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blacktheologian · 7 years

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Kim Burrell’s Sermon and the Homosexual War on the Black Church

“Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?” - Galatians 4:16

Gospel singer & Pastor Kim Burrell recently preached a sermon to a congregation -- keyword, by the way -- and in it she dedicated time to talking about the homosexual, perverted spirit that has taken root in the church. A church member leaked a video of that portion of the sermon, and the reaction to it has been deplorable. As much of the Bible is written to the congregation of believers, Kim Burrell preached a sermon to the Christians sitting in the seats, not to a world that is already blind to the truth-- and not for an ignorant lot of people to critique something they do not even understand. Like, for instance, a sermon is not a rant and a sermon is not “homophobic.” “Homophobia” does not even exist in reality; it is merely a recently-created fearmongering term from the gay agenda lexicon.

A sermon is a prophetic admonishment to a congregation of believers. It is not always flowery, should not always be flowery, and the best ones AREN’T flowery! Historically, sermons have always been fiery-- coming from both early European American and African American preachers. They preach salvation and deliverance from sin and strongholds! This type of preaching has ushered in nationwide and worldwide revivals! (By the way, if you have a problem with this, then you are an embodiment of pure evil). African American ministers really embrace this style of preaching-- including those like E. Dewey Smith who are nothing but loud and wrong.

There is so much to be said about all of this because it would literally take breaking down the historical growth of insanity in this nation, so I’ll keep this post as short as possible.

Church culture and specifically Black church culture are under attack by wicked people with perverted standards.

The Christian community, as any other community, has a set a beliefs, doctrines, code, morality, etc. that make it what it is! What is pathetic is when such things are honorable, righteous, common sense, and true, those who uphold these things are persecuted to no end. It’s as if many adults have regressed to juvenile behavior, using their large platforms and Big Money backing to bully people into hiding and poverty. These wicked people (aka liberals / progressives) are actually showing their true colors in this Kim Burrell incident: they actually absolutely hate the fact that she and any other Christian or Conservative has amazing (let alone unparalleled) talent, huge platforms, are financially stable...you name it. It’s how they’re able to switch so easy, like robots.

These perverted people do have a standard, and they make it clear each time they continue to attack Christians for what we have a right to believe. And please know that I am referring to people who claim to be Christians as well, who’ve shown zero support and open disregard for Kim Burrell. They pretend to have a heart, but truly don’t, then criticize Christians for supposedly being the same way.

Like little kids in a “He-Man Christian Haters’ Club”, they take this ‘you can’t play with me anymore’ stance in the worst possible way.

For example, Janelle Monae, starring in new movie Hidden Figures, made the statement, ‘Kim Burrell’s comments will cost her,’ more than insinuating that she will lose money and gigs. She, like many others, arrogantly assume that Christian and Gospel artists need them for their well-being and to be known. Unfortunately, some have given that impression, but it is not true. What’s worse is that Monae’s comment also reads as a threat. We are a community too, and if you continue to press us, we will respond in a big way.

Now, what is clear is that she has lost some fake friends like Janelle Monae, Chaka Khan (who hasn’t had a good performance in decades), Pharrell, Questlove, Yolanda Adams, and more. Count in Christians who were silent.

Though they appear strong, they and those named are all cowards and puppets. They assume all Christians will be the same way; living their lives in fear of what The Man, their peers, and some ‘random-idiot-in-their-living-room-YouTube-video’ might do to their livelihood.

They wouldn’t dare view or treat Muslims the same way. However, I’m here to let you know that Christians are not easy targets. We are fighting back. We will protect our sisters and brothers who are persecuted at your violent hands.

You see, Pharrell was fine doing his pointless, lyric-less jig next to Kim Burrell during their performances as long as she doesn’t act out what she actually is-- a Christian. A lot of her attack has come from Black people who have bought into liberalism and feminism, and yes, even some from the church. They are (and proven to be) completely clueless to what church and sermons are like and what they can be, particularly in the Black church, and have a complete lack of understanding of scripture.

Every church isn’t going to be dead for you.

Every Christian isn’t going to be silent for you.

Every pastor isn’t going to pander to you.

Every Gospel / Christian artist isn’t going to roll over and be your puppet.

The Bible itself is not a rosy story. Judges, prophets, and Jesus himself had fiery words for people throughout the biblical text.

Yet, the SJW Christian thought police have taught gullible Blacks very well; they come out of the woodworks taking scripture out of context and using scandals within the church to prove “see there!” points they do not have.

“They hate him that rebuke in the gate, and they abhor him that speaks uprightly.” - Amos 5:10

Every one of you who deny the Bible and persecute Christians for standing on the Word of God, you make your statements loud and clear. Now let me make mine: reality is you’re wasting your time and energy. You have one life to live. Don’t make it a mockery. Eternity is forever, and you will spend it in hell if you do not repent. The line has been drawn in the sand... I stand for righteousness, I stand for God, and I stand with Kim Burrell.

-crystal

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blacktheologian · 8 years

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Why/How I am a Conservative and Pan-African

“The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in a democratic society. Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism of society constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country.” – Edward Bernays, propaganda/public relations pioneer

I want to clarify how I can be both Conservative and Pan-African. More than often, conservatism and pro-blackness are portrayed and viewed as being at odds. Presumably, to call myself both Conservative and Pan-African are absurd to many ears. But, it isn’t. To be anything is to embody (act in accordance with) principles, or behaving or acting in a manner that reflects a certain knowledge. In other words, both labels are part of who I am. If I could sum up everything they’re about to me, they are the culmination of an upbringing rooted in respect and sound teaching. I’m aware of the disconnection between what I understand conservatism and Pan-Africanism to be and how others view these terms. I’m also aware of the bizarre confusion between blacks and conservatives. For instance, it is common for it to be said, ‘we were not slaveholders and you were not slaves.’[1] That statement alone is an essay prompt. I understand why it is said, but it’s partly false. We all hold in our memories, if not in our families, remnants of America’s slavery past. As an African American, I have a memory almost tangible of my ancestors’ past not due to a race-baiting black Democrat propagandizing me, but rather due to stories passed down. Let me also remind you all that the trafficking of African people and further injustice was not long ago. In addition to all of that, as a human being I simply have respect for what African Americans have been through to not slight the experience in any way. This is why you will often hear African Americans use “we” language[2] when speaking of people who no longer exist, or of people living who we don’t even know; they are a part of us by blood and memory.

What I’ve come to understand about social and political issues, as well as how I approach them really boil down to matters of right & wrong, good & bad, benevolence & evil, but these are usually hidden behind relativistic jargon. What I mean is that people find ways of explaining or explaining away anything. For example, when you hear Hillary Clinton blaming Benghazi victims and their families—after already causing an inhumane crime—consider that on the side of wrong, bad, evil, wicked, and not some debatable political technicality. When you hear Democrats[3], like Bernie Sanders, promising the world to everybody—except Christians—under the guise of fairness, equality, and peace, it is difficult not to see its deceptions and hypocrisies, let alone its wickedness. And yes, when you hear Donald Trump’s lack of tact and willingness to provide substance, I highly doubt it is stupidity, but it is rather deceptive at the least. Politics has everything to do with worldview, ideology, and belief system—not promises. Side note… I objectively look at all candidates, but sometimes things are so obvious that it doesn’t take long to make a decision as to whether or not the person is highly unfit. It is common sense to remove oneself from liars, criminals, and the careless because they will do us harm. However, in this insecure, celebrity-driven culture, the doors have been swung wide open to dangerous criminals, greeted with open arms. The only difference between them and criminals behind bars is their appearance: smiles, staffers, protection, and wealth. Add to these confident speeches and they can say and do whatever they’d like, yet be supported by masses. Insane? Doesn’t matter as long as that insane thing is presented well.

All Trump continues to say is, “I will make America great again,” along with other generalizations that somehow cause a great cheer. I have been waiting on him to provide some details and say something I don’t know. I thought that he was smarter than this; he didn’t build a huge empire with little to no intelligence. Also, he isn’t to be trusted because he’s made statements that totally contradict his current positions on a variety of issues. I saw the same sort of commentary with Obama before he got in office with the constant lying and flip-flopping. I knew during 2007-2008 campaigning that we (speaking of blacks in particular) would not only need to pay close attention to his every move, but take them seriously. I knew from the rhetoric in his inauguration speech that he’d be in office to divide us along various lines and destroy the backbone of this nation. Obama was someone who liberals and blacks would turn a blind eye to. It has been gut-wrenching to see this very thing play out before me.

How many generations will we betray before we wake up? How many generations will we conspire against by accepting wicked people in high offices?

Unfortunately, I believe Hillary will win due to a few things.[4] First, her genealogy. All of the presidents have been related, and the office of the presidency must remain in the bloodline; not actual law, but it’s theirs. Trump may have a chance due to this as well, because he and Hillary are found to be distant cousins.[5] Second, I believe Trump is only in candidacy to change the face of the Republican Party and to be most hated so that liberals will have no difficulty (with regards to public opinion—despite “election” results already being planned) in placing Hillary in the presidency. The additional problem here is that if more independent and undecided votes go from Trump to Hillary and if any votes are missed by Trump due to anti-Trump Conservatives, then those are Hillary’s gains as well. Third, in 2008, both Hillary and Obama met with the Bilderberg shadow government before the November election. They both made efforts to ward off media during that timeframe by lying to the press as to their whereabouts as their staffers covered for them. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that they were planning out the next 16-20 years. With that being said, Bernie is running as an early post-Obama, post-desensitization test to see how stupid people have become. To see what they’re willing to accept in the very near future—again, especially African Americans, as well as youth and Christians, and look at how they are all following behind him in droves. You see, African Americans and Christians have been and will be the toughest groups to break down because of our traditions and beliefs. The government’s focus in this last leg is to overpower both of these groups. Mine.

As you already see, this post is also a response to a range of recent events and issues that have been pushed to the forefront. I am not afraid or ashamed to post views contrary to most. My goal here is to flesh out my Conservative and Pan-African views, through that explain how they converge, and also highlight weaknesses among both groups. I always step back and take a critical look at why things are the way they are—and when things are all said and done, it really has nothing to do color, but everything to do with control. Color, as well as ideology, is used as a means to control a population. Whether you are conservative or liberal, of African descent or European descent (or any other ethnic background, as admittedly the two I point out are my target audiences), I invite you all to see yourselves in anything said here, even if you don’t fit that particular label. Also, I hate to fall into the convenience of using color terms (…a topic itself), but will from time to time, often interchangeably, even though I’m aware of the difference. Technically, it makes more sense to me to say European American instead of “white” and African American instead of “black”. I’ll explain this a bit later… This is a long piece, so please make time.

- CONSERVATISM -

I am for…

· Sound money (that is, real money, versus fiat), investing, and wealth creation

· Sovereignty, period, but would take as much sovereignty as I can individually, as a state, and as a nation

· Entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation

· Strong families and good morals

· Cultural, natural/ecological, and historical preservation (example of the latter being preservation of historical sites)

· Sustainability and preservation of sound traditions and overall well-being of life (which the latter would include charitable works and being anti-abortion)

· Free and renewable energy, which is very much possible. Countries are fighting over oil, yet there are various other ways to harness energy to create power.

· Creation of (natural) cures instead of abundant focus on treatments (concerning the latter, hospitals expand in size while, ironically, people continue to get sicker). Mike Huckabee has been the only well-known Conservative politician (to my knowledge) who has even uttered such a thing.

· Faith in God thru the salvific work of Jesus because I am aware that above all else, eternal security is the most responsible, safe, sensible, and mature thing to do in knowing that one day our physical bodies will die. Among other things, it is also conscientious as I acknowledge the supernatural, including the goodness and evil of this world. This worldview also makes me aware that humans have a soul and spirit that, having free will, are to be nurtured in the ways of God and thus are not physical cattle.

Honestly, all of this is just pure common sense and decency. The principle here is to build up and not tear down. It is to maintain what is good and sound. It is to protect oneself from possible future disasters by preparing with the best possible defenses. Preventative and conservative. Inklings of the above can also be found in what I will share below on Pan-Africanism. I have always been an independent person. But, just as one of my favorite books of the Bible, Galatians, proclaims, I also am aware that responsibility is key, which is greatly lacking on the liberal front. Policies and issues they push are reckless, deceptive, illogical, and unstable. Essentially, it’s why we’re in the mess we’re in today concerning many issues. Independence is part of what prompted me to want to uphold and strengthen my views; I like anyone am prone to abusing God-given freedom. I always look outside the norm of things because doing the same things will get me nowhere. One of my life’s goals is to be as self-sufficient as possible in every aspect of life.

