Author: Bruce Ray

Priorities

~ Bruce Ray ~ Leave a comment

The government shutdown has shut me down. Though I wanted to post something online every day, there was always something new to deal with–not the least, the constant notifications of ICE presence in our community wrestling people to the ground and dropping tear gas canisters to disperse crowds that are protesting their use of excessive force. Obviously, a government shutdown has not impacted ICE agents paychecks or activities, but it has impacted everything else. Today, 42.5 million low-income seniors, children, unhoused, and veterans who depend on SNAP woke up to the reality that feeding themselves this month will be a challenge.

And what is our President doing? Posting on social media, of course. But he’s not posting about ending the shutdown or opening the SNAP contingency fund so that children will not go to bed hungry in the richest nation on the planet. No. He’s posting about how he has remodeled the Lincoln Bathroom at the White House in exquisite black and white marble with resplendent gold fixtures..

I was reminded of God’s displeasure (expressed through the prophet Haggai) about the peoples’ priorities. God asks, “Is it time for you to dwell in your own paneled houses while this house (God’s temple) lies in ruins?” (Haggai 1:4 – Common English Bible)

After returning to Jerusalem from exile in Babylon and rebuilding the walls of the city, the people prioritized renovating their homes. Meanwhile, the temple was a pile of rubble and there was no sense of urgency about restoring it.

I sense the same misplaced priorities today–not just from the president, but from so many others in leadership. The temple of God, made up of the living stones of God’s holy people, is neglected and in ruins. And there is seemingly no interest in addressing the distress. No concern. No urgency. No regard.

Building a ballroom, renovating the Kennedy Center and paneling the Lincoln bathroom in marble while people suffer exposes the heart of this administration. Leaders may talk about restoring faith and promoting morals, but their actions (and inaction) reveal the truth: Their thoughts are not God’s thoughts; their priorities are not God’s priorities; their agenda is not God’s agenda.

God’s word to the people through Haggai was, ““Give careful thought to your ways.” (Haggai 1:7) It’s time to rebuild the living temple of God–not maintain the façades of success and glory because, in the end, the marble will crumble.

“Invasion”

~ Bruce Ray ~ 2 Comments

October 3 was my birthday, but my celebration was overshadowed by terrible events in Chicago neighborhoods–including incidents just blocks from our church property.. Some of you have reached out to see if we are OK, and I appreciate your concern. Honestly, I would prefer that you reach out to your representatives and senators and demand an end to the lawless and provocative tactics of ICE in Chicago, Chicago suburbs and beyond.

We have experienced nothing less than an invasion of militarized ICE agents. For the past 3 weeks, ICE has been detaining dozens of people–most of them who have no criminal record. But on my birthday, ICE agents deployed teargas in our streets, ransacked an apartment building in the middle of the night, separated children from their parents and placed them in zip-ties, and shot rubber bullets at peaceful protesters. Happy birthday to me! I would have preferred a spray of flowers over pepper spray.

Even US citizens have been caught in their indiscriminate dragnets. Agents handcuffed Alderperson Jessie Fuentes in a hospital emergency room simply for asking agents if they had a judicial warrant for a man who was being treated. Of course, they did not. Jessie is a friend. It broke my heart watching her be mistreated for exercising her constitutional rights and protecting her constituents from unlawful detention.

Since the beginning of “Operation Midway Blitz”, Latin@ parents are afraid to walk their children to school, Latin@ workers are afraid to go to their jobs. Latin@ citizens are carrying passports and REAL IDs out of fear that they will be stopped simply because they are brown.

All of these unlawful and immoral acts have been verified as factual, The stories are not “fake news.” Let me be clear: these acts do not increase safety and security in my neighborhood. Instead, they increase fear, sow mistrust, create chaos and escalate violence. The Administration would convince you that Chicago (and other cities with Democratic mayors of color) are riddled with criminal activity, and that only solution for restoring “law and order” to the streets is use of military power. It is deception used to justify taking control of the city. Our streets were just fine until ICE showed up.

Today, the Federal government further escalated the tension in our city. Four hundred National Guard arrived from the state of Texas to “protect ICE agents and federal buildings” in Chicago and the state of Illinois. Governor J.B. Pritzker–who has never requested federal help or deployment of the National Guard–called it “Trump’s Invasion.”

