Monday, July 21, 2008

Baptism

As I Baptized a number of people this past week, it reaffirmed the importance of Beleivers baptism. It was a joy to see people cry out to God for new life. Of course the water can't give this but God does. We had a blessed time of fellowship with grace fellowship church in Westminster.
It was a Joy. I am glad God let even me be a part.

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

black and white thinking

Rev. Patrick Mahoney, director of the Washington DC based Christian Defense Coalition comments, "It is painfully clear that Senator Obama has publicly discarded decades long relationships because his church has become a hindrance to his political aspirations.
"Only one of the two following options may be true; for the past twenty years Senator Obama was a member of a church fellowship that was the foundation of his spiritual and moral reasoning -- or -- he sat in the pew of Trinity United Church simply for the political gain such relationships could bring.



"If Trinity United Church was simply a club to improve Obama's standing in the community, then he is consistent in discarding his membership today, when such gain is gone.



"But if his church membership was truly spiritual -- then this action shows a fundamental lack of integrity. Obama's resignation of membership in Trinity United Church demonstrates that he will trade even on his faith for political advantage.



This is a stupid article. Things are not so black and white, either// or. There are more than two possible reasons for leaving. The church has been in danger from bomb threats and media spies have come to every worship service. The church is also going through a major transition, the retirement of its 30 year long pastor.
They need time to bond with the new pastor but the entire spotlight is on Obama and his enemies who are using the church to stop, what may be his calling from God, his presidential bid.

At the same time, Obama is growing and changing. How many people still believe at age 46 everything they did at age 22?
Or how many of you are still in a church for twenty years. Most people are not.

I can remember when my views changed from that of my pastor of twenty years. He wished me well and said he had given me all he had to teach. It was time I move on and expand on his teachings. As I pastor today I have done just that.
Stop trying to judge Obama's heart, wait and see what the Lord might do. He is fighting the powers of darkness and is in need our prayers. He will never, never do everything right. Most other presidents don't even have a twenty year membership in any church. Think about that.

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Rev Jeremiah Wright and our "Birth Defect"

Secretary Rice referred to the birth of our nation by using the metaphor of a birth defect. She was referring to that peculiar institution know as slavery. Even before Blacks were "emancipated" without so much as the 40 aces or the mule, we have been a sick and divided nation.

As a Christian minister it has really disturbed me to see how differently my Anglo brothers see certain issues. Even the word of God cannot destroy man's traditions. Only the traditions of man make the word of God of none effect, says our Lord. (mk 7:13)

Whites see racism as an individual problem and individual solutions apply and blacks see it as individual and systemic and both arenas must be dealt with to overcome.

Thus , the Rev. Jeremiah Wright issue. I have been in this brother's presence on more than a few occasions. He is a scholar, a christian, a great preacher and a lover of people of all colors. Yet, he , like myself has known racism personally and he desires to speak truth to power.

He may use hyperboles or even analogies that I would not but God made us all different. I know he is not perfect. The Bible says if a man is perfect in speech, he is a perfect man. (only Jesus).

It is not what he said that bothers me but the fact that many White and black Christian brothers and sisters can't even talk civilly about the issue.

Some are even unwilling to listen to the whole sermon for the context. And this puts them in danger of sinning against their own Christian brother, speaking gossip about another Christian, without all of the facts.

It's seems that, like wright's sermon suggest, we put Government above God. Nationalism above the Word of God. Is this not like the Pharisees, or the Nazis?

I believe the Blood of Jesus should make us one as Christians. We are to seek unity with all christians, especially those who are hurt and suffering, those who are marginalized, and obviliously suffering greatly from the ills of oppresion, proverty and the ongoing lagacy of this "birth defect".

If Anglos don't understand our pain or anger, they should seek to understand and vi·ce ver·sa

I am praying for Dr, Wright, his family, his church and that God will gain the glory out of is humanity and feeble way of saying and doing things.

I pray that one day white Christians in America will be able to follow black Christian leadership just as blacks can now follow some of them and even join their churches.

I pray that we will not put party politic before the cross of Jesus and the command to love one another.