- PAN-AFRICANISM -

I am for…

· The unification of persons of African descent, not as a “globalist agenda” but as a network of worldwide support

· Cultural preservation, including honorable traditions

· Our economic stability through the pooling of resources, talents, and skills

· The creation and sustainability of our own organizations and schools

· Strengthening African American families, in particular

· The sustainability and further creation and support of black-owned businesses

· Educating African-descended people on African history and its manifestations on each continent

These are reasonable aspirations for Africans in America and abroad in order to combat a global system and agenda aimed at oppressing or subduing as many people as possible, often as a specific group. I’m for overall self-sustainability with little to no outside help because it gives others power and control. It also simply dilutes our ability of becoming healthy and strong enough to rely on ourselves—a conservative principle, might I add. It’s like an investor who buys into a business—that person now has stake in that business, with the possibility of input and influence; if the person has immoral values and doesn’t mean well, then clearly that would be a problem. It’s like the position the U.S. government, shadow government, and business elites have placed us in where we rely so heavily on foreign production of goods, just to save a buck. It takes the prosperity away from people right at home.

With regards to culture and history, I have in the past month or so debated with some (white) conservatives regarding the perpetuation of lies, misinformation, and withheld information on African history, in particular of Egypt’s. (A post was made by Steven Crowder in favor of Gods of Egypt, based on the outrage over the whitewashing in the new movie.) People replied with statements that continued to whitewash Egypt’s history. I’ve also seen online various statements made by conservatives rejecting that African Americans even have a culture. Things like this have led me to realize that there is ignorance on both the liberal and conservative sides; I just expected better. In fact, there are many African Americans on both sides of the spectrum who do not realize or believe that we have a culture. There are even African Americans who deny the label “African” in the term, emphasizing that they’re American, not African. There are also other blacks who prefer “black American” out of “respect” for direct African immigrants. Question: What does this make of us born here in America, particularly of slave ancestors? And perhaps we should only refer to these ancestors as slaves and not Africans? My point is that our ancestors connect us to the continent—yes, a simple fact that has to be reiterated because people seek to complicate it. Now, I know the inaccuracy of the term African American as an ethnic identifier since the continent is actually named after a Roman general, and I also understand the argument some conservatives have of it being a divisive term (and presumably “European American” would be too); however, to identify as a person of “African” descent is simply to identify with the land, people, cultures, and traditions of the continent.

We are not just a color! Our color carries meaning.

Nevertheless, there is a post-blackness movement going on whereby black feminists like to (be all deep for deep’s sake as to) question “blackness,” or what it means to be black. These are people who believe their nonsensical theorizing places them at a social status above God. Now, the premise is that a black person can do and be what and who we want, which is true, to an extent, for anyone regardless of color. However, they romanticize subjectivity and individuality to the point where blackness, with regard to unity, tradition, or morality is rendered meaningless. I’ve commented on this topic as well, concluding that blackness exists, it is evident in many facets of our lives, and it is extremely important when it comes to upholding standards. Essentially, pushing post-blackness is a way to push stark individuality, which includes free “expression” (like “free love” and “homosexuality”; by the way, as if expression itself wasn’t available prior to creating a term like post-blackness), and a shift away from (or altering of) traditions strongly held in the black community. For example, this is why we’ve seen Obama make it his business to call black athletes with congratulations after coming out as gay, when concerning a plethora of other matters, you’d be certain he was simply too busy to notice. It’s a reason we saw in 2015 Louis Farrakhan blend the gay agenda into the Million Man March. In publications, in fields of study, etc. there’s been an infiltration of ‘anti-(black) tradition’ and ‘anti-Christian’ doctrine. For example, Ebony and the late Jet magazines changed their Black Marriage and Black Couples sections into Black Love and began including homosexual couples in the mix as a new type of family relationship blacks should accept. They moved away from any language that would suggest a male and female relationship, let alone male/female marriage. Also for example, in seminary, there are black theologians (and really, theologians, period) weaving alternate scriptural interpretations and practices into the (black) Christian community to influence and indoctrinate in that manner. Liberalism and feminism undermines freedom, perverts freedom, and disguises the new freedom as a black cause in order to push twisted ideals. These people are doing their part in this disinformation attack to break down natural masculine and feminine roles as father, mother, protector, and nurturer, because I suppose our families haven’t gotten enough of that.

Some may see the creation and support of African American organizations, private schools, and businesses as racism and segregation. That is actually far from the truth. Again, this is self-sufficiency and self-reliance, never needing or beholding to others unless we have no other choice[6]. It may be idealistic, but I think it’s necessary. What other ways do we dig ourselves out of a cycle of poverty and miseducation than to come together to create solutions? That is, instead of looking for Big Government to look out for our needs as Democrats so urge. Furthermore, when I think of possible accusations of racism and segregation, I think about how African Americans as a community have done a nose dive into confusion and oblivion since the push for integration. Our families, businesses, schools, and communities began disintegrating. It wasn’t anything new, but it was a big hit. Several months ago I was doing side research on a former black high school in my hometown of Gainesville, Florida, Lincoln High School. I do family research; that was my father’s high school. They got secondhand textbooks from the local white high school, Gainesville High School, and although the school was in a brand new building, it was without air conditioning, which was common among the black schools. Despite all of this, I discovered even more (that is, apart from my father’s own stories) what a close community the high school was. I found newspaper articles between 1969-1970 that showed the students and admin upset and rallying after the school was being shut down—forcibly, because there was no choice—by the district in order to turn it into an integrated middle school. Students were quoted stating how the school provided them with a community. I was shocked. The image we’re painted by the media about integration hasn’t been an image of resistance. They have shown the extreme, like the Black Panthers, but never ordinary citizens whose lives end up in limbo thanks to Big Government policies. Maintaining culture and community is a part of knowing one’s self. Growing up, my church often visited predominantly white churches (and vice versa) and partnered with them on community church services and projects. I had an appreciation for my own heritage while at the same time respecting and appreciating theirs. No one had to put on airs or change their style to fit the other’s. No one acted as if their worship or ministry style was better or worse.[7] I did not live in a bubble, but I knew who I was. That is real diversity; not dismantling or dismissing one culture in order to partake in another.

The battle is worldwide. The Maasai in Kenya have been targeted for decades with plans to assimilate them (one plan being to provide incentives to reel them in). The Jarawas in India have been targeted for assimilation. The list goes on. People have even been afraid to speak their own languages under tyrannical regimes (and it’s not just been people of color). Even right here in America, for decades—hundreds of years—African slaves couldn’t speak their languages. Speaking a certain dialect of American English today also gets someone called ignorant, which ignores the fact that one’s ethnic background comes into play.[8] We see throughout history the outcome of war and of being under wicked, controlling, authoritarian ideologies, such as socialism and communism, that both religion and culture suffer and die down under their power.

I want to add that I am not a Black Lives Matter (BLM) person, and hate to even dignify them with a mention. It is a joke to call them a “black” organization because they are a George Soros-funded hashtag mob. They are Eurocentric with black faces. A part of the globalist agenda to divide and conquer us. Puppets. Unless they’ve been brought to life and taught different (perhaps even to lie), puppets don’t know they’re puppets. Lifeless material pulled on strings in zombie-like fashion. They are LGBT-founded and backed; in fact, half of their platform is encouraging support of the gay agenda—an anti-family, anti-tradition, immoral platform (that loves to get into the minds of youth). Meanwhile, the out-of-wedlock birth rate among African Americans is the highest among other groups, teetering between 72%-74%. Percentage of African American children living in single-parent households is also the highest among others at the enormous rate of about 67%. BLM’s priorities are way off. As much as there have been challenges against African American families for decades, history shows that family and faith have always been important to our community—and in how we have survived as long as we have without crumbling. However, BLM is a group of people behind a hashtag that are an after-effect of a community that is dissipating—a community dwindling in good morals, judgment, and character, as well as belief, let alone faith, in God. I know one of the head leaders—Shaun King. Only in passing though, with a “hello” whenever we crossed paths at seminary, and we are connected on social media. I did not know he was well-known until later seeing articles online about him. Many may not know that he not only went to seminary, but was a pastor. I do believe that he has a heart for people and justice, but like too many in seminary, I also think it’s channeled in the wrong way and manner[9] because his theology is off base. One of the hashtag’s Seattle leaders, Marissa Jenae Johnson, has stated that the white ‘folk’ have to give up something (translation: give us something) and make a sacrifice. How embarrassing. The words of Jesus in John 15:13 say, “Greater love has no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends” (KJV; emphasis added). The verse speaks both a theological and universal truth of the abounding love a Friend (Jesus) has to the extent that he’d lay his life down. Children, you can’t make people do anything for you, especially if you have called a person out as your enemy. It makes no sense whatsoever.

The only reason the establishment now freely allows the red, black, and green (RBG) colors to fly is because they have purchased the rights to them via BLM. Newsflash: they do not fear you. You are a part of their dog & pony show. Kabuki theatre. Throughout American history, one of the ways the government sought to undermine black solidarity has been by creating organizations and movements themselves and calling them black—NAACP and Civil Rights Movement for examples. Organized black groups (even community programs) created by blacks have historically been investigated for subversiveness. The government used COINTELPRO and other tactics/attacks in order to infiltrate and dissipate groups. However, for years homosexual groups have been allowed to organize and wave their blasphemous banners without a care in the world. In case you haven’t made the connection, the gay agenda is a part of the supremacist agenda—and yes, you do the math as to where BLM fits in. I am saddened that the millions of people carrying the banner for BLM are seen as heroes to black youth and overall face of the black cause.

I don’t disagree that black lives matter, that racism still exists, that people’s feelings of anger and resentment are legitimate, and that we should work for solutions; however, when ‘working’ means using violence, hate speech, propagating falsehoods, utilizing crybaby narcissistic tactics, and advocating all other immoral behavior, then I refuse to carry a banner found to be misleading. Further, as I’ve quoted here at Black Theologian before, “If Black Lives Matter is comprised of oppressed people, then how do they have Big Media in their back pockets?” They are not for the betterment of our people. They are silent when a black-on-black crime piece is trending, but pick up megaphones and picket signs when a white person kills/murders an African American. If the African American was committing a crime or was charging at a cop never matters. (This is a criticism I have with some Pan-Africans as well, is that they excuse horrible things that blacks do and only call attention to the other party.) They are silent when videos go viral of black kids decking innocent people or disrupting classrooms and fighting teachers (headed by both white and black teachers), but will shout to the rooftops if one is punished or worse. They are silent if an illegal immigrant murders somebody, but are ready to protest and post biased hate articles if a conservative says something they don’t like, running the “risk” of hurting their feelings. Like complete morons, they will stand with Democrats, a slaveholding party that, by the way, among other ills, advocates for an organization formed to exterminate us, but will complain about so-called white supremacy[10] subjugating them. Silence is in order if a Muslim proclaims their worldview and ideology (or threatens or murders, perhaps even en masse); however, woe! be unto the “hateful” Christian for upholding biblical doctrine, preaching/teaching, or simply talking about the Bible and doctrine—because we “must” not only be “tolerant,” but are to be more enlightened and move beyond Christian teachings. Oh, okay. Look at where it’s gotten us. Look where it’s taking us. (Same criticism on this too with some Pan-Africans.) The reason you’re so angry right now, liberal…right now, random black person…right now, BLM person, is due to people at the top who are deliberately carrying out anti-Christian, anti-Christ, satanic agendas! The last I checked, Satan is God’s adversary; and Satanists invert the meaning and the face of everything.

Furthermore, people want to be activists, protestors, and pro-black/Afrocentric after someone has been shot. Or, after great economic disparity. Celebs have the gumption to sport the RBG after attention has been called to an issue—and only the one at the forefront.

Is anyone else tired of this same mess? Does anyone else not want to look back in hindsight wishing we’d done better to stop things before they got worse?

The system isn’t the only thing not always in our favor—we work against ourselves.

You cannot see all of that through the glossiness of perpetually aroused emotions. The government and its agents, like BLM, want to keep people in an emotional state, ruled, controlled by emotions. People like this can easily be manipulated and easily view people as saviors. African Americans are wounded from years of trauma. While we must make moves ourselves to better our situation, as a whole, we are also in need of spiritual salvation—an awakening that is only found in the refuge of the Most High. We are not gods unto ourselves. We don’t have divine rights to commit offenses against other human beings anymore than they do against us. When a human heart is so full of wickedness, particularly from years of this self-abuse, the buildup hardens the heart. When we sin, and people affirm and patronize our sins, our hearts become worse, making for a difficult feat to recover from. There is no human depth because our hearts are so full of wickedness. We act only out of stimulation, which is spiritually and physically unhealthy. A hardened heart is akin to a seared conscience. You may see, none of this has to do with color, but everything to do with human dignity and respect.

