The truth is that several of us who look at such individuals with our piercing eyes of judgement and contempt do so just because ours have not really come out to the public. I watched a movie called Trampled and I saw what Hosanna was talking about portrayed. Sometimes, If we can just be as sincere as the Pharisees for once in our lives alot will change for good in our small corners. When they brought the woman caught in the act of adultery to Jesus whilst leaving the man out. Jesus said to them that if anyone is innocent of sin, let such a person be the first to cast a stone. For once in the bible I saw the Pharisees sect sincerely walking out in honesty. Some of us Na because them never catch us Na why we still look like saints in the congregation of the righteous. May God help each one of us because the moment we begin to live like Jesus the better for us. Jesus looked at the condemned woman who has not prayed the sinners prayer and said to her that if the people who brought her did not condemn her then He is not condemning her. But she should go and sin no more. We must find balance in hating the sin of the sinner and pulling them out of the sinful pit with love in our heart. Let love lead because for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.
Thanks and God bless you for speaking about it Ma. It's one topic not many people talk about.
People tend to correct or judge other people not in love but with contempt. With so much arrogance and wickedness in their heart as though they've never done wrong before. I'm not against correcting what is wrong or even judging what is right from what is wrong but it all should be done with love and if it be a case where the person is repentant, then there's no need to cast the person out as Christ won't do that and since we exhibit the God life, we should do as Christ would. Some that point fingers to people who err do the exact same thing they do and the reason they've not been vindicated is because there's nobody to point fingers at them but GOD SEES ALL.
GOD'S GRACE IS SUFFICIENT BUT LET'S NOT SEE IT AS A LEVERAGE TO SIN BECAUSE THERE'LL SURELY BE CONSEQUENCES.
LET LOVE LEAD AND REIGN.
LET'S LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS AS OURSELVES (as hard as it sounds)
NOBODY WILL SEE GOD IF HE DOESN'T LOVE GOD AND FOR YOU TO LOVE GOD, YOU MUST FIRST OF ALL, LOVE YOUR BROTHER, SISTER, NEIGHBOR.
You have commented beautifully.. The entirety of our faith is Love based. It's deep. It's wide. Everyday we must ask for grace to understand it first and then give it like it was given to us.💕
I have a lot to say but let me just summarize it. First of all,This is so lovely and I can relate to a point though.
Most of us Christians, and I’m speaking for myself have this mentality of “if it’s not my business,then why should I be bothered “ in a way, it actually sounds selfish. We should extend love and mercy to people,who fall short,for his grace is made perfect in weakness. We ”The body of Christ” instead of condemning,we should help him or her to get out of that situation,through counseling with the word of God,praying ,fasting etc. yes they’re consequences to everything good or bad. But we should show grace. The perfect example is Christ. Because he’s the standard for me.
May God help us all to be hearers and doers of his word,Amen.
First of all, the piece was so good I think I restacked every line—my bad. But regardless.
To be honest, you’d think Christians, the church, are the embodiment of “just as I am” or “He loves you anyways.” Sometimes it’s not even a matter of accountability or correction—it feels like projection, to be honest. Projection of their past, projection of whatever they’re doing, projection of performative Christianity—the list is endless.
There’s double standards, hypocrisy, constant performativism, and no true honesty. All of a sudden, because we have Jesus—or claim to—we think everyone else should have it easy. Some act like the ones who say they believe don’t fall into temptation. And the sighs, “Lord have mercy,” the “let us pray for her”—not that those aren’t good, but are they coming from actual love and concern for a sister, or just judgment? How could she, right? And yet, as much as we do all that, we forget the constant checking up, the decent empathy we should actually have. Do you know the courage it takes to confess to a congregation, knowing how much everyone will judge you? Even your mental preparedness isn’t enough when it all comes crashing down.
