You probably read the same article I did about the pastor who quoted a Chris Brown lyric … something about garden tools not being committed … that’s not precisely the quote but I don’t want to get into any copyright issues here.

The pastor tried to say his use of the quote-and the word-was out of context.  In context, out of context, I believe he just doesn’t understand the basic issue.  Namely, some men see women as a type instead of a  whole human being.  We don’t expect this perspective from spiritual leaders who are supposed to think of us as fellow spiritual beings.  A spiritual being cannot be a garden tool.

It bothered me because I’m trying to be more Christian-like and haven’t been able to find the motivation to go to church.  Frankly, I didn’t need another excuse to avoid church.  Yes, I know this post is, in itself, an excuse.  But it’s a good one!  Handed to me on a silver platter by a pastor!

This leads me to the opinion that lives deep within me; that men shouldn’t be running churches, women should.  I think women are naturally more spiritual, naturally more nurturing and naturally more understanding.  Women can see men and accept that they are complex beings. It is my humble opinion that most men can’t do the same.

Men are naturally more egotistical, naturally more selfish, naturally less tolerant of others.  A good number of them can’t see beyond the physicality of women to the spiritual beings within.  Men see the marrying type, the “have fun with for one night”-type, the crazy type, quiet type – they seem to have an inability to recognize that one woman can be all those types on any given day of the week.  And so they see nothing wrong with labeling a woman based on a glimpse of what they see for a moment, and will do so in front of other women! I believe they reason: “good” women will appreciate the fact that a man can see them for the “good” women they are and would have no problem hearing them running down a woman they consider to be a garden tool.

We are all daughters, sisters, mothers, aunts, nieces, wives and friends.  You call one woman a garden tool, you might as well be calling all of us garden tools because we have all had our moments. The way to value us is not to de-value another woman who may be at her weakest or most vulnerable point.  I’m not going to lie, I’ve tossed out a name or two, but I’m not standing at a pulpit in front of people looking to me for acceptance. Maybe those leaders who need to be told this aren’t ready to lead.  Maybe they should be sitting in churches and gaining spiritual guidance from women instead of running the daggone things.

This post sounds slightly hostile toward men but I really do love them. I just think the ones at the pulpit need to pull back on preaching virtue to women. The pastors who want to dazzle people with their modern vernacular, maybe they should figure out how to get men into church–you know, all those male garden tools?–and use a few popular songs to cut them down to size.  Lay off the women!  Just sayin’.