America, A will to Stand

After the response of my first blog titled “Why I am no longer an African American”, I have discovered that there are many in this country who desire not to walk in the shadows of our past. In the past couple of weeks, the people of this great nation has watched the liberal left incite racial tensions like many have not experienced in a long time. It appears that now everything is a ploy for race baiting and the stirring of racial tensions. How can the evil face of racism be so intensified in one of the most racially accepting times in our country’s history? There is a very identifiable source to the racial tensions that are constantly arising. Race baiting can only be deployed on those who have a dysfunctional disposition toward it. In this cycle, race baiting is to liberal blacks as strong drink is to an alcoholic.

White liberals have convinced those in the black community that their hatred toward white Christian Evangelicals is justifiable. Can racism be justifiable? Many radical blacks from the 1960’s who are still stuck in the past obviously think so. As we think about the cycle of racism in this country there has existed a cycle of justifying ones hatred toward another. First the slave becomes equal to the free man, receiving land and opportunities equal to the free man. This develops a spirit of racism on the justification that blacks were inferior and therefore did not deserve equal rights. This attitude was held and even encouraged by some churches. I wonder if the churches back then had Bibles to read from and if they had Bibles did they contain passages of Scripture like those found in John 3:16-17, which says,

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17"For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him."

These Scriptures do not make any mention of conditions that would negate God’s extension of grace. It does not say “unless”, “except”, “in the even of”, or any other phrase, word or terms that would cause those reading it to give claim to any justification. God’s Word said that He sent Jesus into the “world” to save “whosoever”. This does not give reference to ethnicity, race, age, gender, economic status, educational accomplishments, physical stature or any of the superficial categorizing that happens as humans relate to each other. However, the racism that arose after the period of Emancipation, appear justifiable to those who embraced it. This type of reasoning kept many conditions of segregation alive and well in our country until the radical 1960’s. As Americans became more knowledgeable, the attitude about racism changed and many whites would take to the streets with Dr. King in an effort to eradicate racism in the United States during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s.

I am mainly speaking about black and white Americans in this post but there are many races of people that can be place in this same case against Americans, specifically white Evangelical Americans. There are other races that may seem that they are justified in their hate toward another group because _________. Japanese can hate Americans because of what happened at Hiroshima. Jews can hate Germans because of what happened at the Holocaust. Mexicans can hate Americans because of what happened at the Spanish American war, and so forth and so on. Everyone has their justifications for hating the next group, but is it right? Before I changed my life in 1992, I felt I could as well justify my dislikes for whites. However, as I was discipled in the ways of Christ I discovered a host of problems that were arising due to my way of thinking. 1 John 4 was a book that changed my life in many ways. Today, I am perplexed at how so many people were able to by pass this and many more passages of Scriptures that would destroy anyone’s justification of hating another person. In 1 John 4:19-21, it says,

"If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can[c] he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also."

These Scriptures leave no room for justifications. If we love God, we “must” love our brothers and sisters also. Could God be talking about our blood relatives in this Scripture? No he is talking about any human being. One may ask, “what if the person did something so horrible that forgiveness is not possible?” If someone killed my ancestors because they did not like them, could that be justifiable? How about if they lynched 100 black people, that would make it bad enough to not love and to not forgive, right? God made sure He took care of every situation when He provided this Scripture in Matthew 6:14-16,

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Furthermore God says, this in 2 Corinthians 5:17,
17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

As I grew in my faith and was presented with each of these passages of Scripture, my entire viewpoint about people changed. Just these passages of Scripture left me with no defense of the grudges I once held against whites. I was stripped completely and was left with only one choice; love with a sincere heart. I had to find a way to live out the Word of God in loving others, even those I once believed I could not love. As I continued to step out and befriend others especially whites, I discovered the most beautiful thing of all. I could love anyone, if I allowed my heart to. If I extended a hand of grace instead of a fist of hatred, lives could be change and new relationships could be built. I loved this new world that I began to exist in. The more I reached out the farther I parted with those old ways of hatred. Today, I could not comprehend how a person can hate someone because of race or be unforgiving because of a past hurt.

As I watch the President’s supporters and his Administration throw up the issue of race at every opportunity available, I understand why. White liberals know that black racist hold on to their racism because they deem it justifiable. Blacks are falsely reminded that it is the white Christian that caused them the pain they endured. They neglect to also remind these same blacks that white liberals of today’s where those Christians who held racist feeling during those dark days. They neglect to inform them that there were two groups of white Christians. The Republican who held to Christian values as those of conservatives today, and the Democrat Christians who embraced Jim Crow laws. During the 1960’s when race relations were the worst, liberal whites discovered their golden goose, when Republicans oppose Affirmative Action.

