Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Civil Rights Does Not Impart Righteousness

What if I told you that I was a Christian, BUT...

I didn't believe that Jesus was the Son of God.

I didn't believe that Jesus was God Himself. 

I didn't believe Jesus was born of a virgin.

I didn't believe that Jesus ever rose bodily from the dead.

What if I said that all of these things - indeed, much about the story of Jesus Christ - was simply a reworking of historical fables & myths?

What if I claimed that the "truths" in Scripture were no more valid than the "truths" found in Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Greek philosophy, and among other great minds throughout civilization?

That the Scriptures were not the words of God, but the words of men under the "spell" of Jesus and as affected & infected by their cultural surroundings?

Would you still consider me a believer?

Would you call me a heretic?

Or would you call me one of the greatest Christian leaders of our time?

In the vein of coming against man's natural inclination to be religious, I thought I would post here an answer to someone asking me about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

My grandparents & parents attended the March on Washington.  They were rightfully enraged and protested when Dr. King was unjustly assassinated.  Still today there are pictures of, and books about, Dr. King in their homes as he is fondly remembered for the sacrifices he made - even of his own life - to bring about social justice for the disenfranchised.

And yet none of that has anything to do with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

It would shock most to realize that this great reverend, minister, preacher, and "man of God" didn't even believe in Jesus Christ and never preached the Gospel a day in his life.

Dr. King taught an ecumenical, new age "gospel" of social justice that he learned from Mahatma Gandhi and only used Christian principles when convenient to promote that platform.
social justice: the distribution of advantages and disadvantages within a society
civil rights: of, relating to, or promoting equality in social, economic, and political rights
I am not talking about the rantings of racists or the efforts by government officials to discredit him.  You only have to examine Dr. King's own words to see what he believed.

What Experiences of Christians Living in the Early Christian Century Led to the Christian Doctrines of the Divine Sonship of Jesus, the Virgin Birth, and the Bodily Resurrection?
"Doctrines and creeds do not spring forth uncaused like Athene sprang from the head of Zeus, but they grow out of the historical settings and the psychological moods of the individuals that set them forth...But if we delve into the deeper meaning of these doctrines, and somehow strip them of their literal interpretation, we will find that they are based on a profound foundation. Although we may be able to argue with all degrees of logic that these doctrines are historically and philolophically untenable, yet we can never undermine the foundation on which they are based."
A Study of Mithraism
"For an instance, in the mystery-religions identification between the devotee and the Lord of the cult was supposed to be brought about by various rites of initiation; the taurobolium, or bath of blood; the eating of flesh of the sacrifical beast and the like. Now there was something of this in Paul too, for he thought of the believer as buried with Christ in baptism and as feeding upon him in the eucharist. This is only one of many examples that I could give to prove the similarity between the developing Christian Church and the Mystery Religions...That Christianity did copy and borrow from Mithraism cannot be denied...To discuss Christianity without mentioning other religions would be like discussing the greatness of the Atlantic Ocean without the slightest mention of the many tributaries that keep it flowing."
Unfulfilled Dreams
"It’s there: a tension at the heart of the universe between good and evil. (Yes, sir) Hinduism refers to this as a struggle between illusion and reality. Platonic philosophy used to refer to it as a tension between body and soul. Zoroastrianism, a religion of old, used to refer to it as a tension between the god of light and the god of darkness. Traditional Judaism and Christianity refer to it as a tension between God and Satan. Whatever you call it, there is a struggle in the universe between good and evil."
Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution
"The world in which we live is geographically one. The challenge that we face today is to make it one in terms of brotherhood...We are tied together in the single garment of destiny, caught in an inescapable network of mutuality. And whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly. For some strange reason I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. And you can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be. This is the way God’s universe is made; this is the way it is structured."
I've Been to the Mountaintop
"And I'm always happy to see a relevant ministry.  It's all right to talk about long white robes over yonder, in all of its symbolism, but ultimately people want some suits and dresses and shoes to wear down here...Now let me say as I move to my conclusion that we've got to give ourselves to this struggle until the end...But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land."
An Autobiography of Religious Development
"From this it seems quite clear that I joined the church not out of any dynamic conviction, but out of a childhood desire to keep up with my sister... I guess I accepted Biblical studies uncritically until I was about twelve years old. But this uncritical attitude could not last long, for it was contrary to the very nature of my being. I had always been the questioning and precocious type. At the age of 13 I shocked my Sunday School class by denying the bodily resurrection of Jesus. From the age of thirteen on doubts began to spring forth unrelentingly. At the age of fifteen I entered college and more and more could I see a gap between what I had learned in Sunday School and what I was learning in college...As stated above, my college training, especially the first two years, brought many doubts into my mind. It was at this period that the shackles of fundamentalism were removed from my body. This is why, when I came to Crozer, I could accept the liberal interpretation with relative ease."
Is it just a fable that Jesus is God, the Son of God, born of a virgin and risen from the dead?

