Key Text: Matt. 2:16-18; Jeremiah 31:15-17
This entry pains me in the wake of the great tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut, but I cannot quench the urging of the Holy Spirit. Twenty children and six adults were viciously murdered in an elementary school. My emotions say that we should never have to hear or see those words, but I just typed them with tears in my eyes. I spent most of Friday and Saturday and now sit here writing this before I can go try and sleep off and on in tears. My heart aches for the families and community affected and my minds ears hear the echoes from millenia ago.
Two major instances of mass murder of children preceded deliverance. First, Moses was born into a world of slavery. The Jews were enslaved to the Egyptians and for fear of revolt the Pharoah issues an edict to murder every male Jewish child aged two and younger. Countless children were to be murdered, but the grace of God spared Moses to deliver His people. We can enter into the debate of why just Moses, but we are not given answers. The answers while important, is not the goal, the grace of God is what it is, sovereign, omniscient. My mind fast-forwards several millenia to the birth of Christ. This is the reason for the season that surrounds us. Christ was born into a world rife with political oppression and despair. We try to frame the birth Christ with shimmering lights and garland. We try to remove the pain and anguish of the labor pains, the panic of Joseph with his wife in throes of labor unable to find a place to stay, and finally the stench of the stable that Jesus was born. Yes, the Savior of the world was born into the squalor of a stable. It was physically completely inglorious, yet it was completely glorious.
But, what sticks out to me as I remember the families in Newtown is the prophecy of Jeremiah 31:15: "Thus says the LORD: 'A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter
weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted
for her children, because they are no more.'" This prophecy is fulfilled in the first two chapters in Matthew. The Magi arrive into the court of King Herod. Herod greets the foreign dignitaries and is regaled with their tale of following a ever persistent star. Herod slyly suggests that they should tell him where the boy king was so that he may worship him as well (Matt. 2). The Magi were warned to not go back to Jerusalem after they served and worshiped the Christ child (not in a manger but in a home). Herod becomes enraged and orders the mass murders of every child under two years old in Judea. Matthew clearly cites the prophecy of Jeremiah. The tears of Rachel, the beloved wife of Jacob and mother of Joseph and Benjamin are clear. (Note: Benjamin's land share of the promised land and Joseph's land share split between his two sons comprise the region of Judea.)
The tears of the mothers and fathers then and the mothers and fathers now dampen the ground. But, I am persuaded and convinced that God has not left us. That just as God set aside Moses and Jesus, He has a plan for those that remain. The lives lost in Newtown are not lost in vain. I hope in Christ, because He has brought me from the brink. I have watched Him bring many that I love from the brink. Paul says to a troubled, distraught church in Rome, "And not only [so], but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that
tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our
hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (Romans 5:3-5 KJV)." The hope I have despite my tears, the hope that lives despite the horrible tragedies now and around the world will not make us ashamed. This hope is that a loving, righteous, all-knowing, gracious, all-powerful, all-respecting, all-feeling, all-everything God sits on the throne and is not derelict. As Jesus says to us, "Blessed are those that mourn, for they shall be comforted (Matt. 5:4).
May God be with those that mourn,
Ernest
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
The Myth of the Pit and the Reality of Hope
There are probably about ten thousand ways I can go with this topic. Well, I should just start with the impetus. Soon after the movie came out, I was invited and accepted the invitation to go see The Dark Knight Rises, the end of the Christopher Nolan story arc of Batman. (Sidebar showing my nerdtastic-ness: Chris Nolan's Batman trilogy is the cinematic equivalent of the Alan Moore's work in the comic world on Batman [cp. The Killing Joke].)
I digress, but there is a theme throughout the movie where the villain, Bane talks about the absurdity of hope. While he puts Gotham under martial law, turning over the rule of the metropolis to the "people", holding them hostage with the core of a nuclear fusion reactor, he promotes hope. To him, hope inspires people to scramble for their own survival and devolve. This perspective is honed in a pit, a jail in the middle of a middle eastern desert. Where regularly inmates are given the chance to climb out of the pit only to fail and lose hope of survival. To make it worse there is the story of the one that made it to the top, which produces hope. Hope that it can be done, the one in million/billion can make it.
This is where Bruce Wayne found himself, this is where many of us find ourselves. We are in pits dug deep into the ground of our lives, the valley within the valley. We see others reach the top and climb out of their pits and it feels like we are trapped in the pits of despair that seem to be bottomless. But, I can tell you that the Bible is clear about the pits of life. The pits of life are false creations of an enemy that cannot get at what he really wants. Look at the story of Job, the discussion that Satan has with God about Job who was described as the most righteous man in the world. Job was so righteous and desired a right relationship with God that he offered sacrifices every day in the case of failings by his children. This is what gets Satan's attention so he approaches God with an challenge against Job's righteousness, He was only righteous because everything was hunky dory or peachy keen. God gave Satan the right to take away his children and his wealth and then when that failed the right to harm Job's body.
