I have learned that there are times wherein unless things are made personal then true passion becomes elusive. With that said the matter of Black and White has become rather personal to me. Everything has turned to racism even when there is no racism involved. One cannot look at another anymore without there being some sort of racial connotation. Well, I have had enough. I am more than weary of the divide brought about my country by those that seek a divided nation by reason of pitting this group against that group. I must say it, and I must say it aloud – it’s not about Black and White.
Just the other day a police officer in McKinny, Texas responded to a disturbance call at a private pool in an apartment complex. There was fighting and other disturbances taking place involving a number of people in the community. There were Blacks, Whites and who knows what other people groups involved. And when this one officer arguably acted beyond his training all of a sudden the entire matter became one of racism and injustice. All this was determined even before all the facts have come out. This is not to mention the fact that paid agitators and race-baiters have been called to the scene in order to perpetuate the false narrative that police departments are inherently racist.
Baltimore was no different. A young man died while in police custody. The circumstances surrounding his death are still being cloaked behind the investigative umbrella. Even so the ever so eloquent Attorney General of Baltimore, Marilyn Mosby, decided that she would seek justice for the young Blacks of Baltimore as justice for them has been elusive for decades. Well, Mrs. Mosby, if there is no justice and, by the way, no opportunities how is it that you came to be in such a powerful position? How is it you are a Black female mayor who replaced another Black female mayor? Tell, me Mrs. Attorney General, how is it that the largely Black City of Baltimore is racist when it is often Blacks committing crimes in my beloved town? Yes, Whites commit crimes too which only lends to the fact that crime is not about Black and White.
We certainly cannot leave out the incidents that occurred in Ferguson, MO. Here another young Black male met untimely demise. Yes, this young man should be alive and well, however he made decisions which brought about his demise. And, once again, the powers that be employed the false mantra of racism only because the officer involved was White. Even Eric Holder’s justice department sought to find racial issues wherein none could be found. The fact is that it is not about Black and White and I am sick and tired of my country being torn apart by the injection of lies that have no basis.
Well, I have had my fill. Why don’t these haters of people look at communities wherein Blacks kill each other for matters as simple as disrespect? Perhaps these rebel rousers should go and lend healing to the Whites that kill each other over matters with such minutia that the issues would not make the nightly news. Yes, there are injustices and things perceived as injustice. Still, just because there are injustices does not mean that wrong actions (perceived or real) are the means of a racial end. Bad things happen to all people no matter their pigmentation. My heart is saddened because of the perpetuation of falsities that seek to divide the masses.
I am so glad that I am able to deal with people no matter their skin tone. One of my favourite families is a Chinese family in the Baltimore area. I have put my feet under the tables of Blacks and Whites in their homes and some in mine. You see, love does not succumb to negative views of racism. Instead, love could not care less about one’s pigmentation. It sees the heart of the individual and seeks to build upon the strengths of all concerned. This is much like what Jesus taught. He taught to first love God with all our hearts, minds and souls. He went further to advice that one loves his neighbors as he loves himself.
If one loves as prescribed by Jesus then this hate mongering would come to an end. If there is love there is no time to delve in hate. If there is love then the idea of all things being Black and White would quickly come to an end. So, let us love. Let us love not because of skin colour. Instead, let us love of our fellow man because love will do much to repel the hatred spewed by a few.
There has been much talk against the police here of late. They have been attacked on every level and especially politically. The President of the United States believes that the attire of the police is too intimidating. Even more local politicians have basically all but blamed police officers for things that have gone wrong in communities across the country. Consider, for instance, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake who told the police to stand down during the Freddy Gray riots. She then suggested that the police were not doing their jobs when the fact is their hands were tied behind their backs by the mayor.
Since those tragic riots the murder rate in Baltimore has sky-rocketed. Officers are concerned about doing their jobs because they don’t want false charges brought upon them. Now, it has yet to be made public what actually caused the death of Mr. Gray. This, however, has not stopped the mayor and others from coming down on the officers with the full force of their offices. The police have been maligned to such an extent that if they do their jobs they are wrong and if they don’t they are just as wrong. Well, who can work under such circumstances as that? No wonder murder has gone up! And, still citizens say the police are in the way too much and when criminals take over they are called upon them to return. But, why would they with tied hands?
