Trust your gut

Another very much  read-worthy post from Kathy Escobar.

"really, it’s usually not about divisiveness; it’s about control. unhealthy systems will not tolerate any kind of pushback or challenge or questions.  healthy systems will."

I'm so allergic to these these days... Any community where I'm not allowed to ask questions or challenge. And it's not only problem with religious communities.. work places also. Or any communities. Joyce Meyer just posted this on Twitter yesterday:

"Just because people reject your opinions doesn’t mean they are rejecting you."

Just bcos I don't agree with your every opinion doesn't mean I'm not agreeing with your worth and value. (Ohh, to have people with healthy self-esteem..)


pushing parts of us down to stay part of the systems we are in is harmful. (*been there, done that*) hiding because our real selves, our real questions, will not be tolerated damages our soul. splitting off and pretending will drain us of hope over time."

our passions & gifts will continue to be squelched.  we will continue to give time & money to systems that don’t really care about us.   we will live with a subtle and sometimes overt shame that who we are is either too much or not enough. 


we can’t be free in a place that tells us we are less than because of our gender.  we can’t be free in a place that won’t tolerate our questions or doubts or pain or struggles.  we can’t be free in a place that only loves us when we are towing the line and following the rules.  we can’t be free in an environment that won’t engage in healthy conflict. we can’t be free when we are being controlled.

Healthy conflict people!! It's important!

when it comes to issues of oppression & unhealthy systems of power, we need to listen more to our gut.  we need to tune into our hearts and be more honest about what we are feeling.  we need to open our eyes to reality.


Been trying to learn to listen to my gut. 

Do read Kathy's whole post if it hits home with you at all. Joyce's Twitter feeds I find always encouraging! They're nice on my Twitter feed.

This is from another post by Kathy:

Instead, change in the church will come from not-so-well-behaved women who are willing to risk their pride, reputations, and “being liked” to stand for what God is stirring up in their hearts.

Change in the church will come when women who are called to lead, lead, even when others don’t think they can or should.

Change in the church will come when women refuse to squelch their gifts and begin to unleash them without asking for permission first.

Change in the church will come when women passionately follow Jesus, not systems-made-in-his-name-that-do-not-reflect-his-image.

Change in the church will come when women bravely use their voices, power, and any influence they have to inspire others to be brave, too.


But the Kingdom of God was never about easy. It was never about comfort. It was never about maintaining the status-quo. It was never about playing nice.