A Christian pastor from Utah trended nationally on social media for hours on Tuesday over a tweet he posted concerning female modesty.
Though pastor Brian Sauvé received much support from men and women alike, he became a target for outraged feminists, some of whom sent Sauvé racy photos of their breasts and other body parts.
“Dear Ladies,” started the tweet that set off Twitter. “There is no reason whatsoever for you to post pictures of yourself in low cut shirts, bikinis, bra and underwear, or anything similar—ever. Not to show your weight loss journey. Not to show your newborn baby. Not to document your birth story.”
The post is signed off, “Your Brothers.”
Dear Ladies,
There is no reason whatsoever for you to post pictures of yourself in low cut shirts, bikinis, bra and underwear, or anything similar—ever.
Not to show your weight loss journey.
Not to show your newborn baby.
Not to document your birth story.
-Your Brothers
— Brian Sauvé (@Brian_Sauve) February 7, 2022
A mocking “Dear Brian” hashtag trended for hours after the post was published, and numerous male and female feminists scolded the pastor for having what they characterized as an unwanted opinion about female modesty. The tweet has been quote-tweeted nearly 20,000 times.
Here’s a taste of the outrage, reported by The Blaze:
“I am a proud member of the congregation of the Holy Church of Mind Your Own Damn Business. You should try it sometime. — My Body, My Choice,” replied MSNBC contributor Katie Phang.
“Pastors like you are why the Church is known for misogyny and the subjugation of women more than empathy and equity. You should try the sacred ministry of minding your own damn business,” responded anti-Trump author John Pavlovitz.
“Dear Brian, Your invisible sky daddy doesn’t care how you like to Do It & neither does anyone else, you repressed weirdo. No one is going to ‘share’ anything with you, perv. Please get therapy on how to treat women as the human beings we are,” tweeted liberal author Tara Dublin.
“How little control do you have over yourself that you can’t tolerate women posting pictures like that ‽ We really didn’t need to know that you’re constantly touching yourself and incapable of stopping,” read another tweet.
Reacting to the backlash from “men and women who would likely identify as liberal feminists,” Sauvé posed a question for those who support the #MeToo movement, especially those sending him unsolicited sexual images.
“Quite a few men and women who would likely identify as liberal feminists have recently taken quite the interest in my Twitter account. Welcome! I’m glad you’re here. I have a question I’d like your thoughts on,” Sauvé started the Twitter thread. “Many of you feel moral indignation at my frank expression of applied Christian sexual ethics. May I ask you a question about your sexual ethics? I’m very clear on mine—basically a historic Christian sexual ethic. But I’m wondering: Are you as clear on yours as you think?”
“Many of you likely use and promote the #MeToo movement—yet hundreds of you are sending me unsolicited sexual images and videos. Is that ok now?” the pastor asked. “I thought your sexual ethic was all about consent? This seems like naked (pun intended) hypocrisy on your part.”
Giving an example, Sauvé outlined: “If a man were to send you unsolicited nude pictures or sexually explicit videos of himself, you would (rightly!) judge him as a sexually abusive pervert. But you can do it to me? How does the ethical math work out on that? Maybe your sexual ethics aren’t so ethical after all.”
“Here’s the thing: You can’t even obey your own man-made laws,” he slammed. “Even with respect to your own standards of right and wrong, you fall short. How much more do you fall short of God’s law? Infinitely. That’s why, no matter how hard you try, you still feel guilt. Shame.”
“None of us measure up, even to our own standards. We’re all hypocrites, sinners, and moral vagabonds. But Christ died for sinners. Trust him and be free. I don’t hate you. Sincerely, I don’t,” he wrote. “I hope that you can find freedom from the crippling weight of your sin through Christ.”
“If you’re interested, go read the book of Romans and the Gospel of John from the New Testament. You will be in my prayers today. May God’s mercy fall on you as it has on me and my house,” Sauvé closed the thread.
Quite a few men and women who would likely identify as liberal feminists have recently taken quite the interest in my Twitter account. Welcome! I'm glad you're here.
I have a question I'd like your thoughts on:
— Brian Sauvé (@Brian_Sauve) February 8, 2022
Many of you likely use and promote the #MeToo movement—yet hundreds of you are sending me unsolicited sexual images and videos.
Is that ok now? I thought your sexual ethic was all about consent? This seems like naked (pun intended) hypocrisy on your part. For example:
— Brian Sauvé (@Brian_Sauve) February 8, 2022
Here's the thing: You can't even obey your own man-made laws. Even with respect to your own standards of right and wrong, you fall short.
How much more do you fall short of God's law? Infinitely. That's why, no matter how hard you try, you still feel guilt. Shame.
— Brian Sauvé (@Brian_Sauve) February 8, 2022
If you're interested, go read the book of Romans and the Gospel of John from the New Testament.
You will be in my prayers today. May God's mercy fall on you as it has on me and my house.
— Brian Sauvé (@Brian_Sauve) February 8, 2022