Overall, I’m in my own box. I don’t need anyone critiquing this post to see if I crossed every T and dotted every i with regards to Conservatism and Pan-Africanism, or whether or not I have liberals pegged right—all while likely being a part of the problem. I can’t please both sides entirely, and I don’t have to. All I want is understanding. An understanding that just because I love my African heritage and seek to know it more doesn’t make me prideful or hateful of other ethnic groups, or that I think myself more superior; that just because I’m a Christian doesn’t make me a part of a supposed “slave religion” that seeks to enslave others[11]; and that just because I’m conservative doesn’t mean I am against the plights of African Americans and of those in need. Each faction paints an image that one group doesn’t care about the other group. Well, that is only true when adherents of each lack knowledge and compassion.

[1] It’s a statement debunking “white guilt”. I do not at all push this. However, I do believe that we are at the very least owed an apology for the crimes and inhumane practices against our people; I think remorse is in order, not guilt. Basically, show some heart. There are conservatives especially who make outright dismissive comments about our past and the state of black America today. It is language like this that has helped fuel the fire of anger with people who are already crazed, misguided, and plain ignorant of ‘right’ and ‘wrong’.

[2] Believe it or not, this also has to do with African languages, which reflects African cultures, and their concept(s) of time. (You will need to research this for yourself.) Without even realizing it, this has remained with us.

[3] Democrats…Socialists…doesn’t matter—all the same.

[4] I will retract this if statement if this isn’t the outcome.

[5] Put “is Donald Trump related to former presidents” in Google search. This article is most enlightening: http://www.hngn.com/articles/123246/20150826/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-candidates-related-according-genealogists.htm.

[6] And this would be tyranny.

[7] Furthermore, our getting together weren’t a color or cultural experiment. They weren’t carnal—they were spiritual.

[8] I’ve seen disparaging comments from conservatives about black speech.

[9] Supports the homosexual lifestyle, uses profanity, backs the ideology of BLM, and his own ideology and theology are off base.

[10] There is supremacy, but of another name. To find out who they are, follow the money.

[11] The Bible itself describes people and events on the landmass we today call Africa (this would include the peninsula)! The first recognizable place-name in Scripture is Ethiopia! So much more evidence that debunks the “white religion”/”slave religion” myth…!

#theology #blackness #african american #african americans #blacks #conservative #pan african #pan africanism #christianity #culture #religion #black nationalism #conservatism #politics

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blacktheologian · 8 years

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The push for mass black & Christian exoduses from public schools will leave the white liberals (already in power) and their liberal black slaves.

Crystal

#Black History Month #Black history #bhm 2016 #Black Lives Matter #black future month #Christianity #Christian #school #liberalism #white supremacy #feminism

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blacktheologian · 8 years

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If Black Lives Matter is comprised of oppressed people, then how do they have big media in their back pockets?

Crystal

#Black History Month #Black history #Black Lives Matter #media #Blacks

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blacktheologian · 8 years

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An Open Letter to COGIC Members and Leaders

Colossians 3:23-25

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

There is a lot going on in the world today. Much of it is greatly amplifying. In the midst of the world’s crises is what has been brewing in the church in general for years. I’d like to briefly call attention back to the calamity within the Church of God in Christ (COGIC). I am writing directly to the COGIC members, pastors, executive staff, and the General Board & presiding bishop from the perspective of a young person who’s grown up in the COGIC church. I would also like to make it known to anyone who reads this open letter that this is what happens to anyone who has forsaken God and sound admonition. Let me clarify that when “COGIC leadership” or “COGIC leaders” is mentioned, that includes all pastors, bishops, General Board, paid staff, and executive officials; when “COGIC officials” is used, it more specifically means all national leaders; and lastly, “COGIC” includes all leadership and general members.

Background

From last year’s 2014 COGIC Holy Convocation on through this year’s 2015 Holy Convocation, it has become abundantly clear that COGIC leaders will not blink in defending their tarnished characters with scripture. It is a misappropriation of scripture—and hundreds of people actually buy it because all they see is status, good works (otherwise), power, and money. Without regard for God’s Word, those things are what qualify pastors and bishops to stand on pulpits and admonish congregations.

Last year, someone within our own gates leaked the video of Dr. Earl Carter, leaving a gospel message—in the context of black (church) culture, mind you—open to critique and denigration by millions of people who hate God, hate the Gospel of Jesus Christ, have never stepped foot in a black church, and who hate black church tradition (which includes some blacks, like Marc Lamont Hill who demonstrated in his interview with Bishop Brandon Porter that he has no clue of what salvation is). I watched the entire service live. The message was so powerful that it reached every sinner, every backslider, and every Christian. Bishop Blake spat in the faces of the thousands of people there and tuning in who had gotten saved and delivered. Furthermore, the type of speech used in Pastor Carter’s message is used throughout biblical scripture including from Jesus himself. In fact, Jesus is more forceful with those who know what God’s Word says concerning a myriad of things. However, the 5-10 minutes many others saw was blown out of proportion. Fact is, whether or not they admit it, homosexual men desire a feminine role and look; it is disrespectful to women who have experienced any and every natural thing that comes with being a woman. It is also a fact that homosexual acts, male or female, are out of order with nature, making the lifestyle threatening physically, spiritually, and emotionally. Also, male homosexual acts are the cause of serious physical diseases, which is one of the reasons it is called by God himself an abomination. Our presiding bishop, Bishop Charles Blake, disregarded all of the above in order to protect feelings and public, worldly interests.

COGIC, without saying so, by your example, it has yet come to the world’s attention that salvation seems to be what we do; that a person is surely saved or unblemished based on how positively people view you. It has come to the world’s attention a ‘confirmation’ that you are ruled by power and money. It has also come to the world’s attention that for face and fame’s sake you will cover egregious scandals to no end and have the audacity to use scripture in your defense. Before Dr. Earl Carter uttered one word for the nation and world to hear, his words were already known by many, but you COGIC leaders on every level choose to ignore it. For me, Bishop Blake, your speeches and actions afterward have been an unfortunate yet further confirmation of the state of COGIC leadership.

Abuse of Leadership and Financial & Sexual Corruption

Again, I was born and raised in the COGIC church. For years I have witnessed undeserving people be lifted up, praised, and promoted as they put on a religious façade. If you think your only battle right now is Dr. Earl Carter, then you are sadly mistaken. People like me are hungry for truth, openness, realness, and honesty. These things are stifled in COGIC and we are often expected to ‘respect & honor’ people who do not need either. Therefore, people are rarely held accountable for egregious things they do. I know for a fact that ministers would travel for engagements and have to protect themselves from homosexual men tracking them down to their hotels or even prior to then waiting shortly after church for them. I know for a fact that (heterosexual) ministers would travel for engagements and have a woman or two while they were in town. I know for a fact that people aren’t properly researched prior to obtaining positions, let alone forming churches. I also know for a fact that information has been known of individuals prior to obtaining positions but was completely dismissed (for the sake of a gaining more money from reports). Locally and statewide this occurs, and from state to state. This is a condensed version of what I know, by the way. However, we are supposed to believe that whenever someone raises these issues to the public, that they and their statements shouldn’t be trusted. I have seen religiosity become a comfort to evildoers and a shroud to (some of) their peers. Overall, a lack of discernment has been demonstrated for what’s now been decades right before my eyes. Right among the shouting, dancing, singing, and preaching this has gone on. Those who don’t follow the wolf pack are ‘sick & tired’ of church as usual. We cannot and will not continue overlooking these things that are detrimental to our health as a supposed holy body and spiritual people.

I can recall in my teens of being at an international COGIC convocation, coming from the mid-week musical, exiting the sanctuary of the late Bishop G.E. Patterson’s Temple of Deliverance COGIC, and standing just outside the sanctuary doors were a group of homosexual men wearing makeup, carrying purses, wearing tight clothing, and at least one of them were wearing women’s heels. They were standing there waiting for the crowd to pass for a clear path to the musicians & artists. This is an example of what Dr. Carter was addressing—something that has never been done. No one has ever on an international scale addressed what he has—that such blatant sexual perversion and shear disrespect has been going on for years—because too many have become content with it. Content, fearful, or indulgent, not wanting to lose possible corrupt connections in their locality or when they travel. We have gone so long without ministries like Dr. Carter’s and EX Ministries (G. Craige Lewis’, who also grew up in COGIC) to the point where any truth spoken is a lie and any rebuke is hatred. If we truly love people, we’d preach the truth. Instead, what we’ve had for years now is a constant barrage of motivational messages that end in ‘You’re gonna come out of this!’ or ‘Pull your blessings out of the sky, they’re yours!’ Then there’s shouting, a short altar call that sometimes isn’t relevant to the “get your blessings now” sermon, followed by a seed offering to cement the blessing. We are not stupid! We see right through all of this! Those who haven’t seen through this have simply been cleverly brainwashed. I did not grow up on that sort of preaching on any level—local, district, or state. I grew up on messages that kept the believers convicted and that built us up with biblical knowledge and increased faith. These messages have kept me rooted through difficult times. For instance, it allowed me to stand firm during my time at a liberal seminary. I never wanted to throw my hands up and say, ‘oh well’ to issues or debates I was faced with. Dr. Carter gave a biblically-based message, used theological terminology to explain his points well, and so many understood and were convicted of everything he said, of which the end of the service reflects that. Everyone in the service got a lot out of his sermon, not just those in sin. It’s because we knew that as the Body of Christ, we have a responsibility to maintain a certain order and sanctity. However, afterwards, it made wonder for a minute if our joy was in vain during that service after Bishop Blake publicly threw the pastor under the bus and relegated the sermon down to hate speech, as the world did. From our head leader, the enemy was given a major footstool.

To top that all off, nobody contacted the guy who went viral, Andrew Caldwell, to see how he had/has been maintaining, not only after being bullied nationwide, but to also offer help on his spiritual growth. Secondly, Dr. Carter has had to revamp his ministry because COGIC officials have spent the past year using mafia-like tactics, so people began cancelling their engagements with him. They recently called around have him banned from hotels in St. Louis, Missouri for the convocation. Yet, these same officials sit back, looking lowly and innocent as if they’re clueless as to why he’s speaking out. He and anyone else who speaks against ills within our gates are deemed crazy, rebellious, disrespectful, and troublemakers while bad leadership on every level is supported by undiscerning, lukewarm, worshipful congregations.

Liberal Infiltration

I never thought that COGIC would succumb to the liberal infiltration that other denominations already have. It has sent us towards a soft gospel and a different gospel where people leave thinking they’ve heard a good message when it was only about (re)gaining material or emotional wealth and health. There was a message preached last year of the complete opposite, but it’s met with open rebuke and apology. Bishop Blake and General Board, newsflash: the world offers no apologies. The world is on attack daily, never looking back. But, in front of its face, you reprimand a pastor who preaches a sound sermon. You opened the doors of the church to fear. You have opened the doors of the church to scrutiny at any point and for any reason—and the world knows you’ll comply, no weapons needed. You also helped violate a man’s God-given, Constitutional right of free speech. How embarrassing and ludicrous. You have catered to a people of an emotionally-driven culture that desires constant apologies whenever their feelings are hurt—a people who are aware of what’s right and wrong, but use juvenile emotional tactics to get their way. You have given the world a sense of power over you and for the church to be controlled by outside forces. What’s more, the church culture of perversion, secrecy, and corruption goes overlooked by you all. That is hypocrisy. Furthermore, we are to demonstrate boldness, courage, and defend our own at any cost!

COGIC, with the lead of Bishop Blake, has demonstrated that it is out of touch. There is a population of young black people being enticed by religious movements like the Nation of Islam (who has also by the long poor leadership of Louis Farrakhan taken a recent stand for the gay agenda) because they openly speak on topics that black youth and truthseekers want to hear from its leaders on, and in a bold, courageous manner. The point of mentioning this is not to say that we should ‘do as others do,’ but to point out that people are tired of being defenseless against a world that is waging war against them! Our COGIC leaders are telling us, by their actions, to put our swords down! To make things palatable for everyone!

Bishop Charles Blake has ardently supported Barack Obama despite his war on Christianity that has pre-dated his presidential terms. He has turned the office of a bishop into a political office. It’s important to note that much of the church’s leadership on every level is overrun by Democrats. What sense does this make? That party has historically destroyed facets of both Christianity in America and the black community. (Just by the name alone I’d never associate myself with the Democratic Party knowing its history.) This Board has also allowed the dangerous influence of black liberal academics to infiltrate; dangerous because anything is reasoned and reasoned away by people who look like us, assuming a common goal. The purpose of this is to destabilize and water down any affect we’d have on our communities. One example, COGIC officials invited Bishop Carlton Pearson, known heretic, to sit on the side stage with notable guests at the 2015 COGIC Convocation’s Sunday service—and was greatly applauded by the COGIC members when he was introduced. So, you blacklist a good pastor and invite a heretic to sit among you? I was hurt and upset by this betrayal. Our doors have been flung wide open to destruction. You all got your warning last year. God’s judgment is already here. The holy and the unholy will separate. God hides His face from sinners.

