Update:
Okay, I did a search on Comcast and found the Mary Mary episodes. It's located on the 'On Demand' feature of the Comcast Cable service.
The station that airs Mary Mary is WE TV and it airs on Thursday nights at 8:00 p.m. However, I can't watch it because this is the time that I'm preparing for the Thursday night Prayer Line which begins at 9:00.
Last night I was able to view the 'stripper' episode. It's Season 2 / Episode 2.
Okay Here's the rundown:
The family is very busy with their performance schedules and taking care of their families. That's a given and personally I know how hectic it is for this lifestyle. I lived it as an unprofessional and it's very taxing on your entire well being. This is their bread and butter and it is pulling every ounce of energy from them.
Pros:
I love the relationship they have with their husbands. Tina's husband is VERY supportive. This man blesses me with the care that he gives to Tina and their children and he takes care home while she is away.
These women definitely love their children, it's obvious, not a put on. Tina's daughter is very open with her mother and this is a huge plus.
These are Black families with husband and wife together, not apart. No baby mama / baby daddy drama. Huge plus.
Tina did mention God in a general comment and it wasn't out of context
Okay... here are the non-pros. (I will not use the word 'cons'
just non-pros).
The Bachlorette Party is a definite non-pro for Christians. Period.
In this episode, Tina was opposed to having the event at HER HOUSE, which is a 'pro'. She did not want men without shirts parading in her backyard in view of her daughter, her neighbors and she did not have her husband's approval of it.
That's a huge 'pro' for Tina. She was quite adamant about this.
Her sister 'Goo-Goo and Joi (family or friend) when to a studio called The Hollywood Men's Club' to 'select' men to attend Alana's bachlorette party. They went in there 'KNOWING' full well what they were going to 'encounter'.
Let me interject something. This alone, all by its self was satan's display of shaming Christians. This was so not necessary.
The men came out, one by one, in dance mode, shirtless, some pulling their shirts off in dance mode (dance mode meaning, sensuously walking with shoulder /torso / hip and pelvic rolls), greeting and 'flustering' both Joi and Goo Goo. And Goo Goo indeed was going 'goo goo' over these men.
Male strippers are trained for audience appeal to bring a 'squeal' from women. This never fails when the male stripper moves in dance mode up into the woman's personal space. There's a pause and the dance mode resumes and like clockwork, there is a guaranteed reaction from the woman.
The first reaction is the 'squeal' and the nervous laugh or giggle; simultaneously the woman will move back or turn their heads away; raising her hands to cover her face, her eyes or she covers her mouth with her hands, all of which indicates a shocked reaction and she goes into 'protective mode'. She doesn't want to 'peek' and see 'something' (ie: his private parts). This is how Joi and Goo Goo reacted. Yet, they were thrilled and called it 'fun'.
Of course we have other women who are aggressive and dive right in with the male dancers.
(and 'No', Shimmie has not been in the presence of a male stripper. I've never been to a club. I've just been dancing in the Arts and have been around dancers long enough to know almost all there is out there).
Goo Goo and Joi had absolutely no business there, neither had they any business arranging for these men to be a part of Alani's pre-wedding celebration.
Tina told Goo Goo that she had to have the party elsewhere, not at her house, period. I was 'Team Tina'.
(for a minute).
At the party Tina had a good ole' time...
The men were there as food servers...totally shirtless. And here's something interesting, I felt lead to pray for these men. God loves them and they would be wonderful additions to the Body of Christ, fully clothed and saved...dedicated to Jesus... sans strip clubs.
At the party, the women were going crazy looking at these men, including Mary Mary. The men paraded down the semi-spiral staircase with the food trays, and presented the food to each woman, including Mary Mary. The women were definitely enjoying the attention. One girl 'touched' one of the men on his arm in a sensuously joking manner. Not cool.
What was truly out of order was one of the men served Alani (the sister bride) a chocolate strawberry in a way that only her husband has the right to. Yes, it was all fun and games, however some games are not appropriate, especially for those who represent the Lord.
I understand that none of us are perfect; of course we all have flaws. However, a showcase of this sort, should have never taken place.
My conclusion:
Mary Mary truly had other options. Even it they did not have other options, the bachlorette party did not have to take place as they were also having a Bridal shower which would have been more than sufficient and in order to celebrate their sister's pre-wedding day.
Whether a person is saved or not, there are still principles that one should adhere to pertaining to marriage and pre-marriage. No other man should be intimate with another man's wife or wife-to-be. There is a spirit that is transferred between a man and a woman when an intimate interaction takes place no matter how innocent one claims it to be. She is promised to someone else and she is to 'keep' herself pure from any other. Period.
When a woman prepares for Marriage, it is for one man and one man only. She 'keeps' herself for him and only him for their wedding night and for the rest of their lives as man and wife. Alani could have refused to take part in this as well. It's not about Goo Goo and Joi and 'em' It's about the Covenant of her Marriage between her husband and God.
I asked this up thread: What is her husband to be had a female stripper at his party? That is NOT okay. You do not do things like this.
Again, it does not matter if the people are saved or unsaved, you cannot bring another spirit into your marriage. This is not a joking matter.
Mary Mary should not have participated in this event. They did not have to. And it is not about being there for their sister. It's about putting God first and others follow the path of Jesus.
Is Shimmie too rough. Yes, I am and believe me, I'm fully aware of it and make no apologies for it. We need to take our lives as Christians seriously. This life is not a game. There's too much looseness going on and then we wonder why the world is so messed up. We do not have to add ourselves to the mess.
I have more, however for now, it's...
Selah...