Don’t tell Dad!
Politics, women in leadership, and America’s racism are three topics I choose not to discuss with certain family members. Ironically, these are also three topics of the books for this week’s assignment. Below are the main ideas in these books and questions I would like to ask the authors.
God’s Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn’t Get It by Jim Wallis
If Jim Wallis’ book had only been titled God’s Politics, I would have struggled to open it. I am tired of Christians Biblicizing[1] politics. I grew up on in the conservative religious right side of politics. I still embrace many of those base values. Social justice, specifically global poverty, has been my platform for my work in Africa while I also incorporate the Hope of the Gospel. Politically, I find myself in the middle. I agree with the liberal left on social issues such as poverty and racism, but I share values with the religious right on things such as the sanctity of human rights. Sometimes I feel like a political ping pong ball defending the other side to the opponent. Wallis’ book addresses some of these issues in God’s Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn’t Get It addresses these issues. The book’s central thesis is: “[to] explore how people concerned about social change and hungry for spiritual values can actually combine those two quests.”[2] Wallis challenges readers to a new way of looking at political issues. Rather than over-spiritualizing politics as the right does or ignoring it all together as the left, we can come together to address spiritual issues and social challenges with shared values.
Questions for Jim Wallis:
- What have you found to be effective in engaging in conversation with those on the extreme sides of either issue?
- What practical steps can we take today to bridge “spiritual integrity and social justice?”
Dreaming in Black and White by Brett Fuller
In Dreaming in Black and White, Brett Fuller calls American Christians to be the change agents that heal racial discrimination in the United States. The book addresses the historical journey of racism in the US and how that has shaped the current racial divides between Whites and African Americans. He addresses the profound cultural implications of racism that have shaped our society throughout the centuries. The pivotal theme throughout the book is the hope that racial reconciliation can happen. Fuller acknowledges that this deep, culturally interspersed situation will need the prayers and humility of Christians and the help of God. The book gives practical examples and ways to bring about change in society. In his chapter addressing the majority culture of America, of which I am a part, he gives three statements to help start bridging the gap of reconciliation and healing of racism. He encourages those of the White majority culture to say these things to our African American friends:
“I feel your pain.”
“I’m sorry.”
“How can I help?”[3]
I most appreciated this book’s practical application. Fuller addresses people on all sides of the issue, believing that we can all help to bring change and reconciliation.
Questions for Brett Fuller:
- In your chapter on reconciliation, you mention that often, African Americans will not speak up concerning the cultural undertones of their white friends. How can we build trust with our African American friends to make a safe space for them to speak up?
- What advice would you give to someone who lives as a foreigner in a different country and society where racism is like what it was in the US in the 1970s?
High Ceilings: Women in Leadership by Brett Fuller
Brett Fuller addresses another controversial topic in his book High Ceilings: Women in Leadership. This short book addresses the topic of women in leadership from a Biblical perspective. The overarching argument is that the Bible supports that women can have full leadership capacity within their personal spiritual gifts, mission, and abilities.[4] Fuller challenges traditional cultural interpretations and perspectives on the Biblical roles of women. He distinguishes the role of a wife under a husband from roles independent of the home in leadership positions over men.[5] He believes the Bible is distinct about these differences. He supports the idea that the husband is over the wife in a marriage relationship, but this does not transfer to all male-women relationships.[6] Fuller examines familiar passages in the Bible that have been used to support the position that women should not be allowed to have leadership over men. He shares why the traditional interpretation does not apply to all circumstances. The Biblical cultural context of these passages is also examined. Fuller recognizes and acknowledges the long-standing cultural bias that women are inferior to men.[7] He concludes the book with a clear statement that women can lead in his understanding of Scripture.[8] I appreciate Fuller’s perspective and interpretation of these Biblical passages, but please do not tell my dad. 😉
Questions for the author:
- What is your response to the statement that women should not be in high leadership positions because they are biologically more emotionally driven than men and lead with their emotions?
- What is your advice for women in complementarian congregations with a complementary-equalitarian conviction who choose to stay to be change agents in this area?
[1] Biblicizing is when Christians take Biblical concepts and passages out of context to justify their perspective with Scripture.
[2] Jim Wallis, God’s Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn’t Get It, Kindle ed. (New York, NY: HarperSanFrancisco, 2008).
[3] Brett Fuller, Dreaming in Black and White, Kindle ed. (United States: BookBaby, 2021), 142.
[4] Brett Fuller, High Ceilings: Women in Leadership, Kindle ed. (United States: Self-published, Brett Fuller, 2021), 42.
[5] Fuller, High Ceilings, 14.
[6] Fuller, High Ceilings, 37.
[7] Fuller, High Ceilings, 18.
[8] Fuller, High Ceilings, 42.
About the Author
Kari
Kari is a passionate follower of Jesus. Her journey with Him currently has her living in the Sahara in North Africa. With over a decade of experience as a family nurse practitioner and living cross-culturally, she enjoys being a champion for others. She combines her cross-cultural experience, her health care profession, and her skills in coaching to encourage holistic health and growth. She desires to see each person she encounters walk in fullness of joy, fulfilling their God-designed purpose. “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Romans 12:12 ESV16 responses to “Don’t tell Dad!”