The early church martyrs (the Disciples) warned the saints of false prophets and wolves in sheep’s clothing who sneak in. They named theirs by name, by the way, which too many Christians seem to have forgotten. This current inept leadership within COGIC is welcoming those with doctrines of demons right among us. In no way should he have been patronized with a front row pulpit seat with notable guests after years of being very vocal about his Universalist beliefs as well as his keen support of the gay agenda; he has recently reiterated once more (after the COGIC Convocation) when he came to Kirk Franklin’s defense. Again, it has become abundantly clear that serious issues will be dismissed for people when they’ve done good things before men.

Outside/Pop Culture Example

I happened to come across a series of interviews that in some ways parallel the grave issues within COGIC. An actress who was raised in a church has since left it after 30+ years of being a part of it, as well as a vocal advocate. She was having trouble with the church’s doctrines, policies, and leadership and has become vocal about the ills of that church and of what ultimately led to her departure. Does the scenario sound familiar? Interestingly, I am talking about Leah Remini who left the Church of Scientology. Here’s more:

1) In that “church,” you have to pay thousands of dollars to move up ranks;

2) The “church” took notice when her acting career took off, and like other celebs in the organization, garnered her prominence in the “church”;

3) Scientology promotes its religion by utilizing the face of celebrities;

4) Celebs are treated differently; people are esteemed or treated differently depending on their good works and reputation;

5) Whenever Leah questioned anything, she was punished;

6) Speaking out against the church gets you excommunicated and shunned;

7) After Leah has finally left, the leadership is still in the process of writing letters to various organizations to discredit her and accuse her of lying when in fact they have been lying;

8) When Leah spoke out about a top ranking member (and later other high-ranking officials) about serious matters, she was dealt with (for one, because she wasn’t of the “appropriate rank” to do so) and was told the ‘only reason you’re saying anything is because you have your own transgressions’; and lastly,

9) “Church” officials have tried to get her to apologize and recant what she’s said.

Further, just like Dr. Earl Carter, she wasn’t ready to leave after dedicating her life to the organization for over 30 years, and like him, tried fixing it. This is the company you keep.

More on the Abuse of Leadership

COGIC’s abuse of leadership is two-fold: 1) there are those abusing their positions (of authority) on every level as described above and then 2) there are genuinely good leaders who are being abused and overlooked. Blood is on the hands of those who lift up any COGIC leaders as great men and women while they abuse and misuse. Just like the corporate world, a lot of people are clamoring for top positions and will lie, cheat, steal, connive, and cause insurrection in order to reach them. Such individuals will also continue those things after gaining those positions in order to maintain business. I have witnessed this. I have also seen that money talks; as long as you have thousands or millions of dollars to dish out, one can forget being supported or supported properly in any way. In addition, I have witnessed the following:

1) Many dedicated musicians and Ministers of Music have gone unpaid or have received menial pay at the district and state levels.

2) So much money is paid for various reports that it decreases the scope of what local churches can do, for, say, global missions. Typically, only those at the national level are able to even consider this. In every manner possible, top leadership experiences growth at the expense of the mass congregation.

3) The previous issue brings up another one—the fact that each state within itself is so compartmentalized that there is no unity among members as a larger body statewide (speaking of the continental U.S. churches only), as it used to be, before my time. Historically, jurisdictions have been formed due to splits and conflict. And they’re continuously splitting. Lack of unity is buttressed by conflict and the desire of obtaining the (status/level of) superintendent or the bishopric.

4) COGIC officials hijacked the international convocation away from its historical location of Memphis, Tennessee, and did so with no discussion among the members. That was a major and extremely important decision to make with little to no input. Members have essentially been forced to respect this decision that many never wanted. We are quickly approaching a decade where kids who’ve gone for the past several years to the convocation don’t experience the tangible COGIC history I got to experience.

5) Degrees are not required for pastors, and this is a huge problem. This is not contradictory to what I mentioned earlier about “black liberal academics.” Sound biblical education is crucial for the proper theological teaching of a congregation.

6) This one hits home: There is zero protection and support in place for pastors in crisis. If a pastor has church problems or problems with the district or state personnel, there is literally no sound leadership in place. It is a survival of the fittest system whereby people with the most money and perceived authority/clout receive the most care and protection. If someone can attest the opposite, then congratulations; I’ve literally witnessed the previous for many years. COGIC officials have further demonstrated this. Everything is in place to keep the wrong methods in place and the wrong people in positions of authority. Thus, the madness continues.

In Short Conclusion

I am all about respect for tradition, reverence of God and His Word, and respect for elders and those in authority. But, the Bible teaches us about responsibility with the degree of authority, freedom, and grace given to us. We are not to abuse our power, using it to harm others or ‘do what thou whilt.’ The world may not admit it, but it is insecure; insecure people must tear down another in order to comfort themselves. I truly hope and pray that the church gets boldness and courageousness, that it urges holiness in the face of opposition, and that there will be a generation—right now—of young people willing to defend the faith at any cost.

Until Jesus comes…

#COGIC #church #Christian Church #Black Church #God #Christianity #writing #Jesus Christ #leadership #Jesus #Christian #Christians

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blacktheologian · 9 years

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2015 Fall Television Drama & Its Dig at the Black Traditional Values

It’s with great concern for the black community that I write this, and I am simply reporting on what anybody can clearly observe in this fall’s television shows. In addition, I am one of the least to cry racism; it’s not what I am doing here at all. But it is distortion and extreme bias against our traditional values that have carried us thus far. I also know that in reality, of which a different one has been painted for us, we are not our skin color, but are actually our ethnicity. What’s in our blood and in our spirits actually defines who we are and where we came from. For example, most people in Africa are varying shades of “black,” but they are not of the same (immediate) tribes/people-groups. Also for example, in the Bible, nations are never described by their skin color (there was no need to; side note, the region is a big hint to their color), only their characteristics, culture, and spiritual practices are. Now, this issue I’m writing on does have to do a bit with skin color since blacks have been put at the forefront of it, but it has much more to do with culture, heritage, and especially traditions. Therefore, you will see me mention “black man,” “black woman,” “white people,” and “Europeans” (encompassing all who would be deemed “white,” including most importantly Jews who own all industries) simply as identifiers instead of just “man” or “woman,” etc., not to be demeaning or pridefully esteem blackness above any other race. I do have high respect for what blacks have always stood for in general, so if there is harsh speech against the destruction of these values, I do not apologize. One reason we are falling rapidly as a people is because we have disintegrating values, partly due to infiltration of impairing values that are not—or at least have not been—our own.

We could also discuss the other issues in these shows, such as violence, drugs, etc, but that is not the main point of this post. So, to anyone who disagrees with this blog and uses that as an argument, know that it is of no effect. In fact, I don’t care if anyone disagrees—that’s a part of life, as we’re all individuals. We are, or at least should be, free to express our differing opinions without children in adult bodies being all in their feelings and being offended. If you think that any of this is remotely fine, then you have a serious problem. The first thing to do is admit it. Furthermore, I actually typically like watching music competitions and food and home shows. But guess what? I can’t even watch those these days either without, for example, a food contestant or construction metal worker being applauded for being a drag queen.

Not many have discussed this matter of TV’s war on the black family, particularly as it pertains to 2015′s fall TV dramas. I’ve recently come across this article http://www.africanglobe.net/headlines/stopping-emasculation-african-american-men/ at African Globe about the emasculation of African American men on television. There are delusional black people in the comments. Thankfully, one man in the comments expresses how disturbed he was at reading a lot of them; there are a handful of people among us that gives me hope. You see, pictures and examples were included—examples that can easily be researched and verified. But it didn’t matter to these people. There was also an article shared on social media earlier this year about the increasing mixed-race couples on television the past few years in comparison to black couples– a topic also relevant to this post. My only issue with the previous is that it is being used as a tool to further an anti-black agenda, and one that specifically targets black women. Further, the people who fund this propaganda do not even push interracial dating & marriage in their community; in fact, if someone marries outside of their faith, it is imperative that the other individual convert or the marriage will not be allowed to take place.

I don’t know what your traditions are, but as a black American, I do not separate myself from the rest of my community; when the image of black men and women are being denigrated, I hurt for them. It has made my heart heavy as what I’ve observed isn’t just something that is simply being perpetrated against blacks, but blacks are willing participants in their destruction. I hold the black actors/actresses who take on these roles responsible, because they do not have to– and if they sit and think about what they’re doing, they shouldn’t want to. Granted, some black actors/actresses may not be fully aware of what is going on. It would just be nice not to look at all of this decades later wishing we’d noticed it all, behind the smoke and mirrors, and after we’re completely ruined for good.

I’ve sat on these observations for a while, but after a series of ‘are you kidding me’s,’ I couldn’t any longer as show after show kept portraying black men as gays and black women as distraught and reviled (unless they’re someone’s mistress.) It amped up in this new fall season more than before. I will begin by giving an outline (in note-like form) of what I’ve seen in season openers (episodes 1-3) for a few dramas, mysteries, and action shows that I’ve regularly watched (minus one, which I will explain why I haven’t). Contains spoilers.

1) Chicago PD Opens its season with gay message:

-Show opens with a black guy’s girlfriend– she is black– who’s been cheated on and is so distraught that she is about to jump to her death. (We don’t know the full situation just yet; she is rescued).

-The cheater is also a drug dealer and violent thug. Rough & tough character. He gets caught in a bust lying in bed and a partner we’d assume should be another woman (however yet disgusting) is actually another black guy who comes out of the bathroom half naked.

-The writers make the half-naked guy of sound mind (in comparison to the girlfriend).

-Drug dealer gets questioned and during questioning is told by one of the cops ‘he didn’t care if he decided to cheat on the girl with another guy.’

-Drug dealer makes a deal where he and his gay partner get off the charges (or at least decrease them) by coming clean, aka coming out, in salvific form

-Even though he helps the cops like a “hero,” he gets shot by his own brother (who is at the head of the operation).

-His ex-girlfriend is still so distraught and out of the loop that she can’t mourn his death, and isn’t told of it for us viewers to know; however, the black gay guy is shown bawling after he learns of the news (on screen for us to see).

-The gay theme was completely unnecessary to the plot. Anything else could’ve been made the deciding factor for the drug dealer to provide the cops with intel.

2) Marvel’s Agents of Shield Opens its new season with gay overtones and message:

-The entire episode included overtones about ‘being who you are,’ ‘the laws of nature changing to accommodate the “alien” uprising,’ ‘that life is just beginning and just getting better,’ that ‘the “powers” are a “gift”,’ and as if we hadn’t already gotten the overtones, the Hispanic (brown) guy who is the semi-focus of the episode ends the episode by saying, “it’s not the first secret I’ve kept; I felt much better when I came out, from within.”

-We first learn that he is gay because the character Bobbi (sp) nonchalantly threw in “…your ex-boyfriend is a health freak…” (A point also made because the Hispanic guy gained his superpowers by consuming too much fish oil.)

-Another overtone is the fact that Skye now goes by Daisy, which is her birth name, but also serves as an awakening, acknowledgment, and acceptance of her new self. I’m still calling her Skye.

-Mack, the black guy, is brought in with Skye to debrief the new inhuman (as they’re called). She tells the guy, who we now know as a gay guy that Mack is a teddy bear– a point they also interjected later in a comical way. Here, a black guy is being used to get a gay joke across to a brown guy.

3) Law & Order: SVU Episode three opens up their season with yet another gay theme for this fall. An entire episode dedicated to that movement, and it uses children– black children– for the message.

-I purposely didn’t watch this episode, only the trailer tacked at the end of episode two.

-Young black boy was made the whipping post for the gay agenda. I heard thru the grapevine that he was tried as an adult.

-The scenario was that several black kids were hazing this young black boy and pushed him onto a white boy dressed as a girl. The black boy pushes the white boy off of him hard enough that he falls over a bridge and dies. Time is spent where the black boy is explaining he did what he did because he didn’t want his friends to think he was gay. It would be difficult not to think about black traditions and the “need” to change them while watching this episode.

4) How to Get Away with Murder Long story I will make short:

-In its first season, I was beginning to watch the first episode and refused to finish after being disgusted and outdone. I only wanted to see an awesome mystery with an amazing actress– not her being “gone down on” by a black man (husband or not I can’t remember anyhow) and minutes later quickly turning the show off within seconds due to a gay sex scene. Yes, on primetime network television. I have not watched this ridiculous show since.

