MY OPINION ON THE NOTORIOUS PASTOR'S SCANDAL

Back in 2020 when the pandemic began, I couldn't stay off of every panel of discussion regarding the death count, the numbers in our area of affected patients, and every rising statistics. It was all I could think about.

Aside from the pandemic, it was the presidency. Then the injustices that were taking place. Next it was "who shot John" and so on.

Sadly, my unhealthy relationship with social media started before 2020. I have spoken in a previous blog about the insecurities I dealt with comparing my looks to other women.

So taking a sabbatical from all of these platforms was a challenging decision but I knew I had to do it.

Staying off social media and news forums for several years have had its benefits for me immensely. Peace, tranquility, and calmness flowed through my mind like a river.

However, growing my online businesses have required me to be active again on certain forums. With this, my desire to "catch up" on recent and some past news events has awaken.

And if I'm honest with myself and you, I have thoroughly enjoyed looking through some friends' posts and seeing what's new in their lives.

Each day I heard a small voice in the back of my head saying "this is risky, you are playing with fire, woah nellie..."

The reasons are clearly outlined for me. I get extremely upset over seeing or hearing certain things. It's to the point where I lose sleep thinking about it.

In turn, it affects my mood, my morale, and my attitude towards others and life in general.

Scrolling your finger through posts, you can be as fast as a bullet but your eyes (the gates to your soul) will assuredly see "breaking news."

Even if you don't stop to read the full scandal, you will see the headline. The headline will then peak your curiosity to dig a little deeper. And if you are a good investigator like me haha, you will go through every comment just to be sure you get all of the "facts."

I read something that seemingly is a catastrophic blow to the church about a pastor. Well, several pastors to be exact.

Upon seeing these scandals, my first response was one of two. Either "wow smh" or "yeah right."

I want to interject a little background of myself. I knew very little about God when I began adulthood. I went to children's church throughout my adolescence but I didn't really obtain anything that I learned.

I remember thinking that Joseph (in the Bible) was God because I knew he was married to Mary the mother of Jesus. This demonstrates how little I knew.

I was - actually I still am, a licensed and ordained minister in my state. I am able to perform all sacerdotal duties in my state legally.

One day I will elaborate on how I got to this point but I want you to be aware that I am more than familiar with the church and its organization.

I know all of the rules and regulations. I am privy to the back of the house and all of its messes.

Any and every "church hurt" you can think of I am well aware of it and its consequences.

I can rattle off a ton of scriptures from the Bible and quite a bit from other religious beliefs. But I am "chief of all sinners."

In other words, I am a whole mess. And I say this with all sincerity, please do not ever shine a light on my life because if you do, there will be a lot of things exposed that I will be utterly ashamed and embarrassed about.

This is not to start an argument about whether or not men and women of God should be held to a higher standard than others.

This is not to prove that one man or one sin is more grievous than others. This is to remind each of us that "he who is without sin, let him cast the first stone."

Judge not, lest you be judged. Where there is no judgment or condemnation there will be none with you.

I feel saddened that the mistakes we make could possibly cause others to fall further from God's love.

I feel disappointed in myself when I act like a complete fool and somebody says "and you're supposed to be a Christian."

So what is the remedy? Bury our heads in the sand and pretend that we don't know what is going on in the world around us? Stay neutral on our opinions of others? Or perhaps we just become perfect individuals that never disappoint anyone - ever.

I hope you realize I am being facetious and all of the above is nearly impossible.

It is my intent and my hope that each of us realizes that there has to be balance with being on social media platforms and the news forums.

Caution when passing judgment on others for their mistakes, their poor decisions, their moments of disgrace.

Patience with ourselves, understanding that we are a "work in progress", desiring to be better each day. Turning this desire into action and actively pursuing change in our lives.

And pure love for every thing and every body.

YOU ARE DESIGNED TO REIGN IN LIFE

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