Sometimes I think we forget that even as Christians, we are human. We have emotions, feelings. Yes, people make mistakes. And why do we then turn accountability into shame? Why do we stigmatize, isolate, and treat someone’s confession like a permanent scar? Suddenly, we’re surprised when we push them farther away instead of embracing them with love and grace.
As much as you claim it’s not your business, it could be you tomorrow. And no, it doesn’t have to be fornication. There are a thousand and one sins which God still sees equally in His eyes. I don’t see us confessing to the church for forgiveness because we told a lie, or added an amount more than we should have, or stole something—even if it’s minor. I don’t see anyone leaving units or posts when they aren’t living up to the “perfect” standard we pretend to meet. It’s impossible.
Someone makes a mistake, has the conscience to confess and take accountability, and instead of grace, we quote “scriptures” that don’t even fit the context. Then, to inflate our fragile egos, we shame—“for correction,” “so it doesn’t happen again.” And yes, the next person wouldn’t confess. They’d hide it until it eats them up because that’s safer when everyone doesn’t see the human—they just see the sin.
For a religion whose foundation is love, it’s very discouraging that we cannot give the same grace and love we preach about. Yes, she failed. Yes, she made a mistake. She lost her virginity—she’s not any less. Meanwhile, the brother? Somehow nonexistent in the story. Patriarchy, for you. But again, that’s not even the point.
Let us be honest. Let us be Christians, but being Christian sometimes is not enough. We’re people too. We shouldn’t isolate anyone because it’s in our DNA to carve community. It’s not our right to push someone out because we feel they’re not “good enough,” when our Father, in His love, picked a whole host of sinners like us.
Lest I forget—please, let’s also stop referring to people’s pasts as if they define them forever. People grow. They learn. They change. Someone’s past is not their identity.
Treat people like you would want to be treated. Everything is not about quoting scriptures or posting Bible verses you wouldn’t live by. Even if you don’t love your brother, even if you have to pretend, be decent enough to show empathy.
The point is: grace is supposed to lift, not crush. Love is supposed to restore, not isolate. Confession should lead to healing, not ostracism. And yet we get so caught up in appearances, in “maintaining standards,” that we forget that the very foundation we claim to uphold—compassion, empathy, forgiveness—is being broken in our hands.
If we truly lived like we believe, if we gave people grace instead of shame, we might see fewer hidden struggles, fewer people pushed into loneliness, and maybe even fewer mistakes repeated—not because we threatened, but because we nurtured.
At the end of the day, accountability without love is just cruelty in disguise. And shame masquerading as correction is still shame.
So yeah, she failed. Yes, she confessed. And yes, she deserves love, compassion, and restoration—just like the rest of us.
I've been in a very dark place for quite some time, I was steady in fellowship and the thought of what would come next if I had come clean openly was beyond me...
It took me a while to be free through the help of the Holy Spirit but then what if I hadn't?!
Hence, I always pray for Grace to not judge when push comes to shove rather to reprimand from a place of Love and Genuineness.
Been learning so much about this, love and grace. But on the other hand (and I would really love for this to be discussed), what about believers who don't fully understand the concept of grace, those who feel condemned and in unconsciously believing that their works can suffice, that mentality shapes how they treat fellow believers?
The practice is something I've seen severally because of the places I've been and lived.
People are called out for their wrong doings in a bid to correct them. The downside is that the image of what they've done never leave the minds of the audience.
So there's always this subtle judgemental poise.
Please publish I'd love to read.
We shouldn't kill our soldiers because they are down. They're our brothers and sisters in arms.♥️♥️🫂
It's funny how we've forgotten that anyone who has the boldness to confess their sins, despite knowing the consequences epecially in a church setting already loves God. Even if there is no state of perfection.
I pray God help me personally to give grace to the heart broken. It's a virtue and I pray same for the Church of Christ all over the world, Amen.
Some things aren’t even meant for others. This should have been between you and your lord and your lord is always forgiving and caring and never judging.
