There are so many things I need to be doing right now: Assignments, videos, editing, writing and reading to name a few. But there has been something weighing on my heart. After a situation recently gut-punched me and made me boohoo cry all before 10am on a Monday morning I thought that I needed to write.

And so I did. I wrote, but it was in the form of an email.

As I tried to decide what and how much I would/could share with you all, I hung my hat on these words, my words: “When the church chooses not to take a stance, it empowers others in their delusions of what justice, Jesus and the Gospel is really about.”

As a Black woman and a future #ClergyMama, I am disillusioned daily by people who claim to be Christian but refuse to stand up for what they believe in. I know it’s hard and I know that people will disown you for certain beliefs. I’ve experienced the backhanded comments and strained relationships for my beliefs too. I’m not immune from that sort of thing. But as a Christian, someone who follows Christ’s example of love and justice, there are some things you can’t just turn a blind eye to. There are some things that you must choose a side for. You can’t be lukewarm.

It ruins your witness. And further, it promotes the ill-interpreted Gospel of those who think it’s okay to deny folks of their humanity. Playing the fence as a Christian says to those who are intent on looking past the ills of this world and promoting their own selfish advancement at the expense of those who are at the bottom of the social totem pole that God only loves them. It debunks the need for justice in this world and it downplays everything that Jesus did in his ministry.

I can’t begin to tell you how painful it is to know that good white people, good rich people, good politicians and good Christians rather coddle those who have power than to support those who do not.

It’s infuriating that people you respect are just as complicit in systemic racism and bigotry all because they prefer not to ruffle a few conservative feathers.

Don’t be the one to promote the beliefs of delusional Christians. Don’t be the one who will go along just to get along. Don’t be the one who supports the opposite of what Jesus established here on earth.

Don’t be delusional. Your inability to stand up, will cost you. It’s not free to remain silent anymore. “When the church chooses not to take a stance, it empowers others in their delusions of what justice, Jesus and the Gospel is really about.”