via ShavarRoss.com

According to the article, the multi-platinum selling rapper from the late 1990s is now looking back with regret at his faith formation and ordination.

In a TBN interview, Betha, 34, first tried to re-emerge from his initial retirement back into a rap career, he spoke about the people who worried about a return to hip-hop pulling the pastor away from hisChristian calling.

“Why is it Christians are more confident in the Devil taking me more than Christ keeping me,” Betha questions. “What I have inside of me is more powerful than anything the world could ever offer me.”

Betha asked hip-hop radio DJ Funkmaster Flex for help with a comeback in a radio interviewlast month where he spoke about his initial choice to leave the rap industry alone to honor God as a preacher.

“I thought I could do more than rap and I just so happen to be right. I see different artists making clothing lines and people respected it,”

Betha said in the interview last month. “Rap has always been about using your talents for doing more. I’m just the one that got criticized for doing more than was unexpected. I think I overachieved.”

Still, Betha, pastor and founder of El Elyon International Church and Mason Betha Ministries, said he regretted transition from a rapper to pastor.

“I didn’t give myself any room to grow, I went from one extreme to another extreme, I was just so gung ho about what I was learning, that’s all I wanted.”I went so hard in one direction that people had things to say and rightfully so,” Betha told Flex. “I don’t blame them for that [but] it’s been 13 years, let’s move on.”

I’m not exactly sure I’m seeing where he necessarily said he “regretted becoming a pastor” but okay…

Although Betha admitted that people had the right to judge his decisions, he said they should move on since so much time has passed.

The young pastor said he would pick God over music if given the choice again, he asked for prayers while entering back into the rap world with no restrictions.

“I’m taking all the limitations off, they’re gonna have to pray for me,” Betha told the Hot 97 radio personality.”If I had to pick the two I’d still pick God over music any day.

Not as much as 90s hip-hop fans regret Mase becoming a rapper.

LOL!

So, what makes him wanna come back now?! Shouldn't he be rappin' for the Lord or something?

jpnyc said:

Not as much as 90s hip-hop fans regret Mase becoming a rapper.

Interesting. Wasn't Shavar Ross the same name of the kid who played Arnold's friend on "Diff'rent Strokes"?

Lets see if I understand this bullshit correctly.........

Ma$e regrets becoming a minister, but has absolutely no regrets getting signed to 50 Cent's G-Unit to release a wack ass comeback album OR getting caught trannyhunting by law enforcers.

Is THAT^ what Ma$e is implying?

nursev said:

This nucca needs to stop playing with God.

I hate the actions of folks who think playing with God is a game. Either serve him or serve yourself and stop being confused.

TonyVanDam said:

Lets see if I understand this bullshit correctly.........

Ma$e regrets getting caught trannyhunting by law enforcers.

When did this occur?

Timmy84 said:

nursev said:

This nucca needs to stop playing with God.

THIS.

Its really not a game. Its obvious that wasnt and isnt his calling. He needs to stop fooling himself.

nursev said:

Timmy84 said:

I hate the actions of folks who think playing with God is a game. Either serve him or serve yourself and stop being confused.

Exactly-he doesn't know which side of the fence he wants to be on.

Thing is he's as bad in preaching as he is in music. No one can pull it off like Al Green.

Timmy84 said:

nursev said:

Timmy84 said: Exactly-he doesn't know which side of the fence he wants to be on.

Thing is he's as bad in preaching as he is in music. No one can pull it off like Al Green.

And he can do both well.

Timmy84 said:

nursev said:

Timmy84 said: Exactly-he doesn't know which side of the fence he wants to be on.

Thing is he's as bad in preaching as he is in music. No one can pull it off like Al Green.

And Pastor Ceasar.

musicjunky318 said:

Timmy84 said:

Thing is he's as bad in preaching as he is in music. No one can pull it off like Al Green.

And Pastor Ceasar.

I meant in terms of preaching on Sunday and doing the blues on Saturday. But yeah her too.

He's a hot mess.

mjscarousal said:

Timmy84 said:

I heard that Mase only became a pastor to get out from under that shit surrounding Puffy. Didn't Mase become a preacher around the time Puffy was on trial?

“I didn’t give myself any room to grow, I went from one extreme to another extreme, I was just so gung ho about what I was learning, that’s all I wanted.”I went so hard in one direction that people had things to say and rightfully so,” Betha told Flex. “I don’t blame them for that [but] it’s been 13 years, let’s move on.”