Republicans desired different ways of obtaining equal employment opportunities but Democrats saw something different; the black vote. The opposition of Republicans to Affirmative Action provided Democrats with their perfect setting for race baiting and justifiable racism against Conservative whites. Black leaders felt that the Democrat Party was embracing their cause for social justice and funneled these race baiting ideologies through the black church. Black Church leaders saw an opportunity to gain a voice and power during these times and obliged this message instead of spreading the reconciliatory message of the Gospel and extend God’s love and the right hand of fellowship to all.

In the many encouraging responses to “Why I am no longer an African American”, I noticed a distinct pattern arising. Everyone who responded positively was Conservative or referred to themselves as Conservative Christians, and the few that responded negatively were liberals. Liberals can not bear the thought of their race baiting tactics not working. They must work in order to keep this country divided and the black vote in tact. But the process has begun and we who embrace the principles of America will not be lead astray by race baiting. Race may be a driving force for the racist liberal but it will no longer divide Americans. Those of us, who has chosen to stand together, have left behind our justifications and we embrace each other as one people. Racism and race baiting, may work in the world where liberals live. But as the spirit of America returns, we will overcome this enemy within. This enemy that wishes to divide and conquer, will only bring us closer together.

My hope is that blacks that have been chained by the so-called justifications of racial hatred will realize their error, for there is no justification for racism, it is wrong no matter what reason you may have for it. The enemy is not an American brother or sister but the hatred that has kept us apart. Think about it.

The High Road

I was met this morning in my devotion time with a rather bold challenge I would like to share. Since the election of Barak Obama to the presidency of the United States, I have been seeing our country through some very dismal lenses. Each day brings about a new challenge for our already struggling country. Those of us who grip our heart at the fierce and rapid pace by which Obama and his administration is transitioning this country to a European look-alike, are increasing daily. As Obama loses support his ambition to bring about the America that he envisions becomes more urgent. We have shouted, we have yelled, we have gotten mad, we have blogged our thoughts and views but what have we really done to save this great nation. What is happening to our nation is not just political it is spiritual. In many ways we have exchanged the good heritage of this country for a much more sinister one.

One of the things I was challenged about is my role as a Christian in the situation of our country. Proverbs 26:4-5 says this:

Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will also be like him. 5(Answer a fool as his folly deserves, that he not be (E)wise in his own eyes.

I had to think about what answer I had for the things I disagreed with in these past months. One of the things I have now discovered in all of this is that Obama and his administration are hoping for our continued bitterness and anger over his decisions. Can God work for us when believers behave with ungodly attitudes? This is very hard for me to write, I would rather be letting off steam like we have been accustomed to doing. But what do we accomplish? Our strength is in administering the love, grace and mercies of God. God is not impartial to believers when they speak out in ways that are not like Him. We have power within us to change the course of these events if we are led by the spirit of God and behave in lack manner.

So tonight I am asking all of those who are like minded to consider taking a new direction. Joshua 1:9-11 says this and I believe it is appropriate for the place we find ourselves as Americans:

9"Have I not commanded you? (A)Be strong and courageous! (B)Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." 10Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, 11"pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, saying, 'prepare provisions for yourselves, for within (C)three days you are to cross this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you, to possess it.'"

As Joshua encouraged those who were with him, I am also encouraging those of you who stand together to bring this country back from the brink of disaster. There is much we can be doing instead of allowing our hearts to become harden. How do we possess this land again and bring it back to its moral foundation and reverence and God-fearing state? Our greatest work is in becoming visible, actively involved in our local communities and expressing our needs and concerns in the public square. We must join our local community organizations, not those affiliated with a specific party but those affiliated with making policy within our neighborhoods. The greatest mistake I believe we have made is to become silent when major decision was made concerning our way of life. Our silence in past years has caused those who desired to rebrand American to work as if this country was theirs to conquer. But when we so speak it does not have to be filled with bitterness or unforgiveness. Our voices do not have to be insulting or belittling in order to make our point. We can not forget the standard that Christ has set forth for us. When we walk according to the ways of darkness we cause more harm than good. As Christians we have the most powerful weapon on our side, answered prayer. But God’s favor will not be granted to those who are not following His instruction.