I am going to stick a pin here. When I say that pits are false creations, I am not saying that the feelings that you encounter in the pit are not real. the circumstances, the pain, the agony, the shame, despair is very real and should not be minimized. But, I know of something that is more real and more powerful and that is hope. The Bible says that hope does not make us ashamed (Romans 5:3-5). Job held on through his story (which takes place over a remarkably brief period of time) to the hope that he would be rescued and vindicated, liberated, delivered and redeemed. I can point to story after story after story to pull out a nugget of truth about the mythology of the pit from Joseph to Paul. This is the punchline of every pit you encounter in life: "OUR GOD is greater, OUR GOD is stronger, GOD, you are higher than any other." Jesus was raised from the pit of death and was raised victorious forever. In this we can have hope that is unfailing. This reality makes the pit a lie no more than a myth than Batman. So, our challenge is to speak to the pits in our lives with courageous authority and watch the power of God shatter the pit first in our hearts and minds and then in our realities.
"And not only [so], but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (Romans 5:3-5 KJV)."
Be blessed (Sorry for the absence),
Ernest
I digress, but there is a theme throughout the movie where the villain, Bane talks about the absurdity of hope. While he puts Gotham under martial law, turning over the rule of the metropolis to the "people", holding them hostage with the core of a nuclear fusion reactor, he promotes hope. To him, hope inspires people to scramble for their own survival and devolve. This perspective is honed in a pit, a jail in the middle of a middle eastern desert. Where regularly inmates are given the chance to climb out of the pit only to fail and lose hope of survival. To make it worse there is the story of the one that made it to the top, which produces hope. Hope that it can be done, the one in million/billion can make it.
This is where Bruce Wayne found himself, this is where many of us find ourselves. We are in pits dug deep into the ground of our lives, the valley within the valley. We see others reach the top and climb out of their pits and it feels like we are trapped in the pits of despair that seem to be bottomless. But, I can tell you that the Bible is clear about the pits of life. The pits of life are false creations of an enemy that cannot get at what he really wants. Look at the story of Job, the discussion that Satan has with God about Job who was described as the most righteous man in the world. Job was so righteous and desired a right relationship with God that he offered sacrifices every day in the case of failings by his children. This is what gets Satan's attention so he approaches God with an challenge against Job's righteousness, He was only righteous because everything was hunky dory or peachy keen. God gave Satan the right to take away his children and his wealth and then when that failed the right to harm Job's body.
I am going to stick a pin here. When I say that pits are false creations, I am not saying that the feelings that you encounter in the pit are not real. the circumstances, the pain, the agony, the shame, despair is very real and should not be minimized. But, I know of something that is more real and more powerful and that is hope. The Bible says that hope does not make us ashamed (Romans 5:3-5). Job held on through his story (which takes place over a remarkably brief period of time) to the hope that he would be rescued and vindicated, liberated, delivered and redeemed. I can point to story after story after story to pull out a nugget of truth about the mythology of the pit from Joseph to Paul. This is the punchline of every pit you encounter in life: "OUR GOD is greater, OUR GOD is stronger, GOD, you are higher than any other." Jesus was raised from the pit of death and was raised victorious forever. In this we can have hope that is unfailing. This reality makes the pit a lie no more than a myth than Batman. So, our challenge is to speak to the pits in our lives with courageous authority and watch the power of God shatter the pit first in our hearts and minds and then in our realities.
"And not only [so], but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (Romans 5:3-5 KJV)."