Is faith in Jesus Christ just a copy-cat belief adopted from pagan myths?

Are other world religions and philosophies just as valid as Christianity?

Is God "struggling" with Satan or is Satan a created being subject to the will of God like every other creature?

Is the purpose of God to make all people one and share a common brotherhood?

Is there an intertwined destiny for all mankind or does God say there there are two destinies, one to salvation and the other to damnation?

Is the here and now supposed to be more real and important to the Christian than our eternal destiny?

Are the fundamentals of faith in Jesus Christ merely illogical & unscientific "shackles" incongruent with an educated, reasoning mind?

What Promised Land is Dr. King speaking of?  What faith?  What god?  Is it not the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Some might say, "How can you say these things about such a great American hero?  He has done great things for African-Americans!"

I would respond, "How can a 'man of the cloth' say such things about my Savior, Jesus?  How can people who claim to belong to Christ deny Him in order to champion some sort of perceived justice in this temporal world?"
 
Yet this is more than just about Dr. King.  In Dr. King, we have the "beliefs" of many Christians, the teaching of many "Christian" colleges, and the tenets of faith for even our own President Barak Obama.

According to such persons, Jesus Christ is not the Truth, the Way, and the Life, but is one of many truths, ways, and lives.  Being a "Christian" is simply about taking what one can from these "stories" about Jesus and seeking to be a better person through them.

No matter how many "good works" one has done, unless one has done the will of God, such persons will hear the terrifying words, "Depart from me you worker of iniquity.  I never knew you." (Luke 13:23-28; Matthew 7:21-23)

Israel was unable to receive Jesus as their Lord & King because they were looking for someone to "right the wrongs" done to them in this present, evil world.  They were looking for an earthly kingdom with earthly justice.  Jesus gave it no consideration.  In fact, He told His followers that His kingdom was not of this world.  They were to expect injustice in this life because the god of this world is Satan.  Instead, Jesus tells us to set our affections on things above, and not below (Colossians 3:2).

Does such mean that we should ignore injustice and do nothing when inequity occurs?  No, but it does mean that we must never set aside the fundamental truths of our faith in order to obtain some temporary justice, peace, or unity in this world. If we do, then we have become idolators.

Today, schools, lunch counters, libraries, housing, workplaces and the like are largely integrated (albeit perhaps not equitably).  Yet the majority of folks in them are on their way to being damned.  Giving people a life of social equality may give them 60, 70, 80 years of justice in this life, but they will still wind up spending an eternity in Hell if they never come to know and believe in Jesus Christ.

Don't be shocked by this, but most folks don't care about Jesus.   They are simply pimping Him to further their social, financial, political, corporate, community agendas.  Whether in the pulpit, on the street corner, or on the Internet...you had better be sure you know which Jesus people are professing faith in and be even more certain of the Jesus you personally confess (II Corinthians 11:4).

Jesus was more than just a good man.  He is God incarnate and is the name above all names by which man must be saved.

