropriate attire. However, it becomes an issue when a woman is greeted with a lap cloth rather than a hug. While it is understandable that church service should be a distraction-free event, it is not the woman wearing the above-knee skirt that is the problem, but the attitudes of those that enforce such a dress code.
Contemporary Christian communities also make the mistake of solely placing the expectations of sexual purity on women. There are an immeasurable amount of conferences, sermons and devotionals geared towards young, adult women teaching on sexual purity. However, there is very little content that speaks the same to their counterparts. Little to no ministers stand in the pulpit and address the importance of boys and young men waiting until marriage before sharing themselves with the opposite sex. Statistics show that the average male loses his virginity slightly earlier and have more sexual partners than the average female. With this information, it would be more understandable that boys would receive just as much, if not more, messages targeting them.
Women are shamed if they become a mother before becoming a wife; however, men do not share that condemnation. As the saying goes, “it takes two to tango.” Women do not have sex with and create babies by themselves. There is not the same level of effort placed into preparing boys for fatherhood and marriage as there is preparing girls for motherhood and matrimony. Women are preached to about how to please their husbands and how to sustain their marriage. No one recommends the man to be “husband material”. The woman is asked to stay and honor her vows even if honoring those vows dishonors herself -- even if honoring those vows result in dishonoring God. Even when on the receiving end of abuse, adultery and neglect, the woman may be faced with the counsel that advises her to stay.
Oftentimes, scriptures such as Ephesians 5:21-33 are used to further support the agenda of patriarchy. The Bible does not instruct a man to rule over a woman. Neither does it direct a wife to obey her husband. The New Testament urges wives to 'submit' to their husband. The Greek word for 'submit' is to defer to someone respectfully and does not imply superiority. Obey, on the other hand, has a different Greek meaning, which is to listen under. Ironically, only one verse addresses women while the other verses within the listed scriptures address men.
The Church profits off women while minimizing how vital they are to its continuation. When most Black people speak of their religious beliefs and communities, "praying grandmothers" are a staple. These are the women that petition God’s throne on the behalf of their descendants pleading that He protects and pours His blessings upon them. If you listen to some of your favorite music artists’ songs, many of them credit their success and “second chances” to their grandmothers that loved them enough to mention their names during their communication with God.
Women are granted the privilege to be ushers, treasurers and announcers. However, many are forbidden to to stand or take a seat in that same pulpit. Many with this belief reference 1 Timothy 2:11-12 to support their statement. Their belief is that women cannot be preachers or pastors. Upon reading, it is easy to believe that this scripture supports marginalizing women; however that is not within context. The writer of 1 Timothy, Apostle Paul was merely expressing his point of view, which was a preference shaped by his cultural circumstances. During his time, patriarchal culture was the norm. Some scholars even argue that the scripture was simply Paul addressing an issue that specifically affected the congregation that he wrote the letter to.
In Old Testament times, sexism was unfortunately a cultural norm in most civilizations. By the time the NT was occurring, women held a prominent presence in their communities. God chose a woman as a vehicle to bring Jesus into the world. It was a woman that was granted the honor of first seeing Christ risen. Black women are the backbone of black churches although they have historically been prohibited from operating in leadership roles of the very communities that they have tirelessly contributed to.
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. - Galatians 3:28
American Christianity has always prioritized men at the expense of women. It has a history of manipulating Bible scripture to fit their narrative of patriarchy. As a result, many young adults are leaving The Church. The unchurched and dechurched are no longer complicit or tolerating oppressive behaviors of places that they rely on in their times of need. It is the duty of men to put an end to patriarchy and misogyny since they are the persons that benefit from those systems.
Patriarchy in The Church is counterproductive and will eventually be the cancer that consumes itself. The Kingdom functions best when men and women are equally granted the same permissions and when they work together as equal partners to advance the community that they contribute to.
Conscious and Christian,
Simultaneously.
