Not Just Pie and Playlists: Bias, Privilege, and the Bible

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Episode 5: “Not Just Pie and Playlists: Bias, Privilege, and the Bible”
Bias isn’t just about politics. Privilege isn’t just about power. And interpreting Scripture isn’t as neutral as we’ve been taught.

In this deeply personal episode, I share why I almost didn’t hit record, and why I knew I had to. We’re talking about the invisible lenses we all carry, the unearned advantages we may not notice, and how both shape how we read the Bible and live out our faith.

From sweet potato pie to Paul’s letters, we explore how culture, race, and power influence theology. You’ll hear how enslaved Africans saw liberation in Exodus while white Christians clung to control through Paul. We’ll wrestle with questions like:

·       Who’s been centered in your faith formation?

·       How has theological privilege shaped what gets called “truth”?

·       What happens when we read Jesus through the lens of empire instead of love?

If you’ve ever felt uncomfortable in conversations about justice and Scripture, this one’s for you. The goal isn’t guilt, it’s integrity. And the invitation? To stay curious, hold your questions close, and let disruption lead to deeper faith.

 Just a few books I have learned from and have shaped my theology:

·       Color of Compromise: Jemar Tisby

·       Dear White Peacemakers: Osheta Moore

·       Jesus and the Disinherited: Howard Thurman

·       Shoutin’ In the Fire: Dante Stewart

·       Reading While Black: Esau McCaulley

·       After Whiteness: Willie James Jennings

·       Colorblind: Tim Wise

·       The Politics of Jesus: Obery M. Hendricks

·       A Fire in the Bones: Albert J. Raboteau

·       Unsettling Truth: Mark Charles and Soong-Chan Rah

·       We Drink From Our Own Wells: Gustavo Gutiérrez

·       God of the Oppressed: James Cone

An invitation to think about things:

1.     When you read Scripture, whose voice or experience do you connect with most? The marginalized? The powerful? The rule-keepers or the rule-breakers?

2.     How has your race, gender, upbringing, or culture shaped your view of God?

3.     Where might you be mistaking familiarity for truth? Or comfort for clarity?

4.     Have you ever dismissed someone’s interpretation because it felt unfamiliar or too disruptive?

5.     What voices have you trusted to shape your theology? And who’s been left out?

 

If you find hope and challenge here, help grow this community by liking, sharing, and leaving a review so more people can join us in pursuing justice and Jesus together.

RESOURCES:

www.kristenannette.com

Holy Disruption: Reclaiming a Justice-Rooted Faith course info and interest list

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