Episode 31: Prophetic Revelation: The Church’s DEI Dilemma: Correcting the Contradiction

The church is called to reflect the heart of God—a heart that values justice, inclusion, and equity for all people. But have we fully embraced the Imago Dei in every part of the body of Christ? In this episode of Kingdom Fuel, we explore what it means to walk in alignment with God’s justice, ensuring that all voices He has called are empowered to lead, teach, and serve. Inspired by the boldness of the daughters of Zelophehad, we’re asking: How do we champion justice both inside and outside the church? And how do we ensure that our faith reflects the fullness of God’s vision? If you’ve been waiting for permission to step into your calling, this is your confirmation—God already approved you. Let’s go! 🔥

Transcript

Welcome to Kingdom Fuel on The Joycelyn Ignites Podcast, where we ignite faith, restore power, and refresh souls. I'm Joycelyn, and I'm your host. Be Ignited.

I recently came across a quote that struck me deeply. It said, you can't take the DEI out of the Imago day. And as I sat with it, I realized how true that statement really is.

And no doubt that quote was inspired by the events happening in our nation. Because we are in a moment where diversity, equity, and inclusion programs are being dismantled across the country. Government agencies, corporations, businesses, restaurants, are pulling back because they believe DEI is synonymous with being black.

Believing that somehow black people are getting treated better than other races, calling it favoritism and unfair. But DEI is not about elevating one group over another. It is about ensuring that all people have access, opportunity, and belonging.

The push back against DEI is not about fairness. It is about preserving comfort and power structures that have long excluded marginalized voices. And let's be clear, DEI is not synonymous with black.

It's not favoritism. It's not fairness. It's about ensuring that all people are valued, included, and given “given the opportunities that they deserve.

You know, as I pondered this quote, I couldn't help but consider the church, the body of Christ, because I know that these past few weeks, many churches and many pastors have been very vocal about these DEI rollbacks. You know, there is no doubt that over the past few Sundays, pastors have mentioned the unfairness of the DEI rollbacks in their sermons, and really rightfully so. But I'm wondering if some of those pastors recognize that the problem of DEI rollbacks isn't just happening in greater society.

In many churches, DEI is not allowed. I know, and this is why it's taken me over a week to even share this prophetic revelation. Because I know the Body of Christ is currently fighting for DEI in our nation, in the government agencies, corporations, restaurants.

But there are some churches where saints need to also rise up and fight for DEI. Because here's the truth. You cannot take the DEI out of the Imago Dei.

To exclude, to silence, to deny people their God-given inheritance, is to work against the very image of God reflected in all humanity. When we remove DEI, or when “or when we don't have DEI in our churches, we are actually distorting the image of God. We are distorting the Imago Dei.

You know, I've been wondering. I've been wondering about our upcoming boycott. You know, we're about to flex our economic power and show the government and corporations that we won't take our dollars to places where DEI is not a priority.

And I wondered, hmm, should we do that in the church? You know, the message to the government and to these corporations is, we will not be funding our own oppression. And then I realized many believers are funding the oppression of women in the church.

I know, I'm just saying, because in some churches, DEI is not being dismantled. DEI needs to be discovered and demanded. Because in some churches, some women sit in pews where they can't even teach men, not because they lack wisdom, calling or anointing, but because their inheritance as image bearers of God has been denied by theologies that serve power, not people.

Women are told they can prophesy but not preach. They can teach children but not men. They can serve but not lead.

“They are stripped of their inheritance, not because of anything God has said, but because of human traditions that have benefited from their exclusion. And here is where I already know that some of you will say, but we're giving to God, not funding oppression. But let's pause right there.

If we are truly giving to God, shouldn't our giving reflect God's heart for justice? Shouldn't our giving go toward building up the body of Christ? All of it?

Not just the parts that serve those in power? If our financial contributions support systems that oppress and exclude, we are not simply giving to God, we are funding inequity in His name. And God, God does not endorse oppression.

And so how can we fight for justice in the world while ignoring the injustice within the church? How can we claim to honor God with our giving while turning a blind eye to those whom God has called but human systems have silenced? You know what?

It's time for us to align our giving with God's justice. And this is why we need to look at one of the most powerful stories, I believe, in scripture that embodies the heart of DEI, the story of the daughters of Zeliphat in Numbers 27, 1-11. Let's step into this moment of history.

Israel had a patriarchal inheritance system. Land was passed down through the male line. If a man had no sons, his daughters were left out, and his family name disappeared from the tribe.

But then in Numbers 27, there were five women, Mala, Noah, Hagla, Milcah, and Tirzah. They did something unheard of. They went before Moses, the priests, and the entire assembly of leaders and said, Why should our father's name disappear from his clan just because he had no sons?

Give us property among our father's relatives. You can find that in Numbers 27 and 4. These women saw the injustice of a system that excluded them and had the boldness to speak up.

They weren't asking for special treatment. They were asking for equity, for their rightful place in the inheritance God had promised. And here's what makes this moment even more powerful.