When we pray, we must pray without offense of our own. There are times when after I have written a blog, the Spirit of God convicts me and I am left feeling that I could have done things differently. So as of today, I will be removing those blogs that reflect an attitude unlike Christ and embark on writing in a manner that will help take us to a better place. We can turn this country around by living according to the great standards God has set forth for us. It is not that we behave as if we are happy with what is going on in our country, but we have been given hope through Christ Jesus and that hope which we possess must be a beacon a light to all those who are looking up to us. The greatest thing that can happen to our President is that he see’s the error of his ways. But how can they see if they don’t have anything to reflect anything different. I had a visual of what is going on right now. I saw everyone up in arms, fighting and yelling at each other. We were all consumed with what was going wrong, the evil we saw caused evil to take hold of us. This is what happens when we don’t deal spiritually with the things that are happening around us. James 4:6-8 challenges us in this manner:

But (A)He gives a greater grace Therefore it says, "(B)GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE." 7(C)Submit therefore to God (D)Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8(E)Draw near to God and He will draw near to you (F)Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and (G)purify your hearts, you (H)double-minded.

This is exactly what we should be doing, drawing near to God. Not being sucked into the chaos that surrounds us. So I hope that as you read this post that you will consider what God may be saying to you. I hope that you will decide as well to put down the club in your hand and submit our country, our leaders and our future as Americans to God. He is the only one that can change any of this. Will you join me?

Desperate for a Sign

Now that all the fire works of the Obama mania is over and the MSM has nothing to drive ones falsely perceived views of Obama, what will happen to the left. As I think about the strange obsession the left has with Obama, I am reminded of a passage from the gospel of Matthew 16:3-4, it reads,

"And in the morning, 'There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.' Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times? 4"An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and a sign will not be given it, except the sign of Jonah." And He left them and went away."

While the left are paralyze by their devotion to Obama, the one, who has come about to deliver their long awaited prize of socialism and extreme liberalism upon America, they are oblivious to what comes along with their unscrupulous agenda. Both Jonah and Obama brought a message of change to a nation of people in despair, but there is a stark difference to the kind of message these two men brought to their people. God sent Jonah to warn the people that if they did not change in a positive direction their nation would be wiped out. Jonah’s message was truly change you can believe in and prosper from. Obama’s message is gravely different as the message of liberalism, brings about the very conditions that brought the people of Nineveh to the place of God’s wrath.

Just as in Nineveh the people of America are not aware of where they have fallen. They were desperate for change, yet the change they have chosen is more destructive rather than more constructive to our nation. The people of America looked for a sign, they wanted the sign that someone would come and cure all the ills of America, instead of seeking out how we as American can rise up and cure our ills one person at a time. But as Matthew said, “an evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign”. The message Obama brought to the people felt like balm to those who were weary from fear and panic over our economy, the war in Iraq, the declining housing market and the debacle on Wall Street. When we as a people lose our will to contribute to the prosperity of our nation, we will fall for anything. Obama’s message unlike Jonah does not bring hope but a burden to generations to come. People were more concerned about their 401K’s than they were about the character and leadership abilities of our leaders.

When a people become so centered on self-centered and superficial ideologies, they will become what the people of Nineveh became, an evil and adulterous generation. Nineveh was an Assyrian nation which sits in the present day occupation of Northern Iraq. The people of Nineveh became buck wild in unbridled lawlessness. God seeing their rebellion had had enough and had decided to just take them out. But he instead sent Jonah to preach to the people a message of repentance. At one time, I wondered why Jonah would not want the people of Nineveh to be spared. But as I see the continuous rebellion and arrogant defiance, corruption and immorality that many in America has shown to the blessings God has bestowed on us as a nation, I can now relate to Jonah.

The corruption of our nation comes from the corruption of our leadership. If our courts and our legislators create laws and rights that are in direct defiance of the will of God, we will become like the people of Nineveh. If one sees that their leaders can get away with corruption, or if our leaders are immoral and lacks any principle or moral code what should one expect will come of the people of that nation? Obama and his liberal cohorts want nothing good for America.
Now that his inauguration is over, and he has reached his long awaited 100 days, (I am so glad it’s over) we will now see what this man is really made of. Let me give you a hint. Something that make large balloons sail in the sky. We who are conservatives must take the message of conservatism to the masses.

The principles that form the foundations of conservatism are good for this nation and can put us on a path of moral restoration. We don’t need to become a people that reach the fullness of individual freedom. We must effectively communicate the message of conservatism. The principles of honoring God, life, family and country changes the mindset and attitude of the people and creates an atmosphere for God to dwell with us instead of against us. We are not a people that created ourselves and we must not be lead astray to believe such an empty lie. If the people of Nineveh can see that their path was a path of destruction, I am sure Americans can see where we are headed. Let us be committed to bringing forth change we can all truly believe in.