Lisa Raye is dating Bishop Noel Jones.

[TheChariot]

If you've even seen The Playa's Club, you'd know how interesting this is.

[seekerman]

If you've even seen The Playa's Club, you'd know how interesting this is.

Who they is? Never heard of them.

[CC1]

I have no clue who she is so I googled her under images and...wow! She is very pretty but fair warning to anybody googling her - there are pics of here in not very much clothes. Seems a strange choice for a famous preacher.

I also have no idea what "The Playa's Club" is and am guessing I probably don't want to know.

[Hoovie]

A stripper who dated Al Sharpton... They are shopping a TV reality show called Keeping Up with the Jones'.

[Amanah]

http://blogs.bet.com/music/the-gospel-according-to-torrence/2011/11/torrences-take-on-bishop-noel-jones-and-lisaraye/

Torrence’s Take On Bishop Noel Jones and LisaRaye
Published by Torrence Glenn on Monday, November 21, 2011 at 10:58 pm.

Today (Monday, November 21) the internet went crazy (and understandably so) with news of a rumor that the Bishop Noel Jones (Pastor of LA’s megachurch City Of Refuge) was engaged to actress and reality TV star LisaRaye. I’ll admit I was equally drawn to the story and even more surprised but not for the reasons you may think. First, let’s get this out of the way. I spoke to sources close to the situation and yes they are dating. But no, they are NOT ENGAGED at this time. Now that would or should be the end of this post right? Well no… Blogs and websites (gospel and mainstream) have already covered the rumor of engagement part, no need for that from me. So like always, I want to tackle this thing with a little “perspective.” Ready?

So aside from the initial shock of “Bishop Noel Jones is marrying ‘Diamond’ from The Player’s Club,” (Own it, that was the first thought that came to your mind too…,) I got a bit concerned about something else. Something way more “interesting” (and important) in my opinion. I began to worry about how this news would affect some “church girls.” What do I mean? Well let me explain. (Warning: I’m going to talk frankly about some of the not so perfect parts of church culture. If you’re swimming in the deep end of the pool and can’t acknowledge any simple, albeit sometimes unfortunate truths about the institution you’re so passionate about this post may not be for you.) Ok, now that that’s out of the way back to “church girls.” Being the church boy I am I’ve known my share of church girls (it’s more than simply being a Christian male or female.) If you’ve grown up in church or been in church for a long while, especially if you’ve had the opportunity to be a part of a denomination, you know what I mean. As a church kid in general you grow up with certain general and some unspoken rules, truths and assumptions. Sometimes these rules, truths and assumptions can unfortunately create a bit of mania that if not checked will you lead to CRAZY. So when the news of this rumored engagement broke, I knew that chances of “church girl crazy” rising up were high.

Let me explain. Church girls are taught to be “different.” Although we all “sin and fall short of the glory of God” the goal is clear. You’re to be chaste, a virgin until you’re married if you can hold out (we all know how difficult that is), and if you don’t, at least try because one day a man of God will appreciate your sacrifice. Girls outside of church may seem to be having all the fun but you won’t have to go through what they go through. You’ll get a good man. A saved man. It takes a special woman; one who’s prayed up, spiritually mature, pure at heart, etc. If you want a man who’s “strong in the Lord” you’ve got to be a woman who can handle him, especially if he’s a preacher. All these sacrifices will prepare you for “him.”

But hold that thought because then something else happens. There’s a “shift” if you will. Half of your fellow church girls have gotten married, start having children and the other half are made to feel like something’s wrong. Because although they told you to “wait” they didn’t say for how long. They didn’t tell you that if you weren’t married and having children by a certain age they’d start to look at you strangely or hassle you about not being married by pretending to encourage you. So now there’s a conflict. You continue to hold out and do all the right things because it’ll be worth it. It’s at this moment for many church girls is where the “mania” sets in. This is the turning point. She may start giving in to insecurity, becoming the typical mean and angry “old maid.” Or better yet, she becomes 1 of 2 types of desperate. Desperate type 1 chases any good man they can find. He walks in the church, smiles and says hello and next thing you know: “God told me that’s my husband.” (Men run from these women like there’s a fire coming after them!) Desperate type 2 on the other hand wears her desperation on her sleeve and will just date anyone who shows interest… ANY interest. Forget compatibility, he told her she was pretty (or worse, that he loved her) and that was enough. She’s all in.

We all know these women. You may be her or on your way to being her. You’re doing your best to live saved, be a good Christian girl so that you’ll be ready and WORTHY. Then, you look up and one of the “bad girls” scoops in and gets the man and not just any man. But the Pastor, the Bishop, the one who’s first lady you thought would be on “his level” spiritually. You’re busy teaching Sunday School and she’s late to new member’s class. This is enough to drive a ‘church girl’ NUTS if she’s not careful. She looks at the facts and begins to lose it and get discouraged. He’s 60 something, new girl is 40 something. New girl is known for being “sexy,” something you were discouraged from doing because you were the good girl and the man of God wouldn’t respect you if you were like that. New girl just had a big divorce and was just on a reality show trying to find God again, etc. etc. etc. and she gets HIM anyway?

So when the news of Bishop Jones’ and LisaRaye’s relationship broke, my heart broke not for him (clearly) but for the church girls who would see this as a invitation to say “screw it. Clearly this ain’t worth it and this good girl thing ain’t working. Let me just go and do me.” This, my friends is a recipe for and the start of potential crazy. At the risk of sounding oddly deep or unnecessarily churchy, church girls this post is dedicated to you. Don’t let a relationship that you don’t understand (self included) cause you to lose it, think less of yourself or go against what you know is right for you. Trust me, there will continue to be plenty of stuff that will make you go “hmmmm???” Know who you are and trust God’s plan for YOU and not for LisaRaye, Bishop Noel Jones, your aunt Beulah or Kermit the frog. Trust me on this, doing what you think she or anybody else did will not get you what’s right for you. I hope you got it…. And for the those who must have a scripture , check out: Jeremiah 29:11 and Philippians 1:6. Just saying….

