BAA, BAA BLACK SHEEP


I have never waxed political on this blog. This has been my practice because although I have strong political opinions I want this blog to be centered on three topics only: The God of the Bible, The Jesus of the Bible and the Gospel of the Bible. This week's blog, however, is somewhat of an exception . . .

By this time most of you have at least heard about the controversy surrounding presidential candidate, Barack Obama, and his pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright. I don't intend to delve too deeply into what Wright said; but the reaction of some of his followers has truly saddened me.

For the record, I vehemently disagree with Wright's sentiments about the government's creation of HIV as a means of destroying the black race. I vehemently disagree that we brought 9/11 on ourselves. And I will never sing "God @#$% America"; because America is one of the few places left on Earth where Wright could say what he said and not find himself headless 24 hours later. Maybe if Wright took off the dashiki, turned his calendar to 2008 rather than 1968 and preached the Jesus of the Bible rather than the "Jesus" that James Cone told him about; he would understand that the "white man" is not our problem. Besides, there's a plane or a boat leaving America every 10 minutes. Anybody with that much against the country should be on one of them.

And is the government only out to get black folks when a republican is in the white house or also when a democrat is in there? If not, why didn't any of the democrat presidents expose the black-hating republican regimes and retain power forever?

Frankly, the government would be cutting its own throat by getting rid of us. Why would they want to kill us off when we are, almost singlehandedly, keeping the sport shoe, music, sports, designer clothing, child legal and abortion industries etc. afloat! We are the biggest consumers in the history of mankind and all these industries pay taxes to the government. The bottom line is that the government's favorite color is neither white nor black. It's GREEN! And whomever keeps it comin' for the government is it's darling. The government needs us!

The real shame is on the people of Trinity United Church of Christ. I watched the news in horror Monday evening as person after person expressed their support for this vulgar, gospel-free performer. Actually, I should not have been surprised; but this level of credulity was just incredible. One truly clueless member proudly proclaimed that "whatever Dr. Wright says I support him". I suppose that if Wright said this ignoramus' mother was a hamster, he'd support him in that too!

As I watched helplessly, I told my wife that anyone who was not sure and was watching this report would have to come away saying, "black people are stupid". They'd have to think we are mindless sheep and honestly, it hurts. It hurts not only because it's not true of all of us; it hurts because those of us who have half a brain will be condemned by the truly mindless ones. If any of those members of Trinity United Church of Christ were to stand up and say Wright was wrong, he'd be automatically branded as a traitor. He would be accused of hating his own race or being full of self-hatred. The truth simply does not matter to the people who would do this. Instead of standing on the infallible words of an invincible Creator. Instead of confronting the evils of racism and division the way He has commanded, they would rather play the victim. It hurts.

Al Sharpton, in his denouncing of the US' invading Iraq, said that Iraq didn't send those planes into the World Trade Center. He claimed that the perpetrators were in Afghanistan not Iraq. I ask my people: does the government have a 69% out of wedlock birth rate? We do. Does the government make up only 12.9% of the US population; but is responsible for 35.1% of the abortions in the US? We are. Does the government have an 11% high school dropout rate? We do. Perhaps it is us who are fighting the wrong enemy. Perhaps it is us who should pull out our troops from this truly unjust war.

Now, before you send all your comments about how much of a race traitor I am; and how much I sound like the "white man", etc. Let me say unreservedly that I am proud to be a black man. Wouldn't trade it for another race on the planet. But the truth is we have planks in our own eyes brethren and it is passed time that we deal with them forthrightly.

Can you handle the truth? Despite the various colors, shades and hues we come in there are really only two types of people on this Earth: the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent (Genesis 3:15). That is, those who are the redeemed children of God and those who are the reprobate children of Satan. The latter come in every color of the rainbow as do the former. With whom do you think our battle should be?

I know, I know . . . we have been so mistreated, so discriminated against. There’s no denying that. There’s no denying that racism is still rampant in our (yes, Our) country. But that does not excuse Wright’s venom. I can’t imagine that our Lord Jesus is in heaven saying to His children, ’’God bless the Pharisees and the Romans, No! God @$& the Pharisees and the Romans!!! They crucified Me! They beat me!" I seem to remember Him saying something like, "Father forgive them for they know not that which they do". Rev. Wright is supposed to be instructing his congregation on how to be like Jesus, how to be conformed to His image. Not to do what the heathen do, no to meet hate with hate. Oh, that’s right, he’s not familiar with the Jesus of Scripture. He’s only familiar with the "black" Jesus of liberation theology.

I coulda sworn Jesus was born Jewish!