Be blessed (Sorry for the absence),
Ernest
Friday, August 10, 2012
The Danger and Entrapment of Forgetfulness
Central Text: Joshua 4:1-11; 24:27
The central text picks up with the Children of Israel under the leadership of Joshua starting their claiming of the Promised Land after the death of Moses on Mount Nebo. Chapter 2 is God showing favor and provision of God through Rahab and chapter 3 the children of Israel begin the crossing of Jordan. God parts the Jordan like the Red Sea not because of a lifted staff but because His presence goes in front (That is a sermon in itself). The children of Israel numbering anywhere for 1-2 million are passing through the dry riverbed and God tells Joshua to turn around after the people have completed passing. He tells him to take twelve stones from the side of the Jordan they came from and carry it with them as they passed by the Ark of the Covenant. They set up a monument on the other side and Joshua sets up a monument in the middle of the Jordan before the waters recede. These were placed there as Joshua explains, that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ 7 then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever. (Joshua 4:6-7 ESV)" The stones are for the children to be taught and to not forget. This is vitally important. We have to lay milestones in our lives for those that follow us (spiritual brothers and sisters). Also, these markers are as Joshua at the close of his life declares, “Behold, this stone shall be a witness against us, for it has heard all the words of the Lord that he spoke to us. Therefore it shall be a witness against you, lest you deal falsely with your God. (Joshua 24:27 ESV)”
I have always been intrigued and enthralled by the Old Testament. I really cannot put my finger on it really. Maybe it's the colorful stories, the very human and often superhuman characters, the consistency of God in judgment, prophecy and encouragement. In my reading the Old Testament, I find a recurring theme of remembering and forgetting. The central character is really a nation of people. God built the nation of Israel on a promise to Abraham and Sarah and we follow the story of God's people through the rest of the Bible. This cyclical theme flows through the whole bible. When the children of Israel remembered God and what God had done they did not sin and prospered when they forgot God and what He had done they chased after other gods, other ways of doing things and this led them into bondage and exile. There is safety in remembering God. Why!? I am glad you asked remembering God's track record breeds trust. Young worshipers look back at your own life, take stock and make a deliberate effort to mark milestones where God has truly blessed and brought you out.
But as much as this is about the stones, this is more about the danger of forgetting the stones. The enemy loves to blind our eyes of the past. Shielding our eyes in the foggy clouds of forgetfulness. The poet James Weldon Johnson in the third of "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing" describes the descent this way, "Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee. Lest our hearts drunk with the wine of the word, we forget Thee;" The poet calls forgetfulness inebriation of the world. Look throughout the Old Testament you see the children of Israel fall into the cycle of addiction. Their addiction? The things of the world. They started sober (in the will of God), made some decisions because they saw the prosperity of the world. One sip of this wine turned into a drink at the bar, just like functional alcoholics they became nominal in the pursuit of God to the point of complete inebriation. This is where they forgot God and what he has done. The more the wine takes hold, the less the power and voice God becomes evident. But, God in His unfailing love was with them in their drunkenness and He sent prophets and judges and righteous kings and ultimately exile to place them in spiritual (covenantial rehab).
But, what about us? What about me and my situation? I am glad you asked. For they were born into covenant, we were born into the wine of the world. All we know is the drink of the world, we were born drunk. But God!! Jesus came to break the cycle, break the chains designed to keep bound. To kill the drunkard and replace that with himself. This is not rehab through detox and temporary sacrifice, this is a rebirth marked by a stone. "The stone that the builders rejected has become the corner (the head of the corner). This is the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes." (Ps. 118:22-23 ESV). This Stone (Christ) is at the heart of the new temple (the Church, cp. 1st Cor. 3:16-(17)), so that we will never forget. Because Christ is now in our heart, does that mean the enemy stops his enticement? Absolutely not!!! Satan is emboldened to bring the wine of the world. John the Apostle describes the taste of the wine, "For all that is in the world--the desires of the flesh and desires of the eyes and pride in possessions." (1st John 1:16 ESV). We are not immune...let me say it again...We ARE NOT IMMUNE-->Salvation never promised immunity from the vicissitudes of life. What salvation promises is overcoming power (cp. Romans 8:26-39). Overcoming is rooted in relationship with an all-powerful God and relationship is born by never forgetting what God has done, will do, and has promised to do. So place down the bottle of the world and drink the cleansing water of the Word and Always remember Jesus.
Be Blessed,
Ernest
The central text picks up with the Children of Israel under the leadership of Joshua starting their claiming of the Promised Land after the death of Moses on Mount Nebo. Chapter 2 is God showing favor and provision of God through Rahab and chapter 3 the children of Israel begin the crossing of Jordan. God parts the Jordan like the Red Sea not because of a lifted staff but because His presence goes in front (That is a sermon in itself). The children of Israel numbering anywhere for 1-2 million are passing through the dry riverbed and God tells Joshua to turn around after the people have completed passing. He tells him to take twelve stones from the side of the Jordan they came from and carry it with them as they passed by the Ark of the Covenant. They set up a monument on the other side and Joshua sets up a monument in the middle of the Jordan before the waters recede. These were placed there as Joshua explains, that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ 7 then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever. (Joshua 4:6-7 ESV)" The stones are for the children to be taught and to not forget. This is vitally important. We have to lay milestones in our lives for those that follow us (spiritual brothers and sisters). Also, these markers are as Joshua at the close of his life declares, “Behold, this stone shall be a witness against us, for it has heard all the words of the Lord that he spoke to us. Therefore it shall be a witness against you, lest you deal falsely with your God. (Joshua 24:27 ESV)”
I have always been intrigued and enthralled by the Old Testament. I really cannot put my finger on it really. Maybe it's the colorful stories, the very human and often superhuman characters, the consistency of God in judgment, prophecy and encouragement. In my reading the Old Testament, I find a recurring theme of remembering and forgetting. The central character is really a nation of people. God built the nation of Israel on a promise to Abraham and Sarah and we follow the story of God's people through the rest of the Bible. This cyclical theme flows through the whole bible. When the children of Israel remembered God and what God had done they did not sin and prospered when they forgot God and what He had done they chased after other gods, other ways of doing things and this led them into bondage and exile. There is safety in remembering God. Why!? I am glad you asked remembering God's track record breeds trust. Young worshipers look back at your own life, take stock and make a deliberate effort to mark milestones where God has truly blessed and brought you out.
