Faith, Current Events
Veritéetfeu
Why the Prosperity Gospel is “Prevalent in ‘the ...

As one who has enjoyed content by both Allie Beth Stuckey and Melissa Dougherty, it was nice to see the two women chat it up during a recent episode of Stuckey’s podcast Relatable. In summary, the episode focused mostly on Dougherty’s new book, her journey from New Ageism to Christ and her take on the various false teachings that have crept into the Church. Yet, the episode took an interesting turn in its final ten minutes during a segment entitled, “Prosperity Gospel in the Black Church”. 

As Dougherty concluded her thoughts on the “little gods” doctrine, a false, word of faith teaching that ascribes innate divinity to all mankind, Stuckey inquired: 

“Can I ask something? It’s gonna be controversial,” she acknowledged. “This seems to be especially prevalent in majority Black churches.

“There’s a lot of prosperity preaching, but [also] a lot of…’You are divine. You are a queen…a goddess…something special.’ I don’t know if you’ve ever talked about the roots of that, or why that is?”

Why the Prosperity Gospel is “Prevalent in ‘the Black Church’”
Podcast Episode, Politics, Faith
Veritéetfeu
S4:E8 Why I Didn't Vote for Kamala Harris

Host Veritéetfeu shares why she didn't vote for Kamala Harris and encourages fellow Christians to remain faithful to Christ no matter their candidate of choice.

S4:E8 Why I Didn't Vote for Kamala Harris
Faith, Christian Living, Politics
Veritéetfeu
“Christians Who Vote Democrat Should Be…”

In response to the May 11, 2022 Senate vote on the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would have codified abortion nationwide, allowed abortion through the ninth month of pregnancy and for which 49 out of 50 Senate Democrats voted in favor, Pastor Tom Buck tweeted the following:

“In light of today’s vote by Democrats to legalize abortion until the moment of birth, we are rapidly reaching the point that voting for a Democrat should be a matter or church discipline.” 

I believe Pastor Buck’s words were meant in jest, but some on his thread found them to be spot on and long overdue. 

“Christians Who Vote Democrat Should Be…”
Christian Living, Politics
Veritéetfeu
Questions for My Christian Nationalist Friends

In 2018, I penned an article making a case against the social justice movement entitled, “Social Justice: Why Jesus Didn’t Pursue It + Why Christians Shouldn’t Fight for It”. It was a well-received piece, namely among my Christian conservative friends, and it served as a resource for those who discerned the burgeoning movement was problematic, but had trouble precisely articulating why this was so. Honestly, before writing that piece I, too, struggled with offering a precise, Biblical case for how something that, on the surface, sounded so good was ultimately quite evil. 

Years later, I’ve found myself similarly positioned regarding Christian Nationalism, the latest problematic movement seeking to take root in America and in the Church. 

Questions for My Christian Nationalist Friends
Podcast Episode, Christian Living, Politics
Veritéetfeu
S4E6: "Christians Who Vote Democrat Should ...

In this episode of Truth + Fire: The Podcast, host Veritéetfeu examines the Scriptures to determine how the Body of Christ should address Christians who vote Democrat.  

S4E6: "Christians Who Vote Democrat Should Be..."

Podcast Episode

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S2E10: Why I'm "Still Single"

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In the first episode of the new year (and the premiere installment of the Writer’s Block Series), host Veritéetfeu discusses her Christian dating woes and shares her empirical and Biblical analysis for why they exist.

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S4E1: Married Single Mothers?
S4E1: Married Single Mothers?

In the premiere episode of Season 4 of Truth + Fire: The Podcast, host Veritéetfeu tackles "married single motherhood", a parenting phenomenon where married mothers take on the sole responsibility to care for their children. But is this practically beneficial for the mother, the father or their children? More importantly, is it Biblical?

