Brothers and Sisters, I know some of you think I'm just here to steal everyone's joy. To the contrary, I believe I must do this to increase everyone's joy---in the lord! Keep in mind, what I say I say out of love.
I've seen many Facebook comments about the BET Awards. Some saying they liked this performance, or they liked that performance. Some saying a certain performer looked like a 'hot mess.' I say, if you watched that idol worship, that work of the devil, then you need to repent. Yes You! Many of the same people who watched that mess post comments every week about going to church on Sunday.
The bible clearly states that you cannot serve two masters. You cannot worship the world and God. So what, then, 'Christian' are you doing watching the BET Awards? It is nothing but the world celebrating itself. If you are a 'Christian' why are you participating in the world celebrating the world, when you are not supposed to have anything to do with the world besides being salt and light to the world.
That's right, I said it. Call me to complain. But you so-called Christians are wrong and someone needs to say it. Those people on that show worship the world system, and many who idolize---yes idolize---those folks are being drawn into their world view. What's worse is that Christian adults are sitting back watching it with their children teaching them to be world worshippers too. I say don't support people in their wrong doing. But as usual, Black folks, even so-called Christian black folks love to look at the spectacle so they can run their mouths the next day. Yes, I said, because it needs to be said. You all can hate me all you want, I don't answer to you. And you know in your heart I'm right. I didn't have to watch the awards to know what they are all about. You didn't either. Are you mad? Good. So am I.
Think about this the next time you even consider wasting your God-given time on that mess. God gave all of those wonderfully talented people on the BET Awards incredible gifts. Those same people have taken those gifts and used them to advance the kingdom of God's enemy. Talk about a slap in the face. To add insult to injury, God's people are sitting up watching his enemy's team perform their work and loving every minute of it. If you don't think those people on the BET are doing the devil's work for him, print out the lyrics and compare them to the word of God. I dare you!!!!
Christians, and so-called Christians, the next time you want to look at that mess, think about what Christ did for you. The intense suffering he willingly endured for you, so you can have eternal life. After you have thought on that, then try to turn around and applaud while His enemy wins an award. C'mon folks, you know in your heart it is wrong, so stop. You have 500 other channels to watch.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Black American Idol 3- Are you branded
I apologize in advance to those who are about to be offended. Please know that it is out of love and concern that I write this.
How many of you know that when you talk on your cell phone in a car that everyone else in the car is listening to your conversation? I was carpooling yesterday with a coworker who had a conversation on the cell phone. In the context of that conversation the coworker told the vocie on the other end that as black adults we tend to still act like infants who need pacifiers. The difference is what we pacify ourselves with. I marvelled at that statement,and the truth it contained.
To that coworker, things we use to get through life are pacifiers. I will call them what God calls them, idols. To many of us, our idols are our brands---those things that we believe make us who we are. Branding is new to the common vocabulary. It seems to be the idea that our stuff, or certain aspects of our physical bodies make us who we are. I will submit to you that every one of those things we rely on to give us an identity is a filthy idol, and God hates it because people will put those things before God.
Brothers and sisters we are to have our identity in Christ. He is the potter! He can shape us, smash us, reshape us, smash us again and make us anew. Our efforts should be focused on making ourselves like Him, not creating ourselves as a brand so we can resemble the world (world=evil).
So, when you say brother, 'I gotta keep me a fresh pair of Jordans', or 'I gotta have the baddest ride,' or 'I cant be seen without my jewelry' what you are really saying is- "My identity is not in Christ, it is wrapped up in these sinful things that have become idols."
So, when you, sister, spend hundred of dollars on a purse, but cannot seem to tithe (read Malachi 3:8) what are you saying to God? When you, sister, spend countless hours in the mirror, or in the beauty salon to create the perfect look; but you cannot seem to find time to read the word of God, what are you saying to God?
Brothers and sisters, we are an ignorant people, and we are an ignorant church. We can rattle off 50 fashion designers, cars, shoes, stores, but we cannot remember 5 of the 10 commandments. What kind of worship is that? What kind of honor is that to a God that has given us everything? We can identify every Jordan shoe from 1985 to 1999, but we cannot tell you where Paul was when he had his conversion, nor the signifigance of it. We excel in those things which are unimportant to God, and we are woefully deficient in those things that God values. Look at our homes, our families, our children! But we are going to look good, arent we. The kids cannot read. The young men cant do anything but play video games. But we all look good!
These are everyday things that we do as a church! A church! A people who say we surrender all to God. It is foolish for us to think that a Holy God is going to grant entry into eternal bliss to a bunch of worldly folks who go to church. It has gotten so bad that I hear people say things like, yes, I'm a Christian, I go to church. News flash, going to church does not make you a Christian anymore than sitting in a garage makes you a car.
