The definition of substrate: The material or substance on which an enzyme acts. A surface on which an organism grows or is attached. An underlying layer; a substratum.
Jesus on one occasion warned a group of teachers and Pharisees, the latter an intolerant teaching religious sect of his day, that they had heaven shut up. He added that they were not going into the kingdom and that they were preventing others from entering into the kingdom. He went on to say that they would cross land and sea to make one convert, and then 'make him into twice the son of hell' as they were already. Matthew 23:13-15. What a terrible inditement!
The Apostle Peter in his second epistle 'to those who had obtained like faith as the Apostles had' warned, that some among them were being brought back into bondage by those who were claiming to have helped to liberate them from the bondage of sin. And therefore, instead of being 'free in Christ', they were instead being re-enslaved by and to the ones who purported to have helped to deliver them from original bondage.
They found themselves in bondage, as well as debtors to their new captors, in effect owing them, instead of Christ, their time, finances and allegiances. Peter added, that it would been better if they had never known the right way to live than to know it and then reject the holy commandments that were given to them. 2 Peter 3:21.
Finally, the Prophet Jeremiah warned that among my people are wicked men who lie in wait for victims like a hunter hiding in a blind. They are continually setting traps for other people. Like a cage filled with birds, their homes are filled with evil plots. Jeremiah 5: 26 -27.
1). How can this be?
2). Have you suspected, or experienced anything like this happening at your place of worship?
3). Were you one of the those who came to Christ and subsequently became a part of a fellowship of believers, and just as suddenly found yourself again in the grips of bondage to some pastor, preacher, prophet teacher or organization who had you under the impression that they were there to help foster your growth in Christ, when on the other hand they took over your life, your wallet, your spouse or your time?
4). Is there an anonymous or sub-anonymous layer operating at the church that you attend or are anticipating becoming a part of, and do you know anything about the sub-layer and the impacts that it can have on you as a Christian?
5). Are you a part of a group that has heaven shut up?
6). Does your religious group 'catch men and women', and prevent them from ever truly rising to God's will.
With respect to church denominationalism, I consider myself agnostic. For being a member of God's body gives me kinship with every church that God ordained, and therefore kinship with all of the members of Christ's body on earth.
I discovered in the past that existing within bonafide mainstream church groups, one could find himself enslaved to a sometimes invisible sub-layer that members of the church weren't even aware that existed; they were not even aware of its formidable power within the organization that they were a part of, usually until it was too late.
Many times the true power of the organization, and the organizational structure itself wrests within and is driven by this sub-layer, in spite of all appearances to the contrary. In effect 'the church' is used as a lure to draw unwitting individuals, who are seeking Christ, into a hidden organization that has an agenda all of its own - usually some kind of personal empowerment by its hierarchy of leaders. The latter can and will place a burden on the members of the organization, that Jesus Christ never intended for his followers. And, the underlying layer is responsible for preventing disciples from ever reaching their true potential in Christ. The real motives of the organization in the long run are usually at odds with the teachings of Christ.
Praxis: This sub-layer operates, comcomittantly, with established church creeds and teachings. And at times it operates as 'a wheel in the middle of a wheel', holding more sway over church members than God does. Many church members looking back, have been stunned once what they realized what they had been part of in the past (having believed that they were members of a Church group that was sanctioned by and fully submitted to Christ). These individuals discovered that it was the substratum within their religous organization that actually took precedence over the teachings of Jesus Christ. They found new meaning in the scriptures that read, "...come out from among them and be seperated...", and, the blind being led by the blind.
Anecdotally, I suggested on one occasion that all of God's children, should go and join every church that they could find. Whenever I visit a church that is of God, I am already a member. I never stand up when I attend a church and they ask for visitors to stand, and on those few occasions when I was forced to stand up, I explained that I saw myself as more of a guest than a visitor. If nothing else, by joining every church, it would attenuate the notion that some pastors have that the church is theirs, and the members of their flocks are their 'personal slaves'. Having said that, all pastors are not guilty of this charge. I have never been accused of being a 'slave pastor'.
This whole substrate phenonenom that exists in our religious organizations today, reminds me of a story recorded in the old testatment, where the pagan holders of the Ark of the Covenant did not know what to do with it. So what did they do with it? They carried and placed the Ark in the spiritual house alonside one of their own deities, Dagon. In one sense they did the logical thing by bringing the Ark into a religious setting. However, they did not understand that the things of God and the things of an idol simply do not mix!
Many religious organizations today have sat up their idols; self-devised teachings, manmade organizations, syncretic ideas, organizational teachings, creeds and structures; controlling and celebrity preachers right up inside the church, alongside Jesus Christ. And at times, Jesus Christ is less important than their manmade, personal or organizational representations, teachings and creeds. In effect, they teach God's people to unwittingly worship, and be subject to 'the idol' which they have created or supported!
Who is truly in control of the narrative where you worship? Who really controls the power and the direction of the church where you attend? Perhaps you are, wittingly or unwittingly, a part of the substrate, an enzyme that is causing havoc to be piled onto your brothers and sisters in Christ at your place of worship. Perhaps you have helped to set up an idol substrate/construct at your place of worship. The Apostle Paul was once guilty of doing the same, that is until God turned him around on the road to Damascus!
What agreement hath the temple of God with Idols? 1 Cor. 6:16.
Peace & grace
Rev C. Solomon
To be continued....
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May 3, 2007
The Obstructionist's Republicans Contract: A Construct With Themselves!
Two things have not changed over the past 6 years, the obstructionist executive branch in Washington DC persists in its campaign of subterfuge and magic thinking, and the obstructionist wing of Congress (the Republican portion of Congress) stands pat at resisting any resolution to solve the stalemate in Iraq that is or has been offered by the Democratic majority in Congress, the United Nations, America's allies or the rest of the world.
The Republicans are doing now what they have been doing for the past 6 years and longer, I call it keeping their 'Contract With The Mindless Ideologues in the Republican Party'. Republicans can't pretend to have a contract with the American people any longer. In lieu of their former 'Contract with America', Republicans have replaced it with an unspoken compact made among themselves and within their own ranks, which they consider to be the proper American policy towards Iraq and the rest of the M-E. According to all of the recent polls, an overwhelming majority of America's citizens do not agree with their their prolongation of the American-inspired unjust war in Iraq.
As is often the case with Republicans they don't have solutions themselves, as one of their own a former cabinet member in the Reagan Administration Attorney General Edwin Meese confessed at an affair sponsored by the Stanford University Law School in the mid-1990s that I attended. Even late Republican Senator Barry Goldwater, one of the founders of the modern conservative movement once chastised his own Party, prior to his demise, for being obstructionist.
Given these two problem areas in government, the directionless violence in the M-E persists and the needless body count continues to rise, not to mention all of those who have been injured and displaced.
As much as I hate to say this, wouldn't it be great if those individuals who continue to advocate for the prolongation of the fiasco in Iraq (the Bushtanistas and other sycophants) could, along with the individuals and their families who continue to be victims of #43's legacy war, exchange places. This group who believes in murdering innocent people and continuing an unjust war, I am certain, wouldn't mind dying or risking injury to themselves or their loved-ones! So why won't all of them go over and exchange places with the innocent suffering and dying in Iraq, and prove themselves to be the heroes that they pretend to be here in the United States? I suppose that pontificating is a much simpler exercise.
Every death up to now and each one that will follow in Iraq from this day forward are and will be a direct result of the policies of obstructionism in the Executive office and the former and the current Republican minority. Some try to blame the so-called liberals, and others attribute their own failures in Iraq to the former Clinton Administration for the debacle in Iraq. And they are doing so despite all of the evidence on record, which demonstrates that the Bush administration had been inundated with information prior to 9/11 warning them that a terrorist attack was imminent. However, the information was summarily ignored by #43 and his Republican administration.
And as a consequence of all of the intelligence information that the Bush administration received prior to 9/11 (the truth has come out), even today's most staunch conservatives have distanced themselves from the current policies of the Bush administration. They also criticize his reasoning's and those of his neocon accomplices for taking the country to war in the first place. William F. Buckley and George Will, are only two of the names that come to mind.
I say to the Republicans in Washington DC, that you are obstructing the will of the American people and turning your noses up at God's word, the rest of the world and America's historical allies. How dare you folks expect the military to be subject to civilian rule (yours and #43's), when you folks will not yield to the will of the American people yourselves? And how dare you expect us to respect you in your offices when you do not respect the rule of law and the will of the American people? Sadly, by doing so it wouldn't bring any individuals back that have been needlessly slaughtered; however, I pray that at some time in the near future you folks will develop a conscience and fulfill your responsibilities given your once honorable positions of responsibility in a representative democracy.
Are you aware that people are dying as a result of your and #43's recalcitrance, inertia and willingness to play politics with people's lives? Are you past caring about human life? Rather than permit Republican Party politics or the PNAC to be your guide, how about allowing Jesus Christ, the scriptures and the Holy Spirit to be your guide? For as the scriptures have taught us, "...there is a way that seems right to a man, but the ends thereof are the ways of death". And death and dying is all that we have been seeing as a result of doing things the way that this administration, supported by the Republicans (religious and secular) have been doing them. God knows that these people have zero interest in the will of the majority of the American people, who they are supposed to be there to serve!
Conservative Republican ideologues need to replace their Project for a New American Century (PNAC) with one that is realistic, God-centered and humane instead of the Amero-centric policy, in its current permutation, that they have created and adopted themselves to; it's called hegemony. And it ignores the rights, priveleges and needs of the rest of the world. Look where listening to Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfield, William Kristol, Richard Pearl, Paul Wolfowitz, the Christian Right and others have brought the nation within the past 6 years alone.
There are a lot of dead bodies in their wake whose deaths need to be atoned for in America. And their deaths are a direct result of the desires of Republicans who want to destroy Iraq and control the world. This latest plan has been under construction for about 30 years now. Well, they finally did it given the unqualified leadership of #43. And look what harm they have done and are still doing in Iraq, to America and the world!
Rev. C. Solomon
Peace & Grace
May 1, 2007
And Still We Are Not Saved
According to Mr. Tenant, persona non grata, who spoke on MSNBC and elsewhere over the weekend, terrorism never left America; there have simply not been any major terrorist successes since 9/11 in America. Should that give us comfort?
Based upon George Tenant's explanation(s), there are terrorists and terrorist cells operating in the U.S.A. right now (he would not elucidate as to how many there were). He went on to say that numerous terrorist plots in the U.S.A. have either been averted, or simply not carried out yet-- many would be terrorists are being monitored.
So is it the war in Iraq that quelled the violence, or good FBI/police work or terrorist timing, that has halted terrorism in the USA over the past 5 years? There is little evidence to suggest that anything that Bush has done, given his unjust war on Iraq, has done anything to stop terrorism in the U.S.A.
#43's smokescreen used to inveigle the American people into believeing that there have not been any terrorist attacks on America's shores as a result of the war in Iraq is a ruse. Bush has America and Americans looking the other way, given his sleight of hand. Just consider, for example, the length of time in between the first attack on the WTC and the 9/11 attack. The major attacks come on an incremental basis, at times with a decade in between. The primary organized attackers appear to be extremely patient.
So do body counts in Iraq, a country that had not bothered us, matter? No, because there are new people and replacements being born every day who will fill up the ranks. And the problem that we experienced on 9/11 and before, arguably did not come from Iraq in the first place. #43's incompetence kind of reminds me of D-Day when the paratroopers were scattered 60-90 miles away from the fight.
Poor #43 has wasted time, lives and money fighting an unjust war in another theater, while the momentum, strength and might to attack America is being planned, I believe, elsewhere. If Bush were to have killed every camel, man, woman, boy and girl in Iraq and completely destroyed Iraq's military infrastructure, it would not stop future terrorist attempts or attacks, of the kind, that are still going on in America and have been going on throughout the Iraqi war and before. We should at least give credit to where credit is due, the FBI and American law enforcement with help from the CIA if anybody, has prevented terrorism in the U.S.A. over the past 5 years. Er herm, John Kerry was right!
My own 'country tis of thee', has not stopped its own tyrannical and terrorist practices against other nations, the church is even willing to look the other way when it comes to American mispractices. America wants its perceived enemies to change their behavior, however, America refuses to change its behavior. We have got to eliminate American terrorism as well as American hegemony and double-standards around the world before the world is going to consider making any changes. In the meantime, America cannot kill everybody, or can it?
The harvest is truly past, the summer is ended, #43's war is still going on, and we are still not saved, and possibly a half-million lives have been ruined or lost since Bush began his war on Iraq, not terror. If he truly made it his goal to stop the war on terror, he would begin right here in the United States. Will the people of God ever awake from their slumber and help to stop this madness, and the spirit of murder? How many Christians will remember to pray and ask God to stop Bush during this week's national prayer convocation?
Peace & Grace,
The Rev
P.S. Today Bush vetoed the bill that was passed by Congress which would have permitted him to continue 'his war', with funding, arguably for another year. However he clearly wants to continue his illegal occupation into perpetuity or at least until January 2009 when praise God he will be out of office.
Based upon George Tenant's explanation(s), there are terrorists and terrorist cells operating in the U.S.A. right now (he would not elucidate as to how many there were). He went on to say that numerous terrorist plots in the U.S.A. have either been averted, or simply not carried out yet-- many would be terrorists are being monitored.
So is it the war in Iraq that quelled the violence, or good FBI/police work or terrorist timing, that has halted terrorism in the USA over the past 5 years? There is little evidence to suggest that anything that Bush has done, given his unjust war on Iraq, has done anything to stop terrorism in the U.S.A.
#43's smokescreen used to inveigle the American people into believeing that there have not been any terrorist attacks on America's shores as a result of the war in Iraq is a ruse. Bush has America and Americans looking the other way, given his sleight of hand. Just consider, for example, the length of time in between the first attack on the WTC and the 9/11 attack. The major attacks come on an incremental basis, at times with a decade in between. The primary organized attackers appear to be extremely patient.
So do body counts in Iraq, a country that had not bothered us, matter? No, because there are new people and replacements being born every day who will fill up the ranks. And the problem that we experienced on 9/11 and before, arguably did not come from Iraq in the first place. #43's incompetence kind of reminds me of D-Day when the paratroopers were scattered 60-90 miles away from the fight.
Poor #43 has wasted time, lives and money fighting an unjust war in another theater, while the momentum, strength and might to attack America is being planned, I believe, elsewhere. If Bush were to have killed every camel, man, woman, boy and girl in Iraq and completely destroyed Iraq's military infrastructure, it would not stop future terrorist attempts or attacks, of the kind, that are still going on in America and have been going on throughout the Iraqi war and before. We should at least give credit to where credit is due, the FBI and American law enforcement with help from the CIA if anybody, has prevented terrorism in the U.S.A. over the past 5 years. Er herm, John Kerry was right!
My own 'country tis of thee', has not stopped its own tyrannical and terrorist practices against other nations, the church is even willing to look the other way when it comes to American mispractices. America wants its perceived enemies to change their behavior, however, America refuses to change its behavior. We have got to eliminate American terrorism as well as American hegemony and double-standards around the world before the world is going to consider making any changes. In the meantime, America cannot kill everybody, or can it?
The harvest is truly past, the summer is ended, #43's war is still going on, and we are still not saved, and possibly a half-million lives have been ruined or lost since Bush began his war on Iraq, not terror. If he truly made it his goal to stop the war on terror, he would begin right here in the United States. Will the people of God ever awake from their slumber and help to stop this madness, and the spirit of murder? How many Christians will remember to pray and ask God to stop Bush during this week's national prayer convocation?
Peace & Grace,
The Rev
P.S. Today Bush vetoed the bill that was passed by Congress which would have permitted him to continue 'his war', with funding, arguably for another year. However he clearly wants to continue his illegal occupation into perpetuity or at least until January 2009 when praise God he will be out of office.
Apr 25, 2007
Failure of Proposed American Policy Solutions: Regarding Iraq
The problem with most every scenario that has been presented so far from the west...!
Each scenario has been designed in one way or another to satisfy a narrowly constructed western-centric world viewpoint, that includes America's vision for Iraq and the M-E.
- Each solution proposes or implies that the U.S.A., even if it removes the majority of its troops from Iraq, will ultimately be telling Iraq and other M-E nations what they can and cannot do. The latter includes no future construction of WMDs.
- Westerners are incapable of of postulating a viable solution for Iraq that does not take into consideration the needs of the west more than that of the Iraqi people and other Middle Easterners.
America (the current Administration) insists on its vision wherein America dictates and controls the destiny of Iraq and the M-E in one way or another, even if it means murdering every man, woman, boy or child in order to accomplish its nefarious objectives. It is America's latest form of slavery with one caveat, the slaves get to remain in their indigenous homelands this time around.
In the short-run, some of the proposed strategies may make it possible for the U.S.A. to cut and run from Iraq, even #43's strategy, and permit America to save face. However, and in the long run, Iraq will require a long-term viable solution designed to meet the needs of the Iraqi people and its neighbors. The latter will include the security of the Iraqi people and protecting Iraqis, in particular, from whimsical interventionist aggressor nations like the United States of America.