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"It's About Self-Love": The Lie Tia Mowry Keeps Telling Herself (And Us)
"It's About Self-Love": The Lie Tia Mowry Keeps Telling Herself (And Us)

Frankly, I don’t expect much of celebrities in the way of proclaiming Christ, rightly dividing His Word or espousing a consistently Biblical worldview. But since Tia is a professing Christian and known for her “good girl” image, it’s important to address her rhetoric and test her fruit for the sake of those tempted to eagerly pick up what she’s been dropping lately. This is especially necessary in a culture that increasingly preaches that women are “victims of the patriarchy” and that “self-love” is a virtue…a Biblical mandate, even. Indeed, they will find a way to bring this ideology into the Church.

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"New Year, New Me": Reflections of a Bride-to-Be
"New Year, New Me": Reflections of a Bride-to-Be

As I prepare this January to receive and celebrate my new earthly identity, I felt it most appropriate to testify of and celebrate the identity in Christ I’ve enjoyed through Januaries past.

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S2E10: Why I'm "Still Single"
S2E10: Why I'm "Still Single"
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Christians, Like Christ, We Marry for Keeps (But): On Divorce, Remarriage + the Gospel
Christians, Like Christ, We Marry for Keeps (But): On Divorce, Remarriage + the Gospel

“What would you do if your husband cheated on you?”

“DIIIVOOOORRCE!”

“Really? Divorce? You’d just give up your family like that?”

“Give up on my family? Didn’t my husband give up on us the moment he cheated? I could NEVER trust him again!”

“That’s cold! I can’t believe you’d do that.”

“Are you SERIOUS?!”

This is a snippet from a conversation I had with a gentleman I dated well over a decade ago. I do believe that was the last conversation we ever had. He was an audacious fellow, and I was a little bit more than furious. The nerve of him. OF COURSE I’d divorce my unfaithful husband!  What was he thinking...that if we got married he could do whatever he wanted and I’d just deal with it? Tuh! Nope! I was so undone by his response. In fact, as I shared that conversation with girlfriends over the years, everyone said that I was right and agreed that this guy was clearly out of his mind. I didn’t need them to affirm me, of course. I already knew I was right. Indeed, I was more than right! 

But then I began to follow Christ.

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Why I No Longer Pray for 'Contentment in Singleness'
Why I No Longer Pray for 'Contentment in Singleness'

About two weeks before my 39th birthday I fell into a mild depression. I was entering the final year of my 30s a single lady, and not only that, there was no one waiting in the wings to “put a ring on it”. Honestly, that broke my heart...and it did a nice little number on my pride. I didn’t feel “single, saved and sassy” or whatever catchy, alliterative descriptor some Christian authors might use these days. I simply felt “single and sad”...and angry...and lonely...and frustrated...and anxious!

Thankfully, on the day of my birthday, the depression and heaviness of what I’d been feeling lifted. But in the weeks and months to come, I’d still find myself “feeling a way” about my marital status.

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"Then the Lord called to the man...'Where are you?'": Men on Abortion
"Then the Lord called to the man...'Where are you?'": Men on Abortion

After thousands of years of human existence, women remain the only gender (of the only two genders) that can biologically become pregnant with, carry, and give birth to another human life. As such, it is only natural and understandable that the female perspective is considered in discourse on abortion.  Yet, in the past 40 years, society has systematically and disingenuously presented the female perspective as the only perspective that matters, especially when that perspective is “pro-choice”. 

Sure, the very camp that’s long supported rhetoric like  “It’s a woman’s right to choose!” now also supports the “right to choose” of  women who feel they’re men (thus, per society, they are “men”) -  because, apparently, “men can get pregnant, too.”  But gender confusion and obvious delusions aside, the male perspective on, and a man’s experience with, abortion is typically silent and silenced. And with abortion in the news quite frequently in recent months, I’ve found their silence rather deafening - perhaps as deafening as Adam’s as he watched Eve eat the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3:6). 

