From what I hear, marriage is very hard. From what I hear, being married to a preacher is even harder. I know first hand that the preacher seems to be attacked by Satan harder than anyone else. What better gossip is there than "church gossip?" If you don't know who this couple is, it's Pastor Thomas Weeks and Rev. Juanita Bynum-Weeks. Apparently, this couple have been estranged and decided to meet up to try and resolve some marital issues. What started as them trying to reconcile, ended up being a pretty bad beat down. Here's the source for the full story: http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/atlanta/stories/2007/08/22/bynum_0823.html
Some sources are speculating that he had an "uncomfortably close" relationship with some men in his church, and she obviously took issue with it. This, of course, could just be media speculation. Regardless of whether or not it's the truth, this couple needs prayer.
Ya see, Juanita has always been brutally honest about her past. I can remember watching "No More Sheets" where she talked about her failed marriages, being on welfare, and promiscuity. I can remember when she announced her engagement, and how happy she was that she received her blessing from God. I can remember seeing the lavish wedding on television. (No, the church didn't pay for it: Juanita has several legitimate businesses and has written several books).
But now, here's the attack. When I have had failed relationships, or when couples I know get into fights, it doesn't break into national news. You're able to deal with it "somewhat" privately. Whatever the reason they were fighting, and no matter what the outcome will be; let's pray for our bothers and sisters. Doesn't matter if they're wrong, doesn't matter if they've been living a lie: Let's just pray for them....
13 comments:
PREACH!
The only difference in the Bynums and us is that they are in the public eye and their sins stand out more than ours, especially to the lost world that is watching. Not to say that our sin is any less than theirs, but that theirs is more public. It's not a right/wrong issue, it's just a fact.
As you say, we need to pray for each other, both church leaders in the public eye and our fellow brothers and sisters. I know I can benefit from all the prayer I can get! :-)
Diane
Wow Jos, you come up with some serious topics and when you finish getting your degree - you should think about also getting a degree in family (of some sort) conseling.
This topic is wow out there. It is so sad that it happened in the public eye, because so many times men and women hold Ministry's to a certain standard, that if they made a mistake or do something that is C-R-A-Z-Y like this, then the whole Ministry world get condemed. After reading the article, I am almost happy that she left the hosiptal when she did. She need her privacy and not the public moke her or her crazy ass ex husband! We need to do what we have been taught to do - pray for them. No one should be subjected to a beat down at anytime and this is what happened to her. I don't know, nor do I want to know what led him to lose his damn mind (sorry), but something did. I got sick to my stomach when I read that story - mess like this happen all time. We have to stand up and say NO MORE!!! Once we have said our prayers (to any situation) we then have to go about fixing the problem. We can sit around and talk about this and that, but if we put our words into "action" then the problem will continue.
Yes, she will be in my prayers - And I'd be damn!!! (sorry again) if I will E-V-E-R let a man or anyone put a hand on me or anyone I care about. Once is way too many times and there will be no "in the past..."
Okay now that I got that off my chest - this is where I stand. We have to stop all this voilence against each other.
Roosevelts child
Sorry, my english is broken up pretty bad with the last comment. When I get excited - I either misspell words or skip them all together. I am not a retard :)- its just this subject pinched a nerve...LOVE ya
Roosevelts childa again.
wow, this is interesting. someone just emailed me the article a couple of hours ago. i must admit i'm in total shock about it.
the devil is an accuser of the brethren, but the Bible also says when we're persecuted or accused, let it be for righteousness sake and not because we're doing something we shouldn't be doing. sometimes we blame the devil for stuff, and it's our own selves doing it.
while we don't know all of the circumstances involved, we do know from the media that she was beat. you don't have to be a man or woman of God to know that's not right to do. NO ONE should put their hands on another person like that, and i have no sympathy or compassion for people who hit, kick, choke, etc. get some anger management.
you're right, we gotta pray, and what we pray makes a difference. some serious counseling and mediation needs to take place.
Titus 1:6-8 talks about the role of the bishop. while leaders aren't perfect, they're held to a higher standard because of their leadership role. i have a zero tolerance for abuse of any kind, but especially physical abuse and won't sit up under anyone that i knew was doing it.
when we become christians, God doesn't take away our brains. i'm not even talking about any sins right now; i'm dealing with the violence issue. this became public for a reason.
Hi All!
@ The Real Prada Jones: Thanks for stoppin by....and for being my "amen" corner. LOL!!
@ Diane: Ya see, I knew my fellow Libra would understand! It's sad: everyone is saying "the preacher's are having problems????" Reality check: Preachers are HUMAN just like everyone else. Here's another reality check:
If you ask any good and REAL preacher, he/she will tell you that the LAST THING ON EARTH that they wanted to be was a preacher. They'll tell you that God made it so that there was nothing else that they could do but be a preacher! So this means that they have to accept a calling, as Beyonce says, "flaws and all."
Sorry Heiress and Cuz!!!
Heiress: You're right. There's no excuse for what was done and I totally agree with you. Instead of condming this man, you're suggesting that BOTH need help. Could there be a better Christian answer???
Cuz: LOL, you're not the first to tell me about counseling before. I do like helping people, and I know that I'm frequently able to see things from an oposing point of view. I totally agree with you when you say that once a preacher makes a mistake then the whole misitry is condememd. You already got people out there saying...
"See, that's why I don't go to church!"
Too bad people aren't mature enough to understand that men and women of God come from the same make-up as we do, and they face the exact same problems and stuggles that the rest of the world do...
hi joslyn, i was just stopping by to read comments. you must have just posted.
Too bad people aren't mature enough to understand that men and women of God come from the same make-up as we do, and they face the exact same problems and stuggles that the rest of the world do...
i totally agree with you here joslyn; it's just that even though we face the same problems, God expects us to handle those very same problems in a different manner than the rest of the world. that's why we have to stay in the Word and maintain our personal relationship with God.
Heriess: You're totally right...
However, we are always falling short of God's expectations....
He isn't the first man of God to be accused of hitting his wife, and he won't be the last :(
i hear you joslyn. i was just coming back to add something else. lol
even though he's not the first to hit, and may not be the last, it still doesn't make it right and needs to be dealt with, and not just the we got to pray. there comes a time when other action has to take place.
fortunately, i've never heard of any ministers doing this kind of behavior, though i'm sure as you said, it happens. arguing yes, fighting, no. i'm one of the most compassionate people around, but this thing has me really upset. nothing advocates fighting/a beating.
i said this recently in comments on another blog, that we all fall short of God's glory. that i understand. but his behavior still has to be dealt with. personally, i hope she doesn't go back to him.
God will deal with us behind closed doors, but when we don't hear and take heed, it becomes public. i'm glad it's not being swept under the rug. we in the body of Christ need to hold one another accountable.
basically joslyn, i'm saying that we have to be careful that we don't use not being perfect as an excuse to justify bad behavior.
Gotcha, heiress!!!
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