Comments on: Homogenized Religion, Inc. – Where Are The Women?

By: Viva La Femme Friday « CLERGYGIRL

Viva La Femme Friday « CLERGYGIRL — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 10:37:46 +0000

[...] “Becky,” and Randy Elrod who has also written a book on my list to read called “Sex, Lies and [...]

By: Randy Elrod

Randy Elrod — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 17:01:18 +0000

@Gigi, Thanks so much, Gigi. After reading your comment, I feel you would really love my book "Sex, Lies & Religion" -- especially with your boys growing up. Great questions and I have spent two years of research trying to address them in this book. Randy .-= Randy Elrod´s last blog ..My Latest Watercolor – “Italian Beauty” =-.

By: Gigi

Gigi — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 16:56:29 +0000

I have read this entire conversation. Thank you, Randy, for being willing to put this topic out there. I hesitated to comment because I don’t know a lot about Christian music or worship leaders. I am surprised to learn that so few are female. Just FYI, as a consumer of worship and Christian music, I have not given much thought to whether the ones I like are female or male. I like the ones who are familiar with the terrain of the heart and are honest. I love to be lead by both. If I am thinking about what they are wearing or measuring them up in appearance, I think I am the one in sin.

The topic touches my heart deeply. I wonder about how in my own heart I fear sensuality and my sexuality. How that impedes me as a wife and mother. How that impedes me as a worshiper in spirit and truth. So much talk about what we wear, but what is in the heart? Where is the love to speak in kindness to a young woman about her heart and why she feels the need to dress provocatively? Or to address someone who is labeling a “middle-aged worship leader” in kindness and firmness?

I get a lot of external messages as a woman on my role as a wife, on dressing modestly, on teaching my sons what to look at with their eyes. But what about what is inside? How do we wrestle with how God created us as sensual and sexual beings – and in His Own Image? What are the parameters of these two incredible and powerful gifts? Sensuality and sexuality. How do we not engage in the shame that permeates the Christian culture? How do we stay off our soapboxes and look at our own souls?

I am grateful for the discussion and to hear what all of you think. It has enlarged my own thinking.

By: Randy Elrod

Randy Elrod — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 18:47:58 +0000

@Cynthia Cullen, You are certainly a great role model, Cynthia. May your tribe increase!!

By: Cynthia Cullen

Cynthia Cullen — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 18:06:41 +0000

I have 2 female worship leader interns with me this summer. I feel such a responsibility to come alongside them and give them opportunity to lead and use their knowledge, creativity, and skills in our safe environment here at my church where they are not going to be criticized for being a woman and leading worship. You would not be surprised to hear the things that I feel that I am having to “undo” in their minds as women about their role in leading worship in church. We have to mentor (as I know you already do, Randy) this next generation so they will not submit to the inequality that we have created in church. We have to help them understand how important and necessary their feminine perspective, leadership, and influence IS to leading the next generation behind them. The church is the last frontier, in some respects. I have hope it can happen!

By: Randy Elrod

Randy Elrod — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 23:38:30 +0000

@Lisa Pearl Black, Exactly. God created sensuality!!

By: Lisa Pearl Black

Lisa Pearl Black — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 21:09:24 +0000

I believe that the emotion that stems from a woman for the Father can be sensual. The Lord
shows us that in the “Song of Solomon”. My dream has been exactly that,weirdly.

By: Randy Elrod

Randy Elrod — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 20:55:31 +0000

@Nicole, Good point...just not really this point. Thanks though, for joining the conversation.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 20:38:07 +0000

I agree with only a few things that have been said in the blog and replied to. People (Christians and non alike) tend to think that just because a woman or man is in Christian music that it means they are perfect and so when lets say a female lead singer in a Christian band or even if it’s only one woman (i.e. Rebecca St. James) wears something different that offends some people they get criticized badly. Therefore people then end up thinking badly of that female afterwards. NO ONE IS PERFECT! In the words of Natalie Grant… “There’s no such thing as perfect people, there’s no such thing as a perfect life….” So my point is that it’s not really a matter of sexuality/sensuality it’s a matter of Christians putting other Christians (music artists etc) on too high of a pedestal until they mess up.

By: Randy Elrod

Randy Elrod — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 20:03:52 +0000

@Martin Lewis, Thanks, Martin