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"God Told Me to Marry You"...And What God Really Said
"God Told Me to Marry You"...And What God Really Said

Long, long ago, I belonged to a church where it wasn’t uncommon for members to “know” the specific person “God” told them they were destined to marry. A good friend of mine at the time believed God revealed to her that our pastor’s armor bearer (assistant/Bible toter/water getter/forehead wiper) was her husband to be. Another member said God told her she would marry one of our church’s ministers. And I believed the Lord told me a popular radio personality (and church member) was destined to be my hubby. Suffice it say, each of us found ourselves looking like an idiot as time and circumstance played out.  The pastor’s armor bearer ended up marrying another woman within six months of meeting her. The minister simply used the other young lady for sex as she pined away hoping he’d one day see they were meant to be. And my radio personality hubby-to-be told me flat out that I wasn’t “the one”, went on to marry a gorgeous gospel artist and (10+ years later) they remain married and have an adorable family.

Since leaving that church, I’ve come to learn that our embarrassingly mistaken “revelations” aren’t uncommon among professed believers in other churches, either. I’ve since met another young lady who so sincerely believed God told her a specific guy was her husband that she remained single and waited for him for 13 years! (THIIIIIIIR-TEEEEEN...YEEEEEAAAAARRRRSSSS!!!!) Meanwhile, that gentleman barely knew her name, and if I recall correctly, he also went off to marry someone else.

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"Hello, I'm a Christian and Physical Attraction is Important to Me"
"Hello, I'm a Christian and Physical Attraction is Important to Me"

As a Christian woman, it’s hard to admit that physical attraction is one of my non-negotiables. I'm often made to feel like I’m confessing some secret sin from which I require immediate deliverance, as if wanting to be attracted to my spouse makes me carnal, superficial or “loose”. Now, it is quite possible my present perspective on this topic is spiritually immature. I might look back on this piece years from now, perhaps after I’m married, and find that my current priorities are slightly out of whack. Nevertheless, I feel very strongly about this at the moment and, even on the chance that it isn’t the most mature perspective, I’m certain it isn’t a sinful one.

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What Your Single Friends REALLY Think About Your Engagement
What Your Single Friends REALLY Think About Your Engagement

It seems within weeks an engagement occurs, female friendships can begin to take a nasty, catty turn. According to my social media timelines, these cat fights rear their ugly heads because a single friend is now “hating” on the newly engaged friend. It's a sad state of affairs, people. So, this post is inspired by a lot of what I've seen play out on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and much, much more.  I’m writing this in love, and in an effort to help you repair and maintain important relationships. I also seek to help others who have to watch this stuff play out in our newsfeed maintain our sanity - ladies, we honestly can't take another passive aggressive status update or meme.

So, engaged ladies, here are four things your single female friends are most likely thinking about your impending nuptials.

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S2E9: Abortion. Voting Bloc or Stumbling Block?

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S2E9: Abortion. Voting Bloc or Stumbling Block?

Host Veritéetfeu revisits the topic of abortion, this time analyzing whether the issue is becoming a political snare for the Church. Is abortion a voting bloc or ultimately our stumbling block? Is "Abortion is Murder!" be our "Black Lives Matter!"?

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S2RR: Why I Renounced My Letters in AKA (REPLAY S1E5)

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S2RR: Why I Renounced My Letters in AKA (REPLAY S1E5)

#KamalaHarris is energizing quite a few “minority” intersections within the electorate as #JoeBiden’s VP pick.

She’s a woman and an HBCU graduate (Howard University). She’s also “Black” (Jamaican), “Asian” (Indian) and “Greek”...and by “Greek”, we mean she’s a member of a Greek-lettered organization. In addition to the ethnic and educational diversity Harris brings to the Biden ticket, her membership in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc (AKA) is also a major selling point amongst some minority voters.

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S2E7: Black Card Revoked

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S2E7: Black Card Revoked

Host Veritéetfeu discusses civil rights activist Shaun King’s recent call to remove all depictions of “white Jesus” and why she's seriously thinking about revoking her own "Black Card".

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S2E5: A Candid Analysis of the "Spiritual Abuse" Investigation Against Heather + Cornelius Lindsey

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S2E5: A Candid Analysis of the "Spiritual Abuse" Investigation Against Heather + Cornelius Lindsey

With her usual fiery wit, host Veritéetfeu examines the independent investigation into Heather and Cornelius Lindsey (The Gathering Oasis Church). Is this investigation Biblical? Will it truly yield justice? Tune in now to hear her findings.