But as much as this is about the stones, this is more about the danger of forgetting the stones. The enemy loves to blind our eyes of the past. Shielding our eyes in the foggy clouds of forgetfulness. The poet James Weldon Johnson in the third of "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing" describes the descent this way, "Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee. Lest our hearts drunk with the wine of the word, we forget Thee;" The poet calls forgetfulness inebriation of the world. Look throughout the Old Testament you see the children of Israel fall into the cycle of addiction. Their addiction? The things of the world. They started sober (in the will of God), made some decisions because they saw the prosperity of the world. One sip of this wine turned into a drink at the bar, just like functional alcoholics they became nominal in the pursuit of God to the point of complete inebriation. This is where they forgot God and what he has done. The more the wine takes hold, the less the power and voice God becomes evident. But, God in His unfailing love was with them in their drunkenness and He sent prophets and judges and righteous kings and ultimately exile to place them in spiritual (covenantial rehab).
But, what about us? What about me and my situation? I am glad you asked. For they were born into covenant, we were born into the wine of the world. All we know is the drink of the world, we were born drunk. But God!! Jesus came to break the cycle, break the chains designed to keep bound. To kill the drunkard and replace that with himself. This is not rehab through detox and temporary sacrifice, this is a rebirth marked by a stone. "The stone that the builders rejected has become the corner (the head of the corner). This is the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes." (Ps. 118:22-23 ESV). This Stone (Christ) is at the heart of the new temple (the Church, cp. 1st Cor. 3:16-(17)), so that we will never forget. Because Christ is now in our heart, does that mean the enemy stops his enticement? Absolutely not!!! Satan is emboldened to bring the wine of the world. John the Apostle describes the taste of the wine, "For all that is in the world--the desires of the flesh and desires of the eyes and pride in possessions." (1st John 1:16 ESV). We are not immune...let me say it again...We ARE NOT IMMUNE-->Salvation never promised immunity from the vicissitudes of life. What salvation promises is overcoming power (cp. Romans 8:26-39). Overcoming is rooted in relationship with an all-powerful God and relationship is born by never forgetting what God has done, will do, and has promised to do. So place down the bottle of the world and drink the cleansing water of the Word and Always remember Jesus.
Be Blessed,
Ernest
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Resurrection in a Post-Modern World
The last time I was here I spoke about silence about Trayvon Martin and was not particularly kind to my brothers and sisters. I want to make this clear, that my frustration is rooted in love: love for the Universal Church, Love for the Word of God, Love for the many people in this world, the pain and frustration I feel still as a black man under an oft-times unfair system. I look at the separation and the pain that is allowed to fester in the Western Church and our leaders miss countless opportunities to bridge the painful gaps that divide the Church Universal. I could go deeper, but now is not the time nor the place. I want to talk very specifically and from the heart about the importance of the Resurrection of Christ in our post-modern world.
The life, the crucifixion, the burial and the resurrection of Jesus can never be lost for authentic Christians. It is from these facts, events that we draw hope for our existence. Paul says that if we hope in things that we have already seen, that is not hope. The hope of the future, the revival of the dead things rests in the fact that Christ rose (cf. 1st Corinthians 15). We would be honestly wasting good time on Sundays or how often we participate in worship with other saints if Christ never lived, died or was raised. So in this we have hope...that Christ rose, we too will rise; Christ overcame, we will too over come this world.
