I don’t have time to blog. I don’t. So, rather than try to talk about one thing, I’ll hit a bunch of stuff, and hopefully you’ll get what I’m going for. Here goes…
I don’t like “church”. I’m breathing hard, as I write this, because I know it’s bad for a Christian to say they don’t like “church”. But I don’t. I find it often boring, irrelevant, drab, and full of “sick” folks…who THINK they’re so much more “well” than sinners, but they’re not. I know I’m a complete mess, without Jesus — and even with Him, I know I’m prone to “falling off the wagon”, if I don’t stay close and prayerful. We’re so easily “scared” by folks who don’t know God. We can’t seem to “get” that we’re just LIKE THEM, without Jesus, and some of us, with Jesus. I need The Good Shepherd. Everyday. The Body of Christ has not progressed, while the world is getting sicker, by the second.
President Obama better have nerves of steel, cuz folks are looking to make him go mad — all the scrutiny and nitpicking. It was mentioned on another site about how Obama’s association with Jeremiah Wright almost ruined his political career, yet John McCain’s association with John Hagee never was a serious issue. Yeah…we shall overcome SOMEDAY, but that day ain’t here. Watch your back, Barack. The haters are growing in number, and in hatred — AND many ”evangelicals” are just as hateful.
Why? Why does a man kill his wife, five children, and them himself, over the loss of a job? Then, names his murdered wife as the one who came up with the plan to kill everybody. Since the beginning of time, women have been used as “scapegoats”, when the bottoms fall out of men’s lives — Heck, it started with Adam, remember? He told God (instead of taking responsibility for his own actions), “The woman You gave to be with me, gave me the fruit…” For some reason, I don’t believe Lupoe’s claim. But, we’ll never know, will we?
Now, before folks start talking to me about the “pressure”, let me just say this: We are growing folks, who can NOT take pressure, hardship or misfortune. I’m so sick and tired of reading about men, killing women/wives/children, because they lost their jobs, or the IRS was closing in, or the sky was falling, or whatever. Can you imagine Lupoe’s children’s thoughts, when daddy was pulling the trigger? How horrific to think that parents are not a refuge for their children. Selah.
We need The Lord, y’all. Too many “church goers”, and very few disciples/worshippers. We prefer “the rituals and traditions of man”, rather than spiritual intimacy with The Most High One.
A Nappy Girl
No disrespect intended, but Bush put up with 8 years of scrutiny and nitpicking from folks who didn’t agree with him. That comes with the Presidency. Obama has already had a few ops to show he’s serious about bringing people together – but what he’s shown so far is that he’s serious about bringing people over to *his* way of thinking. That’s just not possible. That flexibility needs to go in both directions to be successful.
As far as white supremacy – there were two incidents in that video – one was some nutball and the other was a guy discouraging such behavior. I’m not sure that’s a valid, sweeping or accurate example of “whites” or “evangelicals” feelings about our new President.
I, too, wish that people would get back to the Bible. With or without Church, without the living breathing Word of God, people surely lack the understanding they need to see that each individual will feel passionately different about a variety of subjects because that living breathing Word means something different to everyone depending on the circumstances in which they read it. It applies to every person, in every situation.
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Well…Bush was a horrible president, and you and I obviously disagree, and that’s fine — so there should be no danger of disrespect. I didn’t like Bush (as president). Never did.
Secondly, I didn’t say that anything was a sweeping example of “whites” or “evangelicals”. I said “some” evangelicals. Yes, I do think Obama will come under more serious scrutiny, because he’s a black man.
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Yeah, Tracey, you covered a lot of ground!
The main thing I wanted to address was your feeling about church. I know EXACTLY how you feel! I was the same way for much of my life and ALL of my Christian life until I joined my current church.
I think church is, for a lot of people who “run it,” self-indulgent. There are too many announcements, too many speakers, and the songs are too long and too inwardly focused. That’s how mine was. Services commenced at 10, and the pastor didn’t even start to speak till noon! TOO MUCH! And the only people who liked it were those who were involved and those who made themselves part of the show — if you know what I mean.
There was too much theological immaturity and misinformation in the pulpit! Too much “God as Santa Claus” and too much, “I can feel… the presence of the Lord — an I’m gonna git my blessin’ right NOW!” for my taste.
Too much “nose as water-slide” too. I remember playing part of a jazz tune in a song and getting chewed out by a holier than thou deacon who recognized it! But he SHO knew the tune, didn’t he!!! We can’t sneak “So What” into a tune, but Kirk Franklin can build a whole CAREER off other peoples’ songs!
Too much gossiping and handing down judgment and not enough personal accountability. Nobody can be told anything. And too much exaltation of leadership — “Bishop” this, “Evangelist” that, “Missionary” the other… And don’t get me started on those water-thin doctorates!
In he words of Clubber Lang, “I got a lotta mo’!” But that’ll do…
I wish you could go to my current church. It’s not perfect, but it is TOTALLY different than anything I’ve known. We have three pastors, and I call them, Bryan, Ben, and JB. And they answer.
People call or e-mail each other if they are convicted in their hearts of some offense. There are groups but no cliques.