The West will not help Iraq for sure in that regard; for any such consideration in that regard would be in contradiction to the unofficial American policy of world-wide hegemony and interventionism. The U.S.A. would stop any western nation that would attempt to help Iraq to seek true autonomy.
Solution:
- Admit that we were wrong for invading Iraq in the first place.
- Leave Iraq and turn Iraq over to God and the Iraqi people, allowing the Arab league, the United Nations or other entities to step in and help the country get back on track; and yes, allowing the chips to fall where they might fall.
- Do something that we did not do post-Vietnam, learn our lesson!
And what is keeping us from permitting Iraq to find its own way? Answer: Those white supremacist Americans (not all whites) who would have to forfeit their perceived god-given right to have their way in Iraq and the middle east, (if not the rest of the world) and to dominate!
It's really that simple, the Americanos should get out of Iraq and begin paying reparations, and as an act of penance, we should give them, gratis, a few of our many WMDs!
Peace & grace
The Rev
P.S. "Truth forever on the scaffold, and wrong forever on the throne...". Folks, we must do something in order to prevent the world from being subjected any further to what it is being exposed to now, a mad man American President who purports to be a Christian, who is wreaking havoc on our fellow human beings in the middle-east under the cover of the American Christian church!
Apr 24, 2007
The Contretemps of Don Imus: All Of Us Make Mistakes
I say, bring back Don Imus.
According to the definition of contretemps (an embarrassing incident, mishap; minor dispute or small disagreement), Imus is guilty.
However, how many of us have not made a similar mistake at one time or another? Here is just one of my mine. There was a comedian named Rip Taylor who told a religious joke a long time ago that I happened to repeat in a non-religious setting.
In the form of a question, Rip asked, what do you call a nun that has had a sex-change operation? Answer: A tran[sister]. I broke out into laughter, but many of the catholics who up until then liked me who happened to be in the audience, did not laugh. In fact one sweet catholic septuagenarian chastised me in a loving way and said, 'you should not do that'.
My laughter at the joke that I had just repeated turned to chagrin and embarassment. I thought, aren't we overreacting a bit? Then I reconsidered, well, the joke was offensive to some in the audience. And just like I have been offended by stories and jokes in the past myself that were in poor taste, I should have known better.
Should Imus have been fired? In this black minister's opinion, of course not. If that were the case practically everyone that I have ever worked with including myself should have been fired at one time or another, for we have all done or said something that we wish that we could take back.
I like what Paul wrote in his letter to the church at Galatia. He said, 'Brethern, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual should go to him, in the spirit of meekness, considering thyself..., and restore him'.
Not just because I was a listener to the Imus broadcast, which at times, portions of the show could be over the top, but because I believe that Imus is truly a man of character. He made a mistake and he truly regretted it. And what does the scripture say about righteous people falling down? As I read it, each they will get back up after they have taken a fall.
To my brothers in the gospel, Rev. Al and Jessee, who I have been in your presence and worked with on many occasions before, do not step on a man and hold him down when he is trying to get back up.
Why? For we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory at one time or another. Did Imus sin? No, rather his jocularity went too far this time, even though in his heart he meant zero harm. He was simply using expressions and acting in a manner that others before him had done.
Peace & Grace
The Rev
According to the definition of contretemps (an embarrassing incident, mishap; minor dispute or small disagreement), Imus is guilty.
However, how many of us have not made a similar mistake at one time or another? Here is just one of my mine. There was a comedian named Rip Taylor who told a religious joke a long time ago that I happened to repeat in a non-religious setting.
In the form of a question, Rip asked, what do you call a nun that has had a sex-change operation? Answer: A tran[sister]. I broke out into laughter, but many of the catholics who up until then liked me who happened to be in the audience, did not laugh. In fact one sweet catholic septuagenarian chastised me in a loving way and said, 'you should not do that'.
My laughter at the joke that I had just repeated turned to chagrin and embarassment. I thought, aren't we overreacting a bit? Then I reconsidered, well, the joke was offensive to some in the audience. And just like I have been offended by stories and jokes in the past myself that were in poor taste, I should have known better.
Should Imus have been fired? In this black minister's opinion, of course not. If that were the case practically everyone that I have ever worked with including myself should have been fired at one time or another, for we have all done or said something that we wish that we could take back.
I like what Paul wrote in his letter to the church at Galatia. He said, 'Brethern, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual should go to him, in the spirit of meekness, considering thyself..., and restore him'.
Not just because I was a listener to the Imus broadcast, which at times, portions of the show could be over the top, but because I believe that Imus is truly a man of character. He made a mistake and he truly regretted it. And what does the scripture say about righteous people falling down? As I read it, each they will get back up after they have taken a fall.
To my brothers in the gospel, Rev. Al and Jessee, who I have been in your presence and worked with on many occasions before, do not step on a man and hold him down when he is trying to get back up.
Why? For we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory at one time or another. Did Imus sin? No, rather his jocularity went too far this time, even though in his heart he meant zero harm. He was simply using expressions and acting in a manner that others before him had done.
Peace & Grace
The Rev
Feb 9, 2007
THEY CALL US LEFTISTs': However We Are On God's RIGHT!
I call them Bushtanistas (For they have not only overthrown the Iraqi (Bathist Government) they are attempting to overthrow America’s form of governance, and every other system of governance in the world that does not go along with their world-view and their vision for the world)!
1). When growing up, each of us, at one time or another experienced a kid or group of kids (bully or bullies) who would manipulate, belittle, intimidate, threaten or beat you up if you failed to go along and give in to whatever they wanted at the time.
And for a myriad of reasons, not wanting to be left out, a need for connection, not having the power or numbers to resist, for convenience’s sake or out of fear, some kids would simply give in to the overwhelming power (perceived or real ) of the bully, bully gang or mob.
2). The bully, the bullying child and his gang that has been terrorizing American citizens, America;s allies and the rest of the world for the past 7 or 8 years, are groups that comprise the Republican Party; and they have been and are still being led by none other than the nascent child-President of the United States of America (Spanky). For the past 7 or 8 years, even before assuming the office of President, George Bush and his group have employed all of the uncivilized tactics of childhood bully and bully gangs in order to steamroll the opposition in America and abroad.
3). During this renewed period of McCarthyism, George Bush and his mob have insisted over and over that every American and America’s allies must go along with the inane and insane schemes that they often come up with, otherwise they will be humiliated, ostracized, singled out or subjected to character assassination. America and many of America’s allies who have failed to get on board, like those who have experienced a bully or bullies during their childhood experience, have been threatened, subjected to name calling and manipulation, excised from the group, made to feel less than an American or a friend of America; and in short treated just like America’s so-called enemies, the terrorists, Iraq, Iran and DPRK!
Opposing opinions simply do not matter to the Bushtanistas, and whether you agree or disagree, or find what they are saying or doing as unconscionable or uncivilized, your ideas, feelings and conclusions simply do not matter to the Bushtanistas.
4). As far as they are concerned you should divorce yourself from principled thought, reason, spirituality or conscience, and simply go along and join the mob. We all have been taught that at the heart of the bully lies a heart of fear!
5). These people, Bush and the Bushtanistas, need to get in touch with their own inner child; for it is driving them, and in turn destroying our nation and the world! Who would put their households in charge of children and expect a different outcome. Hopefully someday the Bushtanistas will grow up and emerge from pre-pubescence, and come to understand their unconscious drives and motivations, apparently fear, narcissism and the fear of the loss of control (I am not safe unless I can control ‘my’ environment-the world)!
6). The rest of us are neither leftists, liberals, anti-war, nor cowards as it has been intimated, by our bullying lynch mob counterparts. And we will not be manipulated into making unwise choices or going along with the war crowd, in spite of their attempts to punish us if we do not. It is time to bring an end to Mob-Rule in America, and to put down the Bush-led Bustanista uprising, or even when Iraq is over they will still be here causing trouble.
7). Are we anti-war? No, but we are anti-lynch mob! And what Bush and his mob have been doing in this country and the world for 7 or 8 years, and in Iraq for the past 4 years are simply acting out in the manner of a childhood bully-lynch-mob-gang of raiders!
8). For bullies gain their strength through intimidation and the use of overwhelming force or power. That is by and large what is going on in Iraq; the USA bullies are destroying a once sovereign nation by employing overwhelming and unrelenting force. The only ‘just war’ to be fought in Iraq, would be for the Iraqis to fight back against a childish bully nation, led by George Bush, that has invaded their land with such force. And it is for the rest of Americans, to stop Bush and the dupes and the troops, from furthering this bullying crusade. The scriptures teach us, THAT THE STRONG OUGHT TO BEAR THE INFIRMITIES OF THE WEAK!
And isn’t it ironic, and as is often customary (after all of the intimidation and degradation of Iraq over the past 4 years), the bully is still not winning!
In conclusion: There are a group of Americans who call themselves, The Right. Unless they are tracing their origins back to France, or in particular to the fascist Right in the British Parliament of the past century, they are deluded. They have been wrong for the past 7-years with regard to the fiasco and genocide in Iraq and the rights of all Americans, our allies and the world. Let us pray for our nation and many of our religious leaders, for many of them are not a part of the resistance that is standing up for right - they are part of the problem and wreaking havoc, outside of the word of God, on the whole world!
Peace & Grace
The anti-unjust war Reverend C. Solomon
1). When growing up, each of us, at one time or another experienced a kid or group of kids (bully or bullies) who would manipulate, belittle, intimidate, threaten or beat you up if you failed to go along and give in to whatever they wanted at the time.
And for a myriad of reasons, not wanting to be left out, a need for connection, not having the power or numbers to resist, for convenience’s sake or out of fear, some kids would simply give in to the overwhelming power (perceived or real ) of the bully, bully gang or mob.
2). The bully, the bullying child and his gang that has been terrorizing American citizens, America;s allies and the rest of the world for the past 7 or 8 years, are groups that comprise the Republican Party; and they have been and are still being led by none other than the nascent child-President of the United States of America (Spanky). For the past 7 or 8 years, even before assuming the office of President, George Bush and his group have employed all of the uncivilized tactics of childhood bully and bully gangs in order to steamroll the opposition in America and abroad.
3). During this renewed period of McCarthyism, George Bush and his mob have insisted over and over that every American and America’s allies must go along with the inane and insane schemes that they often come up with, otherwise they will be humiliated, ostracized, singled out or subjected to character assassination. America and many of America’s allies who have failed to get on board, like those who have experienced a bully or bullies during their childhood experience, have been threatened, subjected to name calling and manipulation, excised from the group, made to feel less than an American or a friend of America; and in short treated just like America’s so-called enemies, the terrorists, Iraq, Iran and DPRK!
Opposing opinions simply do not matter to the Bushtanistas, and whether you agree or disagree, or find what they are saying or doing as unconscionable or uncivilized, your ideas, feelings and conclusions simply do not matter to the Bushtanistas.
4). As far as they are concerned you should divorce yourself from principled thought, reason, spirituality or conscience, and simply go along and join the mob. We all have been taught that at the heart of the bully lies a heart of fear!
5). These people, Bush and the Bushtanistas, need to get in touch with their own inner child; for it is driving them, and in turn destroying our nation and the world! Who would put their households in charge of children and expect a different outcome. Hopefully someday the Bushtanistas will grow up and emerge from pre-pubescence, and come to understand their unconscious drives and motivations, apparently fear, narcissism and the fear of the loss of control (I am not safe unless I can control ‘my’ environment-the world)!
6). The rest of us are neither leftists, liberals, anti-war, nor cowards as it has been intimated, by our bullying lynch mob counterparts. And we will not be manipulated into making unwise choices or going along with the war crowd, in spite of their attempts to punish us if we do not. It is time to bring an end to Mob-Rule in America, and to put down the Bush-led Bustanista uprising, or even when Iraq is over they will still be here causing trouble.
7). Are we anti-war? No, but we are anti-lynch mob! And what Bush and his mob have been doing in this country and the world for 7 or 8 years, and in Iraq for the past 4 years are simply acting out in the manner of a childhood bully-lynch-mob-gang of raiders!
8). For bullies gain their strength through intimidation and the use of overwhelming force or power. That is by and large what is going on in Iraq; the USA bullies are destroying a once sovereign nation by employing overwhelming and unrelenting force. The only ‘just war’ to be fought in Iraq, would be for the Iraqis to fight back against a childish bully nation, led by George Bush, that has invaded their land with such force. And it is for the rest of Americans, to stop Bush and the dupes and the troops, from furthering this bullying crusade. The scriptures teach us, THAT THE STRONG OUGHT TO BEAR THE INFIRMITIES OF THE WEAK!
And isn’t it ironic, and as is often customary (after all of the intimidation and degradation of Iraq over the past 4 years), the bully is still not winning!
In conclusion: There are a group of Americans who call themselves, The Right. Unless they are tracing their origins back to France, or in particular to the fascist Right in the British Parliament of the past century, they are deluded. They have been wrong for the past 7-years with regard to the fiasco and genocide in Iraq and the rights of all Americans, our allies and the world. Let us pray for our nation and many of our religious leaders, for many of them are not a part of the resistance that is standing up for right - they are part of the problem and wreaking havoc, outside of the word of God, on the whole world!
Peace & Grace
The anti-unjust war Reverend C. Solomon
Feb 2, 2007
Bush, The Troops and the Press
If it wasn't for the Press, Americans would never have known the truth about what was going on in Iraq and how the troops were being misused, given the Bush cover-up (which Bush has only of late admitted to).
1). One should never cast aside writers, poets, artisans, historians and the dialectic with regard to wars and revolutions. Go back and check your history, and read about their inestimable and infinitesimal contributions, given the role that they play during times of war and revolution.
2). Is it any wonder that the framers protected the right of the Press and free speech in Article I, Amendment to the Constitution?
3). Even in the current conflict in Iraq, the consensus in the world is that a political solution will be required in order to resolve this matter, and not a military one. The world knows that the problem would have never existed at all, if Bush had not rushed the United Nations inspectors out, and the American military in. And world is speaking out, even America's allies!
Have you noticed that the majority of the so-called 'Coalition of the Willing' have pulled out of Iraq? Great Britain will soon be following suit. George Bush even destroyed what have been Tony Blair's positive legacy in Great Britain.
4). Bush has been a one-man, with the aid of the Republican Party, wrecking ball. Many in the Republican Party have been running away from him (Buckley, Will, Coulter, Pearle, Powell, Hagel, Warner...), shall I go on.
The poor soldiers (trapped-have no choice) are the last one's standing to fight for a fabricated, evily conceived and false policy; the President should be impeached for that alone.
All the troops have is what is left of Congress, the Press and the American people to stand up for them and get them out of the midst of a debacle that served a few men and their political Party!
5). Besides, the President loves to use the Press, that is, when he and his office can use it to his advantage and leak information in order to sway, confuse or further divide the American people and the troops, and to out CIA agents. The Vice President cynically bragged about his ownership of the Press, particularly, the Meet the Press show!
6). America is in the midst of a 'cultural revolution', thanks to George Bush and the Republican Party. It is the 'killer-conservatives' v. American civility and those who support civility and the rule of Law!
Part II
What was the Bush strategy in the 2003? Bush reasoned that all he had to do was throw the troops into a fray as quickly as possible (in spite of all of his fabrications), and the American people would have no choice but to get on board and support his furtive and inane policies, given that he had the troops in harm's way.
Clearly Mr. Bush did not have a lot of respect for the troops or the American people; he apparently saw the 'troops' as 'dupes'. But the American people who were initially duped, did not stay that way, they eventually saw the light and joined the rest of (Liberal) America!
If the troops should be upset with anyone, they ought to be upset with the person who used them to pursue his political ends, without regard for their safety. Now that all of the evidence is in, there is no doubt that Bush threw the troops, unjustifiably, into harm's way! Impeachable offence?
The American people are not 'dopes', and we chose not to be duped. We are going to bring Bush and the resistance (killer-cons) under control, and eventually get the courageous troops (who have been used as dupes) out of harm's way; just as every other right-thinking nations have done and are in the process of doing; Great Britain's troops are pulling out of Iraq!
Peace & Grace
The Rev
Addenda:
Germany has issued arrest warrants for American CIA agents, because America won't even respect the borders and sovereignty of its allies. And some Christian Americans still believe that God has something to with the carnal American fiasco in Iraq.
Does God believe in espionage? I remind you that albeit the Children of Israel sent men to view the new land that was promised to them, they brought back a bad report. We are receiving a very bad report about America from around the world today!
1). One should never cast aside writers, poets, artisans, historians and the dialectic with regard to wars and revolutions. Go back and check your history, and read about their inestimable and infinitesimal contributions, given the role that they play during times of war and revolution.
2). Is it any wonder that the framers protected the right of the Press and free speech in Article I, Amendment to the Constitution?
