BEWARE OF COUNSEL ON THE STREET OF SOCIAL MEDIA

There's a dangerous trend I've seen in recent times. I see people coming on social media to ask for counseling. Some even ask for counsel on marital issues on social media platforms where there are people with diverse beliefs and values about marriage. On several occasions, some simple men have brought their family issues to the media asking for counsel from believer and unbelievers. You need to see divergent and demonic views that aren't edifying. Some singles also ask for counsel on social media on how to choose a mate and how to handle their relationships. That's very immature. Most of the counsel they often get are anti biblical. Imagine someone who is keeping his home intact telling you to divorce your spouse because of little misunderstanding. The street of social media is very dangerous and we need to know our limits as God's children. I see this trend as an abuse of social media and a ploy of the devil to downplay the office of the Pastor. As a believer, if you have issues that are beyond what you can handle in your home, business or office, simply consult your pastor or spiritual leader. He is expected to be a neutral umpire.

For those that are blessed with credible and wise pastors, you stand to lose so many things if you don't tap into his wealth of wisdom and grace. Pastoral counseling is lacking in this generation because most people do not understand the role of their Pastor in their lives. A lot of marriages are in serious mess today because at the point of entering into it, they by-passed the Pastor's counsel, hid their spouses from the pastor and just presented him/her as an "angel". You make it hard for your Pastor to do proper scrutiny after you've proposed and fixed a wedding date without his knowledge. At that point, he has no option than to accept your choice. Singles, beware of making marital choice without carrying your Pastor along. From the very beginning, before you propose or before you accept any proposal, involve your Pastor. Social media counselors won't join you in prayer neither will they help scrutinize your choice. I know a sister who wanted to marry a man who already has a child old enough to write SSCE but he hid it from this sister. Through pastoral counseling, the sister discovered that her fiance had a child he hid from her. That was the end of their relationship because of deception. If she hadn't taken the step she took, she may live to regret her marriage. Do not be afraid to hear a different opinion from your Pastor. The fear most people have is that they're afraid of hearing something contrary so they hide their relationship from their Pastor. That's a sign that shows you're about to make the wrong choice.

Beware of brothers/ sisters who do have Pastors they're genuinely submitted to. If I'm about to make a choice and someone mature spiritually point my attention to something, it behooves on me to search my spirit, investigate and pray to be sure I'm on the right or wrong track. I don't need to run away from such a person even if I stand by my convictions. Some persons have tagged those who give them true counsel "Enemy of progress." Stop running from that Pastor who loves you to the point of giving sincere and unbiased counsel. I understand that some have been betrayed and disappointed by some Pastors in the past, that doesn't nullify the Christian practice of seeking Pastoral counsel when needed. You only need to be under the right Pastor. If you understand the role of a shepherd, you will prayerfully submit to a sound pastoral oversight. Stay where you can be reached, don't be lost in the crowd because you want to identify with a popular church. Stop disgracing yourself on social media by asking for counsel. Certain situations happen in life where you need to talk to someone you can see for counsel. God has set ministry gifts in place for special purposes and one of such that cares for the sheep, tend the sheep and feed is the office of the pastor. A sheep must have a shepherd or else it would be lost. Who is pastoring you?