Do not listen to Karoline Leavitt. She quotes statistics to reinforce racist tropes and urban criminality. Listen to the people on the ground. Right now, the only lawless criminals I see are the ones who wear street clothing and cover their faces, openly carry weapons, and terrorize our neighborhoods looking for anyone who doesn’t look like Chip.*

But Chip better watch out too. ICE doesn’t like journalists or people who protect their neighbors (aka “the enemy within”)..

Please pray for Chicago–and every other city threatened by ICE–cities like Portland, Memphis, New Orleans, Baltimore, Philadelphia and more to be named. And please do more than pray. Stand up for basic human rights and human dignity. Our faith demands it.

*This is a reference to an interview of US Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino by NPR reporter Chip Mitchell, who asked, “How can you tell [if someone is an ‘illegal alien’] by appearance?” Bovino then asked the reporter his name and responded, “How do they appear in relation to what you or other people look like?” Governor Pritzker accused Bovino’s agents of “harassing people for not being white.” You can read the entire transcript of Chip Mitchell’s interview HERE. BTW, Chip is white.

“Mixed Message”

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“Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?” James 3:10-11 (NIV)

I have been trying to wrap my head around what I witnessed while watching the funeral service for Charlie Kirk. It’s taken me all week to process; and, honestly, it has distressed me. The more than 6-hour service included Scripture, prayer, songs of faith, fond memories of the deceased, eulogies, pronouncements of God’s love for the world and even an invitation to receive Christ. I’ve conducted funerals that include all those things, but this one also included a lot of vitriol, anger and a bitter flavor of retribution–spoken not by the spiritual leaders, not by the grieving widow, but by politicians–including a 41-minute rant delivered by Donald Trump.

I first started feeling unsettled though when conservative political commentator Benny Johnson stood at the podium and referred to the Apostle Paul’s definition of the purpose of government in Romans 13:1-5.. He then pointed to the members of the current administration who were present, declaring, “God has given them power over our nation and our land” to “wield the sword for the protection of good men and the terror of evil men.” He then charged the audience, “May we pray that our rulers here–rightfully instituted by God and given power by our God–wield the sword for the terror of evil men in our day in Charlie’s memory.” He finished by thanking the administration for “carrying out that godly mission of wielding the sword against evil.” The audience roared its approval.

It was the emphasis on “wielding the sword” on God’s behalf to punish those who do evil that deeply disturbed me. The initial message of God’s love, grace and Christ’s sacrifice suddenly turned into a message of God’s wrath and hate of evil-doers. While Johnson never identified the “evil-doers” by name or their behaviors, his implication was clear: those who oppose this administration which has the blessing of God are the evil-doers. This was confirmed by the parade of former and current cabinet members, media influencers, White House staff, and Vice-President JD Vance, who condemned the Marxist-leftists, labor unions, public educators, democrats, Hollywood elites, Antifa and even progressive pastors–those Deputy WH Chief of Staff Stephen Miller defined as “our enemies” and the “forces of wickedness and evil” who are “against us.” Interspersed with the drum-beat against evil were hymns, Scripture quotes, prayers and crowd-led chants of “USA! USA!” that turned the funeral into a White Christian Nationalist political rally–complete with fireworks. Talk about mixed messages!

What bothered me the most, however, were the audience responses to Erika Kirk’s statement of forgiveness for her husband’s killer-and to Donald Trump’s acknowledgement that Charlie Kirk didn’t hate his opponents but wanted the best for them, but adding “that’s where I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponent and I don’t want what is best for them.” The audience gave Erika a 45-second ovation. The audience also gave Mr. Trump applause and laughter. OK, it wasn’t a 45-second ovation, but it was approval. Trump went on to hope that the DOJ (Department of Justice) would find the “very bad people” who supported “paid agitators” at Charlie Kirk’s rallies. Again, the audience gave him loud applause..

