Toxic Church Lady Syndrome

I am just going right in. Jenna, a 19-year-old lady got fat-shamed recently by an older church member named Bonnie Sue at the Swansboro United Methodist Church in North Carolina. You can read about it HERE. When Jenna said, "Who are you", this blog post started writing itself in my brain & spirit. I'm not going to discuss fat-shaming or even church modesty. I'm also not going to talk about the possible "obvious" racial lens one could look through when watching the video tweet. I want to talk about what I call Toxic Church Lady Syndrome.

Toxic Church Lady Syndrome runs rampant in the church. Bonnie Sue suffers from it. It's the self-righteous, judgemental, negative, & fault-finding behavior that some women in church display. They hide behind church by-laws & misinterpreted scriptures to justify their opinionated actions. And it probably one of the top reasons many leave the church. I grew up with my share of Toxic Church Ladies. My internet joke of a name "ShowsMyKnees78" is because of a run-in with a Toxic Church Lady.

Toxic Church Ladies love to finger wag at what they believe is wrongdoing. But they never check their disrespectful tones and attitudes. Homosexuality may be wrong to them, but they have no right to call anyone a Sissy. A woman may be an unwedded mother. She still shouldn't be brought before the church to apologize. Is that child or disabled person really making that much noise? That constant "Shhh" is just as loud. Also, I don't like sitting on the front row, but if I have to I don't need a lap scarf. If the ministers were *hiding behind the cross" how am I tempting him? And what is the frantic deal with neckties?

There is no Love in None of That. I understand enforcing the rules and whatnot. But I need Toxic Church Ladies to sit down and truly read & study the B-I-B-L-E. One scripture that comes to mind is Matthew 7:1. That scripture should stop all our nasty opinions about others. Also, I want them to learn tact, discernment, & discretion. Bonnie Sue wouldn't have had to resign, had she considered those things & the beloved slogan, WWJD. Nothing was wrong with Jenna's outfit. But a lot was wrong with Bonnie Sue and her Toxic Lady Syndrome.

As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms!