Sunday, November 16, 2008

Sinful Nation

Every now and then, we would hear about the economic power of the African American community in terms of how the amount of money flowing through the black community as compared to the GNP of most countries in the world. As a people, over 670 billion dollars are spent each year, with significant increases forthcoming. I’ve heard that if black America were a nation, it could rank as high as 13th in the world in terms of global economic power. When you consider that there are about 195 countries on this earth, that is saying quite a bit about blacks in America—if seen solely from that perspective.
However, if we’re going to use this abstract to prove one point, why not use it to prove another. I suggest that we not stop there and proudly project about black economic potential. I see another perspective that must also be considered in order to present a different paradigm that impacts black America even more than economic power. If we were to continue this extrapolation that examines black America as a nation of itself, let us also consider this “nation” in terms of its moral and spiritual condition. Though not kind, the statistics tell of a truth most disturbing, but must be figured into the equation if we are to come to the correct conclusion. Now top this off with America’s first black president, Barack Obama, the path we have traveled for the last fifty or so years appears to have been manifested in his very person!
As we look into the African American Nation, as a whole, we see issues that are not as flattering as the economic potential. In fact, there are several leading cultural indicators that strongly suggest a nation in trouble—a people who are living in a period comparable with those nations and cultures that have fallen, and have been buried in the sands of time, and history seeks to vaguely recall. These are nations that have collapsed under the weight of not foreign invasion, but the implosion of each society due to internal cultural rot and decay. In other words, similar to nations and empires that found themselves incurring the wrath of God!
· 12-15% enrollment in public school, over 45% special education
· Seventeen of our nation’s 50 largest cities had high school graduation rates lower than 50%
· 13% of nation’s population, over 50% prison/jail population
· Over 35% of abortions in America are black babies
· Approximately 5% white unemployment, double-digit in black community
· 2005 statistics showed that Black women accounted for 66% of new AIDS cases, compared to 16% White and 16% Latina. Black males accounted for 44% as compared to 34% white and 20% Latino.
· Illegitimate births within the African American community soar above 80% annually.
Should I dare suggest that many of our problems as a people may not stem from an inherently hostile culture, but from a steady departure from the one true God so many of us claim to be devoted to?
Within moments of the surety of Obama being the Democratic Party’s nominee for president of the United States, ripples of excitement seemingly struck black America, from the homeless discarded on the streets to the titular heads of the most formidable mega church/ denominationally elite leaders sprang to his side with a sort of giddiness normally expected of a breathless teenager about to speak to her heart-throb for the very first time. Throwing Biblical principle and Scripture aside, the possibility of being part of the historical moment of placing a black man into the highest office in the land and becoming the most powerful human was too great even for the most revered Christian leaders! I’m afraid that even if Lucifer were to come in the form of an African American, many preachers would follow.
On two occasions in particular, Obama has met with prominent ministers and Christian leaders. The first of note was The Hampton Minister’s Conference held in Hampton, Virginia during the first week of June. Here, the apparent outcome of this gathering of African American pastors was that it became a pro-Obama, religious conversion experience. The second meeting with Obama was held in Chicago less than a week later. To many Christian leaders, the results were the same—especially those from within the black community—an abiding commitment to presidential candidate Barak Obama in spite of questionable ideological positions which conflict with Biblical scripture. Abandoning all sense of principle, there has arisen this lustful urgency to “become a part of history” by supporting this charismatic black man while spiritualizing his arrival as the result of the will of God!
Now if Obama was coming with a message reflective of the Bible, then he would certainly have captured my attention in a more positive and supportive manner, but from my perspective, practically everything he is preaching in public contradicts the gospel. For example, Barrack Obama does not believe that salvation through Jesus Christ alone is the only way to heaven. On March 27, 2004 interview with Cathleen Falsani, part of what Obama truly believes becomes blaringly plain. “… So I’m rooted in the Christian tradition. I believe that there are many paths to the same place, and that is a belief that there is a higher power, a belief that we are connected as people…” This is the man whose path the high priesthood of the African American Nation have strewn their coats and palm branches in front of without question nor concern for his spiritual roots. Additionally, Obama states, “… I find it hard to believe that my God would consign four-fifths of the world to hell… I can’t imagine that my God would allow some little Hindu kid in India who never interacts with the Christian faith to somehow burn for all eternity. That’s just not part of my religious makeup.” In other words, Jesus lied in His declaration in John 14:6 when he stated, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” No person who professes to be a Christian CAN state that there are other ways to heaven as part of their belief system!
Why? It is because of the salvation process that occurs within the heart of any believer. 1 John 4:1-3 provides the test criteria which determines the spiritual make up of an individual—especially of those who supposedly make up the body of Christ! The issue of whether Jesus came in the flesh is a very significant matter. This summarizes God’s intention, Jesus’ purpose and Christ’s fulfillment— God’s manifestation in the flesh who was crucified on Calvary for the sins of the world, but was risen in the flesh on the third day and ascended back to heaven to be seated at the right hand of God! To state that there are other ways to heaven denies the perfect work of Jesus Christ and equates God’s work with that of other deities and religious systems! Remember that in Matthew 15:18, Jesus also said, “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.” Acknowledging this great truth tells us that Barack Obama, like many others, shows us what has or has not occurred within his own heart, as verse three of 1 John 4 concludes, And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”
The strongest arguments provided by the clergy and citizenry in general stems from Obama’s vague promises of “CHANGE.” The religious leaders of the Christian world apparently translate this into a form of social gospel where there will be provided by the federal government, housing, health insurance, real equal opportunity, food and whatever else is needed—actually most of the things the church is supposed to be providing—they want the government to do for them! The change is really an EX-CHANGE! Trading souls for material gain.
In addition, Obama believes that America is no longer a Christian nation…In a June 2007 speech (available on YouTube) he declared, ”Whatever we once were, we’re no longer a Christian nation. At least not just. We are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, and a Buddhist nation, and a Hindu nation, and a nation of nonbelievers…” That aroused my curiosity enough to start a brief search to see what our national makeup was in light of religion and faith. It did not take long. According to a March 2002 Pew research group survey of 2,002 adults on their religious affiliations, the statistics profoundly contradict Obama’s statement.
· Christian- 82%
· Jewish- 1%
· Other Non-Christian- 1%
· Atheist- 1%
· No Preference- 10%
Another survey by sociologists Barry A. Kosim, Seymour P. Lachman and associates at the Graduate School of the City University of New York conducted an even more scientific study of 113,000 individuals in 1990 and 50,000 in 2001 with similar results, but with Muslims, Buddhists and Hindus representing with less than 1% each. So as Barak Obama throws out “false statements” as fact, he depends upon the population’s emotional acceptance of him instead of them challenging him on fact! Additionally, he is relying upon the nation view of a diminishing significance of Jesus in the heart of the nation—a clear warning sign that the African American Nation’s priesthood seems to be ignoring. In conclusion, it is plain to see that black America is in need of a change—a return to the God of our forefathers—the God we had claimed to have been the instrument of our own deliverance from bondage. Before the African American nation can look down upon the rest of America, it must remove the collective beam from its own eye, and remove itself from the presence of this messianic-like figure who has perverted their sense of moral righteousness.

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