I was dumbfounded. I would have expected this majority Christian audience to honor and affirm forgiveness, but wince at hate and retribution. I would have hoped that Trump would have heard silence or even a few BOOs. But both forgiveness and retribution were embraced–two opposite and incompatible sentiments. Out of the same mouths came praise and curses. In the same event, we heard calls for love for our opponents and hate for our opponents and both were affirmed. There were calls to forgive and calls for war against the radical left and both were applauded. The Bible has a word for that–double-mindedness.

It saddens me that what the world saw and heard last Sunday was a Christianity that says it worships the God of love and life, but also embraces the ethos of hatred and death. The service ended with Erika Kirk embracing and being held by the president–a metaphor for what I see within much of the American Christian church–an embrace of power at the expense of spiritual integrity.

The service promised fresh water–living water–but it delivered mostly bitter. Sadly, people drank it up.

Political Violence Is Not Blue or Red

~ Bruce Ray ~ Leave a comment

Fear begets mistrust. Mistrust begets divisiveness. Divisiveness begets tribalism. Tribalism begets hatred. Hatred begets violence. Violence begets more violence until we are completely destroyed. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, spoke frequently about the cycles of violence, but the quote that most resonated with me today in the wake of Wednesday’s assassination of Charlie Kirk was this:

Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction.” – MLK, Jr.

Wednesday’s horrific event is not the first act of political violence this year; it is a continuation of the ongoing “descending spiral” of violent self-destruction that can be traced back centuries. South Carolina Senator David Ramsay was killed by an assassin on May 6, 1815. Every decade since, Presidents, members of congress, governors, state legislators, judges, and political leaders have been killed. The years leading up to and the decade after the Civil War were particularly violent. The 1960s were also extremely violent including the assassinations of President Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, Medgar Evers and Martin Luther King. The past 15 years, we have seen a similar uptick in violence. Over the years, victims of violence have been Republicans AND Democrats and the perpetrators of violence have also represented the full spectrum of political parties and ideologies. Analysis of the data suggests that political polarization increases political violence. We are living in polarizing and dangerous times. And political violence will plunge us into what Martin Luther King called “the dark abyss of annihilation” unless…

  • . …unless, we move the needle the opposite direction through honest self-reflection, deep contrition and real repentance.
  • …unless we set our feet on the path of mutual confession and mutual healing.
  • …unless we shift toward humility and away from arrogant certainty, finger-pointing, and speculation that leads to escalation.
  • …unless we recognize our shared humanity and choose mercy and love over pursuit of power.
  • …unless we who claim to “love God” and “love our neighbor” (including our perceived and real ‘enemies’) actually model it through acts of justice, solidarity, compassion and service.

The climb up from the descending spiral begins today with unified outrage that a 31-year-old husband and father was killed while exercising his right to free speech. This should be a time for all of us to grieve with those who grieve–especially with his widow and children–and express our rejection of violent acts and vitriolic speech and our commitment to civil discourse and common decency.

We stand at a precipice. We must turn away from violence or we will destroy one another. Choose love today.

War and Peace

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“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.” – Jesus (Matthew 5:9)

“Cursed are the warmongers, for they will be called the children of Apollyon.” – (the implied antithesis of Jesus’s statement)

On Friday, #47 signed an Executive Order (his 200th such order to date), renaming the “Department of Defense” the “Department of War” because it sounds tougher. He then turned over the microphone to his re-named Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth. 

After making an odd (and questionable) historical observation that under the name “Department of War” the military had never lost a war, and that under the name “Department of Defense” the military had never decisively won a war, Hegseth said,  “This name change is not just about ‘renaming;’ it’s about ‘restoring’. Words matter. It’s…restoring the ‘warrior ethos’; restoring victory and clarity as an end state; restoring intentionality to the use of force, so…the War Department is gonna fight decisively, not endless conflicts. It’s gonna fight to win, not not to lose. We are gonna go on offense, not just on defense. Maximum lethality, not tepid legality. Violent effect, not politically correct. We’re gonna raise up warriors, not just defenders. So, this War Department, Mr. President, just like America, is back.” He finished by adding, “America First.”

Within hours, the Department of Defense website was rebranded, “war.gov.”