For someone who stood before a congregation and confessed things I did in secret... Very deep things, I understand clearly the role of Love in all of these. I worship in a place where people open up and are not condemned, rather they are prayed for and helped to fight properly so they don't fall again.
People who practice such demeaning acts quotes 1 corinthians 5 where Paul instructed that they should put out the one who committed incest. If we stop there as many has done that's where the problem lies. In 2 Corinthians 2:5-11 He wrote back to them to forgive and comfort the one whom they had punished so that the devil will not take advantage of the situation.
My point, punishment is for those who insist on thier ways after being spoken to, just so they might feel bad enough and repent. If they willingly confess their wrong doing, James 5 ought to be activated not 1 Corinthians 5. We mix up scriptures a lot and that's why we have lots of problem in the body today.
The truth is that several of us who look at such individuals with our piercing eyes of judgement and contempt do so just because ours have not really come out to the public. I watched a movie called Trampled and I saw what Hosanna was talking about portrayed. Sometimes, If we can just be as sincere as the Pharisees for once in our lives alot will change for good in our small corners. When they brought the woman caught in the act of adultery to Jesus whilst leaving the man out. Jesus said to them that if anyone is innocent of sin, let such a person be the first to cast a stone. For once in the bible I saw the Pharisees sect sincerely walking out in honesty. Some of us Na because them never catch us Na why we still look like saints in the congregation of the righteous. May God help each one of us because the moment we begin to live like Jesus the better for us. Jesus looked at the condemned woman who has not prayed the sinners prayer and said to her that if the people who brought her did not condemn her then He is not condemning her. But she should go and sin no more. We must find balance in hating the sin of the sinner and pulling them out of the sinful pit with love in our heart. Let love lead because for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.
Shalom.
Very inspiring and timely.
Thanks and God bless you for speaking about it Ma. It's one topic not many people talk about.
People tend to correct or judge other people not in love but with contempt. With so much arrogance and wickedness in their heart as though they've never done wrong before. I'm not against correcting what is wrong or even judging what is right from what is wrong but it all should be done with love and if it be a case where the person is repentant, then there's no need to cast the person out as Christ won't do that and since we exhibit the God life, we should do as Christ would. Some that point fingers to people who err do the exact same thing they do and the reason they've not been vindicated is because there's nobody to point fingers at them but GOD SEES ALL.
GOD'S GRACE IS SUFFICIENT BUT LET'S NOT SEE IT AS A LEVERAGE TO SIN BECAUSE THERE'LL SURELY BE CONSEQUENCES.
LET LOVE LEAD AND REIGN.
LET'S LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS AS OURSELVES (as hard as it sounds)
NOBODY WILL SEE GOD IF HE DOESN'T LOVE GOD AND FOR YOU TO LOVE GOD, YOU MUST FIRST OF ALL, LOVE YOUR BROTHER, SISTER, NEIGHBOR.
GOD IS LOVE.
Thanks for this, bestie.✨
You have commented beautifully.. The entirety of our faith is Love based. It's deep. It's wide. Everyday we must ask for grace to understand it first and then give it like it was given to us.💕
Thank you bestie
I have a lot to say but let me just summarize it. First of all,This is so lovely and I can relate to a point though.
Most of us Christians, and I’m speaking for myself have this mentality of “if it’s not my business,then why should I be bothered “ in a way, it actually sounds selfish. We should extend love and mercy to people,who fall short,for his grace is made perfect in weakness. We ”The body of Christ” instead of condemning,we should help him or her to get out of that situation,through counseling with the word of God,praying ,fasting etc. yes they’re consequences to everything good or bad. But we should show grace. The perfect example is Christ. Because he’s the standard for me.
May God help us all to be hearers and doers of his word,Amen.
Thank you so much Deborah.🥹
God will help usss.
First of all, the piece was so good I think I restacked every line—my bad. But regardless.