28 comments:

  1. I wondered if this was a tough one for you to post. Either way my wife and I are glad you did. I don’t really know what else to say but “Thank You” and I hope our Thank You’s encourage you to keep it up.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Donzell,

    Interesting that you would say that. I did stay away from this topic years ago because MLK is such an icon and I didn't really think people would understand. But, you just reach a point where you are like, "Who cares?" The truth is the truth. May those who can receive it do so.

    I figure that the more I am able to post what God leads me to without any "feelings" about it, the freer I am becoming. So that is more than enough encouragement for me! LOL

    I hope you and your wife continue also boldly in the Lord. Our time is short. Why should we wait or hold back the truth, even in part? We may step on toes, but it is better to go into Heaven toeless than to go to Hell with all 10 digits (to paraphrase our Lord). :-)

    God Bless!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I've been conducting a family Bible study in our home for about three weeks now and I chose to start in the Exodus account for these reasons, to warn my household against looking back and desiring the things of this world at the expense of our birthright. The overall theme that I consistently trying to emphasize is to be watchful of such a deception and be attentive to how GOD thinks and move at the expense of what we think, we must align ourselves with HIS mind not the other way around.

    Recently, I was discussing with my wife how the civil right movement is going to separate millions of blacks who profess Christ from Him because it appears to be a work of GOD to the carnal mind but the spiritual minds see it as the distraction it truly it, a usurper of the gospel. One that enables those who covet what others have, i.e. sharing of fountains, social settings and social equality at the expense of eternal treasures.

    Yes, I believe in helping those in need but not fighting for a cause that is now in a place in our hearts that only belongs to GOD. PRIDE being a culprit that many African Americans have yet to deal with as a matter of fact it is encouraged and promoted as a good trait to cultivate amongst ourselves to the very detriment of our souls and the souls of our children, no wonder we are being humble within this nation as a GROUP as the whole is also under judgment as well.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Profound! Yet even after all of this indisputable evidence some will take issue with it and still perceive MLKJr to be a follower of Christ. Of course we are in the last days, and Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light, so I expect that. However, the truth is still the truth. We have become a nation of idolaters, whether it is someone like King, or our possessions or even ourselves we have made deities of things and people that have no eternal value. We need to repent! Thank God for the truth and for a true Savior of the people in Jesus. God bless you once again!

    IAPW

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sorry, Talent is me. This thing keeps switching me to name I created for a reason I can't recall.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Such an interesting post! Growing up I was never "huge" on Black History nor did I have a desire to express Black pride. However, the older I became I began to wonder if there was something wrong with me for not wanting posters of Martin Luther King and Obama in my house. For a short moment I did begin to have pride in Obama mostly because that is what I saw people I admired most doing. I thought it was interesting that after I got saved this desire to defended the "Great...(whomever)" went out like a light! Obama was the first to go because God told me, "This isn't My fruit."

    This past Martin Luther King Day a young man made a comment about how although I am still in Winter Break, it was no excuse for me not to take the day as an opportunity of service. I remembered how last year around the same time I spent the day providing service to families in low-income neighborhoods. I enjoy doing community service but I will never again do it in honor of any man/woman/thing--only as a servant of Jesus. The young man also mentioned how empowered he felt to work side by side with Greek organizations on MLK day. As I listened to the young man God gave me a mind to see how brainwashed and confused he is and how I should pray that he receives wisdom from God. Sadly, we have made some of these people our idol, our god. This confusion shows how many individuals, whether they know it or not, do things in the name if Martin Luther King, Obama, Malcolm X etc. instead of in the name of Jesus!

    Be encouraged in the Lord! Every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Hanniel Online,

    I just thought "Talent" was one on top of it brother. LOL

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi IAmPastorsWife,

    You said it. We have become idolaters and must repent. This is a hard pill for many African-Americans and even Caucasian Americans to swallow.

    It is a shock for people to realize that God's first concern is not this present, evil world, but our eternal destiny in Him.

    Be strengthened in the Lord!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi Anonymous,

    That is the key. Do all that you do as unto the Lord in not in homage to any one else. If you have not been lured into the "Black pride" snare, then that is a reason to be thankful. The answer to dealing with oppression from others is to realize that we are all sinners due a just payment in Hell without Christ and to know that He is the only one worthy to be exalted.