People being moved by false emotions are no new thing. I recall working as a substitute teacher in Fort Smith, Arkansas. There, at the time, was much talk about the use of red pens to grade papers. Even more the idea of telling a child he provided a wrong answer was gaining ground among some. This, as it were, caused the child to have his feelings hurt or was feeling intimidated upon by reason of the red pen marks or bad grades. By extension the teachers’ hands, in some cases, were tied because they were not allowed to properly assess the progress of the students which inevitably led to failure of the one whose feelings were hurt. Hence, when the hands of authority figures are tied then comes the failure of those who should heed the sage advice of those authority figures.
Tied hands not only cause problems in the public sphere but also in the church. We have come to a time when preachers are not “allowed” to preach the Gospel. To call sin sin is to be a bigot in this day and age. There is now a “feel good” gospel this is permeating the thoughts of some while others simply want their Sunday fix without being told how to live outside the church. This has resulted in the preachers’ hands being tied. Some want the full churches and want people to feel comfortable in church so there is often no cry against sin. This has created a double standard in the church which has poured into the streets where right is wrong and wrong has become right.
This is how the “hands” of Christ have been tied. All too often there is no standard of holiness presented by those who are to lead the way. Also, the way many “Christians” dress pulls away from the standards of holiness. Even so, the preaching of Christ has nearly been nullified to the extent that many see no need to have Christ as Lord and Saviour. They see no reason to bow to the One who can give them eternal life because insofar as they are concerned life is this fading time on earth. Therefore, when one sees no reason to honour the Holy One the redemptive hands of the Redeemer are tied so that He cannot pull sinners from darkness.
Romans 8:34 reads, “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” This intercession is not for those who choose not Christ rather it is for those that love Him and His appearing. When this happens our enemy makes accusations for us. However, because Christ makes intercession, much like an attorney for his clients, He can only represent those that have “hired” Him. Those who do not fall under the redemptive arm of Christ have tied the hands of Christ so that there is no defense for them. There is no salvation because deliverance has not been sought. The only end that can be had is death and destruction much like what is taking place in Baltimore. When the hands of authority are tied there can be no good end.
Do you have the hands of Christ tied? Are you willing to let Christ in so that he can plead your case or will you continue to live a destructive life wherein death is the only clear outcome? Please make a decision to untie the hands of Christ so that you can live a life of total victory.
Most recently President Obama declared the greatest threat to the security of the United States is global warming. The suggestion is that man is causing undue and irrevocable harm to the Earth. The problem is that the idea of global warming has been debunked on a number of fronts. There are, however, a number of things that do threaten the security of the United States. Among those things is the political attack on police officers to the extent they are unable to do their jobs. Still, this article has little to do with the politicizing of police tactics rather more to do with what the great threats to this nation truly are.
One immediate threat to the United States is the influx of illegal aliens. While the law still requires specific avenues for entering the country many come in without regard to the law. Many of these illegal people are provided housing, medical care, education, and welfare on every level. All this is paid for not by the Federal Government, but rather by the tax payers. These privileges are provided in conjunction with jobs that legal immigrants and citizens are unable to obtain thereby creating economic problems. Perhaps our President would do well to enforce immigration laws rather than pontificating on greatly debated hypothesis.
An additional threat to the security of the United States is the rise of ISIS and other Islamic groups. Now, I know that I am reaching far beyond the realm of political correctness. The fact is that political correctness will not properly deal with the great threats faced by this nation. The truth is that Islam does not like the Western ways of the United States and has considerable disdain for Christianity. This is why Islamists behead Christians, kill those that oppose them and are working tirelessly to have a world-wide caliphate. Moreover, ISIS has declared that it has scores of insurgents already in place in the United States and seeks to plant its flag at the White House. It just seems that an entity that has declared war on these United States is far more crucial than the rambunctious ramblings of those preferring to keep their heads buried in the sand. It is true the earth warms and cools daily (if not more often) yet the threat of a warmer earth cannot compare to the immediate threat of those that seek the permanent demise of this nation.
There are other threats to this nation that should be of grave concern to the powers that be. Perhaps the term moral turpitude is familiar to some? This country is now in a moral downward spiral that can only be likened to the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Same-sex marriage is now the central point of political conversations. If one disagrees with abortion and free contraception he is seen as warring against women. Right has truly become wrong and wrong has been lifted as the epitome of right. Yes, there is a great threat to this nation and that threat is not global warming. That threat, at least one of them, has more to do with the idea that anything goes.