To be honest, you’d think Christians, the church, are the embodiment of “just as I am” or “He loves you anyways.” Sometimes it’s not even a matter of accountability or correction—it feels like projection, to be honest. Projection of their past, projection of whatever they’re doing, projection of performative Christianity—the list is endless.
There’s double standards, hypocrisy, constant performativism, and no true honesty. All of a sudden, because we have Jesus—or claim to—we think everyone else should have it easy. Some act like the ones who say they believe don’t fall into temptation. And the sighs, “Lord have mercy,” the “let us pray for her”—not that those aren’t good, but are they coming from actual love and concern for a sister, or just judgment? How could she, right? And yet, as much as we do all that, we forget the constant checking up, the decent empathy we should actually have. Do you know the courage it takes to confess to a congregation, knowing how much everyone will judge you? Even your mental preparedness isn’t enough when it all comes crashing down.
Sometimes I think we forget that even as Christians, we are human. We have emotions, feelings. Yes, people make mistakes. And why do we then turn accountability into shame? Why do we stigmatize, isolate, and treat someone’s confession like a permanent scar? Suddenly, we’re surprised when we push them farther away instead of embracing them with love and grace.
As much as you claim it’s not your business, it could be you tomorrow. And no, it doesn’t have to be fornication. There are a thousand and one sins which God still sees equally in His eyes. I don’t see us confessing to the church for forgiveness because we told a lie, or added an amount more than we should have, or stole something—even if it’s minor. I don’t see anyone leaving units or posts when they aren’t living up to the “perfect” standard we pretend to meet. It’s impossible.
Someone makes a mistake, has the conscience to confess and take accountability, and instead of grace, we quote “scriptures” that don’t even fit the context. Then, to inflate our fragile egos, we shame—“for correction,” “so it doesn’t happen again.” And yes, the next person wouldn’t confess. They’d hide it until it eats them up because that’s safer when everyone doesn’t see the human—they just see the sin.
For a religion whose foundation is love, it’s very discouraging that we cannot give the same grace and love we preach about. Yes, she failed. Yes, she made a mistake. She lost her virginity—she’s not any less. Meanwhile, the brother? Somehow nonexistent in the story. Patriarchy, for you. But again, that’s not even the point.
Let us be honest. Let us be Christians, but being Christian sometimes is not enough. We’re people too. We shouldn’t isolate anyone because it’s in our DNA to carve community. It’s not our right to push someone out because we feel they’re not “good enough,” when our Father, in His love, picked a whole host of sinners like us.
Lest I forget—please, let’s also stop referring to people’s pasts as if they define them forever. People grow. They learn. They change. Someone’s past is not their identity.
Treat people like you would want to be treated. Everything is not about quoting scriptures or posting Bible verses you wouldn’t live by. Even if you don’t love your brother, even if you have to pretend, be decent enough to show empathy.
The point is: grace is supposed to lift, not crush. Love is supposed to restore, not isolate. Confession should lead to healing, not ostracism. And yet we get so caught up in appearances, in “maintaining standards,” that we forget that the very foundation we claim to uphold—compassion, empathy, forgiveness—is being broken in our hands.
If we truly lived like we believe, if we gave people grace instead of shame, we might see fewer hidden struggles, fewer people pushed into loneliness, and maybe even fewer mistakes repeated—not because we threatened, but because we nurtured.
At the end of the day, accountability without love is just cruelty in disguise. And shame masquerading as correction is still shame.
So yeah, she failed. Yes, she confessed. And yes, she deserves love, compassion, and restoration—just like the rest of us.
Ana... 🌹 ✨
I know it's you by the way you linger!
The Shame Culture it's real, I must say.
I've been in a very dark place for quite some time, I was steady in fellowship and the thought of what would come next if I had come clean openly was beyond me...
It took me a while to be free through the help of the Holy Spirit but then what if I hadn't?!
Hence, I always pray for Grace to not judge when push comes to shove rather to reprimand from a place of Love and Genuineness.
I hope we'd get there someday!