So what is the practical response to this? I am glad you asked the question. First, we need to let the resurrection power that Christ have inspire our faith. Second, we need to use that faith to do good in the world. I know does not Paul say, "By grace are you saved through faith, not by works lest anyone should boast proudly." (Ephesians 2:8-9) Absolutely, but that does not absolve us from the need and compulsion to do good works because Paul, then follows up his thought with this, "For we are His (God's) workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has preordained that we should walk in them." (Ephensians 2:10) We were created to do good, to mend the breach, to be ministers of reconciliation. We have to get this in our heads as the church of God in the "post-modern" world. The world are looking at us to be what we say we are. They may be completely clueless on the rudiments of theology, eschatology, soteriology, but they do know what authentic looks like. Christ to them means "love"; God to them means "love". So we need to love truly and honestly. Not just with words, we have to live, love and demonstrate resurrection and transformation. We were not saved to avoid hell...we were not even saved to get to heaven...We were saved to change the world around us by tapping into the power, wisdom, and purpose of YAHWEH and YESHUA.
The life, the crucifixion, the burial and the resurrection of Jesus can never be lost for authentic Christians. It is from these facts, events that we draw hope for our existence. Paul says that if we hope in things that we have already seen, that is not hope. The hope of the future, the revival of the dead things rests in the fact that Christ rose (cf. 1st Corinthians 15). We would be honestly wasting good time on Sundays or how often we participate in worship with other saints if Christ never lived, died or was raised. So in this we have hope...that Christ rose, we too will rise; Christ overcame, we will too over come this world.
So what is the practical response to this? I am glad you asked the question. First, we need to let the resurrection power that Christ have inspire our faith. Second, we need to use that faith to do good in the world. I know does not Paul say, "By grace are you saved through faith, not by works lest anyone should boast proudly." (Ephesians 2:8-9) Absolutely, but that does not absolve us from the need and compulsion to do good works because Paul, then follows up his thought with this, "For we are His (God's) workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has preordained that we should walk in them." (Ephensians 2:10) We were created to do good, to mend the breach, to be ministers of reconciliation. We have to get this in our heads as the church of God in the "post-modern" world. The world are looking at us to be what we say we are. They may be completely clueless on the rudiments of theology, eschatology, soteriology, but they do know what authentic looks like. Christ to them means "love"; God to them means "love". So we need to love truly and honestly. Not just with words, we have to live, love and demonstrate resurrection and transformation. We were not saved to avoid hell...we were not even saved to get to heaven...We were saved to change the world around us by tapping into the power, wisdom, and purpose of YAHWEH and YESHUA.
Resurrection Sunday/Easter Sunday reminds me that nothing is ever completely as it seems. That the dead things, the dead dreams, the deferred visions can come to pass. That God never comes as expected, The long-oppressed Jews expected Jesus to be the liberator from the physical oppression of a controlling Roman government. But, Jesus cared more for their souls than their physical predicament. Love works better than fear, piety, hatred. Love is the truth and the Truth though it seemed like it died one Friday afternoon...is ALIVE and is still working on the behalf of those that receive the gift He gave. Humans want to rationalize it away but I want to run to it...I want to embrace the hard sayings and the lovely encouragement...I want it all because I want to know Him!!
Chew on this family and let us strive to do more:
Ernest
Chew on this family and let us strive to do more:
Ernest
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Speak Up My Brothers, I Can't Hear You Over The Deafening Silence
Hello again,
It's been a long time since I posted to my LiveJournal and its not because of having a lack of things to say; more because I have focused on not always spilling and pouring out my heart and soul so quickly. Mind you it was incredibly helpful in the early days in college to just write out my frustrations and I appreciate this as a clearer platform to speak directly to people than even Facebook or Twitter. It begs the question what brings me back to an old friend? Well, a senseless murder and an unnecessary cover up. The murder of 17-year old Trayvon Martin has rightfully become a national and international new story, although it took nearly a month to do so in this world of Twitter and Facebook.
So, let me do a quick recap of this young man's tragic end: Trayvon was visiting some family in a wealthy suburbanite neighborhood in Florida and left the gated community to go to the convenience store across the street in a basic outfit: Air Force Ones, a pair of pants and oh my God a Hoodie. George Zimmerman, the community watch captain, had been watching him and called the police numerous times because a suspicious young man was walking around his neighborhood. During the last phone call he is instructed by the dispatcher to wait and to not confront him. But, Zimmerman decides to follow Trayvon and confronts him with a loaded gun and the next thing that we know is that Trayvon is dying from a gunshot in his chest from Zimmerman's gun with nothing more on his person but a cellphone, some skittles and a can of iced tea. The police arrive and begin to interview witnesses and begin to shape their understanding of the case but instead of bringing valid charges against Zimmerman they decide to attempt to cover this up.
So I will stop there on the recap, because that is a miscarriage of justice I want to call out the many leaders in the American Church that remain silent on this issue when this is an issue that could bridge the gap between "The Black Church" and "The White Church".
