I was asked to do a short piece on code-switching and decided to do one from a Christian perspective. I feel as one who grew up in the church, the first place many people learned how to code-switch was right in the church. Let me explain...

So, we in the church have indirectly brought up a culture FOR GENERATIONS where the it was acceptable to be everything but broken. Think about it: the ones who were openly transparent about their pain and anguish were oftentimes cast aside or talked about in the church circles.

I know, because I’ve seen it and have been a part of way too many of these circles. Heck, I bet money a few of y’all really Church’d people have a good couple of friends you dish all the gossip to and veil it as “pray for ______, because they dealing with_______.”

We have literally taught women that their pain and heartache is uncomfortable. We taught men that their vulnerability is laughed at. We taught children that their honesty is only accepted when it comes to a certain narrative. And so, families grow up in the church wearing masks.

You have women who WILL SING TO THE HILLS OF ZION, but their hearts are screaming in anguish. You have men praying and interceding on behalf of whole congregations, but their home is in shambles because personal intercession is a foreign language to them.

Children growing up singing, “Jesus Loves Me,” but not knowing what a personal relationship looks like because they don’t sincerely see it from their parents and what they see in church is only “Look like everything is okay — and don’t talk about what to do when life goes wrong.”

Now, understand, this isn’t me arguing against church. Rather, just like those who expose the injustice of our country, my point is to help shed light so we can get back to being what CHRIST meant for us to be: UNITED in LOVE and learning to rely on Him.

This means we have to be comfortable with getting uncomfortable. This means shedding layers of masks so that people can see the true us. This means sharing the stories of how we overcame obstacles with the help of Christ’s intervention and the Holy Spirit’s intercession.

This means being willing to have discussions that are taboo. This means allowing ALL VOICES to be heard. Once we can do this freely and without judgment, then people can be their authentic selves in the Lord. Praying for those who feel suffocated in their congregation.

I pray that you receive what God will have you to do. Accept the calling. There is a revolution happening in the body of Christ. It isn’t radical, but it is needed. And it starts with unmasking. Throw your masks away.

Be the person God crested you to be; not JUST the person “church folk” cultivated you into becoming. Because a lot of times, there is a difference. Love you, and I’m praying for you.