"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." Ephesians 6:12

" My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge;
because you have rejected knowledge,
I reject you from being a priest to me.
And since you have forgotten the law of your God,
I also will forget your children." Hosea 4:6



Keith
B.L.B.B!!!
Be Like the Bereans, Baby!!!
Acts 17:11

P.S. The silence from the ACLU has been deafening in the wake of Wright's political endorsements from the pulpit . . . hasn't it?

Take My Free Will . . . PLEASE!


It's good to be back in the much milder climes of good ol' Covington, Georgia. Snow is sure beautiful to look at, but I'd much prefer warm snow!

For some reason, while I was resting in my hotel room in Eagan, MN., my mind was drawn back to this biblically-alien concept of "free will". And as I pondered it, I came to the conclusion that "free will" can get you killed! As the age old adage goes . . . let the buyer beware.

First of all, we are very inconsistent with our application of this concept. We want to enshrine "free will" when it comes to expressing ourselves, the choices we make and of course that ultimate expression: our salvation. But then we turn around and want to limit it where it comes into contact with the "free will" of others. The thinking goes something like this, " you have 'free will' as long as it doesn't interfere with someone else's 'free will'". Well, the question then becomes, how "free" is my "free will"? "Freedom", in it's most popular sense, means completely unbounded. So what does the fact that one person's "free will" might interfere with another's have to do with anything? This seems to be the perfect opportunity to prove Darwin's "survival of the fittest". If my "free will" and your "free will" come into conflict, may the "freeest" "free will" win.

Why should we get upset with murderers and rapists? They are merely expressing their "free will". If their victims were bigger, stronger or more careful then the victims' "free will" would triumph. "But", you say, "that's why we have laws and police, etc." Absolutely, and since the politicians have used their "free wills" to enact laws and the police have used their "free wills" to enforce those laws it all works out. Viva la free will!

So what it boils down to is: who ever has the biggest stick has the "freeest" will. There is one small problem; however, we still inconsistently deprive the One with the biggest stick this prerogative. Somehow, where our salvation is concerned, we deny that God uses His "big stick" in our lives. Due to either, some divine act of civility or just wanting to play nice; our Arminian/Semi-Pelagian brethren believe that God has to sit on His hands until and if man decides to place his trust in Jesus for eternal life.

"God won't violate your 'free will'" is the Arminian/Semi-Pelagian cry. Consider this . . . there was once was a man named Abimelech who wanted to bed down a woman named Sarah. His "free will" was to "know" this Sarah in the biblical sense. But God gave him the first recorded case of erectile dysfunction in the Bible when God appeared to him in a dream and said," . . . it was I who kept you from sinning against Me . Therefore I did not let you touch her" (Genesis 20:1-7). Abimelech's "free will" came into conflict with God's "free will" and God's "free will" won.

There once was a man named Onan, his "free will" was not to impregnate his sister-in-law Tamar and to go on with his life. God's "free will" was for him to impregnate his sister-in-law (according to the customs of the times, you understand) or die. Scripture bears out that Onan's "free will" was severely violated as, the Lord " . . . put him to death . . ." (Genesis 38:8-10)

What is it that we pray for whenever we ask God to save our loved ones; but that He violate their current "free will" to be a sinner and turn them into a saint? As the cliche' goes: sinners are merrily on there way to hell, minding their own business when all of a sudden God just steps right in. He doesn't ask for permission, He doesn't leave a message and wait for them to call back.

OK, so maybe you'll stipulate to a "limited free will". I'm afraid that that just won't fly either. If "free will" is an oxymoron like "jumbo shrimp" and "conservative democrat"; then "limited free will" is a bioxymoron like "mini jumbo shrimp" or "conservative democrat"! This concept of "free will" is founded upon a perverse definition of "freedom". This definition of "freedom" (particularly popular in the good ol' USA) dilutes the idea to the wanton abandonment of all restraint and responsibility. That is diametrically opposed to the biblical definition of "freedom". Biblically speaking, you are not "free" until you are submitted to Jesus Christ. And no human being, Arminian, Semi-pelagian or Calvinst, submits to Jesus Christ of his own "free will". This is because God meant it when He warned Adam that in the day he ate of the "tree of the knowledge of good and evil" he would surely DIE. Unregenerate man's fallen state is one of death not just injury. He cannot choose to be saved, salvation must happen to him.

"Free will" is woefully overrated. I'm willing to wager that there is no one in hell singing, "(I Did It)My Way"! Marinate on this for a minute, "free will" will land your butt in hell!

Y'know what every roastee in hell is screaming right now? "Why, oh WHY didn't you violate my 'free will', Lord!!!

Take my "free will" . . . PLEASE!!!


Keith,
B.L.B.B!!!
Be Like the Bereans, Baby!!!