More Reality

Before I got right with God, I used a lot of foul language. I was particularly fond of a 4 syllable compound word beginning with the letter 'M.' Every now and again that word comes into my mind, not because I want it to, but because my cursed flesh is a part of me. And when that word comes to my mind now, it is almost always in reference to the enemy, Beelzebub, Satan, the devil himself. And it is a very fitting term for him.





In my last post I posed a question about the evidence of our faith. Where is the evidence of your faith in your life? Since then the devil has been busy trying to drag me off my blessed assurance. But the Word says my Lord is a fortress, and I will run to my fortress in my time of trouble. My question today is, How do you handle hurt? How you handle your pain is a way to gauge how much Christ you actually have. It may be a starting point for dealing with stuff you didn't know needed to be dealt with.





For instance, recently, I made a special trip to a function to see a friend. My friend did everything to avoid me for some reason. My friend would not talk to me, my friend would not look at me. If I walked close to my friend, my friend would walk away from me. And I left the function to do some things, and I went back a few hours later. My friend was still there and I received an even colder treatment the second time. Then, as I was trying to figure out why this was happening again, my friend's phone rings, and my friend begins to laugh out loud , smile, and engage in conversation with the person on the other end. I was greeted warmly by several other people, hugs, smiles, handshakes, etc. But the person I went specifically to see, treated me like a leper. That is painful, when you get rejected by the very person who you came to see. That hurts pretty deep.





I can do many things with my pain. I can tell that person where to go and how to get there. I can use that word I referenced in the beginning of this post. I can internalize it and blow up at this person weeks later. I can allow that thing to be a blow to my self esteem and resent that person. Or, I can pray for that person, and lay my pain down on the cross of Christ.





Because I am a new creature, and old things have passed away, I no longer belong to myself. I have given up my free will in favor of His will. So when I wrote, I can do many things with the pain, that was not altogether true. There is only 1 thing I can do that would not violate my conscience. I must present myself to that person again and allow that person to issue another blow. After that, I must go back and allow that person to kick me. I must do this until the person who is hurting me understands that it does not matter how many times they hurt me. The God who lives in me has enough love to forgive us for every trespass.





People, that is one of the hardest things to do. And we cannot do that. We are too fallen to be able to give that person grace. We must allow God to work in us and do that thing for us. Because left on our own, we would probably use that word I referred to at the beginning of this post. Chrisitans, how we handle situations can be a strong witness for Christ. When was the last you prayed for someone who wounded you?

Reality Check for Christians

Brothers and sisters, the hour is far too late not to be vigilant. The enemy is walking around seeking those he may devour. And devour he does.



I have asked this question of myself and I do not like the answers. So, as a service, I will pose the question to you friend. If you are a Christian, how have you set yourself apart from the world?


Simple question, right? If we belong to the Father, how are our lives markedly different from those who do not? I'm not talking about attending church, that is the easy part. How do our lives reflect our beliefs? Do we listen to the same music as the nonbeliever? Do we watch the same movies and television programs? Do we use a sick day when we are not sick? What kinds of books or magazines do we read? Are we wagging our tongues about in gossip? Do we dress and behave modestly? Do our checkbooks reflect what we say is in our hearts?


I would submit to you that the majority of church goers are not Christians. They live regular, sinful American lives, and come to the sanctuary on Sunday. It is not enough to live like that beloved. More is required of us.

When you got saved, Christian, your citizenship in this fallen world was nullified. The moment you said you believed on Jesus Christ as the son of God, and believed that his death and resurrection paid the cost for your soul, you became a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven! You became a joint heir with Christ to everything in God's Kingdom! Praise God! This means we are no longer of this world. We are foreign ambassadors, and we should dare not adopt the customs and beliefs of this foreign land. Our task as ambassadors is to change the world, not be changed by the world.

So, if you had trouble, like me, answering the question, it may be time to look at two areas. 1.) What do you do? 2.) What don't you do? The answers to these questions will allow you to look at your life honestly. Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal to you the things that need to be added and subtracted from your life so you look, speak, behave, and can be mistaken for nothing other than an ambassador for Christ.

Last question, when Jesus comes back, how will he distinguish us from the rest of the world if we look, sound like, and behave like, the rest of this fallen world? If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, looks like a duck......

A Message to the Black Greek

Black Greek Fraternities and Sororities have been an important part of our society. They have done critical work in our communities and continue to be a valuable part of black culture. I admire their commitment to community service and their visible love for one another.

I would like to issue a challenge to my Greek brothers and sisters in Christ. What good could be accomplished if you represented Christ with the same fervor and tenacity that you represent and defend your precious fraternities and sororities? What mighty works could be done in the name of Christ if every Christian Black Greek (notice Christian came first, that is not an accident) could quote scripture with the same speed that they can rattle off the names of their founders, or recite their Greek poems, or sing their Greek songs. How many lives would be changed if our Christian Black Greeks would wear Christian T Shirts with the same regularity and pride that they display their Fraternity letters? Some Greeks have gone so far as to get branded or tattooed with their fraternity logo, I wonder if they would be so bold as to get branded with a cross? What would be the impact on our community if Christian Black Greeks would work as hard in church as they do for their fraternal organizations?

If you are a Christian then you are a new creature, and your purpose is to glorify God. You understand that Jesus has called his followers to suffer and even die for his sake. You have accepted the gift of salvation and all of the responsibilities that come with it. You have knowledge that as Christians we are to be separated from worldly, carnal lusts and practices.

My Christian Black Greek friends, have you examined your relationship with Christ through the lens of your fraternity or sorority? Have you relaxed your Christian standards so you can 'fit in' with your fraternity brothers or sisters? Is it more important to you to be Christian or Greek? Can you do both well, and never have one conflict with the other? Have you done things with your fraternity brothers or sisters that can be considered less than Christian? The bible admonishes us to examine ourselves to see if we are really in the faith. Use these questions for self reflection. If this post makes you angry, that is not the intent. The intent is to not have my brothers and sisters ignorant of what they may not be able to see. If you cannot say amen, you can always say 'ouch'.