I am a true believer in the fact that the blind can’t lead the blind.

These days it seems that Pastors, Bishops and Preachers are making a mockery out of the Body of Christ by putting their fleshly desires ahead of being a solid leader, and shining example for their flock. 

Being a Pastor is the new hustle. If you can’t be a rapper, actor or drug dealer, you can certainly find celebrity status, fame, or maybe even infamy, in being the leader of a church.

 

*Sidebar* – Do you know how many people I’ve recently come across that say they have been called by God to be “Minister’s” yet I have witnessed them in compromising and questionable situations?  It’s disappointing to say the least. Doesn’t it seem like everyone wants to be a Deacon, Deaconess, Minister, Pastor in Training, etc. these days?*

 

I know that becoming a minister, pastor, or bishop is a serious and timely process; due to the spiritual and mental cleansing, along with intense discipline, required to take on such a critical and somewhat overwhelming responsibility. It’s more than completing a series of bible study classes at your church.  The role is so influential, it inspires people to rebuild their families, quit a drug habit, and sustain faith during life altering hardships.  Folks, not that many dang-on people are called to be Pastors/Ministers/Bishops, etc.  It is a selective calling. A lot of these “Ministers/Pastors” etc. are not disciplined enough to successfully complete this process and, as a result, we (the flock) are subjected to pure foolishness in the pulpit.

 

In my opinion, I believe that anyone holding such a prestigious title has to walk a very straight path. Sure, we are all humans and mistakes will be made, but it puzzles me when the mistakes are so severe (i.e. Bishop Eddie Long).  And it puzzles me when pastors capitalize off of there mistakes (i.e. Pastor Jamal Harrison Bryant.), or continue to walk a crooked line.  (#calledyouout)

 

There is no doubt that Pastor Bryant is a powerful and dynamic speaker with the ability to draw in a diverse audience through vivid visualization and exceptional storytelling techniques. Simply put – the man can preach and I thoroughly enjoy his messages.  But he’s had his share of troubles, including a recently finalized divorce due to confirmed infidelity, allegations of conceiving a child out of wedlock, and domestic abuse. It seems like someone coming out of that storm would be on the straight and narrow path, right?  Well, I was shocked to see him in his “spiritual advisor” role on The Ultimate Merger, a reality series documenting Omorosa’s pursuit of love as she dates several men to find “the one.” She takes dating advice from Pastor Bryant and he assists her with making the “cuts.”  I was unsure, however, where the spiritual part came into play, especially when several scenes showed Omorosa in a hot tub, receiving massages and engaging in make-out sessions with different men on her show.  There wasn’t even one church date on that show!!

 

Pastor Bryant further demonstrates that he has caught the reality entertainment bug by making regular appearances on the TV series KC and Jo-Jo, a show that covers the story of addiction recovery with two 90’s R&B singers.  Again, he serves as a “spiritual advisor” and mentor on this show.  One of his first displays of “mentorship” was teaming up KC and Jo-Jo’s children and their baby mama’s for a surprise kum-ba-ya and forgiveness session at a bowling alley.  Of course this was unbenounced to KC and Jo-Jo, and ended up being quite implausible since both singers have not been involved in any of their children’s lives, who are now teenagers.  In my opinion, this was such an odd display of leadership from Pastor Bryant.  I would think that counseling the families, teaching the men about the power of genuinely asking for forgiveness, and a game plan for changing their views on fatherhood would be a better example of what a spiritual mentor may accomplish.  Rejecting fatherhood is a serious issue for both the parent and the child.  It can’t be handled overnight, or in one episode, and should be resolved behind the scenes. But I guess Bryant gave us the quick and dirty version for addressing dead beat dads because there are only 10 episodes.

 

Finally, in a recent Sister 2 Sister article, Pastor Bryant divulges about his book tour with renowned sex fantasy author Zane to discuss Christianity and sexuality.  Ummmm….have you read Zane’s books?  Anyway, he states that Christians are still human beings with sexual desires and needs. From the S2S article, I interpreted, that they would discuss a realistic approach on how to set boundaries in this area of your life as a Christians. The tour starts out with sessions on “How to Love and Black Man” and “How to Love a Black Woman.”

 

Oh Really?

 

After the news of his previously mentioned indiscretions hit the national media, Bryant wrote a book entitled “World War Me” which addressed the consequences of his infidelity and how he “rebuilt” himself and his ministry.  The book garnered a lot of attention and has become a number one, non-fiction best seller, giving Bryant more exposure now than before his incident.  It has also catapulted him into quasi-celebrity status.

 

Can we say “Capitalize” with a capital “C?”

 

All this, AND he’s been able to rebuild his membership in his congregation. 

 

Well, MY “spiritual advisor” said that someone in a ministerial position should never capitalize off of their mistakes and transgressions.  It’s one thing to speak about it and share your downfalls, but to make a profit off of it is something that worldly people do, not what a “man of God” should do. At this point, the misdeeds become glorified and glamorized.

 

Everyone is entitled to their opinion and views on this issue, but do you feel that Pastors today have crossed the line between being worldly and being a Christian?  Have they mixed the two so closely together that the definitions are blurred and unclear?

 

There has to be a visible difference folks.  Yes – realistic approaches, tangible examples and personal guidance should be included in the Christian walk but there also has to be a distinction between what’s considered worldly and what’s not. .

 

Once you start walking on either side of your designated path, that straight line in the road that was once visible becomes harder to see – and ultimately harder to follow.

 

Yes – we love to be entertained in church with witty stories, energetic speaking and a talented choir, but we have to start looking at how our spiritual leaders are walking.  What path are they on?  Is it crooked or straight? Will their actions expose our weaknesses, lower our standards, widen our acceptances and compromise our walk by blurring that line?

 

We have to raise the bar and set the standard higher.  Our leaders should be leading by example.