ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
September 24, 2022
For those who have not seen me in the last couple of days, my hair is even shorter than usual. Some of you are wondering how that could be and that was my wife’s comment. There is a reason for the short hair – a few days ago, I wrote about Mahsa Amini who was killed by the morality police in Iran for not wearing her head covering correctly (they still deny beating her). Protests have occurred in many parts of Iran, not only in anger over the death of Mahsa, but the deeper systemic problem of those in power (men) believing it is their job to control women and their bodies. In Iran, women started cutting their hair as a sign of protest, and then word went out inviting others to do the same in solidarity. I read one request that asked even men to do so. I know that cutting my hair one step above bald is not some profound statement, especially for a man. At the same time, I have been surprised at how often I have glanced in the mirror and been a little caught off guard by how short my hair is – and immediately my mind goes to Mahsa and women around the globe who continue to struggle against powers and principalities that see them, not as equals and beloved expressions of God’s creation, but as objects to be controlled because of the fragility of the male ego. This is not a specific religion problem, but is religious ideas and rhetoric being used to give holy-sounding permission to what is not of God. When are we going to wake up and decry any form of discrimination or system of inequality? It should have happened long ago, but starting today, let’s no longer make excuses or provide permission to those who wish to diminish the worth of others in some perverted attempt at raising their on sense of self-worth. Christianity has its own rather sad history on this topic, and there are still churches all around that have created systems of belief where women are second class citizens in God’s kin(g)dom. I am absolutely baffled by this thought, and instead of taking the polite approach, it’s probably time to just call out every expression of toxic masculinity, especially those who claim religious authorization.
You created them, male and female, in your image. Holy God, how did we get so lost in the unhealthy search for power while claiming to follow the one who humbled himself, even to the point of death? Awaken us to new ways of thinking that seek to empower and uplift all people, especially those who have been held down and scapegoated by groups who are lost in their own insecurities. May your limitless and relentless love show us the way of Jesus, a way that celebrates the dignity and beauty of every single human being. Amen.
