Why I Don’t Go to Church IV: Hypocrisy and Sexual Sins

There are probably more people going to church looking for a date or sex partner than any other place on the planet.  The church is where you can find some of the most hypocritical and ratchet people.  And that’s considering both the congregation and the church leadership.  There are many members amongst the congregation who compete for the attention and good graces of the pastor.  They’ll do anything to please the pastor, even if it means digging up some dirt on other people and spreading lies and rumors. 

Some churchgoers are the biggest backbiters and hypocrites known to man.  They turn up at the club on Friday night and then show up to church on Sunday morning, like this somehow washes away their sins.  Then, they’ll denounce other people for making mistakes, knowing full well that they have skeletons and cobwebs in their closets.  Some of them go to Sunday school and then drive the church van to the casinos to gamble.

Pastors and deacons are sometimes self-righteous and they appear as outwardly wholesome but in the dark they sin just like rest of the heathens.  One of my relatives told me of an unfortunate event that happened to her when she was a little girl.  She started to go through puberty early, at around age 9.   By about 11, she looked like a developed woman. 

Well, she says that one of the influential church deacons at her home church tried to seduce her and touch her inappropriately.  The fact that she was physically developed doesn’t make his actions excusable.  She was a child and he knew it.  He thought that he could use his position to influence and take advantage of her.

She told her parents and they cursed and threatened him.  I would have done more than that to him if he’d done that to my child. But that’s another story.  Can you imagine how many child abuses and molestation that goes on unreported in the church?  Just look at the rampant abuses that have occurred in the Roman Catholic Church and priesthood. 

I thought I found a good church home

At around 2005 I found out about this great church in the local area.  It is called Calvary Chapel and it is considered a Mega-church and possibly the largest church in South Florida.  It is a non-denominational church located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  I don’t know what it is that initially attracted me to the church but I was very happy that I found it.  The former head pastor and co-founder of the church was Bob Coy, who is very down to Earth, from his dress in the pulpit to his personality and preaching style.

He knows exactly how to preach the word in a non-pretentious way.  He didn’t distract us by hooting and hollering during the sermons. Most of the teachings of the church come from the New King James Version bible, which is in more modern English.  He would frequently encourage the congregation to follow along with him in the bible as he quoted verses. Pastor Bob was not into that Prosperity Gospel, that I abhor.  He is more of a straight shooter, focusing on helping people to get their spiritual life together. 

The other thing that I like so much about the church is that they don’t pressure and beg for money.  They don’t need to.  They get millions of dollars in donations and offerings coming in without the need to pimp out the members.  They have these boxes throughout the church facilities where people can just put money in envelopes and drop them inside the boxes.   They don’t try and psychologically guilt trip people for not keeping up with their tithes. 

They aren’t really too much into getting into people’s personal business, either.  The main sanctuary is so huge that if you come early enough, you can sit almost anywhere that you want.  I find that people tend to just mind their own business.   If you want to participate, volunteer and get involved in one of their ministries, it is optional and no pressure.  

There is no fashion show going on there.  You can attend services dressed up if you wish, or you can wear jeans and a T-shirt.  Sometimes, people show up in their work attire. I just love the overall vibe of the organization. 

But, here’s where the founding pastor messed up:  A few years, ago.  Pastor Bob stepped down from the church because it was alleged that he was having an extramarital affair.  The scandal actually made national news. I feel so sorry for his wife and children.  It was big embarrassment to his own family and himself.  I think that he did the right thing in stepping down. 

I felt very disappointed in his actions.  But, at the same time I realize that he is human.  It doesn’t let him off the hook for his actions, as he an example as a church leader and head of his family.  But, he is still a human being.  His alleged affair is more of a private matter between him, his family and God. He is not Jesus Christ and I don’t worship him.  The church is still a good church but I feel put off with going there.