As I read another story of a man of God who committed “manly sins” which had been kept under wraps by the leadership of his church for many years until the offence occurred again and again, I was intrigued to read the comments that followed and I was not disappointed to see a barrage of “do not judge for you too will be judged”.
I tire for Christians o, judging is not the same as calling sin what it is “sin”! whether it’s a “man of God”, the usher, the executive director of a charity or CEO of a blue chip company, when someone does wrong, let’s call it what it is, how else will the individual know that they’ve done wrong and seek repentance? It’s seems to me that It’s only within the church which is meant to lead this moral guidance that it’s mostly covered up. If the chairman of a bank commits fraud and siphons millions of customer’s savings to a personal account, the media will make meat of him not to talk of the courts but in the church, we cover it. I’m not saying a church should oust their Pastor to the media but even the bible tells us to “confess your faults to one another” yet we keep it all under wraps. Is it any surprise that the world actually does not trust the church anymore, I recall someone telling me that the church is no different from a cult, I could not find any word to defend.
When these pastors fall in to sin, I’ve come to learn that the problem is not usually the Pastors themselves but their church! The individuals who put them on such pedestals and unattainable glory stage, it’s these same individual who will start the shouts of “do not judge bla bla bla”, if I am a Pastor and I have such individuals around me, I will get away from them fast. These are the people who will stop him/her from seeing his nose when it’s dripping because they’ll be quick to wipe it. This is probably why Jesus told Peter “get thee behind me satan”. I’d rather have people who will tell me the truth and bring me back in line asap, after all, what does it profit a man to gain this whole world and lose his life.
Judging is not calling sin for what it is, Judging occurs when someone does something and you don’t know why but you decide to assign a motive to it anyway and jumping to unnecessary and unproductive conclusions. Calling sin what it is requires that you have all the evidential truth to hand and where it’s against what the bible teaches us, you call it!
Does that mean the sinner is beyond redemption? That’s another extreme, where someone has done wrong and they’re condemned for it forever, the bible says “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God”, it also says “let he who is without sin cast the first stone”. Now if you remember this latter story, Jesus said to the woman “Go now and leave your life of sin.” It was acknowledged that there was sin but He did not condemn her, He extended the hand of mercy and grace. This is what I believe the church should do when Christians especially those in leadership find themselves in difficult situations, don’t sweep it under the carpet, don’t form hush hush committee, call it what it is, extend mercy and grace and for the sake of the offender, give them time to be rehabilitated and return to God before putting them on the pulpit again, otherwise, the scenario will play itself all over again like a bad dream.
It’s high time the church remembers that these people are “men and women of God” and not “God of men or women”, they’re humans like you and I battling the same pressures, temptations and battlefield of the mind. Do not idolise them or put them in difficult positions by placing unrealistic expectations on them.
Lastly I believe Paul said it all when he admonishes us to “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose”. Phil 2:12b-13.
Have a great weekend y’all…. I’d love to hear from you.
Bukky Apampa is a wife, a mother, a daughter and a sister 
She loves God and loves to write, I am particularly passionate about relationships and I can be quite opinionated but always interested in other people’s views, I actually enjoy reading and listening to other’s views as it often challenges me that sometimes in this world, life is not always black and white, there are many shades of grey.
I loved this because Nigerians especially like to ‘worship’ their pastors. However, I must say that quite a few pastors I have met have huge egos and encourage the adulation they receive from their members.
Only God knows our hearts.
Have a blessed weekend
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Thank you NIL, it is unfortunate as many of them have forgotten their assignments. Have a great weekend.
thanks for this write up Bukky, I pray a lot of people get to read this… it is definitely high time we called a spade a spade in our churches! too many things have been swept under the carpets.
Thanks Priscy, I appreciate your comment.
True talk Bukky! I have struggled with this do not judge! is almost like don’t say the truth or ur in trouble. for me whatever I say I’m ready to have it done to me I n terms of if I correct some one it means I like to be corrected when I’m out of line if we all pretend to be cool who is going to heaven! I’m glad u wrote this I will Repost it on my FB if I can .
Thanks Maya, please repost, I’ll be honoured. This hush hush business is really affecting the church, God has always been transparent with us, it seems we’re not following his example.
Shining the beam on the church
You probably were in my spirit when you wrote this, a lot of things have been happening in church and its disturbing.
I grew up in the church, and after my family n I got our own share of church wahala, I learnt that men of God are really men. Infact they are first of all a man before a minister, so I have learnt to 1. Accept that they have vices too. 2. Don’t place them on an unreasonable pedestal 3. Their personalities def affects their ministries, no matter how annointed they are 4. Respect them as leaders over the church 5. Cross check their advises with the bible and most importantly “PRAY for them”
I know of pastor that fell into sin years back, his wife found out. And he came to church on a sunday to confess to his whole congregation. Left the church to his assistant for a whole year, and sought help. It was painful, some people left, some stayed. When he got back, he was better for it. He could have covered d sin bt did not. I respect him a lot more.
I think pastors that fall in error should confess and seek help, and above all we shouldn’t stop praying for them.
But I also watch what I say about men of God, spiritual leaders especially. I call sin what it is but I don’t make it my business to spread the gist or “judge” them. I have my vices too
**sorry its long* smiles
love love love your comment, it’s worth every letter so it’s not long all! I’ve also learnt not to spread news about anyone as a matter of fact, we all have our vices. Thank you dayor… mwah…
True Talk!
Thanks for stopping by Olufunke.
I agree with u. U have said it all. No need talking too much again.
God help us all
Amen o. Thanks Aloted
Coming late to this interesting topic…sorry, about that..my lappy played a fast one on me.
Pastors and churches…smh..if only we so-called Christians read our bibles, then no man can brainwash us…just like Priscy said, lets call a spade a spade! Pastors are flesh and blood like us…we are all levites since Christ had paid the ultimate price with HIS blood.
yeee… simplymee, was about to send out a search party for you
Welcome sis. how right are you about reading our bibles, it says it all in there! Thank you.
Interesting thing about “Judge not”, and understandin wat d Bible meant by it….every1 have their way of defining it. I love Dayor’s comment…which i swim along with…i believe strongly in praying for our pastors as they are men with like passions like us. We shd also be careful as we too have our vices too…but doesnt change sin is still sin.
Thanks for your comment ke-blunt.
True words Bukky, I cant even add to this.
I’m glad that more of us are realizing this truth. Our clergy are men just like us and sometimes, they may fall, just like we do.
No need “over-spiritualizing” these shortcomings, or keeping silent about them, there’s a place for confession, forgiveness and restoration and to me, that’s what is most important.
Thanks Jhazmyn, the truth hopefully is setting us free.
I truly seem to agree with every little thing that
was posted in “