No one is looked down upon for wearing jeans or a suit or a dress or no make-up. Yet, we are not a watered down, seeker-sensitive church. Hard truth is preached, and tough social issues are confronted. And we can play jazz sometimes (at the END of service)!
And I had to swallow that castor oil that says “Do not neglect the gathering of yourselves together.” But God showed me that corporate worship can actually be great. I was worried, cuz they always preached that Heaven is havin’ church all the time, and I got scared cuz I thought, “Man! I’m gone be bored to death in Heaven, then, cuz I can’t fake it no more than about two or three hundred years, and after that, the Lord is gone KNOW I don’t like it!”
Sorry, friend. I guess I’ll have to comment on the rest at another time.
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As far as Obama goes, I was not an original supporter. He is our President and I respect him and his position (I heart Michelle!!).
People are going to be nick-picky. That does come with the job of being President. We as American, have the right to be nick-picky, too. It’s not so much as a “black man” thing as it is a “you’re are President” thing.
I did not like Bush (I or II) as President. But once again, he was our Commander in Chief. I am glad that he is gone! :)
Oh, I am a Christian, but I don’t like going to Church that much. I do, but some of these so-called Pastors are such scam artists, that it has turned me off.
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Uhhmmm….it’s not about being “nit picky” because he’s the president. I base a lot of what I say on conversations I have with…folks. It’s not just something I make up, in my head. I encourage folks to speak freely, because I want to know what they’re really thinking — and I probably still don’t get the “real” of it all. But, I get enough to know that I’m not too far off base, with my conclusions on certain matters.
I’ve had several conversations, with white Americans (as well as read several online blogs), and a lot of folks are watching him a lot closer — they wanna make sure, for instance, he doesn’t use his position of power to “advance the negro, at the expense of other americans” — and that, my dear, is a direct quote. There are a lot of folks, who wanted to get rid of Bush, and their minds were clouded — folks who would have NEVER voted for a black man under “normal” circumstances. They couldn’t see the forest, for the BUSH (George W), and they didn’t want a rerun (McCain). Again, this info coming from actual conversations, not vain imaginations. Obama came on the scene, at a critical time in our history. Had the straits not been as dire, who knows? I’m talkin’ “Buyer’s Remorse”.
Any black person in this country knows that we often have to be twice as good, to get half the credit. That’s just the way it is. Michelle Obama’s smarts have been questioned and analyzed — she “obviously wasn’t quite as bright as her peers at Princeton”, (again, a direct quote from a blog) because, after all we’re (blacks) not really THAT smart.
So, yes we all have the right to be “picky” and make our candidates accountable. But the playing field is not even — not yet.
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Don’t feel so bad. I, too, am a Christian and I don’t like church. I prefer a non denominational bible study church. I used to attend one here but then they opened up a day care in their basement, so I had to go. I felt kind of bad about it too (seeing as how I called them and told them how I felt before I left), but my God is bigger than their business. I think my main problem with contemporary churches is that they worship traditions and pastors (especially the latter) as opposed to God. For example, I live in Chicago, and a lot of people I know who attend church brag about going to Salem. They like to exalt Meeks. However, they couldn’t tell me anything about the Bible or their personal relationship with God.
Another thing (your blog post has gotten me riled up this afternoon) I don’t like is how churches have become political platforms. I am not strictly talking about Obama here. I am talking about how politicians *cough* Pat Quinn *cough* are allowed to speak to people within the church, during service, AND while standing in the pulpit to advance their political agenda.
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All I can say is that God’s word is clear that we are not to forsake the fellowship as others are in the habit of doing. No church is PERFECT. God will deal with all of the false prophets. If you are not attending a BIBLE based church…run……run…. Smile. God’s word is the final authority on ALL things no matter how we feel about them. God doesn’t need us. We were created for HIS glory. I too have been hurt and mislead by church people but I have moved on and, pray for them that they find the answer before to late. There will be NO do OVERS when he returns.
Galatians 6:1-8 are wonderful verses to meditate on.
As for our leaders God’s word tells us in Romans 13 that we are to submit ourselves to “all” authority, not authority we “like.” We have to pray for everyone, President, Mayor, Congressman…..you get the point.
Think about it…If we have immoral leaders God is only putting people in office that reflect the morals of culture. Remember..He didn’t want to give the people a King but they insisted and we all know how that turned out.
In the end….when Christ comes back He will not be calling: Blacks, Whites, Man, Woman. He will be calling those who are called by His name.
Forgive those you have hurt you. If it’s hard to pray and for the person, pray and forgive their soul. Take care.
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April,
First, thanks for your feedback…but I think you missed where I’m coming from. My issue is not with a particular “church”, it’s with the church…as a whole. It’s not a matter of forgiving anyone, and I understand the command to fellowship.
The church needs to rethink our attempts at “ministry”, and ask ourselves are we really doing what Jesus has called us to do.
As far as who God is calling? I got that down too. I shared my perspective on an earthlly government, and the sinful, racist folks in and under it. That’s it. I chose to address it. So, while I ultimately understand who I serve, and how it’s going to go down…in the end, I also speak of what goes on “in the world”, even though I’m not of it.
Again, thanks for stopping by…and God blesss!
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