Thank you Holly for this post. I appreciate the inclusion of the binary of belief that appears on both sides. As the wife of a former short term missionary leader to Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda, I so appreciate your words. At the time, 30 years ago, we felt "the call". We were special. We were treated as such by our church. As a good Evangelical wife, I stayed home to manage our 5 children and support my husband doing "God's work". The attention we got in our church, the feeling of living in a fishbowl, the special allowances given our family, the fundraising etc, never sat right with me. Even back then, I felt uncomfortable with many aspects of the work, but didn't have the words. I just felt the dissonance in my body. I couldn't bring it to consciousness. Now I no longer identify as Evangelical. A lot has transpired in my personal life. My children are all adults. He's been away from the work for years. I no longer attend church. My husband still does. Needless to say it's been a long road. And with that, I feel such gratitude to be alive in this time of great uncovering and truth telling. I feel much clarity has come and will continue to unfold. We all have inner work to do, individually and collectively. Thanks again.
Thank you for sharing, it’s a difficult thing to take a close look at these parts of our lives. I’ve certainly had to confront my ownership as an MK whose identity was firmly rooted in this world. Hard.
There is so much I didn’t know about the missionaries in Africa that I learned from reading this. The explanation of why American evangelicals adore Trump was invaluable. Thanks, Holly.
Wow, a very interesting and impressive article. I can’t wait for part two on evangelicalism-discomfort. I hadn’t put Trump and narcissism together until reading this. It sure helps me to understand what happened in 2016 and what is happening today in America. Although I have attend different “Christian churches” throughout my 71 years I still only call myself a Christian. I am not evangelical, Pentecostal, Baptist, Independent, or any other denomination. However, I am an extremist Christian, I believe there is only one God, I believe in the trinity, God, his Son -Jesus- and the Holy Spirit. I believe there is a “Stairway to Heaven,” and a “Highway to Hell.” Yes two great song titles but they do describe our choices of travel in the end.
Thank you Ken, I understand that is a sincere belief for many, used to be mine. No disrespect, but i do think it can feed into a real sense of arrogance, superiority, and abuse in the wrong hearts. Slaveholders used Christian exclusivity to justify slavery for instance (ie they are better off as slaves where they will be taught about Jesus/avoid hell)
Holly I agree totally with your comments about “wrong hearts.” I have seen that happening here in Canada as well. I also experienced it in South Africa when I worked there back in 2003. The B&B I stayed at was white owned and only coloured help. Their pay was low and subsidized by the owners allowing the staff to eat any food left over once the guest had left for the day. I stand strongly against the slavery movement as well both then and now.
Yes, very challenging. And especially more difficult when others around you will not look or choose not to look. Yet, I am only responsible for myself. I find myself sitting in this place of holding the tension of both/and.
Thank you Holly for this post. I appreciate the inclusion of the binary of belief that appears on both sides. As the wife of a former short term missionary leader to Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda, I so appreciate your words. At the time, 30 years ago, we felt "the call". We were special. We were treated as such by our church. As a good Evangelical wife, I stayed home to manage our 5 children and support my husband doing "God's work". The attention we got in our church, the feeling of living in a fishbowl, the special allowances given our family, the fundraising etc, never sat right with me. Even back then, I felt uncomfortable with many aspects of the work, but didn't have the words. I just felt the dissonance in my body. I couldn't bring it to consciousness. Now I no longer identify as Evangelical. A lot has transpired in my personal life. My children are all adults. He's been away from the work for years. I no longer attend church. My husband still does. Needless to say it's been a long road. And with that, I feel such gratitude to be alive in this time of great uncovering and truth telling. I feel much clarity has come and will continue to unfold. We all have inner work to do, individually and collectively. Thanks again.
Thank you for sharing, it’s a difficult thing to take a close look at these parts of our lives. I’ve certainly had to confront my ownership as an MK whose identity was firmly rooted in this world. Hard.
This one might also resonate with you https://open.substack.com/pub/hollyberkleyfletcher/p/my-international-upbringing-didnt-immunize-me-from-bigotry?r=17nn2v&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post
There is so much I didn’t know about the missionaries in Africa that I learned from reading this. The explanation of why American evangelicals adore Trump was invaluable. Thanks, Holly.
Now this is how you both-sides a subject.
Excellent - as usual! Thanks, Holly.
Fantastic review - I love how your real life experiences inform it. I can't wait to watch the documentary now.
Great stuff
Wow, a very interesting and impressive article. I can’t wait for part two on evangelicalism-discomfort. I hadn’t put Trump and narcissism together until reading this. It sure helps me to understand what happened in 2016 and what is happening today in America. Although I have attend different “Christian churches” throughout my 71 years I still only call myself a Christian. I am not evangelical, Pentecostal, Baptist, Independent, or any other denomination. However, I am an extremist Christian, I believe there is only one God, I believe in the trinity, God, his Son -Jesus- and the Holy Spirit. I believe there is a “Stairway to Heaven,” and a “Highway to Hell.” Yes two great song titles but they do describe our choices of travel in the end.
Thank you Ken, I understand that is a sincere belief for many, used to be mine. No disrespect, but i do think it can feed into a real sense of arrogance, superiority, and abuse in the wrong hearts. Slaveholders used Christian exclusivity to justify slavery for instance (ie they are better off as slaves where they will be taught about Jesus/avoid hell)
Holly I agree totally with your comments about “wrong hearts.” I have seen that happening here in Canada as well. I also experienced it in South Africa when I worked there back in 2003. The B&B I stayed at was white owned and only coloured help. Their pay was low and subsidized by the owners allowing the staff to eat any food left over once the guest had left for the day. I stand strongly against the slavery movement as well both then and now.
Yes, very challenging. And especially more difficult when others around you will not look or choose not to look. Yet, I am only responsible for myself. I find myself sitting in this place of holding the tension of both/and.
“A person like Renee triggers a lot of frustration for me.”
AMEN, sister.
And your last two paragraphs are especially applicable to the discussion around Israel/Palestine right now.
You are so right! Narcissists out in force!