Time is short folks. Let us all pray that God reveal the idols in our lives and give us strength to tear them down. Let us all repent of our pridefullness that leads to our idol worship and ask God to humble us and make us as clay in his hands. Let us all pray that God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven, whatever that will is. Let us pray that the groom returns soon to claim his bride, because this whole world is a mess.
How many of you know that when you talk on your cell phone in a car that everyone else in the car is listening to your conversation? I was carpooling yesterday with a coworker who had a conversation on the cell phone. In the context of that conversation the coworker told the vocie on the other end that as black adults we tend to still act like infants who need pacifiers. The difference is what we pacify ourselves with. I marvelled at that statement,and the truth it contained.
To that coworker, things we use to get through life are pacifiers. I will call them what God calls them, idols. To many of us, our idols are our brands---those things that we believe make us who we are. Branding is new to the common vocabulary. It seems to be the idea that our stuff, or certain aspects of our physical bodies make us who we are. I will submit to you that every one of those things we rely on to give us an identity is a filthy idol, and God hates it because people will put those things before God.
Brothers and sisters we are to have our identity in Christ. He is the potter! He can shape us, smash us, reshape us, smash us again and make us anew. Our efforts should be focused on making ourselves like Him, not creating ourselves as a brand so we can resemble the world (world=evil).
So, when you say brother, 'I gotta keep me a fresh pair of Jordans', or 'I gotta have the baddest ride,' or 'I cant be seen without my jewelry' what you are really saying is- "My identity is not in Christ, it is wrapped up in these sinful things that have become idols."
So, when you, sister, spend hundred of dollars on a purse, but cannot seem to tithe (read Malachi 3:8) what are you saying to God? When you, sister, spend countless hours in the mirror, or in the beauty salon to create the perfect look; but you cannot seem to find time to read the word of God, what are you saying to God?
Brothers and sisters, we are an ignorant people, and we are an ignorant church. We can rattle off 50 fashion designers, cars, shoes, stores, but we cannot remember 5 of the 10 commandments. What kind of worship is that? What kind of honor is that to a God that has given us everything? We can identify every Jordan shoe from 1985 to 1999, but we cannot tell you where Paul was when he had his conversion, nor the signifigance of it. We excel in those things which are unimportant to God, and we are woefully deficient in those things that God values. Look at our homes, our families, our children! But we are going to look good, arent we. The kids cannot read. The young men cant do anything but play video games. But we all look good!
These are everyday things that we do as a church! A church! A people who say we surrender all to God. It is foolish for us to think that a Holy God is going to grant entry into eternal bliss to a bunch of worldly folks who go to church. It has gotten so bad that I hear people say things like, yes, I'm a Christian, I go to church. News flash, going to church does not make you a Christian anymore than sitting in a garage makes you a car.
Time is short folks. Let us all pray that God reveal the idols in our lives and give us strength to tear them down. Let us all repent of our pridefullness that leads to our idol worship and ask God to humble us and make us as clay in his hands. Let us all pray that God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven, whatever that will is. Let us pray that the groom returns soon to claim his bride, because this whole world is a mess.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Black American Idol 2
This post is a painful, personal testimony. I have learned firsthand that God hates idols. I have also learned that God loves his people. Because God hates idols, and God loves his people, then God will sometimes allow the idols in the lives of his people come to ruin so that his people will have no choice but to love God with all their heart, all their mind and all their strength.
My idol was a relationship. At the time it meant more to me than anything, even God. I put that person above all other things, including God. At the time I did not recognize what I was doing. Then God blew on the relationship and it fell apart. That was probably 3 years ago. For 21 months and counting I have taken no meat, nor sweets as a fast. I pray daily and ask God to restore the relationship. He has yet to answer my prayer. Though the pain is real, and at times (today is one of those times) crippling and maddening; it has revealed to me the kindness God has shown me in my suffering. But I am getting off topic.
Brothers and Sisters, be warned if your idol is a person. Be warned if you have compromised a single step of your walk with God for anyone. Be warned if you believe in Jesus, repent of your sins, are a member of the body of Christ; and you have a person who you love more than God. Be warned I say!!!!!
I have learned this and I hope someone reads this and also learns--God will not be mocked, and he will not be second place!!!! Your foolish idol worship may carry a price tag you are not willing pay. Yes, I know, we are under grace and Jesus paid it all. But God still punishes sin and chastises his children as every loving father does.
Black people, we love our folks. We love our wives, children, husbands, uncles, aunts, cousins, friends, sisters, brothers and play cousins. We are a people with great emotional ties to people. We love our celebrities too. We love our pop singers, rappers, actors, pastors, and our President. It's a holiday weekend, so I will keep this short. Don't ever love a person more than you love God. People enter our lives, exit our lives, and come back into our lives, but God is constant. Don't ever worship someone because they can sing, act, preach, or read a teleprompter. God gave them those talents, so why praise the gifted when you can worship the gift maker and the gift giver?