Let’s go back 80 years to September 2, 1945.  World War II officially ended, but the world was in shambles. Upwards of 85 million people—3% of the global population–had been killed directly during the war or had died of disease and starvation, cities had been completely destroyed, six million Jews, gay people, people with disabilities, Jehovah’s Witnesses and Romani people had been gassed and incinerated in Nazi concentration camps, two nuclear bombs had been dropped (by the U.S.). It was the deadliest military conflict in human history. 

Coming out of the devastation there was a global cry for peace.  On October 25, 1945, the United Nations was officially established with a mission “to maintain international peace and security, promote friendly relations among nations, and foster cooperation on economic, social, and humanitarian issues.”  

President Harry Truman, stood before Congress on September 6,1945–just days after the war had ended–and proposed the creation of a unified department of national defense to address concerns about military preparedness that arose following the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 1, 1941. Congress passed the National Security Act two years later which created the National Military Establishment—which combined the Department of the Army and Department of the Navy, the Marine Corps and the newly formed Air Force. President Harry Truman signed the act into law on July 26, 1947.  In 1949, the NME was renamed the “Department of Defense.” Its stated mission was to “provide the military forces needed to deter war and ensure our nation’s security.”

Eighty years ago, our war-weary nation focused on preventing future wars, promoting international peace and cooperation, and pursuing diplomacy.  But it didn’t take long for us to return to war again and again.  And now we seem focused solely on American military supremacy through “maximum lethality.” without concern for “tepid legality.”

Earlier this week, the newly named War Department authorized the attack of a Venezuelan boat in international waters that was allegedly filled with drugs and manned by the Tren de Aragua cartel.. No one bothered to inform members of the Armed Service Committee of Congress of to the attack as is required by the War Powers Act,, and there was no evidence that the boat was delivering drugs to the US.  We’ll never know. The boat—and the eleven men aboard—were obliterated. “Maximum lethality, not tepid legality.”

Maybe we’ve always been a nation of warmongers who ignore accepted boundaries and bend the rules of engagement, but this open embrace of thuggery and this promotion of the “warrior ethos” feels different. Maybe it’s because the people promoting it—like Pete Hegseth—claim to be followers of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Maybe it’s because anyone that questions the administration’s pre-occupation with war and domination is considered “weak” and “woke” and is deemed “the enemy.”  Jesus wouldn’t survive this administration. 

God isn’t going to bless warmongers. The blessing is reserved for the peacemakers—those who “seek peace and pursue it.”   Right now, it feels like we are being led by the children of Apollyon—the Destroyer.  And we know what their end will ultimately be.

So, I’m going to go the mountain of the Lord to learn the ways of peace—where swords will be turned into plowshares, spears into pruning hooks and where nations will no longer pursue war. Let’s go there together. 

The (Not So) Mysterious Man of Lawlessness

~ Bruce Ray ~ 2 Comments

“Let no one in any way deceive you, for it (the Day of the Lord) will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship…displaying himself as being God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3 – 4 (NASB)

While these verses were written almost 2000 years ago during Roman empirical domination, they came to mind last week as I listened to the ongoing threats of deployment of the National Guard by the Department of Defense to the city of Chicago to “make the city safe” despite the statistics and despite the fact that neither the Illinois Governor nor the Chicago Mayor have requested federal assistance–the lawful process for Guard activation.

Though the president and his administration have portrayed themselves as the defenders of law and order, we have watched them circumvent rulings by the courts–and slander and call for the impeachment of judges that rule against their illegal policies and practices. Again and again, this administration has thumbed its nose at attempts to place guardrails on executive power.

Is #47 the mysterious “Man of Lawlessness” of 2 Thessalonians that sets himself up as the Almighty and is the “son of destruction?” Though the identity of the man is shrouded in speculation, lawlessness is definitely #47’s ‘modus operandi.’ He has demonstrated an obsession for self-aggrandizement, and he has acted with absolute authority and demanded total fealty–ie worship. Though he maintains a facade of ‘religion’, his conduct denies its validity. Though he acts to punish his political enemies while he pardons his convicted friends. Though he claims to be a champion of the poor, he greedily amasses wealth at their expense. Though he scapegoats immigrants for spikes in violent crime, he claims victimization for his own felony convictions. Though he promises a return to American greatness, he destroys the foundational democracy upon which the nation is built. It is all deception.