I understand where he's coming from because what he has gone through happens a lot. Anything in excess isn't a good thing, you need balance. Being a little wiser, a little older, and having a spirtual base Mase can use those tools do whatever, be succesful, and keep it in perspective. I wish him luck.

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[Edited 5/16/12 15:08pm]

Timmy84 said:

nursev said:

This nucca needs to stop playing with God.

I hate the actions of folks who think playing with God is a game. Either serve him or serve yourself and stop being confused.

That's pretty mean, Timmy.

I believe that it is a part of our anthropological make up to be self-contradictory:

we know what is "the right thing to do" but struggle at making movements to

perfect that.

The hardest thing to do on this earth is to be exactly who you are 100% of the

time, 24/7. Give him a break, guys.

duccichucka said:

Timmy84 said:

I hate the actions of folks who think playing with God is a game. Either serve him or serve yourself and stop being confused.

That's pretty mean, Timmy.

I believe that it is a part of our anthropological make up to be self-contradictory:

we know what is "the right thing to do" but struggle at making movements to

perfect that.

The hardest thing to do on this earth is to be exactly who you are 100% of the

time, 24/7. Give him a break, guys.

Maybe that does come off harsh but seriously I mean if you're gonna figure out your life, don't make hasty decisions. That's all I'm saying.

Well he thought he was doing the right thing at the time...

It WAS really was quite extreme to go from Bad Boy artist to HBCU student and preacher seemingly overnight. However, I think he needs to look back on the scene at the time to remind himself why he stepped. Rap was in an ugly place then and it was quite brave to say "nope...I don't want a bullet in my head" and bounce.

The preacher gig might not be right for him, but leaving the rap game then wasn't the worst thing he could have done.

Meh.

brooksie said:

Well he thought he was doing the right thing at the time...

It WAS really was quite extreme to go from Bad Boy artist to HBCU student and preacher seemingly overnight. However, I think he needs to look back on the scene at the time to remind himself why he stepped. Rap was in an ugly place then and it was quite brave to say "nope...I don't want a bullet in my head" and bounce.

The preacher gig might not be right for him, but leaving the rap game then wasn't the worst thing he could have done.

Meh.

Who knows what was up with him during the time? But I'm thinking if you deal with someone like Puffy, you'll join a church too... so a part of me is like "I understand Mason..."

In order to be successful at something for a long while, you have to have talent. Mase always sucked at rapping, so...

brooksie said:

Well he thought he was doing the right thing at the time...

It WAS really was quite extreme to go from Bad Boy artist to HBCU student and preacher seemingly overnight. However, I think he needs to look back on the scene at the time to remind himself why he stepped. Rap was in an ugly place then and it was quite brave to say "nope...I don't want a bullet in my head" and bounce.

The preacher gig might not be right for him, but leaving the rap game then wasn't the worst thing he could have done.

Meh.

purplethunder3121 said:

So, what makes him wanna come back now?! Shouldn't he be rappin' for the Lord or something?

Now, who's hot, who not?
Tell me who rock, who dippin in the church pot

You tell me who da most, who copped the holy ghost
Who's jewels got stole, who can't pay the bridge toll

To the tube sock, The same ole pimp

Mase aint nuthing changed wit dis gimp

Can't stop till I see my name in a mug shot

Can't guarantee a million sales cuz I'm no longer hot

Timmy84 said:

duccichucka said:

That's pretty mean, Timmy.

I believe that it is a part of our anthropological make up to be self-contradictory:

we know what is "the right thing to do" but struggle at making movements to

perfect that.

The hardest thing to do on this earth is to be exactly who you are 100% of the

time, 24/7. Give him a break, guys.

Maybe that does come off harsh but seriously I mean if you're gonna figure out your life, don't make hasty decisions. That's all I'm saying.

True 'dat.

And I meant to say: The hardest thing to do on this earth is to be exactly who you want

to be 100% of the time, 24/7. I have a conception of who I want Chuck to be but damnit

it is hard doing that shit consistently every day.

But you do make a point.

HotGritz said:

purplethunder3121 said:

So, what makes him wanna come back now?! Shouldn't he be rappin' for the Lord or something?

Now, who's hot, who not?
Tell me who rock, who dippin in the church pot

You tell me who da most, who copped the holy ghost
Who's jewels got stole, who can't pay the bridge toll

To the tube sock, The same ole pimp

Mase aint nuthing changed wit dis gimp

Can't stop till I see my name in a mug shot

Can't guarantee a million sales cuz I'm no longer hot

As y'all can see, another anthropological element of our existence is Schadenfreude.