3). Even in the current conflict in Iraq, the consensus in the world is that a political solution will be required in order to resolve this matter, and not a military one. The world knows that the problem would have never existed at all, if Bush had not rushed the United Nations inspectors out, and the American military in. And world is speaking out, even America's allies!
Have you noticed that the majority of the so-called 'Coalition of the Willing' have pulled out of Iraq? Great Britain will soon be following suit. George Bush even destroyed what have been Tony Blair's positive legacy in Great Britain.
4). Bush has been a one-man, with the aid of the Republican Party, wrecking ball. Many in the Republican Party have been running away from him (Buckley, Will, Coulter, Pearle, Powell, Hagel, Warner...), shall I go on.
The poor soldiers (trapped-have no choice) are the last one's standing to fight for a fabricated, evily conceived and false policy; the President should be impeached for that alone.
All the troops have is what is left of Congress, the Press and the American people to stand up for them and get them out of the midst of a debacle that served a few men and their political Party!
5). Besides, the President loves to use the Press, that is, when he and his office can use it to his advantage and leak information in order to sway, confuse or further divide the American people and the troops, and to out CIA agents. The Vice President cynically bragged about his ownership of the Press, particularly, the Meet the Press show!
6). America is in the midst of a 'cultural revolution', thanks to George Bush and the Republican Party. It is the 'killer-conservatives' v. American civility and those who support civility and the rule of Law!
Part II
What was the Bush strategy in the 2003? Bush reasoned that all he had to do was throw the troops into a fray as quickly as possible (in spite of all of his fabrications), and the American people would have no choice but to get on board and support his furtive and inane policies, given that he had the troops in harm's way.
Clearly Mr. Bush did not have a lot of respect for the troops or the American people; he apparently saw the 'troops' as 'dupes'. But the American people who were initially duped, did not stay that way, they eventually saw the light and joined the rest of (Liberal) America!
If the troops should be upset with anyone, they ought to be upset with the person who used them to pursue his political ends, without regard for their safety. Now that all of the evidence is in, there is no doubt that Bush threw the troops, unjustifiably, into harm's way! Impeachable offence?
The American people are not 'dopes', and we chose not to be duped. We are going to bring Bush and the resistance (killer-cons) under control, and eventually get the courageous troops (who have been used as dupes) out of harm's way; just as every other right-thinking nations have done and are in the process of doing; Great Britain's troops are pulling out of Iraq!
Peace & Grace
The Rev
Addenda:
Germany has issued arrest warrants for American CIA agents, because America won't even respect the borders and sovereignty of its allies. And some Christian Americans still believe that God has something to with the carnal American fiasco in Iraq.
Does God believe in espionage? I remind you that albeit the Children of Israel sent men to view the new land that was promised to them, they brought back a bad report. We are receiving a very bad report about America from around the world today!
Jan 29, 2007
The State of the Union of the American Christian State Church [Part 2]
One could wonder lately whether or not the church in America is shaping the American culture, or whether the church is being shaped by the American culture?
I am reminded of the scriptural injunction that we are to come out from among them and be separate! Instead, it would appear that the church in America that is so obsessed with numbers, and head-count, has invited ‘them’, to come in and be, unconditionally, a part of the church family.
Adding new members, increasing the tithing roles, deciding whether or not to ordain same-sex individuals into the ministry and tearing down the old barn (sanctuary) in hopes of building larger ones, has resulted in an incredible altering of what one would have once considered to be the orthodox teachings and rules of the church.
Bishop Jakes of the Potter’s House ministries and his team define the church as ‘a business’. Americans, it would appear, have co-opted what was once a body of baptized believers in Christ, ‘a spiritual organism’, and turned it instead into a carnal money-making, networking, media-driven, get rich quick religio-secular organization. And sadly many individuals are joining the church today, and some are becoming ministers in order to get their share or slice of the money pie.
Have you visited one of today’s vanilla churches lately? In these come as you are, dress as you wish, high-fiv'ng, jive talking, wave your hands in the air like you don’t care ministries, everyone is saved. All you have to do is repeat the Apostle’s Creed generally given by one of the ministers at the conclusion of the service, and you have suddenly been added to the body of Christ; I personally, don’t buy it.
I suspect that after all of the singing, dancing and waving of the arms is over on Sunday morning, many in the audience return to the lifestyle that they are accustomed to. And afterwards the jet set minister also returns to his luxurious retreat to enjoy the lifestyle that he has of late become accustomed to; that of the rich and famous! Jesus, if he were here in person, might shock some of the latter by telling them to go and sell some of their riches and give to the poor! The same leaders would probably ask Jesus whether he was a bleeding heart liberal or something. Certainly our ministers in America today, do not have the heart of Jesus Christ, a Zachaeus or a Mother Teresa!
What happened? Today, America’s mainstream denominations are jumping on the bandwagon. More traditional and mainstream churches and organizations are updating their rules and relaxing their styles of worship and copying the style of the charismatic's, in order to bolster their floundering memberships. Formerly conservative denominations are behaving more like the Pentecostals and charismatic denominations that they once disdained. A Baptist member of a Maryland growing mega congregation tried to reach the members of the church over the internet, he reported to them that the pastor and the Board had surreptitiously turned their once Baptist church into a Pentecostal church. Who cared though given that the membership had grown, and as a result of emulating the Pentecostal's, the church was about to build a new $25M facility in Mitchellville Maryland?
Bishop Eddie Long and other Baptist churches have followed a similar pattern in order to experience rapid church growth. Is it an endorsement that the Pentecostal way is the right way, or will some pastors do anything in order to grow their churches? I was invited to do the same thing with my non-denominational/trans-denominational congregation some years ago. Come on I was told, down in Texas there is a minister, Morris Cerillo, who had a plan for church growth. My friend, a former professional football player now pastor was stunned that I was not interested. I reminded him that God said that he would add unto the church such as would be saved. My concern is and has been that many pastors have abandoned scriptural principles; they are adding to the church in some instances 'tares and not wheat', given their desires to expand their memberships and to grow the tithe roles in the churches that they pastor.
I heard one pastor of a large mega in my home state boast that he knew that many in his congregation were not saved. He said, "we use them to get their money in order to help pay for the church", eek!
America is believed to have about 1500 religious denominations and more than three hundred thousand congregations. One would wonder, with all of the people in America that claim to be Christian and believers in God, why is the country so full of wickedness, debauchery and crime? Is becoming more charismatic the answer? Is giving everyone the since that they are saved because they behave in the manner that charismatic’s behave in, the answer? Is having a form of Godliness more important than being converted? Why is the church today in America so full of sexual immorality, crime, malfeasance and extortion? Has the church in America like Israel (60% secular today), simply gone about to establish its own righteousness, and in turn replaced the righteousness of God with its own form of righteousness?
I. A Bit of History
When the ‘English colonists’, departed from the shores of England to come to the New World, they did so not only to pursue economic opportunity in the New World, many left England with the hope of freeing themselves from the grips of the state controlled-Church of England; at the time the King was both the head of the State as well as the head of the Anglican Church. It was the desire of many of the pilgrims to live in a place where they would be free from religious oppression and to worship independent from the mandates of the Anglican-church. To the early believers, Christ was the ‘head of the church’, and the minister was Christ’s representative on earth, not the King of England.
The New World, as it was referred to at the time, provided the early pioneers with an opportunity and a place to freely practice their religions beliefs. And once established, the American Constitution (Article I) guaranteed that the State would not make any laws concerning religion. Therefore churches were free to organize, to incorporate, to choose their leaders and to practice and spread their faiths as they elected to do. And given their newly found freedom in the New World, various forms of mostly Christian dominations (1500 today) sprang up all over the nation; the majority were mostly Catholic or Christian protestant.
II. And Where Has That Religious Freedom Taken Us To Today?
A quasi church-state relationship has existed since the first church was established in America. At times the marriage between church and state was rocky, and at times the two worked together smoothly. A closer state-church bond has been reinvigorated given the presidencies of Ronald Reagan and George Bush. Some churches believe, it would seem, that in order to accomplish God’s purposes on earth that they must join hand in hand with the state, and use America’s political and military machine in order to accomplish God’s objectives. I believe that this is apostasy. Jesus was aware that he could have commanded legions of 'warring angels' to appear and conquer at any time; however, this was not how God intended to accomplish his purposes on earth.
Some church leaders have convinced several American Presidents of late, and many in their congregations that it is the will of God to accomplish his purposes by employing the carnal methods of the government of the United States of America. I am reminded that the weapons of the believer and God are not carnal weapons; instead our weapons are mighty in God to the tearing down of strongholds. Many in these mostly Evangelical Churches are encouraging outright military destruction of America's enemies; they believe that America's enemies are God's enemies. What happened to, you will not have to fight in this battle for the battle is the Lord's; and to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. Today's Christian is an advocate for what he or is she is being taught are 'just wars'. And today's Christian is being taught to believe in 'just war theory', as opposed to what they had been taught in scripture.
The story of the Children of Israel marching around the fortified walls of Jericho comes to mind; they did not bring down those fortified walls by incorporating worldly methods, weapons or armaments. Pat Robertson, television evangelist and minister, who encouraged the murder of the Head-of-State in Venezuela, President Hugo Chavez, forgot that Jesus reminded Peter to place his sword back in his sheath. Peter, being as zealous as Pat apparently is today, forgot all about the ways of the Lord, in a desire to accomplish his purposes for God. Are Christians told to fight in scripture? Yes, but Christians are not taught to fight in the manner that the world fights in.
Christians are taught to put on the whole armor of God, and to employ the weapons that God has provided for us! The Spirit of error, surely has taken over Pat Robertson, and many other American pastors, preachers and protestant religious-acolytes. And frightenly enough, aside from their church pulpits, many of them use the airways, and have built colleges from which they can propagate this spirit of error. Isn't it sad that some of these larger entities have emptied out the smaller churches, where people were being taught the Gospel?
In America, anyone can start a church. And by following a few simple rules, one can have his church organization fully recognized by the State, and receive tax exemption status. And since the Constitution guarantees that the Government will not make any laws concerning the church, churches are pretty much left to their own devices.
The American Free Church of today has mutated into something that we would not be recognizable by our New Testament forefathers. And I suspect that its behavior would not be endorsed by Jesus Christ. The American Free Church of today, to include all of its churches, denominations and organizations, has mutated into something that is completely unknown in the annals of the history of the Christian church, the Church at Corinth and others (See Revelations chapters 2 and 3) not withstanding.
III. Given the Current Crisis and the State of the American Church
As I said in my introduction, one would have to wonder lately whether or not the church is shaping the culture, or whether the church is being shaped by the culture and the state? And I am reminded of the scriptural injunction, that we are to come out from among them!
What is truly sad, given this current crisis; among Evangelicals/Pentecostals/Charismatics, is that there is an ongoing and deceptive explosion of church growth taking place. And why are people suddenly coming into these churches in such vast numbers? Are the blind pied-piper leaders of today leading the blind, who are following them into the mercurial ditch? It is not uncommon to find churches with memberships of 10,000 or more in America. (And politicians who are aware of their numbers have exploited this political feeding ground).
Is America in fact suddenly coming to Jesus? Or, are Americans suddenly being drawn to religious-lite American-style churches because of the watered down and accommodating teachings at these churches, or for political reasons or to use the church in order to get rich themselves? The enterprise networking matrix in some of these church establishments is formidable and very substantial. I will get into this more in the future. But I caution you that crowds, ten-thousand and more at a time, followed Jesus initially. However, the same crowds splintered, some shrank and others disappeared as Jesus fed them the sincere milk of the word. Many in the crowd, like those in crowds today, were not there for the right reason, but Jesus knew that. He knew those who were his!
Today’s American Capitalist (show me the money) Mega-Churches and the smaller ones are actively pursuing the get-rich quick growth philosophy. Regrettably, by following this syndrome, it would appear that they have taken a departure from the teachings of Jesus Christ. Instead the Spirit of Simon the Sorcerer seems to have taken them over, and the new get rich American political minister of today has 'bewitched' the followers. All that these groups seem to want is to be sold the power, so that whoever they come in contact with and lay hands on, will become bewitched and in turn follow them.
They in effect, detour people away from Christ, and in the end, the ministers and churches are the one's who will benefit financially, as they shear the new misguided lambs, goats and wolves who they bring in under the wrong pretenses. Christ envisioned a ‘serving church', an extension of himself, a body of baptized believers in Jesus Christ, a spiritual organism, not a meretricious business organization. The Church, the body of Christ, is to be like him, ‘the Suffering Servant; and not an extension of the State, or the American military/consumer culture.
More and more the capitalist principles of the state have been brought into the church. And like the idols of the Old Testament that were at times sat right up in the house of God, today’s Christian churches have brought the ‘state and cultural idol’ and sat it up in church alongside the cross of Jesus Christ. This new movement, ‘The American Idol church, is championed of late by leaders like Dr. Hagee and Dr. Kennedy, Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell and others. And I often meet many of their zealous and outspoken followers who lack both the knowledge of Christ, and the spirit of Jesus Christ. Instead, they have taken on the spirits of their leaders.
Much of what the church leaders of today are teaching their congregations, has been garnered as much from the state’s founding documents and principles as they are far from the Bible. Many of today's clergy skillfully meld the two together. Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council has been instrumental in this endeavor to bring the teachings of the state into the church. Many churches in America today have two holy writs, the Bible and the American Constitution. And for many Americans, the two are inseparable. And when the two find themselves at odds, the word of the State tends to prevail.
Today’s church in my estimation has coalesced with the state to the extent that one could easily identify the American Church as the American ‘Christian State Church’ at least that seems to be where many congregations and religious organizations are headed. What happened to our citizenship is in heaven? And are we no longer of the Congregation of the First Born in Heaven?
The Christian church in America has taken on a remarkably American flavor in terms of its belief system, and the Christian American church has without a doubt, become more politically aligned with the secular American polity, particularly those in the Republican Party. It is not uncommon (and many have experienced it) to come to church on Sunday and find a politician seated in the rostrum. He or she will be given 10 to 15 minutes, in congregations across the land, to bring his or her political message to the congregation. Instead of a sermon, many churchgoers are subjected to a political speech. And when it is not a guest doing it, some preachers will give the political sermon themselves, Pastor Rod Parsley comes to mind.
Again I ask, why are people coming into the church in droves? Is it because they have been drawn and convicted by the word of God, or have they found the religious-lite political churches of today to be more accommodating? Is it because the church has become just another secular organization where one can practice their politics along with a group who shares a common set of beliefs? I suspect that it is all of the latter. The Apostle Paul, finding believers at Ephesus (in present day Turkey), enquired of the disciples there, ‘did you receive the Holy Ghost when you believed? Along with today's vast influx, the church has filled up with all kinds of immorality and debauchery to include rapes, molestations, pedophilia, homosexuality and licentiousness!
This is significant. Let’s just assume that all of these who are in the church today are believers, given that they repeated the Apostle’s creed, at least at that moment they believed. However, is that all that it takes, or is it as the Apostle Paul once wrote, "that if any man does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his"? My point, you can say that you are a believer and I will not deny that you believe what you have heard. However, the real question is do you have the Spirit of Christ, and if not, you still have been converted yet?
I would argue that many of today’s new crop of believers still have never received the spirit of Christ, or experienced the transforming work of the Holy Spirit since, or when they believed. Many simply came into a church, sang and waived their hands in the air as they were instructed to do, they repeated the creed, were accepted into the congregation after consultation in one of the churches' adjacent side rooms, then they joined a life-group, believing that somehow all of these works (as they were being taught), have somehow saved them.
Can Reverend Pat Robertson truly say that he has the spirit of Christ, when he harbors the spirit of murder in his heart? The scriptures teach us that the heart is a harbinger of many things including murder, and Pat has that in his heart. As Christ once inquired of Peter, what spirit are you of; we are compelled to ask not only Pat, but many Christians who believe like he does, what Spirit are you really of? Who can know the heart?
When Evangelist Phillip journeyed to Samaria and ministered, he got word to the Apostles at Jerusalem that some of the Samarians had received the word of God. The Apostles went down to pray for them, because as of yet, the new believers had not received the Holy Spirit. Why such urgency? The answer is, because, without the spirit you are none of his, even the devils believe and tremble the scriptures teach us. But the latter are not saved either, in spite of belief.
In Romans the 8th chapter, Paul eloquently explains the adoptive/redemptive/transforming work of the Holy Spirit. A friend pastor of mine once informed me that the only thing that the Holy Spirit does is to empower one to witness. He was as in the dark as another biblical teacher, Nicodemus, was! But my friend was not alone, many even among today's clerics are just as much in error!
It would appear that many in today’s new crop of ministers, some who preside over massive congregations have never come to understand the redemptive work of the spirit and what it means to be born from anothen. One must be born into God's Kingdom, just as one is born into the world. The baptism by water represents the water that breaks just before the mother births a child into the world. And, in order to be born of God (just like a natural father) you must be born of God's seed, in this instance a spiritual seed, because God is a Spirit.