May you never run out of love and may you be constantly reminded of God's love, my girl.🌸💕
Been learning so much about this, love and grace. But on the other hand (and I would really love for this to be discussed), what about believers who don't fully understand the concept of grace, those who feel condemned and in unconsciously believing that their works can suffice, that mentality shapes how they treat fellow believers?
What do they do?
Heyyyy. I'm really up for this discussion. Let me know when you want it to happen.🩷
I didn't know such public confessions was a thing. Up until I read your piece Hosanna.
Maybe because it's not a practice where I am.....or maybe I've never seen such
I know how James said CONFESS YOUR FAULT ONE TO ANOTHER,
But then, treating others like this because of their confession??
If all our iniquities were laid out as linen before many, how many can stand?
I wrote a piece about "wounded soldiers " just yesterday. Although I'm yet to publish it
The main idea of my piece was about helping stumbling feets and steadying failing hearts.
We shouldn't kill our own soldiers just because they are down right?
The practice is something I've seen severally because of the places I've been and lived.
People are called out for their wrong doings in a bid to correct them. The downside is that the image of what they've done never leave the minds of the audience.
So there's always this subtle judgemental poise.
Please publish I'd love to read.
We shouldn't kill our soldiers because they are down. They're our brothers and sisters in arms.♥️♥️🫂
But regardless 😅
This is so beautiful Hosanna
You write so well ❤️🩹
Thank Youuuuuu, the winning girlll♥️
I did love to read it if it is already out. Please share the story with me.
Alrightyy
I subscribed to you already
You can do the same so when it drops you'll get notified
You write so beautifully well. Thank you for this bless of a piece.
Thank you so much for readingggg.♥️
I restacked something from this I hope you don’t find it offensive. I’m sorry if you do 🙏🙏
Oh. Not at all🥹
That's how we roll here. Thank you so much for reading and restacking.
Thank you and you're welcome as well.
It's funny how we've forgotten that anyone who has the boldness to confess their sins, despite knowing the consequences epecially in a church setting already loves God. Even if there is no state of perfection.
I pray God help me personally to give grace to the heart broken. It's a virtue and I pray same for the Church of Christ all over the world, Amen.
Thank you so much for this reminder my Sister 💜
Amennn.🥹♥️
Thank you for engagingg♥️
Some things aren’t even meant for others. This should have been between you and your lord and your lord is always forgiving and caring and never judging.
"As believers, what is wrong is wrong and people should be held accountable but the Shame Culture isn’t what Jesus has called us to do."
"Why are we sending away, the very people we should draw closer?"
Spot on👆
God bless you for sharing!💯
God is love. A lot of people still don't understand this. God is love—and as Christians, reflecting that is paramount.
Very very paramount.🔥🔥
I'm proud of you for the courage
Great piece Hossana!
For someone who stood before a congregation and confessed things I did in secret... Very deep things, I understand clearly the role of Love in all of these. I worship in a place where people open up and are not condemned, rather they are prayed for and helped to fight properly so they don't fall again.
People who practice such demeaning acts quotes 1 corinthians 5 where Paul instructed that they should put out the one who committed incest. If we stop there as many has done that's where the problem lies. In 2 Corinthians 2:5-11 He wrote back to them to forgive and comfort the one whom they had punished so that the devil will not take advantage of the situation.
My point, punishment is for those who insist on thier ways after being spoken to, just so they might feel bad enough and repent. If they willingly confess their wrong doing, James 5 ought to be activated not 1 Corinthians 5. We mix up scriptures a lot and that's why we have lots of problem in the body today.
Thank you Victor.❤️❤️
In addition to mixing up scriptures, I also think we barely understand it and we kind of act from our mind logic.
I hope we continually look to the light of God's love, always.
Meanwhile, very courageous of you to stand before people and confess.🥹 Boy!
Your place of worship sounds very welcoming. I Love.
We ought to have more places like that.
Ohk. I didn't know it was a thing.