Denouncing “Christian” - Proclaiming My Faith

As of today, June 7, 2020. I will officially no longer identify myself as “Christian.”  

Too much pain to peoples all over the world is associated with that term and system.  

I do realize that the religion of Christianity and many religious leaders have grossly misinterpreted  and mishandled so much of the sacred book, the Holy Bible, and have used it to establish and  promote White Supremacy and Patriarchy.  

As a Black woman in the church, I have been dually oppressed, especially in my  so-called ‘diverse’ church experience.  

I am a Believer of the Melanated Jesus in His true form, not the one painted on canvases by white artists, depicting him with white skin, blonde hair and blue eyes.  The One who can not be looked upon with natural eyes. The One who lives in my heart. The Son of God. The Word. The Way, The Truth and The Life. My Redeemer; all that He is and all of His names.  

I am Woman of Faith, and I believe in the divine presence of my Creator, in Holy Spirit, and of course, Jesus—the Holy Trinity; and that They/Them walk with me, guides me and protects me, even from myself. I am fearfully and wonderfully made by God and a daughter of my ancestors.

My life has been greatly blessed by God, even through the patriachal church and society, and also negatively affected by the perils of whiteness.               

I believe that there is so much that I still don’t know and that despite the whiteness of King James, a version of the bible, that God has blessed  His/Their people. And I am curious now about what has been left out of our bibles, or even added to promote this system of Whiteness.  

What I know from my own life experiences, is that God, Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit are real.  

And, that I don’t know what I don’t know.  

For now, Their Divine Presence in my life is enough. 

Angela Braxton-Johnson 

A Grateful Daughter of my Maker