But the writer of 2 Thessalonians says the rise of the man of lawlessness does not happen in a vacuum. He is revealed in the context of a spiritual crisis identified as “the apostasy.” The man of lawlessness is made possible because people of faith have abandoned the truth and renounced the message of kingdom of heaven–the message of Christ. Sadly, Jesus predicted the same shift of allegiance in the “last days.” He said, “Many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold.” (Matthew 24:11-12 – NIV) This rejection of truth and justice feels very contemporary as we watch people of Christian faith not only encourage and embrace the president’s cruel and dehumanizing policies and executive orders, but also defend his lawlessness–all the way back to the infamous “Access Hollywood” interview where he proudly celebrated his lawlessness. Billy Bush was fired. Donald Trump was elected President by evangelical Christians.

Are these the “Last Days?” I’ll let you decide.

Whatever you think, remember: there is hope in the Scripture. The apostasy occurs, the man of lawlessness is revealed, but it ultimately leads to re-creation–not destruction. “The Day of the Lord” will come. The reign of lawlessness will come to an end and justice will flow. Peter encourages his readers to “live into” that promised day even in the middle of the turmoil of lawlessness. He writes, “in keeping with [God’s] promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness [ie justice] dwells. Therefore, loved ones, while you are looking for these things, make every effort to be found in shalom, spotless and blameless before [God]. (2 Peter 3:13-14 – TLV) He also warns them to “Be on your guard so that you are not led astray by the error of the lawless and lose your sure footing.” (2 Peter 3:17 – TLV)

Be faithful and watchful. God’s new day WILL come.

I Call “Waste, Fraud and Abuse.”

~ Bruce Ray ~ 1 Comment

By design, we have been inundated with executive orders, tweets, Truth Social posts, and off-the-rails rants to the point of exhaustion. It is too much for my limited bandwidth. Though my tongue is on fire and I want to write a response, I don’t know where to begin. I now realize that I have fallen for the strategy: Overwhelm everyone with daily manufactured crises and overload the newsfeed until everyone just gives up and shuts down.

I was close to shutting down myself…until Friday (yesterday.). In an Oval Office news conference, the President announced that he was going to send National Guard troops to other cities to make them very, very safe–like he had done in Washington, DC. The city to be targeted next got my full attention. “Chicago is a mess” with an “incompetent mayor–grossly incompetent,” . And then he turned to JD Vance and said, “And the people in Chicago, Mr. Vice-President, are screaming for us to come.”

Trump is correct. WE ARE SCREAMING, but it’s not for the deployment of the National Guard. We’re screaming because the President’s ongoing narrative about Chicago is a fabrication, a distortion, a lie–just like his racist narrative about other cities with African-American mayors (like LA, NYC, DC). AARGH!!! Chicago’s crime rate is at a 10-year low. Homicides have been falling since 2021 and are down 30% from 2024. Shootings are down 40% and robberies are down 35%. Through August 22, 2025, there have been 275 homicides–compared to 553 in August 2021. If the trend continues, Chicago may see its lowest homicide rate in over 35 years!

What really gets my tongue on fire though is the duplicity of Trump’s narratives. He is constantly talking about eliminating the massive amounts of “waste, fraud, and abuse” in government programs and initiatives. To that end, the Department of Justice announced in April that it was cancelling $820 million in grants for “community violence prevention strategies” which address root causes of violence–strategies that have proven to be effective and financially efficient. (Source: Brennan Center for Justice)

At the same time, the president sends the National Guard to “make our cities safe.” Deployment isn’t free. The government paid $134 million–using our tax dollars–for the deployment of 4,700 National Guardsmen, Marines, and other military personnel in Los Angeles for 60 days. The cost for deployment of 800 National Guardsmen in Washington D.C. is approximately $300,000 per day. This does not include costs for equipment, transport, or command overhead. If the deployment lasts 30 days, the total cost is estimated to be over $2.5 million! (Source: The Pricer)

So I ask the question: Which taxpayer funding is more wasteful, fraudulent and abusive? #1. The cost of programs and strategies that work to prevent violence and address root causes of crime? Or #2. The cost of unnecessary (wasteful) deployment of the National Guard and the military founded upon the fabricated (fraudulent) narrative of rampant crime and violence in cities led by Democratic men and women of color (abusive)?

