Access more. During today's conversation on Backport's Theology, Allie and I are diving deep into the swirling waters of gender discrimination disguised as biblically sound exegesis.

Recent polls have revealed that for the first time in American church history,

young women are leaving mainline Christian congregations at a faster rate than young men.

And one of the main reasons cited is their observation and or personal experience with misogyny,

with being treated as less than simply because they're

female. German theologian Helmut Tealika once wrote, a theological thought can breathe

only in the atmosphere of dialogue with God. I've been in vocational ministry for almost 40 years now, so I'm not an idealistic

young pup who thinks there aren't any weeds in the Garden of Christianity. I also have a master

of theological studies and a midway through a doctoral thesis, so I understand that without Holy

Spirit's guidance, an in-depth study, there are some very complex passages in scripture that can easily be

misinterpreted and misconstrued by well-intentioned Christ's followers. However, I'm very concerned

and deeply saddened by how some people are intentionally carving biblical passages out of their

socio-historical framework in order to fit their preference

and prejudice. In other words, their theology about women is fundamentally flawed because it's not

formed through what Telika refers to as a dialogue with God. I've come to firmly believe that a

responsible and comprehensive study of our old and

New Testament canons reveal that God's sons and his daughters are imbued with inherent dignity as Imago

Day, as his image bearers. Although gender discrimination, misogyny, and sexual abuse are rampant

throughout human history.

They reared their ugly heads by the third chapter of the Bible, y'all.

They are human constructs created by people and perpetrated by power differentials.

They were never part of God's divine design for us.

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