The fact of moral decay goes hand-in-hand with the fact that many have forsaken the Gospel of Jesus Christ in exchange for the feel-good-gospel. It seems that this nation has succumbed to the idea of doing whatever ever feels good; the consequences will have to be dealt with later. Moreover, many in power and seeking power appear oblivious to things they know are right just to garner votes from a few immoral souls. Yes, there has been a forsaking of the Gospel yet the Gospel will stand despite those abandoning it.
Paul posed the question, “You did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?” This question posed in Galatians 5:7 lends credence to the fact that at one point the Galatians sought to obey the truth. Still, there was someone or something that caused them to pull from what they knew to be right. The same is the case for the Church in the United States. There has been a pulling away from what is true and right thereby impacting the country at large. This is the great threat to the United States. Yes, terrorism seeks to create fear while hedonism has reared its divisive head. Yet the thing that is most threatening these United States is the lack of honour and service to the God we have pledged allegiance to.
From the time I heard of the incident outside Dallas, Texas I became a bit more incensed concerning the attacks on freedom of speech in this nation. Freedom of speech is a thing I freely use not only for political reasons but also as I speak concerning the things of God. I have said many times that I will not relent to the overtures of those that seek to silence opposing thoughts and I will not cease to stand now. The 1st Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America guarantees that we can speak freely without consequence from the government. If adherents of Islam take issue with the pictorial contest in Garland then perhaps they should move to a land wherein free speech is reserved only for those in power.
In these United States the right to free speech is unabridged. Despite that there are some that seek to silence those with whom they disagree. Consider, for instance, the “Fairness Doctrine.” With some, dissenters to certain view points are nothing less than bigots or suffer with some sort of newly discovered phobia. The problem is that the Constitution does not limit speech; instead it limits the government from controlling speech – especially religious and political speech.
With that let me say clearly that I have had my fill of Islamist coming to this country in an attempt to change it. We welcome all, including Muslims, with open arms in this country. Yes, it is true that Christians would love to see the adherents to Islam, as well as others, come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ and accept Him as Lord and Saviour. However, if individuals choose not Christ Christians do not seek to chop off the heads of those who will not follow. Lovers of Christ seek only to love dissenters to Christianity with the hopes of someday winning them. No, there is no desire to chop off the heads of non-believers from the Christian world. There is no desire to force acceptance of Christ by way of forced contrition.
With that I will freely speak because, first and foremost, I have been provided that freedom, not because of the Constitution, rather because of the freedom that rests in the Word of God. I am tired of those that attach Christianity and its tenants, yet I do not seek to destroy those who disagree with me. I believe, not just by reason of head knowledge, that the Word of God brings with it deliverance. That deliverance means that I do not have to succumb to things that pull from the truth. Additionally, as a Christian I have the choice (freedom) to live as I desire. Yet my desire is to please my Father. I rest in the comfort of the gifts of the Spirit and have no problem employing them in my life. How can I deny so great a salvation?
Some would dare say the recent events in Baltimore and Ferguson had much to do with free speech. Somehow it seems to me that free speech has little to do with vandalism. I am not certain what free speech has to do with theft. I fail to see how one can speak freely with the intent of disobeying laws that are intended to protect the rights of all. Well, dare I freely speak and say that those committing these crimes were not exercising their constitutional rights. They were not standing for justice wherein injustice had raised its head. Instead they took advantage of a situation and allowed the thug nature of criminal acts to spring forth. Yes, it has become politically incorrect to call thugs thugs as now it is racist. Well, if it walks like a thug, acts like a thug and sounds like a thug then it must be a thug: if I can say so.
The thing about freedom is that it impacts all that embrace it. Interestingly, it also impacts those that oppose it. Freedom is not limited to those that purposely walk in it. Instead, freedom reaches to all; even those that seek its destruction. With this I will continue to freely speak. I will continue to cry loud and spare not the truth of the Gospel. I would that all come and embrace the freedom of the Gospel whilst they lay down the vitriol that pulls from freedom. If there is to be destruction let us tear at the old man so as to be renewed in the Spirit of Love. If there is to be theft let there be stealing away to Jesus. If we must succumb to anything it might be best if we succumb to the freedom of the Word of God.
Because of those easily offended:
preachercarter 