Black History Month in the Church? (message 1)

I love the History Channel. I don't know...I just love hearing about the stories that have shaped our current world situation.
The only problem is, I don't know if the history channel belongs in the Church. When we gather together, what ought to be our focus? Christ.

So, what does Black history month have to do with the Lord Jesus Christ? Well, perhaps, indirectly the Lord Jesus Christ can be glorified for delivering Africans from the oppression of White slave owners. He can be glorified for the men and women who believed on Him that came before us. Indirectly, we can praise the Lord Jesus Christ that we have "come this far by faith, leaning on the Lord".

Unfortunately, our focus on Black History usually takes our eyes off of Christ and onto ourselves.

• Do the scriptures emphasize deliverance from a worldly foe, or deliverance from sin?
• Does Christ ever emphasize ethnicity as a means of affection or appreciation?
• Do the scriptures encourage us to remember our ethnic differences or downplay them in the light of the Cross?
• Do the scriptures ask us to remember those who have gone before because of their accomplishments in the world or their acts of faith? (Hebrews 11)

When reflecting on his accomplishments in Judaism (perhaps the ethnicity with the richest history of oppression, religiosity and moral character), Paul states...

7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ (Philippians 3:7-8)

I love the History Channel - but when we get History Channel at church, I quickly find myself thinking about Creation rather than the Creator. About the works of man rather than the Works of Christ. About earthly things rather than Heavenly purpose for my life. May Christ exclusively be glorified above every ethnicity He has made.

Christ is all!

My Lord and Politics...

So how do you think Jesus would respond to the moder day political environment.
Would He vote? Would he run for office? Would Jesus seek to ascertain the felt needs of the voting public and develop a social service program? Would Jesus be for a national health care initiative? What would be His position on Iraqi troop withdrawal. We know Jesus would be pro-life, but what about His position on immigration? Would Jesus even be an American if He had the choice? Well of course, there is no doubt He would vote for Huckabee, but that is a different blog...

I don't even know if these questions are valid to ask of our Lord (The idiom, "there are no stupid questions" does not seem to be true with our Lord).

But for discussion sake, do these texts give us insight as to the mind of Christ on such matters?

Matthew 22:21
Then saith he unto them, Render therefore the things that are Caesar to Caesar's and to God the things that are God. or....

1 Peter 2:17
Honor all people. Love the Brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the King.

1 Timothy 2:1-2
Therefore, I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable live in all godliness and reverence.

He is beyond political ideology. He is the one and only true potentate(1 Timothy 6:15). He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The commander of the Army of the Lord (Joshua 5:14-15). His Kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36) and we His servants need not wrestle against flesh and blood (Eph 6:12).

Christ is all.

Gospel at the Grammys & The PoP Music Template

There is something about Gospel music on the Grammys that I always rubs me the wrong way Perhaps it is that the entire Grammy evening is designed to honor worldy, anti-Christ thinkers and artists; then at some point in the evening, a few Gospel artists are dropped into the made for TV performance template. The formula goes something like this: 1) Get me a popular Gospel artist that can sing and has commercial success; 2) let me pair them with an R&B singer who is familiar with the church and is "gospel friendly" church (Witney Houston, Beyonce, Stevie Wonder, Dionne Warwick, Fantasia would all be likely candidates - Does anyone have Patti Labelle's number?) 3) Give me some music that won't really offend anyone. The formula was in effect at last night's Grammy award ceremony in Los Angeles. While the music was excellently performed, I wish we would have heard more songs actually related to The Gospel. I must say, however, The Clark Sisters attempted to crash the template with their rendition of "You Brought the Sunshine" (If the thing wasn't scripted, Twinkie was well on her way to a shout).

I am reminded of an unbeliever I met one evening on a flight from San Francisco. I was talking to him about music and God. At some some point in the conversation He said, "I Love Gospel Music, I just hate that you have to always spend so much time talking to me about Jesus". In other words, "Give the music, but you can keep your message"

Christ lovers, let us take every opportunity, to exalt our Lord and Savior Jesus as God, Christ, Died for our Sins, Risen from the dead. We do not want to be as those "who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator who is blessed forever. Amen (Romans 1:25). As Gospel artists, musicians and believers, strive to ensure the message of Christ crucified is inextricably linked to the worship music we call "Gospel".

And Twinkie...Thank you!