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Kari,
I agree with not telling our dad’s! I have my in-laws staying at my house right now. They are here helping school our son so that I can go to DC. Yet, this morning I heard that our Governor, Tim Walz, is both a “liberal woke” as well as a “communist.” I just don’t think these really fall in the same political side. Anyways, sometimes it is better to keep the peace and don’t tell dad what we are reading.
One of your questions was about racism experienced like the 1970’s in your country. Can you explain a bit more about what do you mean by this? How are you seeing racism played out?
Hi Adam,
I hesitated even putting a date on that question as I was not born in the 1970s. But that seems to be the closest way to compare with all of the cultural differences. Slavery here was criminalized less than 20 years ago. Education is prioritized for those who can afford private schooling. Those of certain ethnicities (and darker skin color) are the ones required to do the hard labor of the country. It is a daily occurrence to see men and women talking down to and mistreating people of darker skin color. There are frequent protests from the antislavery side and those advocating for equalizing ethnicities, unfortunately those can turn violent quickly. The mistreatment of those from the darker ethnicities by the police is horrific. We do not have marked section for those of different ethnicities, however those of the Arabic background will cut to the front of the line, make people change seats with them, and insist on other privileges. Those in leadership, which is currently an Arabic majority, are trying to change the national languages to eliminate French and rely on only Standard Arabic. This would greatly affect many of the black African ethnicities in the country where their majority education language is French. I could continue onward, but these are some of the major consistent things I see.
Kari,
I too have family members that I cannot or very carefully discuss these three issues. I see myself in close to the same position politically as you are. I fortunately have co-workers who share similar views. For the U.S. to effectively address the complicated issue of global poverty, what do you think would be one issue/solution that politicians could agree upon as a starting point?
Jeff, You have hit my passion and NPO! You are right, poverty is a complicated issue. Personally, I would love to see the issue of development funding addressed. Rather than just handing out money (for development, which is different than disaster relief), we need to start involving and consulting those living in poverty. They know their solutions and resources far better than we do. Rather than handing out money and supplies that are designated for things that Westerners think they need, a solution is to empower and equip them to solve the answer with our support and encouragement. I am trying to keep this short, but perhaps we can chat more in DC. I am interested in a social worker’s perspective on this.
Great summary and questions Kari. If you could only ask one, which would it be?
Hi Ryan,
Firstly, I don’t appreciate you limiting how many questions I can ask 😉. I’m just kidding. I would ask Wallis what he has found to be effective in engaging in conversation with those on the extreme sides of the issues.
Hi Kari, Poverty touches almost every other issue doesn’t it? I believe our next authors will also touch on poverty but from a different perspective, an extended lifespan (The 100-Year Life) . Do you think that social justice that is more of a core topic because lack of it can feed poverty, housing insecurity and so many other debilitating problems in society? I love that you want to engage the people who actually are most impacted by poverty. Thanks for the post.
Hi Diane,
I think that the issues of social justice and poverty have a lot of overlap. In my experience they also have unique characteristics that will need to be addressed individually to see sustainable change happen.
Hi Kari, great questions. Poverty is such a complex issue. I appreciate your perspective on engaging communities for solutions rather than trying to hand a solution in from the outside. How did you learn this lesson?
Hi Christy,
I think I learned this lesson partly from years of experience and being a searcher. I think the “ah-ha” moment was when I took my first coaching course several years ago. We were encouraged to remember that people already have their own answers and solutions; they sometimes need help unlocking them. I started using this mentality in my work and learned that this method is transferable!
Hi Kari,
How has your background in the conservative religious right influenced your current political views and actions?
Hi Shela,
I’ve always been a bit of a rebel. Growing up with much influence from the far right, even as a teen, I would push back (sometimes just silently in my own head). I wanted to search the facts for myself. Seeing politics from an extreme side has influenced me to try to learn to listen and see the other sides before drawing my own conclusion.
Hi Kari, Thanks for your post! OK, this is probably going to sound hopelessly naive, but I am curious about your question number regarding women being biologically challenged to lead at higher levels due to emotionalism. Is this really a thing? In what context?
Now – as I write this, I realize it is definitely a ‘thing’ and one of the reasons I have an amazing poker face when I choose and also why I feel embarrassed if I get ‘excited’ about an idea… But – in what context do people still make this argument out loud?
Hi Julie,
I heard it growing up in the conservative Pennsylvania Dutch area and communities. It is a mentality of those on the extreme side of complementarianism. Women are meant to be submissive, meek, quiet, and keepers at home. This ideology often, although not exclusively, includes external rules (no pants for women, only homeschooling, etc).
Hi Kari, Thanks for you catchy blog title. There were no forbidden subjects around our house, so I found this humorous. What potential challenges could we create if, in relationship to men, women asked to flip flop from marriage into the church world and back again?
Hi Graham,
I’m not sure if I completely understand your question, so feel free to clarify. One of the principles I’ve learned as an employer is the vitality of having clear job descriptions and expectations for employees. Without a clear understanding of roles and duties, there is little to no ownership, followthrough, or accountability. I think this is also true for leadership. Problems will arise when these are not clear in the church context or in marriage.