Additionally, many of today's church leaders do not understand the social dimensions of the work of the Holy Spirit and Christ's ministry either. Therefore many of them work hard at getting rich themselves, and growing their numbers, instead of eliminating poverty not only in the world but right in their own congregations. Many of them have all but forgotten the saving work of the Holy Spirit, if they ever knew it themselves. Their annual reports would suggest success given the growth of their memberships and the dollars that they raise per annum, however, their annual reports from heaven's perspective, would likely suggest an abysmal failure!
Paul was not concerned with the number of disciples who were at Ephesus, he wanted to know whether or not they had received Christ' Spirit, and later he gave warning to those who would enter in and fleece God's flock. Peter and John did not care about the number of believers at Samaria, they went down to Samaria to ensure that the disciples had received the Holy Spirit, it was imperative that they be 'sealed' with that Holy Spirit of promise. From heaven's perspective, the type of minister that we have today, catches men and women and they trap them. These leaders, according to the scriptures, are not going into God's kingdom, and they are not allowing others to go in; instead they have sat up a kingdom of their own making on earth.
Many pulpits today, have been Americanized, and the ministers have been vulcanized and taken away from original Christian church doctrine. And the Pastors themselves, like Nicodemus, not understanding the word of God have instead brought into the church, the teachings of the state, the culture or their denomination, and they are therefore responsible for creating this new syncretic anomaly.
The Lord shows me visions. What does this mean to you? I saw a church where the pulpit was equipped with the customary furnishings and accoutrements. What stood out for me, however, was that under each of the chairs in the rostrum where the ministers sat, all were empty at the time, each chair had a gravestone under it!
WHAT IS THE STATE OF YOUR UNION WITH CHRIST?
To be continued…
Peace & Grace
Rev. C. Solomon
I am reminded of the scriptural injunction that we are to come out from among them and be separate! Instead, it would appear that the church in America that is so obsessed with numbers, and head-count, has invited ‘them’, to come in and be, unconditionally, a part of the church family.
Adding new members, increasing the tithing roles, deciding whether or not to ordain same-sex individuals into the ministry and tearing down the old barn (sanctuary) in hopes of building larger ones, has resulted in an incredible altering of what one would have once considered to be the orthodox teachings and rules of the church.
Bishop Jakes of the Potter’s House ministries and his team define the church as ‘a business’. Americans, it would appear, have co-opted what was once a body of baptized believers in Christ, ‘a spiritual organism’, and turned it instead into a carnal money-making, networking, media-driven, get rich quick religio-secular organization. And sadly many individuals are joining the church today, and some are becoming ministers in order to get their share or slice of the money pie.
Have you visited one of today’s vanilla churches lately? In these come as you are, dress as you wish, high-fiv'ng, jive talking, wave your hands in the air like you don’t care ministries, everyone is saved. All you have to do is repeat the Apostle’s Creed generally given by one of the ministers at the conclusion of the service, and you have suddenly been added to the body of Christ; I personally, don’t buy it.
I suspect that after all of the singing, dancing and waving of the arms is over on Sunday morning, many in the audience return to the lifestyle that they are accustomed to. And afterwards the jet set minister also returns to his luxurious retreat to enjoy the lifestyle that he has of late become accustomed to; that of the rich and famous! Jesus, if he were here in person, might shock some of the latter by telling them to go and sell some of their riches and give to the poor! The same leaders would probably ask Jesus whether he was a bleeding heart liberal or something. Certainly our ministers in America today, do not have the heart of Jesus Christ, a Zachaeus or a Mother Teresa!
What happened? Today, America’s mainstream denominations are jumping on the bandwagon. More traditional and mainstream churches and organizations are updating their rules and relaxing their styles of worship and copying the style of the charismatic's, in order to bolster their floundering memberships. Formerly conservative denominations are behaving more like the Pentecostals and charismatic denominations that they once disdained. A Baptist member of a Maryland growing mega congregation tried to reach the members of the church over the internet, he reported to them that the pastor and the Board had surreptitiously turned their once Baptist church into a Pentecostal church. Who cared though given that the membership had grown, and as a result of emulating the Pentecostal's, the church was about to build a new $25M facility in Mitchellville Maryland?
Bishop Eddie Long and other Baptist churches have followed a similar pattern in order to experience rapid church growth. Is it an endorsement that the Pentecostal way is the right way, or will some pastors do anything in order to grow their churches? I was invited to do the same thing with my non-denominational/trans-denominational congregation some years ago. Come on I was told, down in Texas there is a minister, Morris Cerillo, who had a plan for church growth. My friend, a former professional football player now pastor was stunned that I was not interested. I reminded him that God said that he would add unto the church such as would be saved. My concern is and has been that many pastors have abandoned scriptural principles; they are adding to the church in some instances 'tares and not wheat', given their desires to expand their memberships and to grow the tithe roles in the churches that they pastor.
I heard one pastor of a large mega in my home state boast that he knew that many in his congregation were not saved. He said, "we use them to get their money in order to help pay for the church", eek!
America is believed to have about 1500 religious denominations and more than three hundred thousand congregations. One would wonder, with all of the people in America that claim to be Christian and believers in God, why is the country so full of wickedness, debauchery and crime? Is becoming more charismatic the answer? Is giving everyone the since that they are saved because they behave in the manner that charismatic’s behave in, the answer? Is having a form of Godliness more important than being converted? Why is the church today in America so full of sexual immorality, crime, malfeasance and extortion? Has the church in America like Israel (60% secular today), simply gone about to establish its own righteousness, and in turn replaced the righteousness of God with its own form of righteousness?
I. A Bit of History
When the ‘English colonists’, departed from the shores of England to come to the New World, they did so not only to pursue economic opportunity in the New World, many left England with the hope of freeing themselves from the grips of the state controlled-Church of England; at the time the King was both the head of the State as well as the head of the Anglican Church. It was the desire of many of the pilgrims to live in a place where they would be free from religious oppression and to worship independent from the mandates of the Anglican-church. To the early believers, Christ was the ‘head of the church’, and the minister was Christ’s representative on earth, not the King of England.
The New World, as it was referred to at the time, provided the early pioneers with an opportunity and a place to freely practice their religions beliefs. And once established, the American Constitution (Article I) guaranteed that the State would not make any laws concerning religion. Therefore churches were free to organize, to incorporate, to choose their leaders and to practice and spread their faiths as they elected to do. And given their newly found freedom in the New World, various forms of mostly Christian dominations (1500 today) sprang up all over the nation; the majority were mostly Catholic or Christian protestant.
II. And Where Has That Religious Freedom Taken Us To Today?
A quasi church-state relationship has existed since the first church was established in America. At times the marriage between church and state was rocky, and at times the two worked together smoothly. A closer state-church bond has been reinvigorated given the presidencies of Ronald Reagan and George Bush. Some churches believe, it would seem, that in order to accomplish God’s purposes on earth that they must join hand in hand with the state, and use America’s political and military machine in order to accomplish God’s objectives. I believe that this is apostasy. Jesus was aware that he could have commanded legions of 'warring angels' to appear and conquer at any time; however, this was not how God intended to accomplish his purposes on earth.
Some church leaders have convinced several American Presidents of late, and many in their congregations that it is the will of God to accomplish his purposes by employing the carnal methods of the government of the United States of America. I am reminded that the weapons of the believer and God are not carnal weapons; instead our weapons are mighty in God to the tearing down of strongholds. Many in these mostly Evangelical Churches are encouraging outright military destruction of America's enemies; they believe that America's enemies are God's enemies. What happened to, you will not have to fight in this battle for the battle is the Lord's; and to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. Today's Christian is an advocate for what he or is she is being taught are 'just wars'. And today's Christian is being taught to believe in 'just war theory', as opposed to what they had been taught in scripture.
The story of the Children of Israel marching around the fortified walls of Jericho comes to mind; they did not bring down those fortified walls by incorporating worldly methods, weapons or armaments. Pat Robertson, television evangelist and minister, who encouraged the murder of the Head-of-State in Venezuela, President Hugo Chavez, forgot that Jesus reminded Peter to place his sword back in his sheath. Peter, being as zealous as Pat apparently is today, forgot all about the ways of the Lord, in a desire to accomplish his purposes for God. Are Christians told to fight in scripture? Yes, but Christians are not taught to fight in the manner that the world fights in.
Christians are taught to put on the whole armor of God, and to employ the weapons that God has provided for us! The Spirit of error, surely has taken over Pat Robertson, and many other American pastors, preachers and protestant religious-acolytes. And frightenly enough, aside from their church pulpits, many of them use the airways, and have built colleges from which they can propagate this spirit of error. Isn't it sad that some of these larger entities have emptied out the smaller churches, where people were being taught the Gospel?
In America, anyone can start a church. And by following a few simple rules, one can have his church organization fully recognized by the State, and receive tax exemption status. And since the Constitution guarantees that the Government will not make any laws concerning the church, churches are pretty much left to their own devices.
The American Free Church of today has mutated into something that we would not be recognizable by our New Testament forefathers. And I suspect that its behavior would not be endorsed by Jesus Christ. The American Free Church of today, to include all of its churches, denominations and organizations, has mutated into something that is completely unknown in the annals of the history of the Christian church, the Church at Corinth and others (See Revelations chapters 2 and 3) not withstanding.
III. Given the Current Crisis and the State of the American Church
As I said in my introduction, one would have to wonder lately whether or not the church is shaping the culture, or whether the church is being shaped by the culture and the state? And I am reminded of the scriptural injunction, that we are to come out from among them!
What is truly sad, given this current crisis; among Evangelicals/Pentecostals/Charismatics, is that there is an ongoing and deceptive explosion of church growth taking place. And why are people suddenly coming into these churches in such vast numbers? Are the blind pied-piper leaders of today leading the blind, who are following them into the mercurial ditch? It is not uncommon to find churches with memberships of 10,000 or more in America. (And politicians who are aware of their numbers have exploited this political feeding ground).
Is America in fact suddenly coming to Jesus? Or, are Americans suddenly being drawn to religious-lite American-style churches because of the watered down and accommodating teachings at these churches, or for political reasons or to use the church in order to get rich themselves? The enterprise networking matrix in some of these church establishments is formidable and very substantial. I will get into this more in the future. But I caution you that crowds, ten-thousand and more at a time, followed Jesus initially. However, the same crowds splintered, some shrank and others disappeared as Jesus fed them the sincere milk of the word. Many in the crowd, like those in crowds today, were not there for the right reason, but Jesus knew that. He knew those who were his!
Today’s American Capitalist (show me the money) Mega-Churches and the smaller ones are actively pursuing the get-rich quick growth philosophy. Regrettably, by following this syndrome, it would appear that they have taken a departure from the teachings of Jesus Christ. Instead the Spirit of Simon the Sorcerer seems to have taken them over, and the new get rich American political minister of today has 'bewitched' the followers. All that these groups seem to want is to be sold the power, so that whoever they come in contact with and lay hands on, will become bewitched and in turn follow them.
They in effect, detour people away from Christ, and in the end, the ministers and churches are the one's who will benefit financially, as they shear the new misguided lambs, goats and wolves who they bring in under the wrong pretenses. Christ envisioned a ‘serving church', an extension of himself, a body of baptized believers in Jesus Christ, a spiritual organism, not a meretricious business organization. The Church, the body of Christ, is to be like him, ‘the Suffering Servant; and not an extension of the State, or the American military/consumer culture.
More and more the capitalist principles of the state have been brought into the church. And like the idols of the Old Testament that were at times sat right up in the house of God, today’s Christian churches have brought the ‘state and cultural idol’ and sat it up in church alongside the cross of Jesus Christ. This new movement, ‘The American Idol church, is championed of late by leaders like Dr. Hagee and Dr. Kennedy, Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell and others. And I often meet many of their zealous and outspoken followers who lack both the knowledge of Christ, and the spirit of Jesus Christ. Instead, they have taken on the spirits of their leaders.
Much of what the church leaders of today are teaching their congregations, has been garnered as much from the state’s founding documents and principles as they are far from the Bible. Many of today's clergy skillfully meld the two together. Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council has been instrumental in this endeavor to bring the teachings of the state into the church. Many churches in America today have two holy writs, the Bible and the American Constitution. And for many Americans, the two are inseparable. And when the two find themselves at odds, the word of the State tends to prevail.
Today’s church in my estimation has coalesced with the state to the extent that one could easily identify the American Church as the American ‘Christian State Church’ at least that seems to be where many congregations and religious organizations are headed. What happened to our citizenship is in heaven? And are we no longer of the Congregation of the First Born in Heaven?
The Christian church in America has taken on a remarkably American flavor in terms of its belief system, and the Christian American church has without a doubt, become more politically aligned with the secular American polity, particularly those in the Republican Party. It is not uncommon (and many have experienced it) to come to church on Sunday and find a politician seated in the rostrum. He or she will be given 10 to 15 minutes, in congregations across the land, to bring his or her political message to the congregation. Instead of a sermon, many churchgoers are subjected to a political speech. And when it is not a guest doing it, some preachers will give the political sermon themselves, Pastor Rod Parsley comes to mind.
Again I ask, why are people coming into the church in droves? Is it because they have been drawn and convicted by the word of God, or have they found the religious-lite political churches of today to be more accommodating? Is it because the church has become just another secular organization where one can practice their politics along with a group who shares a common set of beliefs? I suspect that it is all of the latter. The Apostle Paul, finding believers at Ephesus (in present day Turkey), enquired of the disciples there, ‘did you receive the Holy Ghost when you believed? Along with today's vast influx, the church has filled up with all kinds of immorality and debauchery to include rapes, molestations, pedophilia, homosexuality and licentiousness!
This is significant. Let’s just assume that all of these who are in the church today are believers, given that they repeated the Apostle’s creed, at least at that moment they believed. However, is that all that it takes, or is it as the Apostle Paul once wrote, "that if any man does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his"? My point, you can say that you are a believer and I will not deny that you believe what you have heard. However, the real question is do you have the Spirit of Christ, and if not, you still have been converted yet?
I would argue that many of today’s new crop of believers still have never received the spirit of Christ, or experienced the transforming work of the Holy Spirit since, or when they believed. Many simply came into a church, sang and waived their hands in the air as they were instructed to do, they repeated the creed, were accepted into the congregation after consultation in one of the churches' adjacent side rooms, then they joined a life-group, believing that somehow all of these works (as they were being taught), have somehow saved them.
Can Reverend Pat Robertson truly say that he has the spirit of Christ, when he harbors the spirit of murder in his heart? The scriptures teach us that the heart is a harbinger of many things including murder, and Pat has that in his heart. As Christ once inquired of Peter, what spirit are you of; we are compelled to ask not only Pat, but many Christians who believe like he does, what Spirit are you really of? Who can know the heart?
When Evangelist Phillip journeyed to Samaria and ministered, he got word to the Apostles at Jerusalem that some of the Samarians had received the word of God. The Apostles went down to pray for them, because as of yet, the new believers had not received the Holy Spirit. Why such urgency? The answer is, because, without the spirit you are none of his, even the devils believe and tremble the scriptures teach us. But the latter are not saved either, in spite of belief.
In Romans the 8th chapter, Paul eloquently explains the adoptive/redemptive/transforming work of the Holy Spirit. A friend pastor of mine once informed me that the only thing that the Holy Spirit does is to empower one to witness. He was as in the dark as another biblical teacher, Nicodemus, was! But my friend was not alone, many even among today's clerics are just as much in error!
It would appear that many in today’s new crop of ministers, some who preside over massive congregations have never come to understand the redemptive work of the spirit and what it means to be born from anothen. One must be born into God's Kingdom, just as one is born into the world. The baptism by water represents the water that breaks just before the mother births a child into the world. And, in order to be born of God (just like a natural father) you must be born of God's seed, in this instance a spiritual seed, because God is a Spirit.
Additionally, many of today's church leaders do not understand the social dimensions of the work of the Holy Spirit and Christ's ministry either. Therefore many of them work hard at getting rich themselves, and growing their numbers, instead of eliminating poverty not only in the world but right in their own congregations. Many of them have all but forgotten the saving work of the Holy Spirit, if they ever knew it themselves. Their annual reports would suggest success given the growth of their memberships and the dollars that they raise per annum, however, their annual reports from heaven's perspective, would likely suggest an abysmal failure!
Paul was not concerned with the number of disciples who were at Ephesus, he wanted to know whether or not they had received Christ' Spirit, and later he gave warning to those who would enter in and fleece God's flock. Peter and John did not care about the number of believers at Samaria, they went down to Samaria to ensure that the disciples had received the Holy Spirit, it was imperative that they be 'sealed' with that Holy Spirit of promise. From heaven's perspective, the type of minister that we have today, catches men and women and they trap them. These leaders, according to the scriptures, are not going into God's kingdom, and they are not allowing others to go in; instead they have sat up a kingdom of their own making on earth.