Moses did not dismiss them. He did not rely on tradition. He did not rely on personal opinion or the status quo.

Instead, he took their case before God. And what did God say? God said, What Zellifad's daughters are saying is right.

You must certainly give them property as an inheritance among their father's relatives. Numbers 27 and 7. God changed the law to include them.

He didn't just make an exception. He corrected the system. And this is what justice looks like.

This is what the heart of God reflects. When a system benefits one group at the expense of another, it is not of God. God did not say, Well, this is how it's always been.

God did not say, Well, their father just should have had some sons. No.

God corrected the system. And just like God corrected the system then, systems in our nation and in the church need to be corrected now. We cannot continue to allow unjust traditions to silence, exclude or diminish the full expression of God's calling on His people.

When we see injustice, we must do what these daughters did. We must speak up, challenge the system, and trust that God is a God of justice who still corrects what is broken. We must correct the contradiction.

This is the call in this season for the body of Christ. I sincerely believe this. We must correct the contradiction.

We cannot preach justice outside the church while upholding injustice within it. If we are going to be a people who reflect the kingdom of God, then we must align our practices, our policies and our leadership with the Imago Day. The church should be leading the way in equity, not resisting it.

And I already know the argument. I know that some of you are saying, but Scripture says women can't lead or teach men. And you know, many say Scripture forbids women from leading and teaching men.

But let's ask this. If God himself entrusted women to prophesy, to judge, to teach and proclaim the resurrection, are we sure it's God saying no? Or is the tradition speaking?

Because when human interpretation contradicts God's actions, we must ask, who are we really following? And if Scripture absolutely forbids women from leading, then why did God call Deborah as a judge, use Priscilla to teach Apollos, and choose Mary to declare the resurrection? Could it be that we've misunderstood something?

Could it be that the very God who corrected systems before is calling us to correct this one now? You know, I've realized that every time I enter a church, I instinctively scan the room, just like I do when I travel and I'm looking for black people. When I enter a church, I scan the room to look for women.

And if women are only given permission to serve but not lead, that's not biblical order, that's human control. You know, I know what it feels like to be locked out of spaces where I knew God had called me. I have sat in churches, eager to use my gifts, only to be told that my calling had limits.

Not because God placed them there, but because tradition placed those limits on me. And when the church said no, what God showed me was his yes. God showed me that his yes was more than enough.

And so that's why I create content. I produce this podcast. That's why I teach.

That's why I lead. Because I refuse to allow human limitations to silence my divine calling. So, woman of God, you are an image bearer of the most high God.

I want you to say yes to the call on your life and go do it. Maybe it's not within the four walls of a church, but the harvest is plentiful and the laborers are few. The world is your mission field.

Go be who God called you to be. And do what God called you to do. And for those whose churches do not have DEI, it's time for you to make a change.

It's time for you to correct the contradiction. How can you fight for justice and fairness outside the church, but not inside the church? Let's pray.

Heavenly Father, we come before you in humility and boldness, acknowledging that you are a God of justice, equity and love. You have created each of us in your image, and we refuse to allow the systems of this world to diminish the value you have placed in us. Lord, we lift up those who have been silenced, overlooked and excluded.

“We pray for every woman who has been told she cannot lead, every believer who has been denied their rightful place in the body of Christ, and every church that has yet to embrace the fullness of your Kingdom vision. Father God, we ask for courage to step into the calling you have placed upon our lives. May we not wait for permission from men or women when you have already given us authority.

Strengthen us, Lord, to build. Strengthen us, Lord, to preach. Strengthen us, Lord, to teach and to lead as you have anointed us to do.

Father, we also pray for transformation within the church. Let those who have benefited from exclusion open their eyes to your truth, O God. Let them correct with your help, O God, the contradictions.

Let leaders seek you first in their decisions. Let justice flow, Lord, like a mighty river. Let it flow, O God, in your house.

We declare today, we will not shrink back, O God. We will walk boldly in our inheritance as image bearers of the Most High God, you, O God. Thank you for your faithfulness, God.”
“Thank you for your justice, O God. And thank you for your love, O God. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Thank you for tuning in to Kingdom Fuel on The Joycelyn Ignites Podcast. If this message resonated with you, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Make sure to subscribe and follow this podcast.

Leave a review and join the conversation. You can send me a text and you can also follow me on social media, all social media platforms at Joycelyn Ignites. And you can check out my website at www.joycelynignites.com, where you can stay connected for more insights and encouragement.

Please share this episode with a friend. And until next time, keep walking in faith, keep seeking justice and never forget, you are made in the Imago Dei, the image of God. Go forth and live boldly in your calling.

Be Ignited!”


From The Joycelyn Ignites Podcast: Episode 31: Prophetic Revelation: The Church’s DEI Dilemma: Correcting the Contradiction, Feb 20, 2025
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-joycelyn-ignites-podcast/id1617319309?i=1000694508202&r=1
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