-I did hear about this season’s opener and even without having seen it was disgusted once more, saddened, and upset. Viola Davis is now involved in a lesbian relationship and there were two sex scenes.

-The irony is that when she was with the black man in season one, it was an animal-like encounter, but with the woman this current season (interesting note is that the person is white), she’s in not one but two scenes.

-Another take-away I will address here briefly is that there’s a desperate need for these shows to include sex scenes, period! As if the viewers are too stupid to know what’s coming next. It turns talented actors and actresses into porn stars and is insulting and degrading to both the viewers and on-screen participants. They and their spouses should be offended to say the least; it takes a seared conscious and hardened heart not to be. In addition, actors are not pretenders; it is impossible for a person to separate themselves from the roles they take on. You must become the character you portray in order to be effective! Putting myself in an actor’s shoes, I know that this is what I’d have to do. Johnny Depp, one of my favorite actors, has mentioned this very thing in describing how he becomes the characters he amazingly portrays:

With any part you play, there is a certain amount of yourself in it. There has to be, otherwise it’s just not acting. It’s lying.

5) Arrow Opened its new season with gay agenda in episode two:

-Feminine-acting black man we later learn is indeed gay plays second fiddle to white Jewish female, Felicity Smoak. I realize that he is now more than likely a regular, especially since in episode three, Felicity told him her secret. He acts/speaks like a white female. Again, I remind you that this can all easily be observed, and this is my clear observation.

-We learn he is gay while he’s being fired (noting that Felicity was having to do this against her will). His character throws in this line: “…now, my husband and I could take the trip we’ve always wanted to…” No, not a wife, but a husband. This line was truly pointless, as well as him being gay.

-Technically, he was being fake-fired. It was just a very clever way for the writers and producers to interject the above pointless line.

-In episode three—and this is in relation to my first Arrow observation—it is written in where Felicity shows the guts to use a heavy machine gun (of which she’s never used a gun) against a criminal inhuman; however, the black gay guy runs around the secret lab weak, defenseless, and in Felicity’s own noted words, hysterical. Question: it would’ve appeared just as comical and dangerous for the black guy to use a big gun as it did Felicity, so why not have him stumble upon it and haphazardly shoot it? Unrealistic?

6) The Flash Now, some of these are totally different issues that are from last season, but are yet relevant to this blog:

-Iris, young black woman on the show, gets asked to move in together by her then boyfriend, Eddie (white guy). As anyone should be, I’d be insulted by such a question; however, Iris is enamored by him asking—hair-blowing fan, sun rays, and all—as if she were actually receiving a marriage proposal.

-As most TV parents these days, her father, Joe, doesn’t do anything or care that his daughter is about to dishonorably move in with a man she isn’t married to, giving herself to him with no solid commitment.

- Joe plays second fiddle to who we discover is a gay police chief.

-We learn in this new season’s episode 3 that Iris’ mother (black woman) didn’t pass away years ago as Joe previously states. No… She was (written in as) a horrible mother hooked on drugs, refused help, nearly (accidentally) killed Iris, and ran away from her family while in rehab. She makes a couple of appearances so far, and need I say that Joe hates her and rightfully, as the script would dictate, treats her like scum as she begs to be in Iris’ life.

I will also add that another one of my favorite shows, or at least used to be, Once Upon A Time, announced that they are exploring gay characters this season. Interesting also because these sick writers also are aware that kids will watch these shows– shows that are based on children’s fairy tales! I might also add here that Real Housewives of Atlanta (RHOA) is adding to the fall cast a black man who changed himself into a woman. This has not been done on any other Real Housewives franchise show aside from this one with a cast significantly comprising of black women. Gay presence overall is highest on RHOA. These are all shows and episodes that I have watched, or attempted to. I can only imagine what else is out there on shows I don’t watch.

What’s Going On?

Homosexuality is the liberal’s last, final moral blow to the black family as the rhetoric it entails conceptually obliterates the natural familial environment, replacing it with a wholly generic, unrealistic, unstable, and unhealthy system. It isn’t the only, but it is the final blow and the kicked cane out from under an already fragile and lost people. This movement has taken a flawed, confused people within the black community and provided them with European philosophies contrary to our African traditions and placed them under the guise of “liberalism,” “progressivism,” and “feminism.” Individuals, including blacks, under those banners consider themselves intellectuals of the highest and most superior form. The best way to destroy a people is by infiltration and willing participants. Let’s take the Black Lives Matter movement for example: it is financially backed by white liberals. Same thing with the NAACP, the Civil Rights Movement, and even the Black Panthers who partnered with the liberal SNCC. This is why the NAACP backs the LGBT agenda and why “Civil Rights” has been hijacked and disrespected for their cause without question. (Only a small group of blacks have spoken out about the gay affront to blacks’ fight for civil rights.) Just like the supremacist system they advocate for, they mock black traditional values and seek to destroy them. The blacks are fully aware that these views are contrary to their ancestors, but they do not care. In fact, I have even seen in posts and heard some say ‘black people need to progress and evolve.’ To where? How far? And at what expense? Popular voice is given to the loudest ones among blacks, but with the worst worldviews, sense of morality & goodwill, and common sense.

Writers and producers of such shows as I’ve listed do not expect viewers to point out things like what I have above. They underestimate us and believe that we are already hooked into their agendas. I also believe that they write certain things into scripts in such a manner that it is often difficult to criticize, like interracial dating & marriage, as well as the culture of homosexuality they’ve urged along. However, I urge you all to look across the board and at the bigger picture. It is difficult not to notice the prevalence of these in shows with regards to black actors and actresses.

Roots & Dark Hearts

The gay agenda is directly tied to European supremacy; follow the money because it is money helping to drive this movement. Follow the money to also see the names behind these shows and networks. It takes money and assumed power to put forth advertisements and shows with specific content. This is both common sense and provable. We all know that in this fallen world, homosexuality exists– big deal (so, to speak), okay…and? So, it begs the questions/concerns: 1) why media is taking such an oppressive, tyrannical role in going well out of their way to place gay characters in all shows, period and 2) why blacks have been used overwhelmingly as tools in the media to get these destructive messages out.

We’re supposed to believe that for blacks to embrace the many faces of supremacy is all a part of natural “human evolution” and that we’re more enlightened than previous generations. The very things we need as black people, and as human beings, we’re told they’re of no importance. We then look around and wonder why so many of our sisters are without husbands; why the black woman is so devalued; and why so many children are raised without their biological fathers. Generation after generation of children cry out for their fathers and crying out to know who they are.

But, we’re supposed to believe that money, power, prestige, secret knowledge, reserved knowledge (i.e. scholarship), etc. is what gives these superiority-complexed people justifiable reason to tell us what we should(n’t) do or how we should be as a people. They believe that a combination of these things gives them the right to use a type of force to push their agendas in our lives. I say to these evil people that both your deception and overt force gives you all away: that your plan for our health and benefit is destruction.

We’re supposed to believe that individuals whose worldviews breed evil aren’t using their money and power to carry out conspiratorial agendas.

We’re supposed to believe that these shows and networks that are given budgets for research and development are clueless as to what they’re putting in shows.

We’re supposed to believe that a writer, who makes sure that every word fits well in a sentence, and who makes sure that their content is completely accurate—like, not writing in that grass is blue when it’s actually green—hasn’t deliberately constructed representations of people.

We’re supposed to believe that when an actor cries, laughs, expresses anger, sadness, feelings of love, and more, that viewers essentially shouldn’t feel any of those right along with them.

We’re supposed to believe that when actors/actresses are engaged in intimate moments on screen for the world to see, that we’re not actually joining them in the privacy of their bedrooms.

These networks know exactly how they’re affecting the public and how much they influence viewers.

Supremacy and Conspiracy

What this umbrella of supremacists do not want you all to realize is that behind the philosophies, speeches, and Hollywood-backed glamour lies very simple life fundamentals called right & wrong; good & bad; benevolence & evil; obedience & sin; virtue & dishonor; purity & defilement; decency & corruption... Considering these building blocks would mean they’d have to uphold them in all decisions made, never to alter or disregard their definitions, as well as their fruits. With these fundamentals as mirrors, it would mean that they’re held responsible if they fall in any of those categories. Moreover, it would take a moral public to help hold them accountable for their actions. Unfortunately, partly thanks to the goal of these supremacists, the public has generally become defiled and unfit for sound judgment. Fundamental values and morals, by the way, are why that the Christian church must be destroyed (words that have been used), which will also serve as a double attack on the black community because the black church has been a huge pillar for centuries. I have also heard two white guys firsthand after one of my seminary classes talking with each other where I could hear saying, ‘…the black church is a lot of the problem…’ as the performance of gay weddings came up in this worship class that day and I voiced my opinion in the discussion. If they want to ruin their own churches, then go right ahead; they already have. But, they have no right and no say in what goes on in our churches and community, whatsoever, especially when it is truly of no benefit to us. There is a takeover spirit among those in the perceived majority to impose their way of life on the black community as a whole.

I am fully aware of any and all arguments against what’s been said—all of the above is my general response to them. I am not against any other ethnicity; I am against the destruction of mine, the umbrella of black people. The same tired old arguments with newfound false concepts, such as “homophobia,” and the shear dismissal of what is plainly seen with our two eyes are not only nonsensical but are extremely disturbing outcomes of the hell-on-earth artificial reality that the supremacist powers that be have long taken their time to create. I know the scholarly jargon and pseudo-science created to instill fear in people not to speak out on these matters. I know that leftists, under their many names, are actually adherents of supremacist European agendas. Instead of physical plantations to put us on, they are committing religious, psychological, and sociological warfare. We are living in a time where darkness is considered light and light is considered dark, and there is every rhetoric and philosophy in the book to back the madness up. I recognize all of this for what it is—fear-mongering and tyranny. I also recognize what it is that would make a person fit words and sentences together to back any of this insanity—simply the wicked hearts of a fallen creation. While we are still living on somewhat of a free planet, I have a God-given right to say what I want to say. We all do. If you don’t believe this is true, then you’ve only proven what is evident—the existence and backing of tyranny. Healthy black relationships between males and females are nearly nonexistent in television and movies; I really don’t know of any today. When black relationships are featured in these shows, they’re either broken from the beginning or end up broken. This is magnified by the fact that there are fewer black actresses and actors with major TV roles. We notice a pattern here: Black men are more than often portrayed wooing women of other ethnicities and the black women are often depicted as angry, confused, happily single, or being abused at the black man’s hand. Think Meagan Good’s Law and Order: SVU role last season of being abused by her black football player husband, or Olivia’s speech from Scandal (no, I don’t watch that mess; only saw the clip) where she says, [paraphrased]

I don’t want normal and easy and simple…I’m not built for it…I want painful, difficult, devastating, life-changing, extraordinary love…

A statement she makes, by the way, as she’s turning down a second marriage proposal from a decent (at least seemed to be in that moment), handsome black man in favor of remaining the white president’s mistress. Again, I can give many examples of all of what I described. I was recently watching a Tiny House Nation episode where the host made it a point to note that the future tiny homeowner, a young black/Hispanic-looking woman, was a single mother by choice. Listen, I just want to see a cool home being built, not have mini psycho-social commentary. My only fear is that we’ve gone way too far beyond repair.

Solutions: Individually and as a Group

1) It all begins by first knowing what it is that makes us African. (The irony is even that term, “African,” is a misnomer due to European colonization.) A great majority of us do not know and thus do not regard any sort of cultural tradition. What we’ve even developed here in America has been largely disregarded. Also, colonization of the African continent has threatened, and in some areas succeeded, in watering down traditional values and importance of spirituality and the reality of God. Please know that it isn’t due to ignorance or gullibility that our ancestors developed such strong Christian roots in America. African people were always a spiritual, God-fearing people who believed wholeheartedly in the supernatural and experienced the supernatural. There was never a question to any of this. Africans of various religious backgrounds have always believed that the supernatural is simply an extension of the natural order, and that God is the Creator of it all. The black religious experience seeks harmony with, not dominance over, nature and takes the supernatural and afterlife seriously. It is for these reasons that homosexuality is opposed and why I, for one, speak against such images in the media that continue to lead us astray.

2) Self-sufficiency is a necessity. The major “black” media outlets today are European-funded and distributed companies or are owned by blacks who have adopted destructive leftist views. Sources such as Jet (now defunct) changed their black marriage announcement section to “black love” and included gay couples in it. Its sister mag, Ebony, has only praise for Obama when he’s included in its pages, despite the fact that our state has gotten worse, particularly in his single-minded plight for pro-gay legislation. I remember when BET was sold to Viacom and even as a kid thinking that it was unwise. How could a European-owned company best represent us? What could it offer us? The very next day, late night programming included those weird, glossy 1-900 girl chat commercials. A virus fights against the body. It weakens the immune system. A community with sound individuals at the head would not promote things that would mean our downfall. We need to circulate more resources among ourselves and behave as a community. Produce content for ourselves—not relying on these major networks to do so—that promotes healthy black male-black female relationships and family-building.

