The other day, I invited a friend to an outreach dinner meeting for ministers and she never showed up.  She was not one to miss an opportunity for fellowship like that. So, what happened? After speaking with her, this was what I learned. She, along with some other members of her congregation, had to take their “first lady” out of town in a hurry. This was because she had been beaten to a pulp by her tongue speaking, demon chasing Bishop husband. My first reaction – “why on God’s earth would you want to be in the company of the ungodly who were trying to help a man who desperately needed to cover up his sins?”  She shooed me discretely and whispered under her breath “We were trying to save the church the embarrassment! If this gets out you know what will happen”. She sounded to me, like she was God’s able assistant in the whole episode. Yes, I know with a degree of certainty what would have happened if the word got out; the handsome Samson would have faced the just and strong arm of the law, repented of his sins and received deliverance. The members of his congregation on whom he had spread the demons of anger and rage by the laying on of his hands during ministration may also have received freedom.

So, this is my cry; Satan, bring it on! Any sincere intercessor owes it to himself and to God to always pray that God helps our spiritual leaders deal with the issues of their flesh and all forms of carnality. When we do not, we condone the spread of Acquired Spiritual Affliction Syndrome (ASAS) in the body, full of eloquence and zeal but lacking power.

So let it happen. Whatever is in the pipeline of events to expose such atrocity, especially within the church, the devil can bring it all down. God does not need our help to protect his own reputation. As His body, we are the ones who need to step up to the plate and behave as those who are called by His matchless name.  It is about time the churches dealt with the issue of domestic violence and call it by its true name- a crime. The Church is not a hiding place but a healing place.  Nowhere in the bible does it say you can come as you are to Christ and hide in your sin and worldliness. Rather it says “come as you are and the cleansing power in the blood will deliver you”. He who hides his sin will not prosper. As for the women who condone this outrageous crime, please understand that God does not intend to make you a marriage martyr nor a living sacrifice, at least not for the sole reason of being married. When we make our mistakes outside His will, we pay the penalty but walk through it under his grace and mercy. Remember, God will only redeem that which He has already judged. If there is no penalty for an offence, what need would there be for it to be redeemed?

And so I ask; why are we so then afraid of shame and disgrace, even when we are guilty of willful disobedience? “There is a generation that is pure in their own eyes and yet is not washed from their filth” (Proverbs 30:12). Ponder on that for a moment. Why would anyone then, insist on being a punching bag for fear of loneliness? Why would you drag God into your human error by insisting that a man’s rage and unloving attitude towards you is your portion of a cross you are called to bear? The institution of marriage is God’s idea, but the will and power to choose is yours. A good number of Christians exercise this power of choice in a life partner without reference to God until they begin to face crises. I know the Bible teaches that God hates divorce and “What God has joined together, let no man put asunder”. We make our choices and expect God to endorse it at all costs. This is my honest stand on this issue - God has no business keeping together what He did not join together in the first place. Think about that.