Culture: Black History Month #4

This comes from Martin Luther King, Jr., “A drum major for righteousness” 

Every now and then I guess we all think realistically (Yes, sir) about that day when we will be victimized with what is life’s final common denominator—that something that we call death. We all think about it. And every now and then I think about my own death and I think about my own funeral. And I don’t think of it in a morbid sense. And every now and then I ask myself, “What is it that I would want said?” And I leave the word to you this morning.

If any of you are around when I have to meet my day, I don’t want a long funeral. And if you get somebody to deliver the eulogy, tell them not to talk too long. (Yes) And every now and then I wonder what I want them to say. Tell them not to mention that I have a Nobel Peace Prize—that isn’t important. Tell them not to mention that I have three or four hundred other awards—that’s not important. Tell them not to mention where I went to school. (Yes)

I’d like somebody to mention that day that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to give his life serving others. (Yes)

I’d like for somebody to say that day that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to love somebody.

I want you to say that day that I tried to be right on the war question. (Amen)

I want you to be able to say that day that I did try to feed the hungry. (Yes)

And I want you to be able to say that day that I did try in my life to clothe those who were naked. (Yes)

I want you to say on that day that I did try in my life to visit those who were in prison. (Lord)

I want you to say that I tried to love and serve humanity. (Yes)

Yes, if you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice. (Amen) Say that I was a drum major for peace. (Yes) I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter. (Yes) I won’t have any money to leave behind. I won’t have the fine and luxurious things of life to leave behind. But I just want to leave a committed life behind. (Amen) And that’s all I want to say.

If I can help somebody as I pass along,

If I can cheer somebody with a word or song,

If I can show somebody he’s traveling wrong,

Then my living will not be in vain.

If I can do my duty as a Christian ought,

If I can bring salvation to a world once wrought,

If I can spread the message as the master taught,

Then my living will not be in vain.

Study: The Letter of Jimmy and Poverty #1

I wanted to share a essay I have written about the Letter of James and the context of Poverty.  I will post more as it gets developed. 

The Letter of James is a call to practical Christianity on the part of all claiming to have faith in Christ.  James reflects on the social conflict of Palestine and surrounding areas during the first and second centuries.  The word “poverty” is defined as not having enough money to take care of basic needs such as food, clothing, and housing; or a lack of something.  The accretion of large territories of land in the hands of a few wealthy and powerful individuals was a phenomenon throughout the Roman Empire.  Seneca, a Roman philosopher and writer, states, “Consider, at the outset, how great a majority are the poor.”  The social injustices of first-century Palestine are prevalent throughout the words of James.  The preponderance of evidence suggests that James urged Christians to flee from worldly wealth plus materialism and to embrace a revolutionary Kingdom by distributing their riches to the poor, broken, and oppressed.

James identifies with the socio-economic structure; however, he counters poverty as a theme to which the letter repeatedly returns.  He echoes a voice and announces a Kingdom vision for the powerless and oppressed.  Sensing the urgency to provide a Christian leader’s voice that would bring together people from across the theological spectrum to speak on behalf of the poor, he established a system by helping the poor in ways that leave them with their dignity.

This letter is not addressed to a specific Christian community, but to any and every Jewish Christian community to which it might circulate.  James expresses a passion for social concern.  His whole ethos and demeanor is protecting the sacredness of what God created.  Without having a middle-class, the elite and non-elite clashed to form a chasm.  The word James used for “poor” (ptochos) acquired the sense of putting faith in God and not in material wealth.  The statement “to be rich in faith” indicated that these poor, unlike the wealthy, experienced Christian community and hopes of eschatological riches in the future.

Tom Davis, the president of Children’s HopeChest, a global orphan care ministry working in Russia, Eastern Europe and Africa, says, “Satan knows that if the Church took poverty as seriously as we take abortion, we would wipe it out in a generation.”  In response to this legitimate truth, the church in the United States must seize this radical message of James and take seriously the lethargic attempt to cure this epidemic.  According to the U. S. Census, in 2006, 36.5 million people lived in poverty in the United States.  The church is a light in dark places, yet it has enjoyed a comfortable lifestyle and trivialized the message of Jesus Christ.  In the book, Speaking My Mind, Tony Campolo cites, when asked how someone can feed the billion starving people in the world today, Mother Teresa answered, “One at a time.”

Converse: Jesus Manifesto

The editor at Jesus Manifesto posts a wonderful bit of satire in a blog article this past week.  I would recommend anyone to take the time and stumble upon these words of wisdom.  In order not to seem bias, I will wait to post a reaction to this article.  The editor miscellaneous paraenetic tradition, to which the writer has attached the words of Jesus to an erroneous account has caused many to think about conventional violence and hate.  I enjoy this blog and would encourage readers to journey to it often.

Black History Month #3: “I Have a Dream”

Humor: Benny Hinn

Words cannot express to explain how comical and humorous this video is…

 

Culture: Black History Month #2

 This comes from Dr. King’s autobiography, which I read with the most joy and amazement. 

“One of the main tenets of this philosophy was the conviction that nonviolent resistance was one of the most potent weapons available to oppressed people in their quest for social justice.”

Converse: Humanity and Truth

As of late, my search for truth and rationalization has become a vicious cycle in social issues.  I suppose it is rooted in the depths of the two roads and gulfs: liberalism and fundamentalism.  I cherish the devotion to truth, its possibility to open the mind, and its refusal to abandon all reason.  All things considered, my study of Gandhi, and his life of nonviolent resistance to evil opened my eyes to the ethics and truth of Jesus.  I am keenly aware of the complexity of war and social issues among the conservatives, yet I find them false ideals.  Gandhi has shown truth through his actions, much like the historical Jesus, yet people lift esteem in political power through death, bombings, and war.  I am convinced that the church cannot be silent on such issues; however, our voice has been diluted with bigotry and racism. 

Moral dilemmas stem from convenience in most churches today.  Christians do not want to become dirty in the depths of reality.  They distant themselves from social issues, unless of course you are one of those who picket “God Hates Fags” and “Thank God for 9/11,” then you would think of yourself as a social activist.  But all things considered, we vote on issues, talk about them, but we do not put a human face with the issue.  Example:  We are not in the communities loving the ethic difference and beautiful mosaic of humanity.  A brown skinned man comes in a store, and we are looking for an exit because he has to be a sacrificed bomber.  We scream hate remarks at abortionists, yet we forgot how to love.  It is all convenient.   

This could be my superficial optimism; nevertheless, I realize the potential for humanity, just like Gandhi and Jesus.  Truth is found in people, just as much as the church or the Bible.  Too often we study the bible and God more than people.  To study truth is to love truth.  To study people is to love people.

Culture: Black History Month#1

I just recently read the book With Justice For All: A Strategy for Community Development.  The author, John Perkins, understands the church to be holistic.  He discovers the three Rs of Christian community by explaining (1) relocation (2) reconciliation (3) redistribution.  Several instances, in my own life, I have been challenged by the three Rs.  He says, “The evangelical church, with a few remarkable exceptions, remains the greatest stronghold of the sin of racism in America today.”  I found this stunning. 

Racism is as strong as it ever was, however, it is a silent battle.  The mind is a bleak weapon if exposed.  During black history month, I am reminded that there is still a lot of work for humanity to be reconciled to one another.  I hope my feeble attempt to reach out does not end in resilience.