On being a Christian and a woman...

It's always a challenge, reading articles like this that discusses about the failings of Christians, and indeed in this case, two pastors/preachers who were married and are now filing for divorce due to domestic violence.

I am never illusioned about how difficult it is to be a Christian, and to preach the Christian way of living. But it's hard, looking at someone (here, a female preacher) who preaches (and teaches) black women of how to be a good wife, of how to stroke the ego of the husband, and to deal with sexual desire and promiscuity while preaching chastity, among other things.

One might say that her experience is particularly hard to swallow, given what she preaches, and the way she's going from one marriage to another, both ending in domestic violence. Is herself or the husband or both, to be blamed for the failing? How could the husband, in this case when he's a "bishop" himself, be hitting his wife while preaching for loving and caring relationship? There is so much hypocrisy when people looking at Christians, or indeed whoever claims to be Christians.

It's very true that people hold Christians to higher bar and standard when it comes to the way of living and the preaching that are coming from them. It's a very dangerous to elevate any individual to be "prophetess" (as in the case of this female preacher), and equate her with Bible teachings. One can quickly get disillusioned when failures happen. This is one reason I don't go to church often, although I regard myself as generally, a believer. One could argue that one needs the support group to strive and grow and share. I don't know if I'm ready to set myself up for disappointment and disillusionment.

Maybe someday God will show me the way. For now, I'm content staying at the sideline...