If you still selected #1, all I can say is, “AARGH!”

Mishandling the Word of Truth – Part 3

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Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me.” Isaiah 6:8

This verse is the culmination of Isaiah’s call to his prophetic ministry. God is looking for someone who will speak on God’s behalf to the people of Israel and Judah. After experiencing the overwhelming majestic presence of God in a vision and receiving the assurance of God’s touch of forgiveness and grace, Isaiah volunteers to join God’s mission.

This Bible verse is now being used in a video posted on X by the Department of Homeland Security to recruit Border Patrol officers and ICE agents to participate in the mission to capture, detain, and deport migrants who have crossed into the United States. Though the video can no longer be viewed at the DHS website (due to copyright infringement), it was watched 2.8 million times. The video can be viewed HERE.

Inclusion of the Bible verse in a recruitment video suggests that protecting the United States from the invasion of foreigners is a God-ordained mission, and stepping up to participate in the mission is a high spiritual calling—an act of spiritual devotion.

This is yet another example of “Mishandling the Word of Truth.” The mission promoted by the DHS is completely opposite of the mission God gave to Isaiah. Instead being sent to protect Israel’s borders or to round up and deport foreigners, Isaiah was sent to the leaders of Israel and Judah to rebuke them for their failure to act justly toward the poor, the vulnerable and the refugee and to announced God’s impending judgment—judgment that would remove them from the land into exile.

Stopping migrants from crossing the border or chasing down and incarcerating undocumented farm workers is NOT a godly mission commanded by God or commended by God. God condemns the nation that “makes unjust laws and issues oppressive decrees to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless.” (Isaiah 10:1-2).

The distorted use of Scripture by the current administration to justify injustice and promote cruelty under the banner of righteousness should offend every Christian. It is blasphemy. And if we fail to discern the Scripture twisting and fail to call it out, we will fall under the judgment Isaiah announced to those who have ears, but do not hear.

Whoever has ears, let them hear.

Mishandling the Word of Truth – Part 2

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Women who are strong leaders; women who choose their own place in the social hierarchy; women who are entrusted with power; women who instruct men. There are plenty of people today who would claim that these women are possessed (or infected) by the “Jezebel spirit” and need to return to their God-ordained place. For example, Rev. Doug Wilson, pastor of Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho, and a self-identified “Christian Nationalist,” may not use the “Jezebel” label, but he has publicly called for the end of the 19th Amendment that gave women the right to vote and has preached that the Biblical role for women is to “be the chief executive of the home with three or four or five eternal souls..” Despite Rev. Wilson’s theological training and Biblical knowledge, it seems that he has chosen to ignore the Biblical record regarding the diversity of roles that women have held in the church, mishandling the word of truth. .

So, let’s set the record straight. The Bible gives us multiple examples of women who do not live within Rev. Wilson’s definition of a woman’s “biblical role”, and it never accuses them of being “Jezebels.” These women are godly, wise, Holy Spirit-filled.

Mary of Bethany. Mary, a close friend of Jesus and sister of Lazarus and Martha, is probably best remembered for her act of anointing Jesus with expensive perfume prior to his death–an act that received a lot of criticism from Judas Iscariot as being wasteful. But she is also remembered for another very inappropriate act–sitting at the feet of Jesus alongside the rest of the disciples to listen to his teaching. (Luke 10:38ff) It was Mary’s sister Martha that pointed out the unseemliness of her choice. Shouldn’t she be helping in the kitchen? Shouldn’t she be serving the food? Isn’t it improper to sit with the men? But Instead of reprimanding Mary, Jesus affirmed her, saying that she had “chosen what was better.” Jesus refused to prescribe the proper place for Mary (and for all women). He confirmed Mary’s equality with men and her right to choose her place. To hear some church leaders today, choice isn’t an option for women. Mary would have been sent to the kitchen to serve the men.

