My take on the Israel Houghton Saga

I haven’t written in a while. Firstly my laptop crashed and i lost most of my material ( i usually plan things in advance and had many posts already written ) and secondly have been tied up with promoting my new album. Anyway the purpose of this post is not that but to look at something that is taking place in the body of Christ currently.

One day i wake up to find a story of Israel Houghton on facebook. It was heartbreaking to see that he was getting a divorce but despite all the noise that people were making i just understood one thing: he is man and he falls at times but God is faithful. The saga continued with people questioning his new found love Adrienne Bailon ( some claiming he was cheating on his wife with her, such a claim which Israel dismissed on his facebook page )

Now to get into my post. It is only Christians who shoot their wounded. I find in the bible the story of King David and Bathsheba. Think about it for a moment- this guy sleeps with someones wife, then goes on to kill the husband after the wife is pregnant, and to make matters worse then takes Bathsheba as his wife just after the mourning period. And yet God calls this man, a man after my own heart. Can you imagine the atmosphere in Israel during David’s scandal. Oh and by the way David only repented after he had been confronted by the prophet. But the important thing is he repented.  I dont know all the details of Israel’s issues but i am happy that he came out on social media and confessed his sins and i deeply respected what he did. Very few people in his position would do that. And as to the fact that just after a divorce he is now going out with another woman- well he is a grown man and we cannot determine how and when he can move on after his divorce. I know i might get a lot of backlash because of this post but if God has forgiven him who are we to hold this against him. Remember the issue of the woman caught in adultery- Jesus says he who is without sin let him cast the first stone. Everyone moved away from the greatest first to the least. Jesus said he did not condemn her but that she should go and sin no more.

The bible says if we confess our sins he is faithful and just he is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us of all unrighteousness.

Christ did not come to create a ministry of condemnation. Unfortunately religion has now caused us to be hypocritical. If we were to expose the sins of all those who are condemning Israel we might just shift our attention off him to those people. God knows i have my own indiscretions and when i see a brother fall i don’t see an opportunity to condemn but rather an opportunity to pray for my brother.

This is my take on the matter. You might disagree with it but i believe Israel Houghton is a man after God’s heart. Has he made mistakes-yes but let us leave him to his maker.It is not our issue lest we be guilty of not forgiving one whom God has already forgiven.

To my brother and fellow worshiper, Israel Houghton. Be strong, take heart, write more songs. I for one am looking forward to the songs that will come from this ordeal. You are a man after God’s heart. Just take heed to your ministry and continue the good work.