Our subject for this week’s trendy Christian thought-leader spotlight is Jayla Hollmaker. She is touring the United States to promote her new bestselling book, “MessyRawAuthenticGirl.” We got the rare privilege to sit down with Jayla. We asked about her personal and totally real faith, and how it led to her smash hit book.
So Jayla, 3 weeks into this 45 city book tour! You must be exhausted! How are you doing?
“So honestly, I’m totally doing so ****ing great. It’s so cool to be encouraging so many people to authentically live out their ****ing faith, no matter what kind of sh** they’re going through.”
You don’t talk like most Christians. You cuss and stuff.
That’s because I’m real and authentic. It’s just who I am.
What do you think people are taking away from your book?
“So yeah- I think it’s been so great to help people find their true authentic selves and be true to that self. Like, I love Jesus and everything, but Jesus died so we could find our true ****ing worth, you know? So many people don’t know their worth because religious legalists in the church have done nothing but judge them, you know? And I’m like, Jesus hates religion and judgementalism. Those two things have alienated so many people and pushed them away from raw and personal faith. People’s ears are just itching for this hope, and it’s so fulfilling to promise them freedom. We can be all like- F*** shame! F*** guilt! Guilt and shame are no longer welcome at this party.”
What is your faith to you?
“I mean, what is faith to anyone? It’s so personal and different for each person. So many people think they have the answer, you know? But I find the questions to be so much more compelling. I ask the tough questions that your Sunday school teacher is too terrified to answer. How do we know what Jesus really wanted and said? Because it’s in the Bible? Too many Christians value words in a book more than, like, people. Hell, they even value those words and set them up as an idol, you know? I think that’s F***ing bull****. It takes so much courage to say that nowadays, but it’s totally worth it.”
How does that play out in your life and writing?
“Sooooo many ways. Probably the main way I see it is Jesus’ scandalous grace, it ****ing inspires us to value the humanity in every community- especially the LGBTQ and Immigrant communities, or whatever other community the dominant culture tells we need to value this week. So many things in religion have made these people feel left out and judged. Judging is, like, the ultimate sin. There’s nothing more hateful than judging. Valuing the humanity of every community requires me to affirm and accept their personal journeys as they live out their inner lives in a raw, authentic, way. That’s what Jesus would want.”
Has that been controversial?
“S***, of course it has. But I see Jesus like a mother who calls us to a place of movement and controversy, and strangely enough that has become such a safe space for me in my own personal faith journey. But it takes real bravery. Yes, I’ve made 32 million on this book and am slated to headline the next TED expo, but did you see what Franklin Graham said about me on Facebook? There’s a real culture of judgementalism and misogyny in our country, and only “MessyRawAuthenticity” can counteract that.”
So what’s the book about?
“Didn’t I just tell you?”
Um…
“…”
Jayla, thanks for sitting down with us today.
“Mmmmm soooo so good, thank you.”
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