Remember, brothers and sisters, keep God first.
My idol was a relationship. At the time it meant more to me than anything, even God. I put that person above all other things, including God. At the time I did not recognize what I was doing. Then God blew on the relationship and it fell apart. That was probably 3 years ago. For 21 months and counting I have taken no meat, nor sweets as a fast. I pray daily and ask God to restore the relationship. He has yet to answer my prayer. Though the pain is real, and at times (today is one of those times) crippling and maddening; it has revealed to me the kindness God has shown me in my suffering. But I am getting off topic.
Brothers and Sisters, be warned if your idol is a person. Be warned if you have compromised a single step of your walk with God for anyone. Be warned if you believe in Jesus, repent of your sins, are a member of the body of Christ; and you have a person who you love more than God. Be warned I say!!!!!
I have learned this and I hope someone reads this and also learns--God will not be mocked, and he will not be second place!!!! Your foolish idol worship may carry a price tag you are not willing pay. Yes, I know, we are under grace and Jesus paid it all. But God still punishes sin and chastises his children as every loving father does.
Black people, we love our folks. We love our wives, children, husbands, uncles, aunts, cousins, friends, sisters, brothers and play cousins. We are a people with great emotional ties to people. We love our celebrities too. We love our pop singers, rappers, actors, pastors, and our President. It's a holiday weekend, so I will keep this short. Don't ever love a person more than you love God. People enter our lives, exit our lives, and come back into our lives, but God is constant. Don't ever worship someone because they can sing, act, preach, or read a teleprompter. God gave them those talents, so why praise the gifted when you can worship the gift maker and the gift giver?
Remember, brothers and sisters, keep God first.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Black American Idols
The next few posts will be hard to write, and for some (including myself) hard to read. I have often compared the Black experience in America with Israel. Both were enslaved people who were freed and inhabited a land that rejected them. I believe both peoples are deeply spiritual and passionate about God. However, it seems that Black folks have never truly made it out of the mindset of slavery; and it is something we struggle with to this day. I will submit to you that a very large part of our collective lack of success has to with our dependence on, and uplifting of idols. Idol worshipping is not something God loves.
i·dol (
d
l)
dl)
n.
1.
a. An image used as an object of worship.
b. A false god.
2. One that is adored, often blindly or excessively.
3. Something visible but without substance.
It surprises me that a people whose roots are in the church exhibit such a limited understanding of such a huge biblical principle. The Old Testament is literally filled with passages about God's hatred of idols. Yet, we seem to have an ungodly tolerance to idols in our Black churches. Don't misunderstand, I'm sure White churches also have their idols, but I cannot comment on that because I have not been a member of a predominately White church. God wants us to love what he loves and hate what he hates. Why then, do we tolerate, and, even celebrate idols and idolatry? Is our love of worldly idols blocking God from establishing His will in our churches and in our lives?
What was that? Yes, thank you. The man in the back asked what are some specific examples of idols? I'm glad you asked that sir. I'm sure everyone in the room would like to know that. Let's start with the obvious. clothes. People, there is nothing wrong with putting on your best when you come to church. Personally, I love seeing a church full of well-dressed people. But when you spend more time shopping for your Sunday outfit than you do in the word of God--YOUR CLOTHING IS AN IDOL. Why? Because idols receive the worship that should only belong to God. Idols receive the energy, money, and thought that belongs to the creator, the redeemer, our Lord and Savior.
I think our addiction to externals runs deep in the black subconscious. We were never accepted for our beauty in this country. Therefore we sought to make our appearance more palatable to the majority so we could blend into society easier. But that cost us something. It cost us our understanding of the biblical principle that we too were created in the image of God. So we decided to help God finish what He started by putting all manner of time and effort into making ourselves lovely by standards other than His. Since we have never really been accepted as equally beautiful, we have continued this foolish pursuit of looking good.
I'm equally guilty with reinforcing this idol. I tell people in church how nice they look; but I don't inquire about the state of their Christian walk. I compliment shoes, but I wont dare ask my brother if I can pray for him or with him. Wow! What am I communicating to folks? What am I saying every time about what is really important to me?
Ok, that last one hurt. So I'll just make one more point about clothing and cosmetics in general. I'm not fully convinced that when we invest resources into our exterior selves that we are worshipping the things we put on. In fact, I want to revise that statement now. When we are more focused on how we look than we are on what God has to say to us--we are not worshipping the clothes, jewelry, or make up. We are worshipping ourselves.
Give God some glory today and everyday. Let us all decrease, so He may increase.
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