Mary of Magdala. Ever since Pope Gregory (6th Century) fused the identity of Mary Magdalene with the story of the anonymous “woman of sin” (aka a prostitute) who anointed Jesus’s feet while he was dining at a Pharisee’s home (Luke 7:36-37), Mary has been portrayed in art, books and movies as a former sex worker transformed by her relationship with Jesus. It’s a great story, but recent scholarship has suggested that she was more likely a strong, independent woman of economic status that followed Jesus and supported his ministry financially (Luke 8:2). What is fascinating is that Mary Magdalene is never identified in a relationship to a man (either her father or a husband)–something very unusual in Jesus’s day. Mary Magdalene was probably an unmarried female disciple of Jesus who supported his ministry, was present at his crucifixion, assisted with his burial, and was the first witness of the resurrection. Her testimony to the rest of the disciples has earned her the title, “Apostle to the Apostles.” Today, she would be silenced in many churches.

Priscilla. We first are introduced to Priscilla in Acts 18:2. She is married to a tent-maker named Aquila. They (along with other Jews) had been forced out of Rome by an imperial order of Claudius Caesar, and they resettled in Corinth where they welcomed the Apostle Paul–a fellow tent-maker–into their home. When Paul left Corinth for Ephesus, the couple joined him having become followers of the Way. While in Ephesus, the couple met a young preacher, Apollos, whose understanding of the gospel was incomplete. The couple took him into their home and instructed him more thoroughly in the Way of Jesus. What is fascinating is that throughout the narrative, Priscilla’s name precedes her husband’s name–indicating her prominence in the relationship. In fact, every scriptural reference to the couple but one follows that pattern–unusual in ancient cultures. Priscilla is recognized as a woman of strong faith and deep spiritual understanding who is qualified to teach and correct men–something she would not be permitted to do in many churches today.

Phoebe. When Paul finished his letter to the Romans, there was no mail service to deliver it to the church. Instead, it had to be hand-delivered by a trusted co-worker of Paul, introduced to us in Romans 16:1-2. Her name is Phoebe. Phoebe’s role as the letter carrier was much more than simply delivering an envelope. She would have also been responsible for representing Paul and his message to the Roman Christians. If members of the Roman church had questions after hearing the letter read, Phoebe would have been the only person in the room who could answer the questions, give additional explanations and clarify any confusion. In other words, Phoebe was the first to present a commentary on the Letter to the Romans. It is also instructive that Paul introduced Phoebe to the Roman church as “a deacon of the church in Cenchreae.” The greek word for ‘deacon’ can also be translated “servant” or “minister.” Early in church history, the word was used to designate a recognized leader in the church. Jen McNeel writes, “It’s not completely clear how much of this technical meaning the word had acquired at the time that Paul wrote the letter to the Romans, but it is clear that Phoebe is exercising some kind of leadership within the Christian community at Cenchreae. Elsewhere Paul applies the word to himself and to others who engage in the preaching and teaching ministry of the early church.” (see 1 Cor 3:5; 2 Cor 3:6, 6:4, 11:23; and Phil 1:1 for other examples). Phoebe is a recognized spiritual leader, a theologian, a teacher, and a trustworthy associate, entrusted with great responsibility by Paul. In many churches today, Phoebe would only be trusted to teach children.

There are others–Cloe, a church leader in Corinth; the daughters of Phillip, prophetesses; Junia, an apostle. Euodia and Syntyche, faithful co-laborers with Paul in Philippi. These women and others–some single, some married, some with children, some without–were not bound by the gender expectations of their time, but were freed by the Spirit of God to be equal partners in building up the body of Christ and announcing the kingdom of heaven. If God has ordained that women be free, who has the right to constrain them? The answer is: NO MAN.

Remember: the gifts of the Holy Spirit are not gendered. “All these [gifts] are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.” 1 Corinthians 12:11 (NRSV) “So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.” (Romans 12:6b-8).

Can I get an ‘Amen!’?

Mishandling the Word of Truth – Part 1

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“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God …accurately handling the word of truth”. 2 Timothy 2:15 (NASB)

It has been awhile since I have written a post. I was away, enjoying some wonderful time with my family in the beauty of nature. During that time, I tried to disconnect from the headlines, but even with the assistance of my energetic, always on-the-go grandchildren, I found it almost impossible. Not a day passed without some reminder of how our national fabric was being ripped apart thread by thread, and with each tear I felt an increasing dread about what kind of world my grandchildren would inherit.