Many pulpits today, have been Americanized, and the ministers have been vulcanized and taken away from original Christian church doctrine. And the Pastors themselves, like Nicodemus, not understanding the word of God have instead brought into the church, the teachings of the state, the culture or their denomination, and they are therefore responsible for creating this new syncretic anomaly.
The Lord shows me visions. What does this mean to you? I saw a church where the pulpit was equipped with the customary furnishings and accoutrements. What stood out for me, however, was that under each of the chairs in the rostrum where the ministers sat, all were empty at the time, each chair had a gravestone under it!
WHAT IS THE STATE OF YOUR UNION WITH CHRIST?
To be continued…
Peace & Grace
Rev. C. Solomon
The American God-Head: Bush, Cheney and Rumsfield
Will George Bush, Dick Cheney and Don Rumsfeld, take the whole world down with them? How could the church support a ticket like this in the first place?
When other nations behave in the same manner that our government is currently behaving in, America always comes up with disparaging nicknames for those nations and their leaders.
I recall over the past two years, the Bush Administration critizing Mr. Putin of Russia for essentially doing the same thing that Bush began doing when he became President of the U.S.A. [Eat your heart out Putin and Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, you guys can't do what George Bush can do and get away with it].
Thank God that the Supreme Court finally slowed Bush's quest to consolidate power in the USA and the world. Bush has neutralized the power of Congress for the past 6 years. And given his current tactical strategy, he is on the way to doing the same thing to the 110th Congress.
How? He is rallying his troops, and they are beginning to fall, slowly but surely, back into line. The Republican Congress is beginning to play an obstructionist role, some are already working to obfuscate any attempts by the congressional majority to check the power of the Presidency. They would not do their jobs and they are not going to allow the Dems to do their jobs!
The former Republican majority in Congress is mutating from a do-nothing majority in Congress, to an obstructionist minority in Congress.
The young people who are taking political science classes in college today should take serious note of what is going on in American politics in this epochal period in American history.
If unchecked, what is currently taking place in our nation's capitol will have significant and long-term ramifications with respect to the way that things will be done in the future by American politicians. I would argue that business will never be the same in government and politics in the future, given the sleaze factor that has been introduced by the current administration.
The combination of Rove, Delay, Bush, Cheney, Rumsfool, with the support of 50million or so evangelicals, have changed the political landscape forever.
The stolid Mr. Cheney has never waivered, he has made it clear over and over that he does not care what the American people, the Allies or anyone else thinks, he is joined of course by Bush and Cheney.
Four years ago I was in a debate in the nation's capitol with members of the Green Party. The subject, Who Is The Most Dangerous: George Bush or Dick Cheney? I argued that Bush was more dangerous (regardless of what Cheney was doing behind the scenes), given that Cheney could not get elected).
Who is more dangerous, the architect or the builder? I will let you decide for yourself. However, someone really needs to join me in praying for America and the American church?
Peace & Grace
The Reverend
When other nations behave in the same manner that our government is currently behaving in, America always comes up with disparaging nicknames for those nations and their leaders.
I recall over the past two years, the Bush Administration critizing Mr. Putin of Russia for essentially doing the same thing that Bush began doing when he became President of the U.S.A. [Eat your heart out Putin and Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, you guys can't do what George Bush can do and get away with it].
Thank God that the Supreme Court finally slowed Bush's quest to consolidate power in the USA and the world. Bush has neutralized the power of Congress for the past 6 years. And given his current tactical strategy, he is on the way to doing the same thing to the 110th Congress.
How? He is rallying his troops, and they are beginning to fall, slowly but surely, back into line. The Republican Congress is beginning to play an obstructionist role, some are already working to obfuscate any attempts by the congressional majority to check the power of the Presidency. They would not do their jobs and they are not going to allow the Dems to do their jobs!
The former Republican majority in Congress is mutating from a do-nothing majority in Congress, to an obstructionist minority in Congress.
The young people who are taking political science classes in college today should take serious note of what is going on in American politics in this epochal period in American history.
If unchecked, what is currently taking place in our nation's capitol will have significant and long-term ramifications with respect to the way that things will be done in the future by American politicians. I would argue that business will never be the same in government and politics in the future, given the sleaze factor that has been introduced by the current administration.
The combination of Rove, Delay, Bush, Cheney, Rumsfool, with the support of 50million or so evangelicals, have changed the political landscape forever.
The stolid Mr. Cheney has never waivered, he has made it clear over and over that he does not care what the American people, the Allies or anyone else thinks, he is joined of course by Bush and Cheney.
Four years ago I was in a debate in the nation's capitol with members of the Green Party. The subject, Who Is The Most Dangerous: George Bush or Dick Cheney? I argued that Bush was more dangerous (regardless of what Cheney was doing behind the scenes), given that Cheney could not get elected).
Who is more dangerous, the architect or the builder? I will let you decide for yourself. However, someone really needs to join me in praying for America and the American church?
Peace & Grace
The Reverend
Jan 13, 2007
The State of The Union of The American Christian State Church [Part I]
The month of January is known for many things, it is the first month of the year, Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday is celebrated, College Football Championships (by the way Ohio State got thrashed by the Florida Gators) take place, but not forgotten, January is the month when American Presidents give the State of the Union Address to Congress and the nation. Most Americans look forward to hearing the President’s assessment of the nation’s standing, and about the nation's fiscal health. Not only do Americans hear from the President about the nation’s fiscal condition of the nation, Americans also hear about the President’s vision for the nation, particularly where he (or soon she), plans to take the nation.
When I recalled, earlier this month that it was time for the President’s annual State of the Union speech, what crossed my mind was why doesn’t someone give an annual state of the church speech? So I will provide my own assessment of the state of the church in America based upon my observations.
I. The Unhealthy State of the Church in America
If John the Revelator of Revelations the 2nd Chapter was to have included the church of America, in his state of the church letters that he composed for the seven churches of Asia, what would he have to say?. From what I have observed the state of the church in America is very poor and it is worsening by the day. And there are reasons for the church’s unhealthy state, it is as if the church was on a gurney, in America, and is about to be wheeled out by hospital attendants. One of the reasons for its condition appears to be that the church has gone full circle, and returned to what the early colonists sought to escape from when they left England, the church of the secular mix is what I call it.
There are some other problems that are worth mentioning. There is what I refer to as American Capitalist Church Syndrome, American Mega-Church syndrome, the Church is a Business Syndrome (a phrase coined by none other than Bishop T.D. Jakes of the Potter’s House, the Political Church that has been organized for political activism, and last but not least the intersection of and the mixing of church dogma with that of the state. All of the above have resulted in what appears to be a confused if not Apostate church in America that has been co-opted away from its mission and turned into an organized body that is there to be exploited, twisted and used by political interests and avarice-seeking ministers.
The part of the church in America that is being influenced by luminaries like Pat Robertson of the 700 Club, Jerry Falwell of the Old Time Hour and the Thomas Road Baptist Church of Lynchburg Virginia, has seemingly turned aside from the mission of saving souls, building souls and caring for the poor. Instead these ministers who appear to be nothing more than political activists, who are closely aligned with the current Republican Administration, and have organized the whole country it would seem and many of its parishes to be used for political purposes; at times they are joined by Rod Parsley, Reed and others. It makes you wonder where these folks were during the heigth of Civil Rights movement in this country, and why they are not as vocal about the inequities and injustices that persist in this country today?
Bless his heart, even Billy Graham declined an offer to join Dr. King at the Civil Rights March in Washington in 1963. He has since repented just as George Wallace did given his failure, however, at the time the national evangelist who preached liberty in Christ, believed that the non-violent marchers who desired freedom in America were the trouble-makers. Can you imagine the pain that could have been mitigated over the past 40 years if Graham had stood on that podium and preached to America, telling America that racism is wrong! It makes you wonder!
Seemingly they have forgotten the scriptural injunction that ‘our ways are not God’s ways, and our thoughts are not God’s thoughts. The neophyte and later to become Chief Apostle Peter comes to mind, when he thought that the way to further God’s Kingdom was to take out his sword and to dismember a Roman soldier who sought to take Jesus by force in the Garden of Gethsemane. The question that comes to my mind is, why haven’t leaders like Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, Dr. Dobson and others organized the church and the church's religious organizations to in addition to saving souls (which is questionable whether they do that or not), eliminate poverty and illiteracy in this country, or to work for a just and equitable country, andworld?
These multi-million dollar organizations have been in existence for a long time. The same preach their form of the American gospel over American airwaves on a daily basis. It is hard for me to imagine that the head of the church, Jesus Christ, would have organized the church, or directed the authentic captains of his body, to lead the church into worldly political activism or to support internecine and unjust wars, in deference to helping to meet the needs of all of the people. I am reminded of the New Testament remnant that came together in Acts the 4th chapter, having all things in common and meeting both the spiritual and financial needs of everyone. Please see my previous article entitled, ‘Ghettos In The Church’. These fellas are clearly more interested in American expanionism, militarism and conquering other nations and heads of state. The scriptures on the other hand teach us that, those who war do not entangle themselves in the affairs of this life!
II. The Wanderlust Church of America in search of an Identity
It would appear that the church in America today is in search of an identity. If you were to visit many of America’s churches today during a Sunday morning service, you would be immediately struck by the restructured style of worship. Many churches in America today have abandoned their old Psalters and hymn books in favor of a more upbeat charismatic style of worship. Many of today’s multi-cultural congregations read and sing praise style lyrics from an overhead screen.
There is loud music, singing and wild exuberance. There are high-fives, ‘touching and uttering phrases to your neighbor’, accompanied by rousing applause and responses to the preachers comments. The Catholic Churches are introducing new contemporary masses, like the Jazz Mass. The goal is to compete with the charismatic’s, (catholic numbers are down) entice younger crowds by permitting a more upbeat styled service. Then there are the charismatic Catholics who enjoy praise and Pentecostal style worship, including glossalalia (speaking in tongues).
A young pastor and his wife left the Bridgeway Church of Columbia MD, to start a ‘hip-hop church in New Jersey. The liturgy will include the use of hip-hop in worship, rap lyrics and rap beats followed by a rapping preacher. Churches today have Christian Rock-bands, night-clubs for the kids with dancing and worldly gyrating, game rooms and gymnasiums. I was invited to attend a service at the St. James Park of downtown San Jose California. The group who sponsored the activity was reaching out to youth, invited in a guest rock band.
While the band played, the crowd that gathered, not knowing that they were at a Christian program, began to dance and guzzle cheap wine. Some stood next to the stage and danced along with the band. When I began to witness to one man who at the time was not only drinking wine but pouring wine over his body, he asked, why are you trying to talk to me about Jesus at a rock concert. He seemed surprised to find out that he was at a church outreach program. The fact is, I was a bit shocked myself. A scripture comes to mind, can Satan cast out Satan? To the church I ask, can we win the world to Christ by using worldly means and incentives? Some believe they can, and to that group I would ask, have you won them to Christ, or won them to your following.
I worshipped several weeks ago, Christmas Sunday, at the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. The National Cathedral is considered to be the national church and the house of prayer for all people, especially Americans. It is just a stones throw from the Capitol and the White House, most of the state’s business, that requires a house of worship, is also held at the National Cathedral. About a week ago, the state funeral for former President Gerald Ford was held at the Cathedral.
I rather enjoyed the service, with all of its high pomp and ceremony. The singing and music, Christmas carols, were excellent. Before the televised Christmas service began, the Music Director came out to warm up the audience, he even rehearsed a few songs with the audience that were to be sung during the Christmas program. We were encouraged to be jovial and to participate given that the service was being broadcasted to the nation, particularly to the sick and shut-in.
Is the National Cathedral in Washington DC, in the minds of most American Christians, the Head of the Christian Church in America? Not only would most churches and their leaders deny it, the Dean and the College of Episcopalian Priests at the Cathedral would also deny it. Yet, they are clearly there to serve, whosoever will come (and don’t knock them, they were open on Christmas Day, most churches in America were not).
Even Rick Warren of Saddleback and the ‘Purpose Driven Life’ fame has, unknowingly hurt us! There are many ministers who have substituted a growth plan, in place of what Rick even intended. It was not Rick’s intentions to teach other ministers how to grow a bloated church. Yet there are many pastors who are buying books and intending seminars and hiring consultants, with the hopes of growing the numbers in their congregations. God is not in the numbers only business. I will come back to this later.
III. How Do Non-Christians In the World View The America Church?
A couple of decades ago I had the pleasure of speaking with a Muslim gentleman who previously relocated to America with his family. Both he and his wife wanted the best for their children, so they decided to place their child (who was of age) in a Catholic School. He explained that the reason they did that was because they understood that the parochial Catholic School system was superior to the public school system. He added one caveat. He and his wife explained to their son who was then in grammar school that he had been placed there in order to pursue a good education, but at the same time he was to ignore all of the religious dogma that he would receive at the religious institution, for they were of the Islamic faith, and they belied in Allah, God, and Muhammad his prophet. As we drilled down deeper, he also added that the other problem that he and his wife had with Christianity was that Christianity was polytheistic.
Most Christians would have at this point entered into a polemical debate, having taken umbrage with his position, but I did not. Instead, I asked him to continue and explain why he felt that Christianity was polytheist? He immediately attacked ‘the trinity’, and its belief in 3 Gods. In the Muslim faith, Muslims are unified around the principle of one-God, and their belief that Allah is God, and that there is none other beside him. I not only found his position on Christianity to be intriguing, but his lumping of all American denominations in America into one basket to be equally intriguing. I knew that most American Christians, particularly those from non-trinitarian denominations, would have rejected his conclusions.
For those of you who hope to discern a bit more about me, and would hope to do so based upon what my response was to him, you will likely be very disappointed with me given that I am cut more from the ‘teacher does not strive’ school'. I am more apt to teach, and from that we entered into a broader discussion, more exploratory in nature. I was simply intrigued, hearing how people of other faiths perceived the Christian faith, which gave me a window into why they were as adamantly skeptical and opposed to Christianity, as Christians were as adamantly opposed to and intolerant of other faiths.
Who cares what they believe would be the attitude of most Christians, ignoring the fact that there are over 1B Muslims, mostly of the Islamic faith. The dye-hard Christian intolerant would argue, so what, they have been misled. However, the curious among us, who believed that we are called to go into the entire world and win souls for Christ “those that he has called”, are a bit more curious. I for one wondered, what is the intrigue, what is it that would attract nearly 1B people to a faith, a faith that is larger by far than one of the 3 major faiths, the Jewish/Hebrew faith, on the planet.
I thought, these people are highly educated, the ones that I have met. Many are multi-lingual and college educated. And despite the bias that we have in the west towards them, even in Koran, there are as many if not more referernces to many stories and characters that are so important in the Christian faith, characters like Abraham, Jesus, Mary the mother of Jesus and others. In fact, in their holy documents there seems to be a fairer treatment of Christianity, than there is in Christianity of Islam or Muhammad.
I might come back to this subject someday, but lest I drift away from my theme, let me return to my subject. I have demonstrated how in the eyes of one Muslim, Christianity in America, is viewed as one huge polytheistic organization, and a false religion that has departed from the word of God and therefore is to be shunned.
I also emphasized how this particular Muslim, who like many Muslims, believes that in spite of those churches in America who consider themselves to be separate from other mainstream Christian denominations (believing that they are more attentive to the word of God) that people from around the world lump all American denominations together, and they view the Christian church in America as one church.
To be continued... The Rev
When I recalled, earlier this month that it was time for the President’s annual State of the Union speech, what crossed my mind was why doesn’t someone give an annual state of the church speech? So I will provide my own assessment of the state of the church in America based upon my observations.
I. The Unhealthy State of the Church in America
If John the Revelator of Revelations the 2nd Chapter was to have included the church of America, in his state of the church letters that he composed for the seven churches of Asia, what would he have to say?. From what I have observed the state of the church in America is very poor and it is worsening by the day. And there are reasons for the church’s unhealthy state, it is as if the church was on a gurney, in America, and is about to be wheeled out by hospital attendants. One of the reasons for its condition appears to be that the church has gone full circle, and returned to what the early colonists sought to escape from when they left England, the church of the secular mix is what I call it.
There are some other problems that are worth mentioning. There is what I refer to as American Capitalist Church Syndrome, American Mega-Church syndrome, the Church is a Business Syndrome (a phrase coined by none other than Bishop T.D. Jakes of the Potter’s House, the Political Church that has been organized for political activism, and last but not least the intersection of and the mixing of church dogma with that of the state. All of the above have resulted in what appears to be a confused if not Apostate church in America that has been co-opted away from its mission and turned into an organized body that is there to be exploited, twisted and used by political interests and avarice-seeking ministers.
The part of the church in America that is being influenced by luminaries like Pat Robertson of the 700 Club, Jerry Falwell of the Old Time Hour and the Thomas Road Baptist Church of Lynchburg Virginia, has seemingly turned aside from the mission of saving souls, building souls and caring for the poor. Instead these ministers who appear to be nothing more than political activists, who are closely aligned with the current Republican Administration, and have organized the whole country it would seem and many of its parishes to be used for political purposes; at times they are joined by Rod Parsley, Reed and others. It makes you wonder where these folks were during the heigth of Civil Rights movement in this country, and why they are not as vocal about the inequities and injustices that persist in this country today?