Take note of this passage from Deut 17:14-20 (KJV):

14 When thou art come unto the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me; 15 Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the Lord thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother. 16 But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the Lord hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way. 17 Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold. 18 And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites: 19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them: 20 That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.

These are the words of the Lord to the Hebrews about who should reign over them, who shouldn’t, and what the king(s) chosen by God should and shouldn’t do. There are two key points from this passage I’d like to briefly highlight. First, a stranger, that is, a non-Hebrew-born person couldn’t sit in a place of authority over them because it would breed confusion for the head to be of another culture. It is important to note that customary law among Africans is to choose Elders, following the hereditary line of succession (or people from the same tribe/clan), for corporate guidance and wise counsel. (Europeans who colonized Africa had no regard for tribal boundaries or laws.) Second, a non-Hebrew-born king would contaminate/threaten the faith and purity of the people (due to the influence of pagan religion), and in verses 16 and 17, examples are given of what would contaminate the people if the Hebrew-born king were to lead Israel astray. In verse 16 in particular, the king is essentially warned not to do business with Egypt because it would bring the people back into the bondage they were delivered from. All of the kings of Israel, beginning with David and epitomized by his son Solomon, broke this covenant. Solomon, also the writer of Ecclesiastes, wrote of the wealth and women he amassed as nothing but folly and vanity. Meaningless. Also, we see repeatedly in biblical scripture what happened to the Israelites due to their disobedience. There are stark parallels between this passage and its significance today with what I’ve already described. All in all, it is an illustration of human unwillingness to obey God’s ideal standards.

3) Do not financially support harmful shows/networks with your cable views. That is how they make their money—by us watching and tweeting “Cookie” to popularity.

4) Demonstrate self-respect. Alongside this, demonstrate strong will not to follow behind shows simply because they’re popular. These companies are providing us with content they think we want to see. If they continue to feed us garbage, then it says a lot about how they view us. They know that many will continue to tune in to these shows to be entertained, despite the fact that television isn’t just for our entertainment. Television provides us with (mis)information at a time when our guards are down. Entertainment is only the first layer. By the end of any show, even comedies, we’re left with messages.

5) Guard you hearts and minds. Art is only art to a certain extent; there is indeed a point where it becomes perverse and profane. It is extremely unfortunate that the average show these days throw in things that really shouldn’t be there.

-crystal

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blacktheologian · 9 years

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The Devaluing of College Education

An overheard conversation stuck with me for over a decade: "...It really doesn't mean much to get a Bachelor's degree-- you'll need at least a Master's to be taken seriously." I was still in undergrad at the time, so to hear this was upsetting to think about. 'If I want my Bachelor's degree to be my only degree, am I basically wasting my time?' The statement I overheard isn't entirely true. There's only truth in that statement depending on the field you're going into; there are also fields where having a Master's degree isn't "enough" because a Doctorate is needed. There were a few things that got me thinking about college education and where it leads the average person. My undergraduate alma mater, the University of Florida, holds a large career fair every spring semester. Now, the thinker that I am was like, 'wait a sec...thousands of students attend this yearly event essentially competing for the same jobs.' Where does this leave the many who leave without a job? Fast forward to graduation, you look around and thousands of graduates sit to your left and right-- these same ceremonies occurring more than once a year (depending on the size of the institution). Once again the degree-holder is left sending out résumés, akin to a cardboard sign.

And let's look at the (national) General Education requirement: unnecessary. Waste of time. (What? I thought we got our Common Core out of the way in K-12? Wasn't challenging enough? Ya don't say...). By the time a student reaches college, they should already be well-versed in English, language arts, science, technology, math etc. enough to grasp their college studies; only if further classes in these subjects are needed/required for a student's major should they have to take these again. A student could take more courses in their field of interest, which would include much-needed one-on-one time with professors, TAs, and small groups; further, another obvious benefit is increased knowledge of the area. But, I guess the "powers that be" are saving these goodies for graduate school.

Now, fast forward to grad school. In my field, Theology, it is very paper heavy and very book heavy, so speaking of knowledge...you don't have to worry too much about that. (However, like undergrad, memorization is not always beneficial.) You don't waste time in courses outside the field; however, you may wind up taking courses outside of your concentration. For example, my concentration was Scripture & Interpretation; while it's helpful to take Homiletics courses or Missions courses, one like myself may have wanted to take more courses in that concentration. But, that's the program. That's fine--I get it. I know that programs cannot all be a free-for-all. It does make the student more well-rounded-- in this particular sense (regarding grad school)--but it seems like there's always way too much time taken away from what really interests the student. I have spoken to a few seminary and theological school graduates from different institutions (including Harvard) who have experienced the same sort of issue, particularly regarding papers. We have this huge body of work after we leave, but all with no cohesive interest of ours. They're all written on various topics, some of which we don't entirely care for in the end. For instance, we discussed how we've been to the point where we've been really passionate about a few subject matters (after graduating) and would like to publish a collection of papers on them. We look through our folders and there's nothing. (I will say that I have a couple of papers that can be expounded upon in a book form, and I believe they're still listed here on my blog under upcoming projects.) By the way, my field is one where it's highly beneficial but mostly necessary to have a Doctorate to be considered an expert (or respected) in the field. My point again stated differently: how important are the "lower" levels of education to the "powers that be"?

To make a long story short, and with all of that being said, upon hearing a couple of days ago about Obama's proposal (which we may as well call a plan because he gets away with everything he's ever proposed) on making community college free for everyone, the word "devalue" came to mind. (Be cautious of anything that sounds too good. Never fail to be a good student--do research.) It lets me know how people like himself may view community colleges and their graduates. It lets me know that to get a degree, period, is simply to fight for a job afterwards, leaving the degree-holder likely not pursuing their lifelong passions. Moreover, opening college up like this will create chaos in the job market. There are indeed short term benefits of free community college, but soon everyone will bear its burden. (And, by the way, like the supposed free healthcare, it isn't free; it's going to be taken out of our pockets as taxpayers.) Here in Atlanta, for example, it's already a nightmare here trying to find a job; thankfully I do have one, and with an organization in my field of biblical studies. In Atlanta, if you're not in healthcare, engineering, technology, sales, or education, 'forget it.' And whether or not you're in those fields, still 'forget it'; résumés are ignored or you receive generic emails back. I know not only firsthand how difficult it is here, but also from someone else who after hundreds of applications and résumés sent to employers has yet to hear a word back and this has since been about two or more years! One employer even told this person (a female) that she'd need to do something with her afro hair. Entrepreneurship will be and is very key in not having to deal with this madness.

Crystal.

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blacktheologian · 10 years

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Black-ish Defined, but Being Black Isn't?

I was just able to view the pilot early for the upcoming ABC TV show, Black-ish, which begins September 24th. While the title frustrated me from the beginning, I believe the show deserved a chance, particularly with a cast of great actors. I really do wish them well, but if you're as upset with the title as I am, then you will be unable to stomach a full episode if they're all like the pilot. As I've mentioned in a comment elsewhere on social media, 'comedy always has a serious underlying meaning behind it.' I can indeed understand the comedic moments as comedic moments when they came about, but I also paid attention to overarching themes and messages.

I hope to only mention what is included in the previews so that I won't spoil it (however, the pilot should still be available on iTunes; also check out this HuffPost interview with the creator of the show, Kenya Barris)... The show is about an upper-middle class black man who made it out of poverty (or a rough background); because of this, his color and heritage are important to him (hence, "black" man, not just "man") and he's intent on raising his kids with a sense of cultural identity. Alongside this, the premise is that his children, often with the aid of his wife, choose to do or agree with things that have historically been deemed anti-black-- or, `black-ish. (And yep, I can see a gay character coming in 3, 2, 1...) He is also highly concerned that his kids have no sense of color. For example, there is a small scene where his two younger children refer to another black girl from their class not by her color but by another identifier. Apparently for them her color wasn't as significant as that other thing.

After now seeing the episode, I can at least (at this point) appreciate Anthony Anderson's character (Andre "Dre" Johnson) as I believe that it is important for blacks especially to learn more about where we come from and have a sense of appreciation for it. Unfortunately, Anderson's character is slyly demonized for doing so. He's literally made to look like he's losing his mind. Let me back up a bit... Whenever I watch any show, I don't only see what's going on before me, but I am also fully aware that there are people behind the scenes writing these lines down and running the machine. We can play dumb all we want as if words have no meaning, color has no meaning, or life itself has no meaning. They do. If nothing has meaning or purpose behind it, then I find it completely and utterly pointless to exist. Like, why was this show created if no one wanted to get a point across? They in fact do. After watching the pilot-- and the reasons for my cringes throughout-- I kept asking myself, so 'What does it mean to be black (then)?' Black-ish has been defined, but somehow being black isn't defined. Not only that, it shouldn't be defined. If we're not fitting into the mold of what others, particularly the media, want to portray us as, then we must make fun of the things that actually do make us "black," or rather, defines us or brings us together as a people.

And actually, what in the world does "black-ish" mean? Many today are quick to say, 'This is 2014!' or 'Times have changed!' or 'This is a new day!' Yet, old arguments and issues are constantly being pushed. What I'm getting at is what the term "black-ish" suggests, and really what the show portrayed in its pilot. It suggests that blacks don't do things out of the ordinary of what's expected when that is far from the truth. You know, things like skydiving, bunjee-jumping, being on a crew team, or playing lacrosse. Or listening to rock music, attending classical concerts, or partaking in theatre or ballet. These assumptions are stereotypical and ignorant. Keep in mind, I was not saying above that we're all the same or supposed to be the same as blacks, but rather that there are unifiers that bond us together as a people. Things that we can all identify with at least to some degree. "Somebody" "somewhere" doesn't want this for us. It's too empowering.

You have the older black boy on the show who wants and gets a bar mitzvah, not only forfeiting his religion, which is likely Christianity (so, there's another ever-present shot taken at Christianity via TV), but also his culture. Apparently there are no significant rites of passage other than a bar mitzvah? The family isn't Jewish, but the child is mixed with a few cultures that I'm sure they could've blended together into a nice little coming-of-age party for him. Have food and music celebrating his different heritages (African & European [whichever one it is from his mother, we don't know and probably won't because it's just "black" and "white"]). My point: he chooses and receives a party of a religion and culture he doesn't identify with at all and rejects the one that is actually a part of him. Maybe the writers were inserting a little deep moment in there for viewers to pick up on. Maybe over the course of the show he's going to grow into exactly what he didn't expect-- a "black man." In the pilot, the African rite of passage ceremony was eventually performed in a joking manner. I found this all to be extremely offensive and insulting to say the least. If you're pro-black heritage, you may have a table flip moment. [SPOILER] The family has a meeting around the dinner table about needing to appreciate their culture. When Andre suggests that the son should have an African rite of passage and proceeds to give details as to what it would be like, the kids say, "...that doesn't sound as fun," "no, it does not." You can say this call-out is "being sensitive" or you may say something like "the show is only just beginning"; however, I say that if those were supposed to be jokes, they weren't funny. They were extremely disrespectful.

The people behind the show also assume (mind you, the way the show was written) that blacks have no sense of culture and that we cannot claim the umbrella of African culture as ours. This is partly false. Some of it is thanks to schools and media who keep relaying messages perpetuating this frame of thought. As someone who has always loved history and genealogy, there are "Africanisms" we've carried with us despite the effects of slavery and assimilation nearly beating and programming them out of us. We often don't realize it because we've gotten accustomed to seeing things through some weird, homogeneous, robotic, matrix-like tunnel vision. We freely use terms like "African American" and have no clue that the way a great majority of us speak, clap to rhythms, the dances and musical creations, food creations, home remedies etc. are fundamentally based on African languages, African rhythms, African foods (i.e. gumbo), and African dances. I grew up in church in the South with a certain rhythmic clap we had that I only recently realized was very much of African origin. Don't let anyone tell you that we don't have culture and that we cannot claim African cultural practices because they've always been with us.

Yes, I totally get that both across and within color boundaries we are all individuals, we think differently, like different things etc., but I am all for cultural preservation and appreciating one's own cultures. Let me be clear too that I think it's important to know your heritage not necessarily for political reasons, but personal reasons. Simply to know who in the world you are! There's a popular phrase that has been used in many lyrics, "like a ship without a sail." It rings true with regards to heritage as well. For us it's not, "If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there" (Lewis Carroll). It is, “If you don't know where you are going, you should know where you come from” (Gullah proverb; relates to Sankofa).

