This isn’t your run of the mill misogyny – the kind that thinks girls and women can’t do science (sorry Christina!) or math. This isn’t the average dimwitted mansplaining that goes on all the time at work, in bars, and at home. Most of us are raised in this ridiculous, immature, ignorant kind of thinking that teaches us that men are more suited for things like shooting a gun or thinking without getting emotional, and we all hope that, over time, that we will grow up and become mature enough to be responsible adults. No – this is demented misogyny – toxic masculinity – ignorance based on misread Bible verses and irresponsible teaching. This is the demented misogyny of Joel Webbon, evangelical pastor and hate-speech Christian Nationalist preacher who defames the name of Jesus every time he speaks.
Webbon has a litany of accusations that he trots out regularly, like the Jews created “gayness, transpeople, abortions, and low wages”, to name a few. He believes that having women teachers causes boys to grow up gay and that transpeople are “chemically engineered ticking time bombs.” (As an aside, my experience with guys like this is that they hate something about themselves so much that they become zealots against that very thing.) The latest thing Webbon has said is that “putting your husband in the kitchen is the precursor for putting men in the women’s restroom.” He believes that “feminism of the 1990’s led directly to the transgenderism of the 2020’s.” (Again – sorry Christina!). I won’t spend time debunking these things; if you believe them, God help you.
What I do want to point out is that while these attitudes are in no way Christian, they are being touted by an alleged “christian” preacher. He has thousands of followers, and his last post on X.com got over 18,000 views. Sure, he isn’t Beyonce famous, but his reach is much farther than a lot of sane people, and that should be of concern. This is why we all need to speak up against this kind of dangerous rhetoric. He has the freedom to say whatever demented thing that comes into his addled mind, but his incendiary, hateful words cannot go unanswered. The best thing may be for each one of us, when we hear this kind of vitriol, to calmly and carefully explain why it is wrong. Then move far away from whoever said it so they can work it out in their head. All we can do is speak the truth in love; it may be tough love, but most honest love is. And pray to God for help. Mr. Webbon – and people like him – need both.
Prayer – Holy God, enlighten all of us in what is real and true, so that our words might speak healing to words of hate. Amen.