Bless his heart, even Billy Graham declined an offer to join Dr. King at the Civil Rights March in Washington in 1963. He has since repented just as George Wallace did given his failure, however, at the time the national evangelist who preached liberty in Christ, believed that the non-violent marchers who desired freedom in America were the trouble-makers. Can you imagine the pain that could have been mitigated over the past 40 years if Graham had stood on that podium and preached to America, telling America that racism is wrong! It makes you wonder!
Seemingly they have forgotten the scriptural injunction that ‘our ways are not God’s ways, and our thoughts are not God’s thoughts. The neophyte and later to become Chief Apostle Peter comes to mind, when he thought that the way to further God’s Kingdom was to take out his sword and to dismember a Roman soldier who sought to take Jesus by force in the Garden of Gethsemane. The question that comes to my mind is, why haven’t leaders like Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, Dr. Dobson and others organized the church and the church's religious organizations to in addition to saving souls (which is questionable whether they do that or not), eliminate poverty and illiteracy in this country, or to work for a just and equitable country, andworld?
These multi-million dollar organizations have been in existence for a long time. The same preach their form of the American gospel over American airwaves on a daily basis. It is hard for me to imagine that the head of the church, Jesus Christ, would have organized the church, or directed the authentic captains of his body, to lead the church into worldly political activism or to support internecine and unjust wars, in deference to helping to meet the needs of all of the people. I am reminded of the New Testament remnant that came together in Acts the 4th chapter, having all things in common and meeting both the spiritual and financial needs of everyone. Please see my previous article entitled, ‘Ghettos In The Church’. These fellas are clearly more interested in American expanionism, militarism and conquering other nations and heads of state. The scriptures on the other hand teach us that, those who war do not entangle themselves in the affairs of this life!
II. The Wanderlust Church of America in search of an Identity
It would appear that the church in America today is in search of an identity. If you were to visit many of America’s churches today during a Sunday morning service, you would be immediately struck by the restructured style of worship. Many churches in America today have abandoned their old Psalters and hymn books in favor of a more upbeat charismatic style of worship. Many of today’s multi-cultural congregations read and sing praise style lyrics from an overhead screen.
There is loud music, singing and wild exuberance. There are high-fives, ‘touching and uttering phrases to your neighbor’, accompanied by rousing applause and responses to the preachers comments. The Catholic Churches are introducing new contemporary masses, like the Jazz Mass. The goal is to compete with the charismatic’s, (catholic numbers are down) entice younger crowds by permitting a more upbeat styled service. Then there are the charismatic Catholics who enjoy praise and Pentecostal style worship, including glossalalia (speaking in tongues).
A young pastor and his wife left the Bridgeway Church of Columbia MD, to start a ‘hip-hop church in New Jersey. The liturgy will include the use of hip-hop in worship, rap lyrics and rap beats followed by a rapping preacher. Churches today have Christian Rock-bands, night-clubs for the kids with dancing and worldly gyrating, game rooms and gymnasiums. I was invited to attend a service at the St. James Park of downtown San Jose California. The group who sponsored the activity was reaching out to youth, invited in a guest rock band.
While the band played, the crowd that gathered, not knowing that they were at a Christian program, began to dance and guzzle cheap wine. Some stood next to the stage and danced along with the band. When I began to witness to one man who at the time was not only drinking wine but pouring wine over his body, he asked, why are you trying to talk to me about Jesus at a rock concert. He seemed surprised to find out that he was at a church outreach program. The fact is, I was a bit shocked myself. A scripture comes to mind, can Satan cast out Satan? To the church I ask, can we win the world to Christ by using worldly means and incentives? Some believe they can, and to that group I would ask, have you won them to Christ, or won them to your following.
I worshipped several weeks ago, Christmas Sunday, at the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. The National Cathedral is considered to be the national church and the house of prayer for all people, especially Americans. It is just a stones throw from the Capitol and the White House, most of the state’s business, that requires a house of worship, is also held at the National Cathedral. About a week ago, the state funeral for former President Gerald Ford was held at the Cathedral.
I rather enjoyed the service, with all of its high pomp and ceremony. The singing and music, Christmas carols, were excellent. Before the televised Christmas service began, the Music Director came out to warm up the audience, he even rehearsed a few songs with the audience that were to be sung during the Christmas program. We were encouraged to be jovial and to participate given that the service was being broadcasted to the nation, particularly to the sick and shut-in.
Is the National Cathedral in Washington DC, in the minds of most American Christians, the Head of the Christian Church in America? Not only would most churches and their leaders deny it, the Dean and the College of Episcopalian Priests at the Cathedral would also deny it. Yet, they are clearly there to serve, whosoever will come (and don’t knock them, they were open on Christmas Day, most churches in America were not).
Even Rick Warren of Saddleback and the ‘Purpose Driven Life’ fame has, unknowingly hurt us! There are many ministers who have substituted a growth plan, in place of what Rick even intended. It was not Rick’s intentions to teach other ministers how to grow a bloated church. Yet there are many pastors who are buying books and intending seminars and hiring consultants, with the hopes of growing the numbers in their congregations. God is not in the numbers only business. I will come back to this later.
III. How Do Non-Christians In the World View The America Church?
A couple of decades ago I had the pleasure of speaking with a Muslim gentleman who previously relocated to America with his family. Both he and his wife wanted the best for their children, so they decided to place their child (who was of age) in a Catholic School. He explained that the reason they did that was because they understood that the parochial Catholic School system was superior to the public school system. He added one caveat. He and his wife explained to their son who was then in grammar school that he had been placed there in order to pursue a good education, but at the same time he was to ignore all of the religious dogma that he would receive at the religious institution, for they were of the Islamic faith, and they belied in Allah, God, and Muhammad his prophet. As we drilled down deeper, he also added that the other problem that he and his wife had with Christianity was that Christianity was polytheistic.
Most Christians would have at this point entered into a polemical debate, having taken umbrage with his position, but I did not. Instead, I asked him to continue and explain why he felt that Christianity was polytheist? He immediately attacked ‘the trinity’, and its belief in 3 Gods. In the Muslim faith, Muslims are unified around the principle of one-God, and their belief that Allah is God, and that there is none other beside him. I not only found his position on Christianity to be intriguing, but his lumping of all American denominations in America into one basket to be equally intriguing. I knew that most American Christians, particularly those from non-trinitarian denominations, would have rejected his conclusions.
For those of you who hope to discern a bit more about me, and would hope to do so based upon what my response was to him, you will likely be very disappointed with me given that I am cut more from the ‘teacher does not strive’ school'. I am more apt to teach, and from that we entered into a broader discussion, more exploratory in nature. I was simply intrigued, hearing how people of other faiths perceived the Christian faith, which gave me a window into why they were as adamantly skeptical and opposed to Christianity, as Christians were as adamantly opposed to and intolerant of other faiths.
Who cares what they believe would be the attitude of most Christians, ignoring the fact that there are over 1B Muslims, mostly of the Islamic faith. The dye-hard Christian intolerant would argue, so what, they have been misled. However, the curious among us, who believed that we are called to go into the entire world and win souls for Christ “those that he has called”, are a bit more curious. I for one wondered, what is the intrigue, what is it that would attract nearly 1B people to a faith, a faith that is larger by far than one of the 3 major faiths, the Jewish/Hebrew faith, on the planet.
I thought, these people are highly educated, the ones that I have met. Many are multi-lingual and college educated. And despite the bias that we have in the west towards them, even in Koran, there are as many if not more referernces to many stories and characters that are so important in the Christian faith, characters like Abraham, Jesus, Mary the mother of Jesus and others. In fact, in their holy documents there seems to be a fairer treatment of Christianity, than there is in Christianity of Islam or Muhammad.
I might come back to this subject someday, but lest I drift away from my theme, let me return to my subject. I have demonstrated how in the eyes of one Muslim, Christianity in America, is viewed as one huge polytheistic organization, and a false religion that has departed from the word of God and therefore is to be shunned.
I also emphasized how this particular Muslim, who like many Muslims, believes that in spite of those churches in America who consider themselves to be separate from other mainstream Christian denominations (believing that they are more attentive to the word of God) that people from around the world lump all American denominations together, and they view the Christian church in America as one church.
To be continued... The Rev
Jan 5, 2007
Who Is America's Prince? America Does Not Follow Jesus The Prince of Peace
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Eph. 6:12
Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that thou didst set thou heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.
But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me...! Daniel 10:12-13.
If the Prince of Persia is still in the Middle-East, what is America doing in near-Babylon, and where is the Prince of Peace?
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In the minds of most Americans, every other nation is in some way considered to be either bad, secular or simply inferior to the United States of America. And Americans will readily identify those individuals or other nations that they consider to be inferior to America. Talk Show commentator Oprah Winfrey declared on her show recently, that it would have been impossible for a person of her original stature to rise to the heights that she has risen to in any other country in the world. Although I understand Oprah's patriotism, Oprah, however, is sadly misinformed.
1). Americans are clearly biased, and the fact is that Americans are in many ways all of the negative things that they accuse other people and other nations of being (there is none perfect, no not one)?
2). What spirit is driving an America that names the name of Christ, but does things in ways that are just the opposite of his teachings (particularly when America, among all nations, knows the ways of God)?
3). How and why is it that in Christian America, we can turn on our [terrorvisions] daily and witness all forms of violence, including robbery, rape, burglaries, debauchery and hatred, and I haven't even discussed America's other problems of social anomie?
4). What is holding America together? One could argue that America is being held together because the largest and most heavily-armed paramilitary civilian force over 500,000 policemen) in the world, works overtime to prevent American citizens from devouring each other. Yet we will proclaim to the world that we are the good guys, and the rest of you are the bad guys! However, we learn from scripture, that 'righteousness exalts a nation, and sin is a reproach to any people'.
According to the above scriptures, what spirit are we really of America, and what is the driving force (internally and externally), behind warring, violent and desultory America? Is it not the 'prince of the power of the air'?
Part I
America is the engine that drives the world, some say, but what is its destination?
Although spoken in terms of the world-wide economy, the phrase applies to more than commerce and trade; there is even more at stake than mammon.
If world conditions are to change at all in 2007, then America will have to change first. If America is to change at all, its people must change and in turn force America's leaders to change and to become responsive to the wishes of 'its altered people', who will have begun to turn towards obeying the word of the Lord. What we need in America is a healthy dose of realism. Our nation is awash in pseudo-patriotic apologists, who in spite of their good but naive intentions help to keep this country in stasis.
And all that does is to prevent this country and its leaders from making realistic assessments about the state of America, and the changes that will be necessary in order for America to heal. An honest assessment would help America to recognize the negative influences that America has and is having on the world, and help America to do something to about the negatives that it has introduced to the world. Why? Because the world is 'reacting' to American misbehavior(s). Many nations in the world are arming themselves (with nukes) seeking to acquire the kind of wealth, that will give them status in the world and help them to counter the American juggernaut.
Some dyed-in the wool American apologists will only speak of the purported good that America does (never without cost); they will at the same time ignore the negative impact that the ' American-engine' is having and has had on the rest of the world. Most of the world derides American comity, particularly when America and some Americans say that all that America has in mind is doing what is best for the rest of the world. To the people of Iraq many Americans would say, well yes we destroyed your country, but look on the bright side, we got rid of Saddam and someday you will rebuild your nation; and by the way, no thanks will be required! Most Iraqis would respond, but somehow we don't feel that we have been liberated or that we are free to rebuild.
The fact is that the reason that nothing changes in America is because some Americans are proponents of partial truth, and they do not want to see in changes made. The same individuals will never admit to the truth about America, even as they busy themselves pointing out the faults of other nations and people on the planet. The group of Americans, who joined in with the realistic Americans lately, those who tried to stop the war in Iraq from its onset, did not experience a change of mind for altruistic reasons. Many attributed their change of mind to practical reasons, and others because they felt that the war in Iraq was having a negative impact on their pocketbooks!
PART II
America expects the rest of the world to change and at the same time to remain the same, just as America is doing in one strategic area; America is doing all that it can to remain atop the 'world order'. In other words, America approves of the rest of the world improving themselves economically and culturally, however, every other nation must remain in lock-step, and submit to the desultory mandates of 'the United States of the World'. This applies to every nation of the world and even to organizations like the United Nations, 192 nations strong.
But the world is sending its own message back to the U.S.A., the world's number one protagonist nation. The world is saying that we are dynamic as well, and we will not be contained or constrained, or live our lives according to the mandates of the United States of America, simply because you have more and bigger guns.
Folks, if we believed in autonomy and freedom as much as we say that we did (something that has never been fully practiced in the USA), then we would, if anything, help each nation to find its own way, and we would respect their choices (just as God allows us to find our own way and to make our own choices). Instead the term 'democracy', and the efforts by the U.S.A. to spread democracy is nothing more than America hiding behind a euphemism in order to continue to engage in totalitarian practices. I don't believe that totalitarianism by any nation is of God!
America concluded long ago that its way (not God's way) was the right way. And America tries each and every day to force its designs upon the rest of the world (in hopes of maintaining its place at the top of the world order)!
I know that many will disagree and argue that America stopped Hitler and the III Reich. I will remind all of you that America was the last to join the fight, and I am sure that it was last to join the fight because America was engaging in many of the same practices as Hitler was, both at home and abroad. America was also actively discriminating against and murdering its own minority citizens, and pushing its expansionist agenda around the world at the same time that it joined in the fight against Hitler and the Third Reich!
We never did that you say? I encourage you to simply ask the Native Americans, blacks, the natives of Hawaii, and the other people of `the Americas, shall I go on, whether or not America was racist and as vicious as Hitler and the Third Reich. And where was the church? Much like the Church at Pergamos, in John's revelatory vision, the church was as it is today, 'settled into the world', and complicitous with the ways of the world.
Folks, God will tell us the truth no matter who or what we are, why don’t we do that ourselves before God has to, which may result in judgment being brought on America, of the kind that we have dished out on other nations. For God is not a man that he should lie, or the son of man that he should repent. I suspect that if the American engine does not 'turn over' soon, God will replace it with a new one'! And America and the world needs that, because it would appear that America, which is seeking after money and wealth (church and state), has lost sight of its true direction, not to mention that it has lost sight of the reason why God created nations and human government in the first place!
As I conclude: Many of us watched that racist and disgraceful film, 'The Birth of A Nation' at one time or another. And many of us know that this poorly conceived caricaturization of American blacks versus the good white American, was an accurate portrayal at one time of many white Americans. Sadly many of the latter were practicing men and women of gentry, Christian Americans no less. That film, not meaning to do so, demonstrated how good church going people could be totally off-base in terms of their commitment to God and his teachings; certainly they were not followers of Christ's teachings.
How schizophrenic was it that a group of Americans in the KKK would invoke the cross and the name of Jesus Christ (a Jew) while simultaneously hating Jews, and blacks? And keep in mind that kind of schizophrenia is alive and well in American religious and political circles until this day; in fact that kind of schizophrenia is interwoven into the fabric of our society today, even though many will deny it. The same group of individuals and groups will for example point out the problems of sectarianism in other nations, but they will never admit to the racial, class and sectarian problems that are prevalent in American society today.
Folks, we have witnessed the birth and rise of a 230-year old nation; is it then so far-fetched that we could also soon witness the 'death of a nation', our own? Is America dying? God shared something with me about a decade ago, and I have shared it with a few of my intimate contacts. You read it, think about it and decide what it means to you. He said, with regards to America a nation that is always invoking its 'rights', that America also 'Has The Right To Be A Nation Of Recent History'. How do you interpret that statement!
Peace & Grace
The Rev
P.S. In case you are concerned, God's preachers and his prophets have always been tasked with the responsibility of telling the truth and speaking truth to power, particularly to their own nations and countrymen and women!
Next Topic: The State Of The State Church!
Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that thou didst set thou heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.
But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me...! Daniel 10:12-13.
If the Prince of Persia is still in the Middle-East, what is America doing in near-Babylon, and where is the Prince of Peace?
```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
In the minds of most Americans, every other nation is in some way considered to be either bad, secular or simply inferior to the United States of America. And Americans will readily identify those individuals or other nations that they consider to be inferior to America. Talk Show commentator Oprah Winfrey declared on her show recently, that it would have been impossible for a person of her original stature to rise to the heights that she has risen to in any other country in the world. Although I understand Oprah's patriotism, Oprah, however, is sadly misinformed.
1). Americans are clearly biased, and the fact is that Americans are in many ways all of the negative things that they accuse other people and other nations of being (there is none perfect, no not one)?
2). What spirit is driving an America that names the name of Christ, but does things in ways that are just the opposite of his teachings (particularly when America, among all nations, knows the ways of God)?