I don't know about anyone else, but even as a child I realized I was different; I realized we all were different. I didn't have an angry parent glaring over me demanding that I look in the mirror to make sure I saw my real self. If I didn't know anything else about myself, I at least knew that I was black. This kid's character on Black-ish is nearly 13 and has no clue whatsoever?! That is confusing to me. Why was it written that way? It was common sense to me; kids aren't stupid! Me and many others had darker skin color, I spoke differently, went to differently-styled church services (my church often visited predominantly white congregations)... For me, realizing I was black or of African heritage wasn't a problem or hindrance as media, including the show Black-ish tries to portray. It wasn't something that kept me in some unrealistic, cornered-off box. Despite realizing all of that, I didn't live in a bubble; I knew generally where I came from, the type of culture we had, yet was still open to learning about other cultures. That is real diversity.

Maybe, just maybe what was contained in the pilot was just a jumping off point for the children's characters to grow into loving not only their African culture but also their other cultures. Maybe, just maybe the writers won't continue to depict Andre in a negative light. And maybe, just maybe that character won't roll over and play dead when it comes to instilling a sense of cultural identity in his kids. With all of this being said, I had considered not watching again, but I will give the show another chance or two or three depending on how things go. Again, I think it's Anderson's character Andre/Dre that is keeping me the least bit interested, so writers, don't continue making him look like a complete idiot and madman.

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blacktheologian · 10 years

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Open Letter to Passion City Church (PCC) [UPDATED]

Update is at the end...

Finding a Church in Atlanta

I can preface this a few ways, but I will begin by saying that since I moved to Atlanta, it took me a while to find a church that I could call home. This due to a few reasons, including: 1) As a pastor’s kid (PK), I’ve never been in the position of searching for somewhere until recently (so I was trying to find somewhere that measured up to the standards of my parents), 2) A great majority of the churches (particularly within my COGIC tradition and within the black church tradition as a whole) that I would attend (key phrase) are much too far away for me, and 3) Time has rapidly changed to the point where you have to do research on churches. Churches here in Atlanta (and elsewhere) have the appearance of ‘doing good’[1], they may have shouting good times/high spiritual moments, great music, and more; however, although these were important factors for me in my search, I seriously wanted something more. Something refreshing for my week. I was starving for somewhere with sound doctrine, good, biblical teaching/preaching/exegesis, a place free to worship, and leaders who are sound examples. Passion City Church (PCC) fit much of this for me. Let me briefly introduce here that recent circumstances have led to this post.

Passion is (still) a fine place to be in some regards, but I question its staff. I have followed protocol and have gone through the proper channels from receptionists to the pastor’s wife, yet up to this point, no one has handled this situation properly; the pastor has also gotten all information from me on the people in question. On every level I have been dismissed and spoken to as if I am a problem for bringing this matter up. I am bringing this before the web now because I do not want anyone to have to deal with any of this. I will explain this later, but for now, let me back up…

In the fall of 2011, I was out one Sunday early evening and ended up at the train station steps away from Passion. I saw a sign for the church for parking and paused, intrigued and excited that there was a church convenient for me to get to. I started to instantly change plans and go that very evening to the service, but decided to look the church up online and plan to go visit the following Sunday, all of which was done. It turns out that my first Sunday at Passion was only their second service at that new location and I was able to get an introduction to who the pastors were and of what their heart towards/for ministry was. All of this seemed like God’s orchestration; I finally had somewhere I could call home.

This is crucial: To my remembrance, I’d never heard of the pastor and pastor’s wife[2]. I knew of the head worship leader and a couple of guest worship leaders (his label mates), but I did not know that any of them attended the church. So, I did not go there because the pastors are well-known, had a huge following around the world, or because Grammy- & Dove-nominated recording artists go there and lead worship. It’s like being offered glitz, glamour, and flashing lights when all I wanted (and truly need anyhow) is a place to sit, my Bible, and pastoral leadership who uphold the biblical standard. All of the previous is nice and awesome, but seriously, none of them were deciding factors for me going there. Those close to me can attest to this.

The Two Doorholders

So here I am a member[3] for about two and a half years. No direct issues with anyone; meeting nice people here and there; volunteering (called “doorholding,” based on Ps 84:10) for the Passion Conference. It is there that in 2013 I met a crew of people in my pod that included someone who went to PCC; a few others from this pod I am still in contact with. The person was fine initially, but throughout the rest of 2013, the person was extremely rude and nasty towards me for no reason. Throughout this, it was bizarre, disturbing, and confusing; but, I still tried greeting this person, at which they continued to either act as if they didn’t know who I was or be flat out rude in another way. The person, D.H., acted like he had a serious problem and the way he looked each time was very disturbing. He treated my guest one Sunday (in December 2013) the same way; this particular Sunday he was literally targeting us for the first half of service, eyeing us down (as you would in the “staring game,” but more weird-looking), rushed over and harassed my guest[4], then afterwards continued staring us down, but then started pretending to be into the service, singing loudly above others in our section while lifting his hands, glancing back at us occasionally. I looked at my guest and she at me, both of us as if to say, ‘do you see this?’ We shook our heads and continued into worship. Mind you, once again, before this service even, (thinking one of these times he’d have the decency to show common courtesy) I tried speaking since he was literally right behind my seat and he looked straight at me with a weird look and turned away. This was all the final straw for me with this person. I planned at that point to say something to the staff about him, but, as I often do (perhaps too much) with people, I held off, giving him another chance, saying to myself, ‘I will say a little something later to them,’ or, ‘If he does something else, then I will surely say something.’ I thought this alone was important for the staff to know about one of their workers because he continued proving to me that he has a serious problem. All of these encounters with D.H. was simply about showing common courtesy and decency, particularly when you’re serving others in the church. I found that his actions did not match up with his position. I did not want anyone else encountering this person as I have.

Fast forward a bit to the 2014 Passion Conference. I met someone else who was doorholding for the conference and also PCC[5]. She, L.H., ended up getting switched at the last minute to my group. In order to buddy up and get to the conference on time, in addition to the fact that we don’t live far from each other, I carpooled with her to and from the event, as well as for about three Sundays after. The second Sunday, in the lobby before service, she proceeded to what she thought was introducing me and D.H. to each other, asking us if we’d met. He started looking weird and wouldn’t say anything. I didn’t want to make things uncomfortable for L.H., so I chimed in. As I answered her question, he was agreeing with me, nodding as I spoke, which was very baffling to me. As we walked away, I said to the girl, “Wow, that was actually very disturbing because he has been acting very rude and as if he hasn’t known me for the past year!” Her response to that was strange: “Oh, well, glad that I could reintroduce you guys!” then as we entered the sanctuary she proceeded to do a weird dance to the music. After we both sat down, I was looking ahead but saw her in the corner of my eye sitting forward, smiling at me with a weird, fake grin. I looked over with a slight frown, confused as to why she was just sitting there smiling at me. This was a red flag for me (and a couple of other things as well). From this point I was not sure about continuing carpooling with her; thankfully, two weeks went by where I was busy and didn’t ride with her. Please note that this is all within a short timeframe; we were not close friends, as I was just getting to know this person.

After those two weeks, the third and final Sunday that I carpooled with L.H., from the time I entered the car, she was standoffish. On the ride to church, we exchanged “how have you beens” and she said that within those past couple of weeks, she started dating D.H. She asked me what I thought (because she said I had a strange expression)—which, by the way, was not necessary—and then proceeded to ask me what D.H. did (of which his version she’d already received). This was still before service, on the way to church, that she starts this argument with me as I’m answering her questions and rebutting her responses because they were completely untrue. What she said and how she came across let me know very clearly that she was ready for battle that Sunday. Trying to still make the best of the day and prepare for service, I sat with her during service. I could sense the rudeness from her throughout service. The thought came to me to leave without her; looking back especially, this had to be from God, but unfortunately I did the opposite. Immediately after the worship leader ended service saying, ‘have a great week, everyone,’ she literally ordered me, “Don’t run off….” Seriously? I would laugh at the absurdity, but that was crazy. (She was referencing me walking by D.H. earlier; I was not going to stand there with them.) Long story short, because she didn’t get her way earlier, all the way home I was verbally attacked by her and she attacked my relationship with God, saying in so many words that my prayer life was lacking and I didn’t know The Bible. She kept trying to force me to wring my hands and accept everything she said as truth and that I was wrong in what I said about the guy when I described exactly how he was and what he did. Family had been visiting with me and they can attest to my state when I got home; it was as if I was in a battle. The girl was called by someone in my family and she pretended that she couldn’t hear well and hung up in my family member’s face. Both L.H. and that experience were very demonic[6], disturbing, and insane. (Please also note: this is a condensed version.)

I Brought All of This Before the Staff

Communication from the office workers is poor. I work in an environment where I get emails from people, simple and complex. I find it necessary to respond that very day an email or call is received. If I am really backed up, then a response will be received by the end of the work week. In addition, I always at the very least respond to my correspondences with a “Thank you for your email; I will forward this to my colleague who could better assist you” type of email within the week. I may also follow up with my colleague to see if they’d handled the situation. It is common courtesy and professionalism. I never got this with the Passion staff.

I called numerous times at which the phone’s system would just hang up before getting to a receptionist. After failed call attempts, for context and clarity, I wanted to make sure that I detailed everything that happened in a letter. I had to scour the internet for an actual email address (because it isn’t on the website and) because the contact form on the PCC website would have been limiting. I finally found emails and sent them to a couple of addresses. After many days of silence, I followed up with a couple of emails via the contact form and more calls, at which days later I finally got a response from the staffperson over the doorholders. It was extremely disappointing:

If someone comes to you with information like mine, the most ridiculous thing you could respond with is the above, and the most absurd thing you could do is nothing. You do not devalue what the person has said or what they’ve experienced. I gave them much more detail than what I give to you above.

Here is my response[7]:

Transcription:

Dear Courtney,

Thanks for getting back with me, and for explaining why there was no earlier response.

Their character has shown me otherwise. It is completely out of the character of a doorholder to treat me as they have. I've seen other people in churches my whole life who served and most definitely should not have been. It's like a pastor who's a good orator and businessman, but who's life is a mess; there are churches like this all over the nation that actually have members. I am not saying that that is Passion, but that this is an example of how churches operate in order to appease people and keep them in positions because they do the job well despite what evil is done while not on the job. I do believe that this is the case for this situation, and I am absolutely appalled that nothing will even be said to either of them. I know that we're living in a very soft, patty-cake generation, but I am not those people-- I will speak up, ask questions, and raise awareness on matters if/when necessary. This is one of those times.

You know what? [OMITTED] I have also met others with her views while in campus ministry who I have had the same sort of interaction with. No, nothing was asked of them: no ride... nothing. We have had conversations about politics and religion where our views are clearly different, but she did not attack me. In fact, her actions toward me were just like that of Pastor Giglio's message on Sunday! She asked me questions, I answered, I even validated some concerns she had and provided her with information on those concerns (considering her position, her background, her views, i.e. as I did with [OMITTED] as stated in my letter). They were normal discussions.

There was no foundation for their behavior whatsoever, especially with [OMITTED]. There was no conflict between me and [OMITTED] (until December when he harassed [OMITTED] during service, but I suppose it's fine that [OMITTED] hasn't been back since after that)-- I did nothing to him aside from trying my best to be kind thinking he would come around; his responses to me were disturbing.

I wish that I had recorded all of their actions, especially [OMITTED] on this past Sunday, which prompted my contacting you all because I was attacked on my ride home, verbally, mentally, and spiritually. And yes, I had to respond; I needed to respond to her during that horrible experience. [OMITTED] saw me come into my home distraught, but that is clearly no big deal as well. Apparently it is perfectly fine that she is able to do this ([OMITTED] as well), smile in your faces, and continue to serve as if she's perfectly fine and has done nothing wrong.

I tried my best describing things as they were. It is much more than a personal disagreement, especially when my sanity and spirituality are attacked by a church worker, or when it affects whether or not people will continue attending or visiting the church. Also, I genuinely thought that you guys would care enough to at least bring this to them, letting them know that you do not treat people this way. In fact, I did not need or want [OMITTED] to agree or disagree with me; it was [OMITTED] who wanted this and was trying to force me to accept something that was absolutely not true about (my interactions with) [OMITTED]. I was only speaking my mind, speaking the truth of what I'd encountered with [OMITTED]. Thinking that she would understand where I was coming from (and I mentioned in the letter that I regarded [OMITTED’s] feelings from the very beginning when they weren't even dating yet), she did the complete opposite. I was only informing her of what I thought, which she asked me on Sunday, but then she decided that she would not only start the conversation up again, but do so in the most nastiest way possible.

