For almost 20 years I have heard people – by people, I mean white people – say that racism is over. After all, we elected a president who was the product of a black man and a white woman; how could we elect him if we were racists? Yesterday, on NPR, there was a damning report on racism in the armed forces since Pete Hegseth became Secretary of Defense. The report made it clear that people of color, and women, were being discriminated against, while white men who were less qualified were being promoted. The numbers don’t lie – racism is still a problem in America. That doesn’t mean that no person of color is doing well; it means that race is still a factor in some people’s behavior and decision-making, and the government’s attack on diversity, equity, and inclusion is part of the problem. Just because you say racism is over doesn’t mean it’s true.
In the same way, women are still discriminated against in more ways than I can say in this essay. One pastor – in fact, Pete Hegseth’s pastor – (interesting, that) – is part of a movement advocating for household voting, so that each individual adult will not have the right to vote, but the household will have one vote. His name is Doug Wilson, and he believes that the parts of the Bible that call for women to be submissive to men and for men to be the heads of their households, are without error. In 2008, John Piper, an influential leader in the evangelical movement, wrote, “I think that the Bible summons men to bear the burden of primary leadership, provision, and protection in the home (Ephesians 5:21–33) and in the church (1 Timothy 2:8–15).” In 2016, 81% of Evangelicals voted for Pres. Trump, and some (much?) of that was based on the fact that his opponent was a woman. Just because you say sexism isn’t real, or that God blesses it, doesn’t mean it’s true.
The same can be said for many issues; for example, if someone says that antisemitism isn’t real, does that make it true? Of course not! Just because someone has an opinion – even if it has some foundation in their holy Scriptures – it doesn’t make it true. As a woman, you might choose to be submissive, and if you do that without coercion, then you do you. Not every opinion is correct, and there are ways to “prove” everything; but that doesn’t make it fact. I am a follower of Jesus, but that does not invalidate every other expression of faith just because a handful of Scriptures might back that up. As one wise sage once told me, opinions are like butts; everybody has one, and they usually stink. Just because you or I say something is true doesn’t mean it is.
Prayer – Merciful God, guide each one of us in understanding and wisdom, so that all might live in peace. Amen.
Today’s art is “Truth” by Nicola Buskirk.