3). How and why is it that in Christian America, we can turn on our [terrorvisions] daily and witness all forms of violence, including robbery, rape, burglaries, debauchery and hatred, and I haven't even discussed America's other problems of social anomie?
4). What is holding America together? One could argue that America is being held together because the largest and most heavily-armed paramilitary civilian force over 500,000 policemen) in the world, works overtime to prevent American citizens from devouring each other. Yet we will proclaim to the world that we are the good guys, and the rest of you are the bad guys! However, we learn from scripture, that 'righteousness exalts a nation, and sin is a reproach to any people'.
According to the above scriptures, what spirit are we really of America, and what is the driving force (internally and externally), behind warring, violent and desultory America? Is it not the 'prince of the power of the air'?
Part I
America is the engine that drives the world, some say, but what is its destination?
Although spoken in terms of the world-wide economy, the phrase applies to more than commerce and trade; there is even more at stake than mammon.
If world conditions are to change at all in 2007, then America will have to change first. If America is to change at all, its people must change and in turn force America's leaders to change and to become responsive to the wishes of 'its altered people', who will have begun to turn towards obeying the word of the Lord. What we need in America is a healthy dose of realism. Our nation is awash in pseudo-patriotic apologists, who in spite of their good but naive intentions help to keep this country in stasis.
And all that does is to prevent this country and its leaders from making realistic assessments about the state of America, and the changes that will be necessary in order for America to heal. An honest assessment would help America to recognize the negative influences that America has and is having on the world, and help America to do something to about the negatives that it has introduced to the world. Why? Because the world is 'reacting' to American misbehavior(s). Many nations in the world are arming themselves (with nukes) seeking to acquire the kind of wealth, that will give them status in the world and help them to counter the American juggernaut.
Some dyed-in the wool American apologists will only speak of the purported good that America does (never without cost); they will at the same time ignore the negative impact that the ' American-engine' is having and has had on the rest of the world. Most of the world derides American comity, particularly when America and some Americans say that all that America has in mind is doing what is best for the rest of the world. To the people of Iraq many Americans would say, well yes we destroyed your country, but look on the bright side, we got rid of Saddam and someday you will rebuild your nation; and by the way, no thanks will be required! Most Iraqis would respond, but somehow we don't feel that we have been liberated or that we are free to rebuild.
The fact is that the reason that nothing changes in America is because some Americans are proponents of partial truth, and they do not want to see in changes made. The same individuals will never admit to the truth about America, even as they busy themselves pointing out the faults of other nations and people on the planet. The group of Americans, who joined in with the realistic Americans lately, those who tried to stop the war in Iraq from its onset, did not experience a change of mind for altruistic reasons. Many attributed their change of mind to practical reasons, and others because they felt that the war in Iraq was having a negative impact on their pocketbooks!
PART II
America expects the rest of the world to change and at the same time to remain the same, just as America is doing in one strategic area; America is doing all that it can to remain atop the 'world order'. In other words, America approves of the rest of the world improving themselves economically and culturally, however, every other nation must remain in lock-step, and submit to the desultory mandates of 'the United States of the World'. This applies to every nation of the world and even to organizations like the United Nations, 192 nations strong.
But the world is sending its own message back to the U.S.A., the world's number one protagonist nation. The world is saying that we are dynamic as well, and we will not be contained or constrained, or live our lives according to the mandates of the United States of America, simply because you have more and bigger guns.
Folks, if we believed in autonomy and freedom as much as we say that we did (something that has never been fully practiced in the USA), then we would, if anything, help each nation to find its own way, and we would respect their choices (just as God allows us to find our own way and to make our own choices). Instead the term 'democracy', and the efforts by the U.S.A. to spread democracy is nothing more than America hiding behind a euphemism in order to continue to engage in totalitarian practices. I don't believe that totalitarianism by any nation is of God!
America concluded long ago that its way (not God's way) was the right way. And America tries each and every day to force its designs upon the rest of the world (in hopes of maintaining its place at the top of the world order)!
I know that many will disagree and argue that America stopped Hitler and the III Reich. I will remind all of you that America was the last to join the fight, and I am sure that it was last to join the fight because America was engaging in many of the same practices as Hitler was, both at home and abroad. America was also actively discriminating against and murdering its own minority citizens, and pushing its expansionist agenda around the world at the same time that it joined in the fight against Hitler and the Third Reich!
We never did that you say? I encourage you to simply ask the Native Americans, blacks, the natives of Hawaii, and the other people of `the Americas, shall I go on, whether or not America was racist and as vicious as Hitler and the Third Reich. And where was the church? Much like the Church at Pergamos, in John's revelatory vision, the church was as it is today, 'settled into the world', and complicitous with the ways of the world.
Folks, God will tell us the truth no matter who or what we are, why don’t we do that ourselves before God has to, which may result in judgment being brought on America, of the kind that we have dished out on other nations. For God is not a man that he should lie, or the son of man that he should repent. I suspect that if the American engine does not 'turn over' soon, God will replace it with a new one'! And America and the world needs that, because it would appear that America, which is seeking after money and wealth (church and state), has lost sight of its true direction, not to mention that it has lost sight of the reason why God created nations and human government in the first place!
As I conclude: Many of us watched that racist and disgraceful film, 'The Birth of A Nation' at one time or another. And many of us know that this poorly conceived caricaturization of American blacks versus the good white American, was an accurate portrayal at one time of many white Americans. Sadly many of the latter were practicing men and women of gentry, Christian Americans no less. That film, not meaning to do so, demonstrated how good church going people could be totally off-base in terms of their commitment to God and his teachings; certainly they were not followers of Christ's teachings.
How schizophrenic was it that a group of Americans in the KKK would invoke the cross and the name of Jesus Christ (a Jew) while simultaneously hating Jews, and blacks? And keep in mind that kind of schizophrenia is alive and well in American religious and political circles until this day; in fact that kind of schizophrenia is interwoven into the fabric of our society today, even though many will deny it. The same group of individuals and groups will for example point out the problems of sectarianism in other nations, but they will never admit to the racial, class and sectarian problems that are prevalent in American society today.
Folks, we have witnessed the birth and rise of a 230-year old nation; is it then so far-fetched that we could also soon witness the 'death of a nation', our own? Is America dying? God shared something with me about a decade ago, and I have shared it with a few of my intimate contacts. You read it, think about it and decide what it means to you. He said, with regards to America a nation that is always invoking its 'rights', that America also 'Has The Right To Be A Nation Of Recent History'. How do you interpret that statement!
Peace & Grace
The Rev
P.S. In case you are concerned, God's preachers and his prophets have always been tasked with the responsibility of telling the truth and speaking truth to power, particularly to their own nations and countrymen and women!
Next Topic: The State Of The State Church!
Jan 2, 2007
A Just Foreign Policy By A Christian Nation: Now There's A Thought!
What is truly wrong with America and most Americans is that neither one is interested in having the nation defended under a just foreign policy. Too many Americans, even Christian Americans, are satisfied with a foreign policy that is in direct contradiction to the word of God, and it is in contradiction in almost every way!
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Too many Americans have drunk the kool-aid, and they believe that it is okay for America to engage in the same behaviors that they accused Saddam and others of having wrongfully engaged in (and in fact worse behaviors), in order to reportedly defend this nation. As a result, Americans, even Americans who consider themselves to be 'believers' have accepted lying, malfeasance, espionage, murder, invading countries, occupying countries, murdering innocent people and all the rest as being par for the course for Christians all over the world, as well as for America and its allies. Many so-called believers have forgotten that although we are in the world, we are not to be 'of the world'; we should be setting a standard for the world and an example to our own carnal and apparently religious leaders!
Interestingly enough, for other nations and people who are not allied with the United States, the same behavior is still considered criminal and therefore punishable behavior in the eyes of Americans and by the United States government. And what nation do you suppose is the one that usually insists upon those other nations or their leaders being punished as it excuses itself for similar behavior, even when it means turning another nation's leader over to a 'lynch mob'? Does anyone recall what happened when Iraq, under the leadership of Saddam invaded and attempted to occupy Kuwait, just over a decade ago? Well, the United States responded by organizing a coalition of nations to drive them out. And what did the United States do itself, in deference to international law and the United Nations, just five years ago, it illegally invaded and still is occupying the once sovereign nation of Iraq? Somewhat hypocritical, wouldn't you say?
I am amazed by the number of pastors who are on board with and in bed with such a venal policy. In my mind this represents just another failure of 'sold-out' American Christian pulpits that are presided over by ministers who are part and parcel of the 'American capitalist show me the money church syndrome', in America! And what were most of America's 'religious-lite' ministers preaching about when 9/11 snuck up on them and America approximately 5 years ago? Many were preaching about, 'just wars', 'the prosperity Gospel', 'going mega' and the 'prayer of Jabezz' particularly how to blow up and acquire wealth. The latter being a secularist American ideal that was brought into the church by American preachers who were trying to acquire wealth and to expand their congregations; the more members, the more revenue and more tithes!
NEWSFLASH America, having a just foreign policy and protecting America, the two are not mutually exclusively! My God what is wrong with some twisted Americans, professed Christian or not? If you still don't get it, America can have a just foreign policy and still defend itself and its citizens. And an unjust nation with an unjust foreign policy is in no position to judge anyone or any other nation, not even Satan (interpret as you will)? Ah, Hugo Chavez, how prophetic? Christians will recall that Satan was attributed with the distinction of being, the Father of lies.
WHAT SPIRIT IS AMERICA really of lately? Have some of you considered that question? What is really driving America, when we refer to ourselves as a Christian nation, a nation that says, IN GOD WE TRUST? America does not trust in God, America trusts in guns, nukes, evil alliances, surveillance, espionage, covert operations, lying, malfeasance, fomenting unrest in unsuspecting nations and political insanity. And America, appears to be driven by a spirit of consumerism, militarism and protectionism, we are just another world empire that has drifted further and further away from God. We are the American empire; we are to ourselves the real American idol that is to be revered by all other nations of the world!
And how about the late Saddam Hussein, and what a tragic figure in this sense? Saddam was just another one of those tragic figures who made the mistake of getting in bed with the United States of America. They have a saying in Pakistan that I learned about earlier this year. As the saying goes, 'the United States will treat you just like a rubber, they will use you (for protection) but when they are finished, they will peel you off and throw you away! And that is what America did with Saddam. He was okay, as long as he allowed himself to be used by the United States. Graphic for a Reverend to repeat such a saying, would any of you say? Come on, the Bible speaks about those who, 'piss against the wall', and others in even more graphic terms.
The fact is that America played footsie with Saddam for years; we encouraged him and supported him in wrong doing. We even participated in joint war games, assisted him in acquiring weapons of mass destructions, encouraged him to use toxic materials against the people of Iran, and assisted him with intelligence information that could be used in attacking other nations. In fact at one time, we were using Saddam to help stabilize the region!
However, when he was no longer useful to the United States, Saddam was simply discarded and subsequently turned over to a 'lynch mob'. Did he do anything wrong? Well, we know that he engaged in much of the same misbehavior that the United States has engaged in itself in over the past and in the present. Is it wrong to engage in similar behavior, well, I guess it depends on whether you are an American President, or a leader of an eastern or near-eastern country? Had he not been kept incarcerated and eventually murdered, what secrets might he have revealed about America's participations in his past activities? What was America trying to hide when it ordered the U.N. inspectors out of Iraq, when there were clearly no WMDs? What is it that America did not want the inspectors or the world to find out about?
And what is wrong again with America and most Americans is that Americans are no longer interested in having their nation defended by a just foreign policy, and they believe that it okay for America to engage in the same behaviors that they accused Saddam and others of having wrongfully engaged in.
Having said that, AMERICA HELPED TO CREATE SADDAM HUSSEIN, and right now we are in the process of creating other SADDAMs around the world! I hope that they are taking note of what just took place with a nation and its foreign policy that has 'gone wild', for their days will also be numbered when they step out of line; anyone heard from Noriega for example, lately? Who's next?
What does God have to say about America? Well does anyone recall when God permitted the Chaldeans to be the world's dominate power, and after using them to accomplish his purposes, he destroyed them? And again, if we were to consider the eschatological implications of the United States occupation of near-Babylon, there is some symmetry here.
The Spirit of ancient Babylon and of the ancient Chaldeans, has evidently thrived in America for just over two centuries now. Will we receive the same damnation for American misbehavior? This entire matter truly gives one pause and something to be concerned about!
And who will help America when its political and religious leaders are apparently on the same heading, and joined arm in arm, leading America apparently towards its own destruction? We all need to do some introspection, particularly those who have truly been born again! We are citizens of the United States, but our true citizenship is in the Kingdom of God. We are fellow-citizens with the saints...! When the wheels came off, as they have apparently done in our country, there is only one thing left for God's remnant in America to do.
First, we must remember who's we are, and just as the Apostles many times were required to do in their day, we must choose the word of God over patriotism. We must also speak truth to power, instead of believing in, conceding to and being led about by just any spirit (even at the church).
Jesus died, standing up for righteousness, and like him, we are to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, even when it means shining the light on our nation's (including our churches) wrongdoings!
Peace & Grace
The Rev
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Too many Americans have drunk the kool-aid, and they believe that it is okay for America to engage in the same behaviors that they accused Saddam and others of having wrongfully engaged in (and in fact worse behaviors), in order to reportedly defend this nation. As a result, Americans, even Americans who consider themselves to be 'believers' have accepted lying, malfeasance, espionage, murder, invading countries, occupying countries, murdering innocent people and all the rest as being par for the course for Christians all over the world, as well as for America and its allies. Many so-called believers have forgotten that although we are in the world, we are not to be 'of the world'; we should be setting a standard for the world and an example to our own carnal and apparently religious leaders!
Interestingly enough, for other nations and people who are not allied with the United States, the same behavior is still considered criminal and therefore punishable behavior in the eyes of Americans and by the United States government. And what nation do you suppose is the one that usually insists upon those other nations or their leaders being punished as it excuses itself for similar behavior, even when it means turning another nation's leader over to a 'lynch mob'? Does anyone recall what happened when Iraq, under the leadership of Saddam invaded and attempted to occupy Kuwait, just over a decade ago? Well, the United States responded by organizing a coalition of nations to drive them out. And what did the United States do itself, in deference to international law and the United Nations, just five years ago, it illegally invaded and still is occupying the once sovereign nation of Iraq? Somewhat hypocritical, wouldn't you say?
I am amazed by the number of pastors who are on board with and in bed with such a venal policy. In my mind this represents just another failure of 'sold-out' American Christian pulpits that are presided over by ministers who are part and parcel of the 'American capitalist show me the money church syndrome', in America! And what were most of America's 'religious-lite' ministers preaching about when 9/11 snuck up on them and America approximately 5 years ago? Many were preaching about, 'just wars', 'the prosperity Gospel', 'going mega' and the 'prayer of Jabezz' particularly how to blow up and acquire wealth. The latter being a secularist American ideal that was brought into the church by American preachers who were trying to acquire wealth and to expand their congregations; the more members, the more revenue and more tithes!
NEWSFLASH America, having a just foreign policy and protecting America, the two are not mutually exclusively! My God what is wrong with some twisted Americans, professed Christian or not? If you still don't get it, America can have a just foreign policy and still defend itself and its citizens. And an unjust nation with an unjust foreign policy is in no position to judge anyone or any other nation, not even Satan (interpret as you will)? Ah, Hugo Chavez, how prophetic? Christians will recall that Satan was attributed with the distinction of being, the Father of lies.
WHAT SPIRIT IS AMERICA really of lately? Have some of you considered that question? What is really driving America, when we refer to ourselves as a Christian nation, a nation that says, IN GOD WE TRUST? America does not trust in God, America trusts in guns, nukes, evil alliances, surveillance, espionage, covert operations, lying, malfeasance, fomenting unrest in unsuspecting nations and political insanity. And America, appears to be driven by a spirit of consumerism, militarism and protectionism, we are just another world empire that has drifted further and further away from God. We are the American empire; we are to ourselves the real American idol that is to be revered by all other nations of the world!
And how about the late Saddam Hussein, and what a tragic figure in this sense? Saddam was just another one of those tragic figures who made the mistake of getting in bed with the United States of America. They have a saying in Pakistan that I learned about earlier this year. As the saying goes, 'the United States will treat you just like a rubber, they will use you (for protection) but when they are finished, they will peel you off and throw you away! And that is what America did with Saddam. He was okay, as long as he allowed himself to be used by the United States. Graphic for a Reverend to repeat such a saying, would any of you say? Come on, the Bible speaks about those who, 'piss against the wall', and others in even more graphic terms.
The fact is that America played footsie with Saddam for years; we encouraged him and supported him in wrong doing. We even participated in joint war games, assisted him in acquiring weapons of mass destructions, encouraged him to use toxic materials against the people of Iran, and assisted him with intelligence information that could be used in attacking other nations. In fact at one time, we were using Saddam to help stabilize the region!
