Another Lie Goes Down the Drain

I feel as if I've been liberated.

It really didn't take much.

Today at church, we had a girl who had been in Turkey for 10 months share about her time there. She talked a lot about Islam and their beliefs. It was pretty neat. I have an interest in what exactly people of the Muslim faith believe because I work with a Muslim girl and there are quite a few Muslims around school.

Before church, my pastor asked me if I would be willing to help serve communion. The worship team used to do music during communion, but now we have a solo worship leader that does music at the end of the services, so I don't have to be on stage anymore. I was like, "Sweet!"

When I was growing up, we went to a church that suppressed women. They almost put Islam to shame with their whole "women are trash" theology. Ok, so I'm exaggerating. But it wasn't exactly fun to be part of that church if you were female. In that church, only men were allowed to stand or to speak in the services. Only men could pass the communion elements. I don't know this for sure, but it seemed as if women weren't even allowed to touch the silver communion wine (um.... juice....) plate thingy or the fine china plate that held the bread. It was pretty intense.

Often when I'm asked to do something that this particular church didn't sanction, I may agree to do it, but only with great fear and trembling, remembering exactly how it was looked upon at this church. I knew the rules of the church were ridiculous in my HEAD, but I had been lied to so much that it had become a deep, deep part of me. Even though I didn't believe it, I couldn't separate myself from it.

But for some reason, today wasn't one of those times. I didn't even think about it. I just said, "Sure...."

After E. had finished sharing about Turkey, my pastor got up and called me and 5 other girls to come forward to serve communion. He said that the reason he had asked us is because he believes that God wants to acknowledge His desire to use women in service and ministry, and He desires to liberate women from the bondage of the lie that they are somehow less than men, simply because they're female.

Those weren't his exact words, but that's what I got out of what he said.

And I just about busted out bawling.

Finally, after all these years, I can believe -- really believe -- what I always knew was true. I needed a public affirmation of the very things that I so strongly believed, but was too afraid to live.

Another lie goes down the drain. Hallelujah!
Love,
~MJ