The Trayvon Martin case reminds me that a "post-racial" America is a pipe dream. This pipe dream is perpetually played out in segregated churches all over the country. The deafening silence of predominantly white conservative evangelicals comes in a climate where they yell loudly and protest proudly on the sexy issues that earn them theological brownie points with their constituents (parishioners). The issues that hit a cord like abortion and gay marriage are easy to take the pot shots and make statements because those are "defining" issues of our time.
It feels like the race issue in America gets treated like the hurdle that has been scaled. Selectively forgetting and taking for granted that the "hurdle" is forever in front of us. Race was responded to by legislating inclusiveness by affirming by law rights that were afforded to but stolen from African-Americans, Latinos, Asians, minorities from the start. But, let us not forget the struggle and that many men and women were abused, close to a million African Americans were lynched from the end of the Civil War til 1960's not counting the abuses of slavery. This is the hurdle that has to be overcome and it DOES NOT GO AWAY!!! But, because most of Americans feel that we have already overcome that problem because, personally they have a diverse group of friends (if that's a marker that you take pride in, there might be a problem by the way), race and racial problems are the problem of the minorities.
This is where the silence of many conservative Christian leaders on this issue, but their resounding protest against abortion does not jive. How is that the life of an unborn child matters more to you (seemingly) than the life or fighting for justice for a young man that was murdered and the system has turned a blind eye? Do you all really really really believe what Glenn Beck's, assistant editor of his website The Blaze insinuates that the young man who may have been suspended for ten days, must have done something to deserve to be shot? (HuffPost Story on the article). I get it, it does not affect you directly; but if the tables were turned there would be outrage from the pulpits of America. What frustrates me, is the same thing that frustrated Dr. King while he wrote The Letter from a Birmingham Jail, the apathy of his brothers to abhorrent injustice was and still is the greater crime.
But, stay in your ivory tower, miss every real opportunity to unite the church of God. Pick and choose your issues based on sexiness or connection to your congregations and watch the world laugh at us. But, I choose to get my hands dirty and take the hits that come for the issues that matter. Stand with us for Trayvon Martin...no its not sexy, there is not a cool stylish bracelet like Joseph Kony 2012. Stand with us because this is what God requires (Micah 6:8): "He has shown you, O man, what [is] good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? (NKJV)" This injustice threatens all of us and your silence is deafening. Speak up, challenge your congregations and join the fight. Finally, please don't take this as you need to defend yourself, all I am asking is that you take a stand, apathy is consent. The world does not need your defenses, they need you to be willing to live on the edge of sacrifice. If you aren't willing to do that, fine then say nothing about anything. Jesus challenges us that salvation is not just for our personal good but for the good of others. "Saved unto good works (Eph. 2:8-9)":
Mat 25:32-46 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. (33) And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. (34) Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. (35) For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, (36) I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' (37) Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? (38) And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? (39) And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' (40) And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.' (41) "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. (42) For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, (43) I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' (44) Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?' (45) Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' (46) And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
So now brothers and sisters let us go and do likewise...
Much Love...
ErnDawg
It's been a long time since I posted to my LiveJournal and its not because of having a lack of things to say; more because I have focused on not always spilling and pouring out my heart and soul so quickly. Mind you it was incredibly helpful in the early days in college to just write out my frustrations and I appreciate this as a clearer platform to speak directly to people than even Facebook or Twitter. It begs the question what brings me back to an old friend? Well, a senseless murder and an unnecessary cover up. The murder of 17-year old Trayvon Martin has rightfully become a national and international new story, although it took nearly a month to do so in this world of Twitter and Facebook.
So, let me do a quick recap of this young man's tragic end: Trayvon was visiting some family in a wealthy suburbanite neighborhood in Florida and left the gated community to go to the convenience store across the street in a basic outfit: Air Force Ones, a pair of pants and oh my God a Hoodie. George Zimmerman, the community watch captain, had been watching him and called the police numerous times because a suspicious young man was walking around his neighborhood. During the last phone call he is instructed by the dispatcher to wait and to not confront him. But, Zimmerman decides to follow Trayvon and confronts him with a loaded gun and the next thing that we know is that Trayvon is dying from a gunshot in his chest from Zimmerman's gun with nothing more on his person but a cellphone, some skittles and a can of iced tea. The police arrive and begin to interview witnesses and begin to shape their understanding of the case but instead of bringing valid charges against Zimmerman they decide to attempt to cover this up.
So I will stop there on the recap, because that is a miscarriage of justice I want to call out the many leaders in the American Church that remain silent on this issue when this is an issue that could bridge the gap between "The Black Church" and "The White Church".