However, when he was no longer useful to the United States, Saddam was simply discarded and subsequently turned over to a 'lynch mob'. Did he do anything wrong? Well, we know that he engaged in much of the same misbehavior that the United States has engaged in itself in over the past and in the present. Is it wrong to engage in similar behavior, well, I guess it depends on whether you are an American President, or a leader of an eastern or near-eastern country? Had he not been kept incarcerated and eventually murdered, what secrets might he have revealed about America's participations in his past activities? What was America trying to hide when it ordered the U.N. inspectors out of Iraq, when there were clearly no WMDs? What is it that America did not want the inspectors or the world to find out about?
And what is wrong again with America and most Americans is that Americans are no longer interested in having their nation defended by a just foreign policy, and they believe that it okay for America to engage in the same behaviors that they accused Saddam and others of having wrongfully engaged in.
Having said that, AMERICA HELPED TO CREATE SADDAM HUSSEIN, and right now we are in the process of creating other SADDAMs around the world! I hope that they are taking note of what just took place with a nation and its foreign policy that has 'gone wild', for their days will also be numbered when they step out of line; anyone heard from Noriega for example, lately? Who's next?
What does God have to say about America? Well does anyone recall when God permitted the Chaldeans to be the world's dominate power, and after using them to accomplish his purposes, he destroyed them? And again, if we were to consider the eschatological implications of the United States occupation of near-Babylon, there is some symmetry here.
The Spirit of ancient Babylon and of the ancient Chaldeans, has evidently thrived in America for just over two centuries now. Will we receive the same damnation for American misbehavior? This entire matter truly gives one pause and something to be concerned about!
And who will help America when its political and religious leaders are apparently on the same heading, and joined arm in arm, leading America apparently towards its own destruction? We all need to do some introspection, particularly those who have truly been born again! We are citizens of the United States, but our true citizenship is in the Kingdom of God. We are fellow-citizens with the saints...! When the wheels came off, as they have apparently done in our country, there is only one thing left for God's remnant in America to do.
First, we must remember who's we are, and just as the Apostles many times were required to do in their day, we must choose the word of God over patriotism. We must also speak truth to power, instead of believing in, conceding to and being led about by just any spirit (even at the church).
Jesus died, standing up for righteousness, and like him, we are to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, even when it means shining the light on our nation's (including our churches) wrongdoings!
Peace & Grace
The Rev
Dec 28, 2006
Who Will Hang For America's Crimes Against God and Against Humanity? King George Is Not Listening
There is a story...
in the Christian Bible about a King who never wanted to be prophesied to by a certain prophet. Although everything that this particular prophet ever told him was true, the King never wanted to hear from him because the report that the King always received from him was negative; accurate, but negative.
There are people in America who like the King did, refuse to go or to listen to certain physicians, because those physicians might inform them that there is something seriously wrong with them. Those kinds of people live on in denial, and they often self-medicate themselves; some do so until it is too late.
In the same token some Americans will say, "you hate xyz", that is if you were the one to point out either their, or America's faults. And the same people would hate, castigate or turn on you the physician, the one who would simply report or inform them that they have the symptoms of a problem like cancer or some other debilitating illness or disease. Sadly, some have even declared themselves to be healed after hearing their diagnosis, even nations, when in fact they are not healed at all. Some might mistakenly be in remission and some are not even in remission who claim that they have been cured already.
Thank God that some are not like that, some recognize that in order to be cured (as opposed to self-medicating oneself or entering into denial about a problem diagnosis), they would likely thank the doctor, perhaps get another opinion, and then work to resolve the problem. They realize that denying a prognosis, or minimizing a problem would only hinder them from finding a possible cure, if one existed, to a life-ending diagnoses.
There is a cancer which has been eating away at America since its inception; obviously some can never accept that, for it is far too painful for them. Most Americans know that America's problems have grown exponentially, and that America is in trouble independent of what any other person or nation is doing or has done. Has there been 'no balm' in America, since its inception. Why have America's clerics habitually lain in bed with venal politicians? Why are America's Christian clerics in bed with sidewinder politicians today? How can two walk together except they agree?
How are America's 'religious-lite' churches of today doing America any good? The political debacle of the Religious Right, that encouraged the deaths of tens of thousands of human beings in Iraq (over the past 4 years), is a perfect example of the problem with today's religious-lite churches and their leaders included! Like the USA, they are 'mega' and they have 'megabucks' and 'mega outreach', but that is about it. Much like the outspoken Peter who had walked with Jesus for 3 years, many of the leaders of these churches, and 'their members' have been around for years, but they have neither been converted to Christ nor to following Christ's teachings.
If you will simply listen to what is being taught in these churches, you will soon realize that many will die for their church's or American ideals and the American flag, however, they have not yet died unto Christ and neither will they die for the teachings or principles of Jesus Christ! America's religious-lite churches of today, are no more than quasi American politically-correct semi-religous/political organizations!
And like the Jews of old, 'they have simply gone about to establish their own righteousness as opposed to becoming themselves the righteousness of God, and standing up for the righteousness of God' (they have substituted their own form of righteousness in its place). In a Christian nation, one would think that the church would insist that its nation's foreign policy be centered around the teachings of God and take into consideration the needs of all of God's creation, and all of the creatures who are a part of God's creation. But we all know that that is not the case, and that religious-lite churches of today fully support America's policy of political expansionism, hegemony, illegal espionage and outright murder. And all of this is being done while American politicians continue to ask God to 'bless America! Where is the mercy and where is the grace of God in any of this, and what happened to true church body of baptized believers who are in Christ and Christ's body?
The cancer of greed, selfishness, and self-perpetuation at all costs, extortion, religious immersion/compromise, self-absorption, duplicity, pride, idolatry, militarism, hegemony, totalitarianism, state and citizen sanctioned-malfeasance, espionage and denial have eaten away at America. The cancer has metastasized and is out in the open for all to see, except for those who are willfully and stubbornly blinded. Many who will not admit to America's cancer refuse to do so because they are still hoping to reap from America's promises of its largesse (they are willing to overlook all of its flaws and criminal behaviors in and around the world).
The symptoms as well as the illness are manifest and have been confirmed; and the prognosis is poor. America always was, and still is a racially-divided, class-structured, militarist, get-rich, egomaniacal, totalitarian nation. And if you know anything about nations that have had symptoms similar to those of the United States, nations that continue to do things in order to compensate for the dark side of their behavior, Americans are not quite as ingratiating in terms of explaining away their sick and murderous behaviors. This is especially true of those nations that are not friendly to the United States or vice versa, such as The Democratic Republic of Korea, Iran and Iraq.
On the other hand those nations who are friendly to the United States, that beneath the specter of the good that they do (to cover up for the evil that they continue to do and have done), receive support and encouragement from America to continue to misbehave in the same manner that they have engaged in the past. And they do so with the tacit approval and support of the United States; a nation that is guilty of engaging in the same types of misbehavior.
What America is doing in Iraq is flat out wrong; if Saddam is a murderer that should be hanged, so is America, and someone in America should hang! But who will hang for America's crimes against humanity, will America's current President go to the cross and atone for America's sins? American foreign policy was never based on love or on a righteous defense system (and that is pretty sad for a nation that considers itself a Christian nation); America's foreign policy has always been based on the survival of America in deference to all else, the right to take what it wants in deference to all else, and America's right to do so by any means necessary, and in deference to all else.
And that notion originated at the onset, when Europeans (some later to become known as Americans) came in confiscating land, slaughtering the inhabitants, and pressing other humans into servitude. Since there haven't been any apparent or significant consequences for America's behavior, America and some of its citizens are emboldened to continue repeating the same behaviors and to engage in the same conduct, again and again and again.
Why are some Americans stuck in denial about America? I believe that it is so that they can self-medicate themselves against the painful facts of America’s past, how America came into being, and the reasons that it has not released itself from its own self-induced current, and murdering past. And some even pressure other Americans, insisting that in order to be considered a patriot, they too must believe in double-speak and drink the American Kool-aid that is chocked full of venomous poison and lies.
And why are some Americans unwilling to change, or to face up to the truth and to do something about it? I believe it would rock their worlds, overturn 'their false and exaggerated sense of security', and shock them into doing something about their and America's problems, as opposed to pointing out the problems of others (real or imagined or exaggerated).
For many Americans, all that they have left to hold on to, given that they know how violent America is and has been in the world, is to say, 'we are still better than they are', as if that makes everything alright. But what happened to personal responsibility, and to what the scripture said, to whom much is given much is required?
Is America better? Maybe so and maybe not. America has a lethal military and the largest economy in the world (soon to be passed by China's), however, does that make one nation any better than any other nations. The fact is that America's problems still fester, independently of and in comparison with any other nation, and there is no end in sight or a vision by America to repair America's problems!
In 2007 nothing will change, until America starts working to heal itself, and that begins with being truthful; WE HAVE LIED LONG ENOUGH and America’s king is not listening!
How can America heal itself, if it won't be honest about its prolonged diseased state?
And how can America help any other state, when it has not learned to help itself first by acknowledging or atoning for its own misdeeds?
And who will hang for America's injustices against God and humanity that America has been guilty of for over two centuries or more?
The bible tells us that 'righteousness exalts a nation, and that sin is a reproach to any people; America is not exempt, in spite of the mercy and grace that America has received from God. Truly America has sinned and misrepresented God's purposes on earth, and the souls of innocent men and women in Iraq, who are suffering unjustly, have cried out in their agony to God for help; and the blood of some (similar to Abel's) cries up from the ground. God is obliged to answer them!
And even though it is apparent that the America's king will not listen, will those people who are called by God's name listen and intervene themselves on behalf of all of those in the world, particularly Iraq right now, the same who are suffering as a consequence of American injustice?
Peace & Grace,
Rev. C. Solomon
in the Christian Bible about a King who never wanted to be prophesied to by a certain prophet. Although everything that this particular prophet ever told him was true, the King never wanted to hear from him because the report that the King always received from him was negative; accurate, but negative.
There are people in America who like the King did, refuse to go or to listen to certain physicians, because those physicians might inform them that there is something seriously wrong with them. Those kinds of people live on in denial, and they often self-medicate themselves; some do so until it is too late.
In the same token some Americans will say, "you hate xyz", that is if you were the one to point out either their, or America's faults. And the same people would hate, castigate or turn on you the physician, the one who would simply report or inform them that they have the symptoms of a problem like cancer or some other debilitating illness or disease. Sadly, some have even declared themselves to be healed after hearing their diagnosis, even nations, when in fact they are not healed at all. Some might mistakenly be in remission and some are not even in remission who claim that they have been cured already.
Thank God that some are not like that, some recognize that in order to be cured (as opposed to self-medicating oneself or entering into denial about a problem diagnosis), they would likely thank the doctor, perhaps get another opinion, and then work to resolve the problem. They realize that denying a prognosis, or minimizing a problem would only hinder them from finding a possible cure, if one existed, to a life-ending diagnoses.
There is a cancer which has been eating away at America since its inception; obviously some can never accept that, for it is far too painful for them. Most Americans know that America's problems have grown exponentially, and that America is in trouble independent of what any other person or nation is doing or has done. Has there been 'no balm' in America, since its inception. Why have America's clerics habitually lain in bed with venal politicians? Why are America's Christian clerics in bed with sidewinder politicians today? How can two walk together except they agree?
How are America's 'religious-lite' churches of today doing America any good? The political debacle of the Religious Right, that encouraged the deaths of tens of thousands of human beings in Iraq (over the past 4 years), is a perfect example of the problem with today's religious-lite churches and their leaders included! Like the USA, they are 'mega' and they have 'megabucks' and 'mega outreach', but that is about it. Much like the outspoken Peter who had walked with Jesus for 3 years, many of the leaders of these churches, and 'their members' have been around for years, but they have neither been converted to Christ nor to following Christ's teachings.
If you will simply listen to what is being taught in these churches, you will soon realize that many will die for their church's or American ideals and the American flag, however, they have not yet died unto Christ and neither will they die for the teachings or principles of Jesus Christ! America's religious-lite churches of today, are no more than quasi American politically-correct semi-religous/political organizations!
And like the Jews of old, 'they have simply gone about to establish their own righteousness as opposed to becoming themselves the righteousness of God, and standing up for the righteousness of God' (they have substituted their own form of righteousness in its place). In a Christian nation, one would think that the church would insist that its nation's foreign policy be centered around the teachings of God and take into consideration the needs of all of God's creation, and all of the creatures who are a part of God's creation. But we all know that that is not the case, and that religious-lite churches of today fully support America's policy of political expansionism, hegemony, illegal espionage and outright murder. And all of this is being done while American politicians continue to ask God to 'bless America! Where is the mercy and where is the grace of God in any of this, and what happened to true church body of baptized believers who are in Christ and Christ's body?
The cancer of greed, selfishness, and self-perpetuation at all costs, extortion, religious immersion/compromise, self-absorption, duplicity, pride, idolatry, militarism, hegemony, totalitarianism, state and citizen sanctioned-malfeasance, espionage and denial have eaten away at America. The cancer has metastasized and is out in the open for all to see, except for those who are willfully and stubbornly blinded. Many who will not admit to America's cancer refuse to do so because they are still hoping to reap from America's promises of its largesse (they are willing to overlook all of its flaws and criminal behaviors in and around the world).
The symptoms as well as the illness are manifest and have been confirmed; and the prognosis is poor. America always was, and still is a racially-divided, class-structured, militarist, get-rich, egomaniacal, totalitarian nation. And if you know anything about nations that have had symptoms similar to those of the United States, nations that continue to do things in order to compensate for the dark side of their behavior, Americans are not quite as ingratiating in terms of explaining away their sick and murderous behaviors. This is especially true of those nations that are not friendly to the United States or vice versa, such as The Democratic Republic of Korea, Iran and Iraq.
On the other hand those nations who are friendly to the United States, that beneath the specter of the good that they do (to cover up for the evil that they continue to do and have done), receive support and encouragement from America to continue to misbehave in the same manner that they have engaged in the past. And they do so with the tacit approval and support of the United States; a nation that is guilty of engaging in the same types of misbehavior.
What America is doing in Iraq is flat out wrong; if Saddam is a murderer that should be hanged, so is America, and someone in America should hang! But who will hang for America's crimes against humanity, will America's current President go to the cross and atone for America's sins? American foreign policy was never based on love or on a righteous defense system (and that is pretty sad for a nation that considers itself a Christian nation); America's foreign policy has always been based on the survival of America in deference to all else, the right to take what it wants in deference to all else, and America's right to do so by any means necessary, and in deference to all else.
And that notion originated at the onset, when Europeans (some later to become known as Americans) came in confiscating land, slaughtering the inhabitants, and pressing other humans into servitude. Since there haven't been any apparent or significant consequences for America's behavior, America and some of its citizens are emboldened to continue repeating the same behaviors and to engage in the same conduct, again and again and again.
Why are some Americans stuck in denial about America? I believe that it is so that they can self-medicate themselves against the painful facts of America’s past, how America came into being, and the reasons that it has not released itself from its own self-induced current, and murdering past. And some even pressure other Americans, insisting that in order to be considered a patriot, they too must believe in double-speak and drink the American Kool-aid that is chocked full of venomous poison and lies.
And why are some Americans unwilling to change, or to face up to the truth and to do something about it? I believe it would rock their worlds, overturn 'their false and exaggerated sense of security', and shock them into doing something about their and America's problems, as opposed to pointing out the problems of others (real or imagined or exaggerated).
For many Americans, all that they have left to hold on to, given that they know how violent America is and has been in the world, is to say, 'we are still better than they are', as if that makes everything alright. But what happened to personal responsibility, and to what the scripture said, to whom much is given much is required?
Is America better? Maybe so and maybe not. America has a lethal military and the largest economy in the world (soon to be passed by China's), however, does that make one nation any better than any other nations. The fact is that America's problems still fester, independently of and in comparison with any other nation, and there is no end in sight or a vision by America to repair America's problems!
In 2007 nothing will change, until America starts working to heal itself, and that begins with being truthful; WE HAVE LIED LONG ENOUGH and America’s king is not listening!
How can America heal itself, if it won't be honest about its prolonged diseased state?
And how can America help any other state, when it has not learned to help itself first by acknowledging or atoning for its own misdeeds?
And who will hang for America's injustices against God and humanity that America has been guilty of for over two centuries or more?
The bible tells us that 'righteousness exalts a nation, and that sin is a reproach to any people; America is not exempt, in spite of the mercy and grace that America has received from God. Truly America has sinned and misrepresented God's purposes on earth, and the souls of innocent men and women in Iraq, who are suffering unjustly, have cried out in their agony to God for help; and the blood of some (similar to Abel's) cries up from the ground. God is obliged to answer them!
And even though it is apparent that the America's king will not listen, will those people who are called by God's name listen and intervene themselves on behalf of all of those in the world, particularly Iraq right now, the same who are suffering as a consequence of American injustice?
Peace & Grace,
Rev. C. Solomon
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