Torrence

[Scott Hutchinson]

A stripper who dated Al Sharpton... They are shopping a TV reality show called Keeping Up with the Jones'.

A stripper oh she works on a crew that waxes floors ?:heeheehee

[tstew]

I had heard this but was hoping that it wasn't true. My goodness...

[Cindy]

As long as there is no fornication involved, what's the big deal, right? At least he's not married and having an affair. He's not molesting children. There are degrees of sin and immorality, don't you think?

[Amanah]

As long as there is no fornication involved, what's the big deal, right? At least he's not married and having an affair. He's not molesting children. There are degrees of sin and immorality, don't you think?

good point, very good perspective.

[tstew]

As long as there is no fornication involved, what's the big deal, right? At least he's not married and having an affair. He's not molesting children. There are degrees of sin and immorality, don't you think?

He's a pastor...and she is very openly and publicly not what any pastor should be marrying. I am moderate on many things, but some things just absolutes...this is one of them.

[Amanah]

He's a pastor...and she is very openly and publicly not what any pastor should be marrying. I am moderate on many things, but some things just absolutes...this is one of them.

I can see your point also, but if she has repented and is living for God?

[Dedicated Mind]

I have no clue who she is so I googled her under images and...wow! She is very pretty but fair warning to anybody googling her - there are pics of here in not very much clothes. Seems a strange choice for a famous preacher.

I also have no idea what "The Playa's Club" is and am guessing I probably don't want to know.

the playa's club might be a song for the movie "the players club" where lisa raye played a stripper. haven't seen it, just googled.

[TheChariot]

As long as there is no fornication involved, what's the big deal, right? At least he's not married and having an affair. He's not molesting children. There are degrees of sin and immorality, don't you think?
On the current season on her show, she has been trying to find Jesus (with a guest star from TD Jakes) nonetheless. This is clearly not a woman a pastor should be dating. Maybe he should be counseling her (through other women, of course) but she should not be dating her.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2FAwHyhj24

There are many godly women to date. Ones who have been saved for years, not just "working it out." Why her? It makes no sense.

[TheChariot]

the playa's club might be a song for the movie "the payers club" where lisa raye played a stripper. haven't seen it, just googled.
The Playa's Club is the movie where she plays a stripper.

[Cindy]

He's a pastor...and she is very openly and publicly not what any pastor should be marrying. I am moderate on many things, but some things just absolutes...this is one of them.

You know my post was TIC! (Sarcasm intended).

[tstew]

You know my post was TIC! (Sarcasm intended).

LOL Okay I guess I'm getting a little rusty...I haven't been here in a while. I thought the ol' slippery slope had gotten you :) j/k

[Cindy]

LOL Okay I guess I'm getting a little rusty...I haven't been here in a while. I thought the ol' slippery slope had gotten you :) j/k


:heeheehee

[Nitehawk013]

Hmm...seems sad to me. Don't want to be too harsh, but it just looks bad for a Pastor, and liek the article earlier states...sends a horrible message to the girls in his church. Why strive to be a virtuous woman if a woman like this gets the godly man?

[TJJJ]

So she is a janitor, what is wrong with that?

[houston]

I do not believe that he is not having special ministry sessions with her.

[TJJJ]

Just counseling the cleaning lady, is all!

[n david]

I agree with the article posted ... what a terrible message to send to girls that are living Godly and not out clubbing and sleeping around.

If the "Bishop" is dating this woman, there's something wrong. I doubt the Lord is trying to prove a point like with Hosea. This is flesh, nothing Godly about it.

**Edit, a PAW friend of mine a several years ago cautioned about Bishop Noel Jones when he was leaving the PAW.

[darrmad]

I wonder what a bunch of whites care about who Bishop Jones marries? As long as he married his own race.

[AreYouReady?]

Well..according to some, the Bishop is the overseer of his sheep...so he better be obeyed no matter what...right?

[houston]

I wonder what a bunch of whites care about who Bishop Jones marries? As long as he married his own race.

^ain't no pill for "stupid"

[houston]

Just counseling the cleaning lady, is all!

Special prayer sessions.

[trialedbyfire]

From what I've heard both Raye and Bishop Jones deny any romantic relationship is going on. The rumor came out about a month ago. It literally rocked the PAW, many emotional opinions on both sides. Jones used to be a very hardcore oneness preacher, he's since watered down his gospel message and gone extreme lengths to compromise and try to bring PAW into the TBN/Word Network crowd. Still a great preacher.

Personally, I don't care. Of course I don't believe that ANY saint should date outside of the faith, much less a pastor. So the only question to me is, is she baptized in Jesus name, Holy Ghost filled and currently living a holy and sanctified life? If so, I have no issues. Is it smart for a Bishop to date a former music video vixen? It's against my better judgment sure.

That's not my call to make though...

[tenngalpal]

we are told in gods word not to be unequally yoked together and to come out from amongst the world and be separate. also we are told to shun the very appearance of evil. Often marrying outside our faith ends poorly as in the case of carroll mcgruder and his wife brenda lee who are now in the process of divorce. not only are they and their families hurting but also those of us who sat and listened to him preach one thing and do the exact opposite. if we are going to put ourselves in a leadership position then we should certainly live what we preach. when we dont we not only bring disgrace on ourselves and our families but to the upci or whatever group we represent and most of to Jesus Christ.