The Trayvon Martin case reminds me that a "post-racial" America is a pipe dream. This pipe dream is perpetually played out in segregated churches all over the country. The deafening silence of predominantly white conservative evangelicals comes in a climate where they yell loudly and protest proudly on the sexy issues that earn them theological brownie points with their constituents (parishioners). The issues that hit a cord like abortion and gay marriage are easy to take the pot shots and make statements because those are "defining" issues of our time.
It feels like the race issue in America gets treated like the hurdle that has been scaled. Selectively forgetting and taking for granted that the "hurdle" is forever in front of us. Race was responded to by legislating inclusiveness by affirming by law rights that were afforded to but stolen from African-Americans, Latinos, Asians, minorities from the start. But, let us not forget the struggle and that many men and women were abused, close to a million African Americans were lynched from the end of the Civil War til 1960's not counting the abuses of slavery. This is the hurdle that has to be overcome and it DOES NOT GO AWAY!!! But, because most of Americans feel that we have already overcome that problem because, personally they have a diverse group of friends (if that's a marker that you take pride in, there might be a problem by the way), race and racial problems are the problem of the minorities.
This is where the silence of many conservative Christian leaders on this issue, but their resounding protest against abortion does not jive. How is that the life of an unborn child matters more to you (seemingly) than the life or fighting for justice for a young man that was murdered and the system has turned a blind eye? Do you all really really really believe what Glenn Beck's, assistant editor of his website The Blaze insinuates that the young man who may have been suspended for ten days, must have done something to deserve to be shot? (HuffPost Story on the article). I get it, it does not affect you directly; but if the tables were turned there would be outrage from the pulpits of America. What frustrates me, is the same thing that frustrated Dr. King while he wrote The Letter from a Birmingham Jail, the apathy of his brothers to abhorrent injustice was and still is the greater crime.
But, stay in your ivory tower, miss every real opportunity to unite the church of God. Pick and choose your issues based on sexiness or connection to your congregations and watch the world laugh at us. But, I choose to get my hands dirty and take the hits that come for the issues that matter. Stand with us for Trayvon Martin...no its not sexy, there is not a cool stylish bracelet like Joseph Kony 2012. Stand with us because this is what God requires (Micah 6:8): "He has shown you, O man, what [is] good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? (NKJV)" This injustice threatens all of us and your silence is deafening. Speak up, challenge your congregations and join the fight. Finally, please don't take this as you need to defend yourself, all I am asking is that you take a stand, apathy is consent. The world does not need your defenses, they need you to be willing to live on the edge of sacrifice. If you aren't willing to do that, fine then say nothing about anything. Jesus challenges us that salvation is not just for our personal good but for the good of others. "Saved unto good works (Eph. 2:8-9)":
Mat 25:32-46 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. (33) And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. (34) Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. (35) For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, (36) I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' (37) Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? (38) And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? (39) And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' (40) And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.' (41) "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. (42) For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, (43) I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' (44) Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?' (45) Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' (46) And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
So now brothers and sisters let us go and do likewise...
Much Love...
ErnDawg
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Tebow and the Conversion of Bended Knee...
So the title is sorta cryptic, but it is what I want to talk about: the phenoma of Tim Tebow. The celebrity-obsessed nature in man is shown at its absolute worst and its absolute best when people talk about Tim Tebow. This entry is a response to a long facebook conversation about Tim Tebow as a "Pharisee".
Now, why would someone who wants to blog to young Christians bring him up. Well, one major reason is that there is a large amount of evangelical missionic fundamentalism in Tim. Those big words basically sum up his background: grew up in the Phillippines with his evangelical Christian missionary parents and grew up with a very real and active faith being preached and spoken about in his home. This upbringing where faith is prominent and ingrained is something I completely understand, well, short of the international missionary work piece.
I see Tim Tebow wear his faith on his sleeve and when you do this it seeps into everything you do. Tebow is a man of faith that plays football. That does not make him special. Take Ray Lewis a man of great faith who wears his faith on his sleeve, most people smile and move on. But, what is it with Tim that when he prays the camera zooms in and singles him out. I submit to you that the reaction to Tebow is mostly racial. It is because the NFL is approximately 70% African-American players people take for granted their faith heritage. Even when there were devout Muslim prayers fasting through Ramadan the reaction to them were muted. Faith to African-Americans has generally been taken for granted, because everybody "knows" Jesus and "goes to church". So when Maurice Jones-Drew, Larry Fitzgerald, Ray Lewis, or even Demarius Thomas of the Denver Broncos point to the sky or cross themselves or pray there is nothing said because that is "who" they are.