I don't believe one's character is separate from their actions. Nor should either be separated from one's role(s) in life. We must understand that some people just are not fit for their roles, no matter who they are (parents, teachers, musicians, friends et.al.).

I have lots of thinking to do as to whether or not I will indeed continue attending Passion City. I am extremely dumbfounded and hurt.

Regards, Crystal Anderson

As for the very last sentence, the thing is, I’m thinking about the fact that this is a church. Not only am I coming to them as leaders to look into/deal with these people, but I am thinking about others who may come to them for such help. The other thing is simply that I didn’t really[8] expect to experience something like this. Anyone who really knows me knows that I am a reserved person. Typically quiet. I only speak when I have something to say because I think that makes sense. I also try my best to avoid conflict & contention; I didn’t bring these individuals up because I’m getting some pleasure or fun out of it. However, I’m also the type of person who when met with conflict, at all cost, I will do what’s necessary to get it resolved because I hate for it to linger.

So, You Want Details?

After C.H. defended Passion’s ability to choose good servants and outright stated that she was not going to do or say anything, I sought to speak to someone above her. There was still nothing but silence for more days. I called and spoke with office workers; sent messages on social media (ignored); spoke face-to-face & left info with a receptionist[9] at church, who after all is said and done has been the only one who seemed remorseful of the situation (however, I don’t know what she did after I left because there was still more silence afterwards for days); and a receptionist I spoke with on the phone directed me to someone’s voice mailbox who he had to have known was heading out on a vacation[10]—and if she’s been back and has heard my voicemail, she hasn’t contacted me about it. I was eventually contacted via email in March by C.H. letting me know that someone tried contacting me and that I’d receive another call after the team got back from an overseas trip. It is important to note that I gave additional contact information of various means in all of my correspondence so there was no need to only contact that one number.

Even after the team got back, more weeks went by. After being pressed some more, I finally got a call from the youth pastor. I cannot detail everything, but the first thing he mentioned was not being able to get ahold of me in March and him being in another country for a couple of weeks. First, him “not being able to get ahold of me” is not entirely true, nor was it a fault of mine that the situation lingered on so long. There was plenty of time for the staff to contact me and deal with the matter. Secondly, there are people right around them at PCC who need contact and assistance beyond community groups. In the approximately 30-minute convo, the youth pastor:

1) Mentioned that he and staff had discussed my letters weeks ago; also that no one has been ignoring or dismissing me

2) Kept more than suggesting that I contacted them out of anger and that my feelings were hurt

3) Kept mentioning that there was close friendship/relationship between me and one of the two doorholders and that when he first read the letter that he was like, ‘oh, that’s just an argument/disagreement between friends.’

4) Told me at least twice, “(Come on), you should at least give L.H. credit for giving you rides to church because she didn’t have to do so.”

5) Stated, “I know D.H., we’re friends; he’s a really great guy.”

6) Stated that he didn’t want to get in between us

7) Gave me advice to ignore them, avoid them, and not say anything to them if I see them at church

8) Said that he doesn’t know what I want him to do

9) Said that those two, particularly referencing L.H., doesn’t work with Passion and that she’s a volunteer

10) Said more than once that I should trust them (the staff) that they will continue to train doorholders properly

11) Said, “It’s important that you remember that doorholders are human too. They’re not perfect, and hey I’m a pastor and I’m not perfect—none of us are.”

12) Said, “I’m sure L.H. was hurt by what you were saying about her boyfriend, despite it being true or not.”

13) He interjected at one point while I was talking by calling my name twice, “Crystal, Crystal…” (in a manner that was trying to get me to stop speaking) as if I was giving him a hard time or being troublesome

14) Said he wants to meet me after church one Sunday to just say ‘hello’ and introduce myself in person

15) After I responded to something he said, there was extreme silence for several seconds to the point where I thought that the call dropped, so I said, “hello?” to which he contemptuously replied with, “…Oh, I wasn’t sure if you were finished.” (I was clearly finished speaking.)

16) After asking twice during the convo if something will be said to them, one of his responses was, “I will say something to them and I’m sure they have a different story.”

I was in disbelief at what was being said. And throughout the conversation he never once said that anything they did was wrong and should not have happened. Everything was about me and what I should be doing and should’ve done. I gave responses to each of the above to him (and I sometimes had to repeat myself; you will see my responses embedded in much of what I’ve said above, and the rest I assume you’ll know what my response would’ve been). The entire time speaking with the youth pastor, he was on defense and I was being reprimanded and corrected as if I’ve done something wrong. Overall, I let him and others know that how both L.H. and D.H. acted towards me was not normal. I was not being biased in my letter; what I said actually happened. According to how they’ve handled this situation, it’s been made more than clear that to them there is no issue with the individuals in question and that I should not have said anything—I’m furthermore a problem for doing so. One reason he referenced he wants to meet me is because he’s assuming that I’m hiding behind my computer, but as described above, that is not so. I even left a message on his voicemail shortly after we hung up and requested to set up a meeting with the pastor or the pastor’s wife because I still had serious concerns; it has been a few weeks since then and B.J. (the youth pastor) has been silent. He made it known even more to me that the staff is all friends and they’re protecting one another, which not only explains our conversation but is also one reason I got the response I did from C.H. earlier on.

I decided to take this further to the pastor and/or the pastor’s wife. (Please note that it is now the top of May and the staff has done nothing nor cared to do anything since February.) This past Sunday I spoke with the pastor’s wife, with the pastor steps away speaking to others. If I could explain this short conversation in a few words, it would be “politely rude.” Her tone was not rude, but it was some of what she said that was which let me know that she did not believe or care what I said, just as the others. They have all strangely carried a suspicion of me instead of towards the ones I referenced. It was like speaking to a robot because she was looking at me with barely any expression on her face as I explained just a little of what happened, including how poorly the staff handled things. Once again, everything was placed back on me. Some of what she said was, “Did you go to her? Because that’s what we do as Christians. Are you a Christian?” I’d already told her that the last Sunday I saw L.H. was when I “spoke with her” on the way home and that she went ballistic; I very quickly let her know much of everything I’ve said above. More of what she said was, “I wasn’t there, so I don’t know what really happened,” and “We talk to our doorholders all of the time.” After letting her know how long I’ve been attending Passion, she mentioned something to the effect that I’ve been there long enough to know that that’s now how we operate. When I mentioned how my guest was treated, she said, "Oh, there's a trend here" and seeing the confused look on my face she quickly said, "...with being treated poorly." She said, “What were you looking for us to do?” I said as I have above that I was just simply looking for someone on the staff to let those individuals know that you do not treat people how they did me. She said she’s sorry that that happened, which doesn’t add up with other things she said. She asked me if she could speak into my life, and proceeded to do so after I said yes; she said that I’ve done all that I can do in the situation and I’ve been absolved (translation: drop it). There was more, but I honestly checked out a bit; I wasn’t coming to her to be absolved, and I already knew that I’d done all that I could. I was also trying to get a word in a few times, but couldn’t do so. I mentioned to her that she and the pastor have been mailed all of my correspondence between me and the staff. I left the conversation with no, 'I'll look into this,' 'I'll get something done about this'--nothing.

Where This Leaves Me, I Don’t Know

A few things I will end with are: 1) What if I wasn’t a Christian or was newly Christian? It would make the situation much worse. 2) If we are in fields where we’re serving others in areas of pastoral leadership, counseling, and the like, then we have a responsibility to “come in between” whomever to help resolve things, not make matters worse, 3) Doorholders do indeed work for the church even though they’re not paid staff—they are a face & point of contact for PCC—and what they do outside or inside the church walls affects PCC (and Christians in general)[11], 4) As leaders, you should know exactly what to do and how to handle situations—not ask me “what did you want us to do?” or say “I don’t know what you want me/us to do, and 5) Clarification needs to be made on what it really means to be a Christian. One of the main things that stood out in conversation has been B.J.’s comment on not being perfect. Matthew 5:47-48 calls for us to be perfect as our Father in Heaven is perfect[12]—not reveling in our fallen humanity and natural imperfection[13]. This is also why Scripture says (and I’m paraphrasing), let your ‘yes’ be ‘yes’ and your ‘no’ be ‘no’; to not be double-minded and unstable; to be without sin; that we’ve been raised from death to life; that we’re to have clean hands and a pure heart; and so on. How is all of this possible if we’re so imperfect? God, by His Holy Spirit and grace gives us the ability to indeed live a perfect, upright life. The Bible even lets us know that there people who walked with God and were perfect in God’s eyes! God does not want us to have an appearance of goodness; a doorholder’s smile or a staff person’s words (of assurance or commiseration, for instance) will not do unless they have clean hands and a pure heart. We are called as Christians to behave perfectly[14]. Our words and actions are to be in accordance with one another, and both should line up with God's Word.

...UPDATE... (5/30)

It has been several weeks now since I not only spoke face to face with Pastor Shelley Giglio, but also sent all correspondence of mine and the staff's to her and Pastor Louie Giglio via postal mail. Neither of them has said a word to me to this day. They have carried on business as usual as if nothing ever happened and as if what I experienced didn't matter. I don't have to call this nasty--it just is. They received all of my contact information, including my physical address if they wanted to even write me. At some point after I mailed the info and spoke to Pastor Shelley (and shortly after posting my blog), I also followed up with a call to B.J. to let him know that I tried looking for him at church a couple of Sundays to say hello and also to let him know that after speaking with Pastor Shelley and getting the same response I'd gotten from other staff that I would be in prayer as to whether or not I will continue attending Passion. He told me that he was going to have someone on staff over all the doorholders (not the one mentioned earlier) contact me soon; this phone call from this person never came. My intentions were to never call the pastors and staff to the carpet because I was not even supposed to talk about this any longer than a week at most. When a ministry is at a certain magnitude as Passion's, there is a high standard I expected with their personal care and counsel just as with other things. To the very last, different ones have been defensive as if I was out to get them/the Passion brand perhaps when I only needed them to deal with a situation as any normal church staff would do. I went recently to Passion to support David Crowder's new release of Neon Lights and had a great time hearing his new sound. I only found it disturbing how a pastor could so easily get on stage week in and out, dismissing all else that's going on. Putting myself in his shoes (and his wife's), if he thought all of the above was minor to him, that is not how a pastor is to approach anyone's situation.

...UPDATE... (2/26/2016)

Two years later, around the world and back from engagements, and no word from the pastor and his wife. I don’t expect it any more than the initial weeks of silence. It’s just interesting to see the ‘cheesing’ and ‘business as usual’ behavior after all of the above-- and no one sees this oddity but me. Interestingly enough, despite all this, I chose to I work the 2015 Passion Conference because frankly, I have enjoyed serving there; not this year’s 2016 one though. And, I was still allowing myself to test the waters. Unfortunately, at Passion 2015, Taylor Swift’s James Dean song was played prior to the first service as gathering music, aka pre-worship music. I like to give as many chances as possible, but my continued association with Passion remains to be seen. This is my final update.

[1] ‘Doing good’ because goodness for many people is whatever they define it as or whatever they make it out to be.

[2] I will only use titles throughout or change names. The church’s name is provided.

[3] Technically, there is no membership, although “doorholders”/ushers/volunteers are considered real members. All in all, this is why the services are called “gatherings.”

[4] Regarding her phone. Now, if PCC really regards its auditorium as a sanctuary, then I should not hear Capital Cities, Ellie Goulding, and Justin Bieber’s Christmas album being played for pre-worship music. It turns out that a couple of songs I liked of which I heard before service, I made sure to remember a part of the lyrics to look the artists up. I did and discovered that they were not Christian; I even saw shortly after that that Ellie Goulding made a Facebook post with the f-bomb in it. Capital Cities also has profanity-laden performances. Justin Bieber we already know. These are all talented people whose music minus the lyrics sound good, but should never be played in church.

[5] By the way, for clarification, I only help with the conference. I am not a PCC doorholder.

[6] I know who I am in Christ and anything that comes against my relationship with Him or harms me in any way is indeed not of God.

[7] Some info was blotted out for privacy of the person I gave as an example, as well as others mentioned.

[8] I had some feelings…

[9] I asked this day to speak to someone from the main staff and the receptionist got very hesitant and directed me to write my info down. It has been difficult to get in touch with main staff.

[10] Another receptionist let me know the person was about to leave for a vacation.

[11] This was also one of my responses to B.J. on the phone.

[12] It is a grace of God.

[13] This is literally what Satanists do, which is why I think it’s important for Christians to stop saying “I’m not perfect!” as if it’s a badge of honor.

[14] We must worship God in spirit and in truth (Jn 4:24).

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