The word sisterhood is defined as an organization of women with a common interest or a congenial relationship among women with mutual female esteem, concern, or support. Hmmmmm.
The Sisterhood is the name of one of TLC's latest reality shows, chronicling the lives of five pastors' wives (also known as First Ladies) in Atlanta. The premise of the show is to view the other side of life as a pastor's wife: one with struggles, challenges, and triumphs like normal people. Ergo, the religion of Christianity is supposedly its basis.
The different women featured on the show represent a variety of cultural backgrounds and church experiences. Pastor Brian & Tara Lewis are an interracial couple who have been married 16 years and have three kids. Pastor Brian is a Christian Jew, while Tara is an African American. The relationship portrayed between the two is a quirky one; their personalities seem to be incompatible. Pastor Anthony and Christina Murray lead Oasis Church and are also of mixed ethnic backgrounds. The Murrays have two teenaged daughters and a vibrant growing church. Pastor Brian and Domonique Scott had to close down their church due to financial strain. They are parents to two little girls. The other two couples are Pastor Mark & Ivy Couch and Pastor Myles & Delana Rutherford.
The theme music for the show resembles a common Atlanta club banger, not exactly one representing Christian wives. Thus, from the opening credits the audience is given an inkling that these "sisters" may not be the most conservative bunch.
In one particular episode, the first thing we see is a private viewing of First Lady Tara's TV ministry show with the other first ladies present. The show was viewed in Pastor Brian & Tara's home. All of the participants are invited. Tara, unbeknownst to her husband, talks about their past marriage struggles on the show and provides a very tense screening atmosphere. Questionable, to say the least.
As the episode moves along, the wives are seen at dinner over at first lady Delana's house. A heated discussion arises over a sign marked 'Rutherford Plantation' on the front of their house. The wives share their views, but Domonique particularly expresses she is offended by the sign. Delana was taken aback by the comments about the sign and vowed to not remove it. The whole scene played out with just the right amount of drama for you to mistake it for its counterpart on the Bravo Network.
The other main storyline for the night was Pastor Mark & Ivy Couch going to Emory hospital to find out if Ivy would be able to have any more children. Finally, a glimpse of Christian duty! Prayer is introduced when Pastor Mark prays over Ivy before her surgery.
On a whole, no true merit is gained as a Christian watching the show. The all too familiar arguments between females on other reality shows like Real Housewives, Basketball Wives and Love and Hip Hop are prevalent and just as frequent on Sisterhood.
No pearls of wisdom are often breathed from the
first ladies to truly encourage the viewers.
Out of the five first ladies, only First Lady Christina Murray seems
truly balanced and connected in a natural and spiritual sense.
Tara has issues just relating on a normal level without sounding super spiritual, Domonique has a temper problem, Ivy appears grounded but obsessed with just having more kids, and Delana is slightly out of touch with modern day race relations.
The life of a Christian, whether a pastor's wife or
regular congregant, should show forth His glory without having to make mention
of Jesus in every other word. A goal of
the show should be to highlight the Christ we see in these ladies outside of
the church and not just behind the pulpit.
"The show is entertaining but it still seems scripted and made for TV and not all the first ladies' lives seem genuine. They don't really appear to be average first ladies,"said Moneah Clemmings of Teaneck, NJ. "They have also failed to set themselves apart from non-Christians. For example, in their apparel, behavior, and demeanor."
Although the basis for the program is to see the other side of clergy's lives, prayer and time in His Word should have some precedence. The Bible declares that 'by their fruits you shall know them."
If that's the case, the first ladies' fruits are not bearing too well.
Throughout its one-hour running time, none of it is accompanied by Gospel/inspirational music beds. A definite misfire on the part of the producers and creators of the show.
The Sisterhood airs on TLC every Tuesday at 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.