There are things in this world that should make us angry—injustice, oppression, abuse just to name a few. I’m afraid that in the church, we have forgotten to get angry. A righteous anger that moves us into action to create better communities.
There’s a subtle lie that I have believed growing up in church. That women must be “nice”, peaceful, & pretty (these are great attributes by the way ). Although no one has ever said that to me outright, I think I’ve picked it up in what has been modelled. Our women’s gatherings have been “nice”, peaceful & pretty. The women we mostly preach about are nice, peaceful & probably pretty.
I’ve never really found it inspiring. I want to disrupt. I get angry at injustice and apathy, I want to run into the mess, not just have meetings that talk about the mess. I’m so thankful to be part of a church & city that has released me to do this.
Our cities need more angry women! Women who get angry at the injustice & oppression in their communities. Women who rise up in righteous anger over the abuse of children. Women who don’t just stay angry, but come together in unity to overturn injustice & meet needs. Women who stand in between the vultures & the vulnerable and are part of creating a better future for the weak.
As I’ve been studying women of the Bible this year, I’ve noticed they had incredible guts & disrupted the status quo. Women like Jael, Rizpah, the Women of Thezbez, & Tamar Their lives are powerful & inspiring. Our daughters need to hear their stories.
I love this quote from Lindsay Freeman.
“Most women of the Bible step up & say what they think, what they need, or what they want. Most take fearless actions & accept daunting risks. Women in the Bible do not shuffle onto its pages; they stride across, with their heads held high & their hearts full of passion.”
Yes, let’s be nice women, but let’s also be passionate, let’s not be afraid to get angry at what is wrong. Let’s not be indifferent to what is going on in our communities, but respond with compassion & courage.