When your pastor goes viral for the wrong reason
“Ikaw na lang kaya magpresidente!”
“Ang dami mong alam!”
“Eksperto ka na ah!”
These are the usual remarks on social media of people who are displeased with criticism leveled at the government that it’s almost a knee-jerk reaction to insult the person rather than address the issue. The ad hominem attack has become a trademark of trolls that merits nothing more than an “ignore and scroll further.” But then sometimes, the comment-er creates more damage than his comment not only to himself but to his community and the God that he claims to worship.
An actress posted her opinion on the Pemberton presidential pardon and like a formulaic Pinoy movie, received some backlash but one stood out because her basher was supposed to be a pastor. He wrote, “During pandemic..marami ng gusto mga artista mag abogado at tumakbo sa politics..na realize nila na di na sila sa showbiz..kasi wla na prakisa..haha” Any grade schooler can smell a mile away the stench of his insensitivity to the plight of the 11,000 who lost their jobs as well as the tens and thousands who depended their livelihood on the shuttered network whose fate the “happy” president had promised last year.
The pastor has now made his account inaccessible but not before a screenshot of his bio was made where it shows his ministry-related occupation, his church, and his bible college background. He has issued a statement since: “We’re asking for understanding in regards with our post about politics. For that reason, we are being attacked with unpleasant comment in some of our post, blaming us for being Christian…because of this, I’ve learned not give any public opinion about political issues. Thank you and God bless.”
He asks for understanding which he did not accord his fellow Filipino who has every right to voice her opinion.
He hides behind the third person plural calling out the attacks made on him alone.
He calls them unpleasant while he laughed at the 11,000.
Not only did he miss the point of the criticisms but he also missed the opportunity to show humility. There was no apology at all for the shame he brought to the pulpit and to the faith. Instead, he took a cue from politicians who paint themselves as victims when called out.
We all make mistakes but we all don’t have to make them back to back. I can only hope in the absence of a public apology, he has offered them to his flock and most especially to the God of the oppressed.
This administration has severely caused a great chasm in the evangelical community which for the life of me, I cannot understand. It seems so black and white to me that there should only be one side. As nothing but God is forever, there will be an end to this period and I wonder about the aftermath, on the damage it has caused to the testimony of the church that has never really had any influence in society perhaps more so after this.
Lord, forgive us.
“Ikaw na lang kaya magpresidente!”
“Ang dami mong alam!”
“Eksperto ka na ah!”
These are the usual remarks on social media of people who are displeased with criticism leveled at the government that it’s almost a knee-jerk reaction to insult the person rather than address the issue. The ad hominem attack has become a trademark of trolls that merits nothing more than an “ignore and scroll further.” But then sometimes, the comment-er creates more damage than his comment not only to himself but to his community and the God that he claims to worship.
An actress posted her opinion on the Pemberton presidential pardon and like a formulaic Pinoy movie, received some backlash but one stood out because her basher was supposed to be a pastor. He wrote, “During pandemic..marami ng gusto mga artista mag abogado at tumakbo sa politics..na realize nila na di na sila sa showbiz..kasi wla na prakisa..haha” Any grade schooler can smell a mile away the stench of his insensitivity to the plight of the 11,000 who lost their jobs as well as the tens and thousands who depended their livelihood on the shuttered network whose fate the “happy” president had promised last year.
The pastor has now made his account inaccessible but not before a screenshot of his bio was made where it shows his ministry-related occupation, his church, and his bible college background. He has issued a statement since: “We’re asking for understanding in regards with our post about politics. For that reason, we are being attacked with unpleasant comment in some of our post, blaming us for being Christian…because of this, I’ve learned not give any public opinion about political issues. Thank you and God bless.”
He asks for understanding which he did not accord his fellow Filipino who has every right to voice her opinion.
He hides behind the third person plural calling out the attacks made on him alone.
He calls them unpleasant while he laughed at the 11,000.
Not only did he miss the point of the criticisms but he also missed the opportunity to show humility. There was no apology at all for the shame he brought to the pulpit and to the faith. Instead, he took a cue from politicians who paint themselves as victims when called out.
We all make mistakes but we all don’t have to make them back to back. I can only hope in the absence of a public apology, he has offered them to his flock and most especially to the God of the oppressed.
This administration has severely caused a great chasm in the evangelical community which for the life of me, I cannot understand. It seems so black and white to me that there should only be one side. As nothing but God is forever, there will be an end to this period and I wonder about the aftermath, on the damage it has caused to the testimony of the church that has never really had any influence in society perhaps more so after this.
Lord, forgive us.