A couple requested a meeting with my husband and me. I had asked about the purpose of the meeting and received no response. It had seemed urgent though, so I took time off from work to show up for what I assumed was a couple in desperate need. What I walked into was an ambush. For the next hour, my husband and I respectfully sat and listened to a barrage of “Thus saith the Lord” comments about how God’s favor will not rest on this church because we celebrate women in ministry. According to the wife specifically, I was bringing havoc to this church and its members because I have a pastoral license and share God’s Word with men. In a last-ditch effort to make herself feel godly about her belittling attack, she leaned over the table and told me that she delivers this message from God in love. 

I am glad this did not happen in my first year of ministry as I think it would have spiraled me. There have been multiple seasons in ministry (and life in general) where people will incorrectly and violently use the Lord as a means to be cruel and spiteful. This was very much the case here, but even though I knew that her words were lies, I still sat with those words. I am confident in my calling to ministry. I know what the Word of God says about women in ministry and how individuals will misinterpret or misuse Scripture. I can confirm that God is not withholding His favor from our church because I know what He is doing in our numbers, our finances, our outreach, and in many of our families. But even in knowing the TRUTH, the lies that were spoken “in the name of Jesus” still stabbed and caused me to hesitate for a while. We can fully recognize something as a lie but still feel hurt. Which means we need healing.