Loving who you are and how God formed you is not a sin. Accepting yourself is the first step to loving yourself. It allows you to be bold, confident, unashamed, and unafraid. Once you are less afraid of revealing who you are to others, you can build connections and cultivate a community of love. I was asked to speak at this two-point charge about my journey researching equality in the Bible. My talk has the feel of an interview as I share my story.
Love is the basis for overcoming fear, being able to be vulnerable, and building relationships. I didn't set out to preach, but I did set out to do what it takes to share the news about how God and the Bible endorse equality and I am thankful for this opportunity.
Check out my shorts on my YouTube Elaine R Kelly Playlist.
When I began my writing journey, I didn't know that the concept of entrenching male hierarchal power at home and church had already resulted in widespread abuse of power, hundreds of incidents of abuse, and how men in authority silenced survivors and forgave offenders. I didn't know that some pastors had absolute power, being unaccountable to a congregation or board. And that those promoting this unequal distribution of power, freedoms, and rights, preached that it came from God. That's not Christianity.
I didn't know how the church had increased its support of patriarchal power five years ago, but God did.
And I did know that God was directing me to write about how the Bible endorses mutual respect and equality regardless of gender.
Elaine Ricker Kelly Author is empowering women with historical fiction about women in the Bible and early church and Christian blogs about women in leadership, church history and doctrine. Her books include:
Forgotten Followers from Broken to Bold, Book 1
The Sword A Fun Way to Engage in Healthy Debate on What the Bible Says About a Woman's Role
Because She Was Called: from Broken to Bold, Book 2, A Novel of the Early Church, imagines Mary Magdalene's trip to testify before the emperor
Walk with Mara on Her Healing Journey: 21 Steps to Emotional Resilience
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