What was particularly distressing to me was the ways in which Scripture was being distorted, used and abused to justify the mistreatment of migrants and asylum seekers and control women and the LGBTQ+ community. This “inaccurate handling of the word of truth” by (mostly) white men claiming to speak for God turned Scripture into a weapon of mass destruction aimed particularly at women–a far cry from the liberating message and actions of Jesus toward women.

The concern of these self-appointed guardians of “Biblical truth” went well beyond issues of healthcare and bodily autonomy. Their message condemned all women who were independent, opinionated, strong leaders–who chose to remain unmarried or childless–claiming that they were possessed by the “Jezebel Spirit”

Though I was familiar with the story of Jezebel, the Sidonian princess who became the influential (aka: manipulative) wife of Israel’s King Ahab and a staunch adversary of the prophet Elijah; and though I was also familiar with the strong condemnation of a female “prophet” in the Church at Thyatira identified as “Jezebel” in Revelation 2:20-23, I was unfamiliar with the phrase, “Spirit of Jezebel.” So I went down the rabbit hole. Here is what I discovered.

Nowhere in the Bible is there a reference to the “Spirit of Jezebel” or the “Jezebel Spirit.” And while the origin of the phrase is unknown, the name Jezebel has a long history as a racist and misogynistic slur. A Jezebel is a woman who is devious, manipulative, ambitious, immoral and idolatrous. The name was regularly applied to African female slaves by white slave owners who saw them as promiscuous perverts ruled by lust (referencing the Jezebel of Revelation 2 who led men into adultery and fornication). According to Graciella Ye’Tsunami, “Enslavers believed white women were “virtuous” in God’s eyes and therefore worthy of protection. Black women were painted as the exact opposite – sexual deviants worthy of violence. Roxanne A. Donovan adds that the stereotype of the sex-crazed black women was also used to justify rape blame (ie “she was asking for it’). `

In 1981, David Byrne of the Talking Heads collaborated with Brian Eno to write and produced a song by the title “The Jezebel Spirit.” In the song, the singer exorcises a demonic spirit from a woman possessed by “Jezebel.” The spirit is commanded to release the woman because “She was intended by God to be a virtuous woman. You have no right there. Her husband is the head of the house,” implying that she was promiscuous and had “ruled over” her husband.

Since 2016, dozens of books have hit the market about the “Jezebel Spirit” covering topics like what it is, traits that expose it, how to defeat it, etc. The target audience is likely to be conservative and charismatic Christians who have been influenced by the New Apostolic Reformation and one of its “prophets”, Lance Wallnau.

In August 2020, Wallnau posted a video on X where he described a dream he had. He said, “Kamala [Harris] was in an elevator with me that was going up, and I knew there was a Jezebel spirit, and this was before she ran for the primaries for President.” He later added, ““I knew that she was going to be the one the devil is going to try to use to take Trump out.” When Kamala Harris became the Democratic nominee for President in July 2024, Wallnau posted another video , warning that Harris, represents “the spirit of Jezebel, and in a way that’ll be even much more ominous than Hillary [Clinton] because she’ll bring a racial component and she’s younger.” The video has been viewed 1.4 million times.

On July 16, 2025, Charlie Kirk complained on his show that we are not living in the same country as in the 1980’s. As evidence, he pointed to young women that “are infected with the Jezebel spirit, that [have] no interest in getting married or having children, that [want] to be the boss of the relationship.” He has over 5 million Facebook followers.

Whether it is called the “Jezebel stereotype” or the “Jezebel Spirit” the trope persists–particularly for women of color. However, to say any woman has a “Jezebel spirit” is also to say she is dangerous and untrustworthy–under the influence of hell to seduce men to their destruction and to usurp their power and subvert God’s proper social order. At its core, referring to any woman as a Jezebel is an attempt to “keep women in their place.” The slur also inflicts spiritual and mental harm and invites others to inflict the same or worse.

In Part 2, I will introduce you to dynamic women of the Bible, who–if living today– might be accused of being possessed by the Spirit of Jezebel, but who were, in fact, filled with the Holy Spirit of God. Until then…

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1 (NASB)