“Jesus Would Be Flipping Tables.” Faith, Race & Refusing to Stay Silent. With Jaclyn Peterson

What happens when your very existence challenges the boxes society demands you check? This week, Jaclyn Peterson and I go deep — into ancestry, apartheid, passing, and the audacity of being told to “pick a race.” From her South African Cape Colored heritage to growing up an Air Force brat in America, this story exposes how race isn’t just personal — it’s political, economic, and generational. Wealth was transferred. Identity was manipulated. Passports determined humanity. And people still say race doesn’t matter? We also confront the church. Not faith — the institution. The slave Bible. Scriptures twisted to defend abuse. Pastors protecting power not people. Why are survivors of domestic violence shamed while abusers are platformed? Why are women told to submit but men rarely told to love like Christ? This episode is raw. We talk about white nationalism hiding behind pulpits, and the courage it takes to speak when silence is safer. Jaclyn shares her journey as a survivor, a trauma-sensitive yoga teacher, and the founder of Christian Moms Heal — creating spaces where women reclaim their bodies, voices, and faith. So I’m asking you: Are we just building empires in Christ’s name, or actually following Him? More info on Ascend With Jaclyn here: Facebook: Ascend with Jaclyn Instagram: @ascendwithjaclyn TkiTok: @ascendwithjaclyn Website: https://ascendwithjaclyn.com/ Learn more about: The Slave Bible Further links from Jaclyn: Responding to Domestic Violence, Pastor Al Miles The spiritual price of the Doctrine of Discovery, Mark Charles Decolonizing Yoga: Susanna Barkataki National Domestic Violence Hotline (US): 1-800-799-7233 Contact Tabitha: [email protected] https://tabithazeigler.com/ Chapters 00:00 Impact of Race on Immigration 06:25 Language/Cultural Connections 12:13 Reflections on Apartheid/Race Relations 15:11 Generational Perspectives on Race 21:15 The Legacy of Wealth/Race 24:11 Understanding Mixed-Race Identities 32:09 Understanding the Slave Bible, Historical Context 43:55 The Hypocrisy of Religious Leaders and Their Actions 46:58 The Importance of Supporting Survivors and Challenging Abusers 51:45 Empowering the Next Generation to Stand Against Injustice 56:36 The Call to Political Action/Advocacy 01:15:48 The Rebel Nature of Christianity 01:20:14 Jaclyn's Journey/New Podcast 01:28:22 Trauma-Sensitive Yoga/Accessibility 01:31:27 Building Community/Support for Survivors