But let this young white quarterback kneel and pray it gets a new nickname "Tebowing". No my friends its called praying and its been around for a loooooong time. Again, post-modernism in America has been predominantly "white" and faith has been rationalized out of the intellectual circles, where access is mostly monochromatic. When celebrities express faith it is usually rationalized or glossed over. Tebow is scrutinized both for his faith (which is on his sleeve) and his play on the field. Never before have we really seen a young white quarterback who is so up-front about faith and his relationship with Christ. So the world does what the world always does, picks the person apart as they lift them on a pedastal. A friend offered some verses in Matthew as a judgement against Tebow: "5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." (Matthew 6:5-6 ESV).
So I want to close this with some encouraging exegesis. In the context of these verses Christ is comparing the walk that he desires a follower of his to have and the walk of a Pharisee. Remember that this is still the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus wants to make clear that there should be a difference between the motives of a disciple and the motives of a Pharisee. This is to be taken on two different levels: 1) Maintaining a private relationship with Christ is preferred to a deliberately public one; 2) But, do not avoid opportunities to express your faith not for the glory of man but for the purposes and glory of Chirst. Using this scripture to judge Tebow or anyone else is incomplete revelation. Christ says repeatedly to not be ashamed, David says in the Psalms repeated that he will make the name of God glorious, countless other examples. Remember, that our responsibility is to not become hypocrites. Hypocrisy is the sin and hypocrisy is rooted not only in our actions but our motivations which only God can judge. I admire Tebow for working very hard at humility in the face of superstardom. My prayer that all of us would learn to do the same in the face of life. Humility is knowing our abilities and our value but then yielding to a God who has all power and knowledge to direct our lives.
There is more but just a few thoughts:
Ernest
Now, why would someone who wants to blog to young Christians bring him up. Well, one major reason is that there is a large amount of evangelical missionic fundamentalism in Tim. Those big words basically sum up his background: grew up in the Phillippines with his evangelical Christian missionary parents and grew up with a very real and active faith being preached and spoken about in his home. This upbringing where faith is prominent and ingrained is something I completely understand, well, short of the international missionary work piece.
I see Tim Tebow wear his faith on his sleeve and when you do this it seeps into everything you do. Tebow is a man of faith that plays football. That does not make him special. Take Ray Lewis a man of great faith who wears his faith on his sleeve, most people smile and move on. But, what is it with Tim that when he prays the camera zooms in and singles him out. I submit to you that the reaction to Tebow is mostly racial. It is because the NFL is approximately 70% African-American players people take for granted their faith heritage. Even when there were devout Muslim prayers fasting through Ramadan the reaction to them were muted. Faith to African-Americans has generally been taken for granted, because everybody "knows" Jesus and "goes to church". So when Maurice Jones-Drew, Larry Fitzgerald, Ray Lewis, or even Demarius Thomas of the Denver Broncos point to the sky or cross themselves or pray there is nothing said because that is "who" they are.
But let this young white quarterback kneel and pray it gets a new nickname "Tebowing". No my friends its called praying and its been around for a loooooong time. Again, post-modernism in America has been predominantly "white" and faith has been rationalized out of the intellectual circles, where access is mostly monochromatic. When celebrities express faith it is usually rationalized or glossed over. Tebow is scrutinized both for his faith (which is on his sleeve) and his play on the field. Never before have we really seen a young white quarterback who is so up-front about faith and his relationship with Christ. So the world does what the world always does, picks the person apart as they lift them on a pedastal. A friend offered some verses in Matthew as a judgement against Tebow: "5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." (Matthew 6:5-6 ESV).
So I want to close this with some encouraging exegesis. In the context of these verses Christ is comparing the walk that he desires a follower of his to have and the walk of a Pharisee. Remember that this is still the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus wants to make clear that there should be a difference between the motives of a disciple and the motives of a Pharisee. This is to be taken on two different levels: 1) Maintaining a private relationship with Christ is preferred to a deliberately public one; 2) But, do not avoid opportunities to express your faith not for the glory of man but for the purposes and glory of Chirst. Using this scripture to judge Tebow or anyone else is incomplete revelation. Christ says repeatedly to not be ashamed, David says in the Psalms repeated that he will make the name of God glorious, countless other examples. Remember, that our responsibility is to not become hypocrites. Hypocrisy is the sin and hypocrisy is rooted not only in our actions but our motivations which only God can judge. I admire Tebow for working very hard at humility in the face of superstardom. My prayer that all of us would learn to do the same in the face of life. Humility is knowing our abilities and our value but then yielding to a God who has all power and knowledge to direct our lives.
There is more but just a few thoughts:
Ernest
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