The Voice of the Moms

This weekend I had the amazing privilege and experience of attending the "May We Be One" webinar put on by NOW movement- a Church of the Nazarene grassroots movement for pursuing justice. In my pajamas of course, which is the new business casual. I learn best by teaching and the process of sharing helps me remember. So, please indulge me with this week's first blog post as I put some of my biggest takeaways into words. And forgive me, and feel free to correct me, if you were there and I have understood something incorrectly.
The general session speaker for this, Dr. Soong-Chan Rah, came to us from a place of brokenness, having just lost his mother the day before. I can not imagine holding it together throughout this, but I am so thankful that the Lord allowed him the ability to do this, because his perspective in that exact moment, brought something especially beautiful to the table.
Dr. Rah set the groundwork by going over the "Hermeneutical Circle for Practical Theology." If you are like me, and had not heard of this it includes three steps-
1. Clarification (understanding the social, cultural, and historical reality). What context am I speaking into?
2. Conceptualization (theological concepts/Biblical truths). For me, how does holiness or entire sanctification speak into this?
3. Confrontation (DO something about this). Think Bob Goff's phrase, "Love Does" here.
Dr. Rah spent the majority of his time in Jeremiah, and the book of Lamentations. God had so many unexpected things to say to his people during the time of Babylonian captivity. And, we as his people today are in so many ways exiles as well. Displaced people of a different kingdom. But living here.
He shows how in response to this displacement, the people of God tend to have one of three reactions-
1. Run Away and Hide/Give Up
2. Adapt to the Ways of the Victors (Give In)
3. Lament.
Can you guess which one is correct? If you guessed, lament, you'd be right. But, if you guessed "run away" then you're not alone. Rah shared the history of the church between 1950-1970, becoming, literally, an ark, to protect Christians from those they viewed as evil and dangerous. And often what they saw as "evil and dangerous" wasn't really about "evil" or "danger" but rather racism in disguise. Was this "culture bubble" the way God would want us to live in this world among people he loves deary? Not at all.  In fact, in Jeremiah 29 we see this radical call to even "seek the peace of the city." Even in Babylon.
 There's a lot more to say about the American history revealed, but in the words of my dear friend, Jesse, "You're not ready for that."
However, I can not talk about this day without drawing special attention to what this brilliant man who's grief for his mother was still so fresh had to say on behalf of the women who've long been behind the scenes.
First, Dr. Hung said that he often finds himself at big conferences, where pastors pay $200 to find out what the secret to having a successful church is. Is it having the skinniest of jeans? He says no. The secret to being a successful pastor is having a praying mother. He talked about his dear mother whose knees were physically destroyed by the amount of time spent on them, praying for him, praying for her family.

And he talked about "passing the mic". My white brothers and sisters, please don't tune me out when you read that. I hope I can express this in a way that makes sense and represents his words as best I can. Basically, he said that those among us with power and position have had our turn. We have been heard. He keeps going, saying we don't even need to hear from the most educated or well-spoken. It's time to hear from the multitude of those who have never had a voice. Never been asked their opinion or to share their story. He specifically mentioned the Abuelitas, the beautiful Spanish-speaking grandmothers. These godly women who have lived so much and had our backs for so long, often behind the scenes. He talked about the wisdom of the black mothers, and the perspective they have to offer that needs to be heard.
So many women of every shade, moms, grandmas, aunts, daughters, have something to offer that we have never heard. We need to put ourselves in a humble position, in which we listen and respect the views of those different than ourselves.
I thought of my mom, who prays for me every day and is my biggest cheerleader. I thought of the mom of the man who is serving a lifetime sentence in Louisiana for stealing a pair of hedge clippers. I thought of Trayvon Martin's mom. I thought of the moms all across the country who are trying to do it all right now-homeschooling, working, taking classes themselves, caring for the sick, triaging the needs around her. It's not that their voice necessarily matters more than anyone else's. But their voices are the voice ones we have heard too little of. And it's a time when the world needs to hear the voice of the moms.

By the way, I purchased Dr. Soong-Chan Rah's book, Prophetic Lament from this black-owned bookstore.  https://bookshop.org/books/prophetic-lament-a-call-for-justice-in-troubled-times/9780830836949 Because as much as I love the convenience of that one big online company who's owner made $13 billion in one day during quarantine...I figure he doesn't need ALL my money, and I can choose to spread a little around, right? 

Also, please remember that many of the thoughts (especially the ones that make sense) I've over-viewed don't begin with me. Credit goes to:

Rah, Soong Chan. “Dr. Rah- Prophetic Lament.” May We Be One Webinar. May We Be One, 10 Aug. 2020, online, Online.

Photos borrowed from free library at Canva.com.