    God Bless!

    ReplyDelete
  10. This MLK/Obama (I say this because I'm not in the US and Black people here are obsessed with both) thing - is nothing more than the remnant of ancestor worship from vestige that has travelled with throughout the diaspora. It is a spirit and must be dealt with and explain a lot of what is going on amongst Christians - it is by no meansrestiricted to the Black community and the bible calls it out for what it is IDOLATRY

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi Leya!

    I love your blog and the idea behind it. You are NEVER to young for Jesus and to love for Him. :-)

    Many times, we think that we are "young" and can worry about Jesus "later". Yet, we never know how much time we have. Even young people can sometimes lose life suddenly.

    But you know what? It is more than simply the knowledge that tomorrow is not promised. The bottom life is that with Christ we have more abundant life. He gives us such peace, joy, and love. Waiting on giving your life to Christ is like waiting to open your best present you can ever receive.

    I am so inspired by your faith and your desire to share it with others. You must be a chip off of the old block. May God continue to fill you with His Spirit and strengthen you to do His work.

    Please give your parents my best!

    For those who would like to visit Leya's blog, you can do so here: Never too Young for Jesus Christ

    ReplyDelete
  12. Since I was young, I have learned that MLK was a great Christian and great man. However, there's always something not feeling right about the whole civil right movement. I couldn't pin point what was wrong exactly. Later on, I found out about the what MLK truly believed, and his debauchery way of life, then it all made sense. Also, looking at the results of civil rights movement, it only created more hate, more conflicts, more poverty. And indeed, it is not a movement from God for sure. And consider that MLK is the only one who has his own holiday in the US today, higher than Washington and Lincoln, it take courage to speak the truth and really tell it as is.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi R.T.,

    Certainly racism is not Godly, however, in a fallen world, the civil rights movement is a fallen man's solution to his base, fallen nature.

    What I mean by that is the answer to racism is for people to be born again. Short of that, all other solutions will fail. You cannot force fairness or mandate equality. Such are bandaids when the true problem is in a defiled, unclean heart.

    MLK day is more of the same. In an unholy world, that appears to man to be a just recompense for decades of torture, genocide, and slavery exerted upon an entire ethnic group of people. In terms of Washington & Lincoln (who are celebrated on Presidents Day), I have no knowledge whether they were any better.

    One of the worse things done to the African-American people (apart from slavery itself) has been the making of idols out of civil rights leaders and the civil rights movement. This idol has become the deliverer to many (instead of Jesus) and has allowed the "Black Church" to pervert the Gospel for political gain & control.

    Anyway, as time runs short in this world, I hope that people repent and throw down every idol which takes a place only God should have in our lives.

    Thanks for sharing your comments.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thank you for your reply. Indeed, racism rises from sin and the fallen nature of men, and so it's something we all can fall under if we don't stay close to Christ. And indeed, the answer to racism is Christ Himself. We were blessed by God to have experienced true unity in Christ, in the Spirit, with Christians from different "racial" and cultural backgrounds.

    After all we are all of one fallen race, the adamic race. But now we are redeemed and reborn into the heavenly race, a new creation!

    I agree that we have to put away all idols and look up to Jesus only. And I am glad that there are people out there who cares not about their own culture more than God and truth!

    ReplyDelete
  15. "And I am glad that there are people out there who cares not about their own culture more than God and truth!"

    Me too R.T.!

    ReplyDelete
  16. If the solution to slavery and injustice is salvation. How come all the born again ministers before MLK either black or white did not speak up publicly about this injustice.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hello Cornelius,

    The standard for righteousness is not men, nor what men may or may not preach.

    The solution to slavery and injustice is not salvation. The solution to man's base nature is salvation; slavery & injustice are simply reflections of that nature.

    In other words: repent, turn in faith to Jesus Christ for the salvation of your soul, and do what He says to do. Nothing else matters, especially "pseudo" wars which have no bearing on eternal life.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Something in me cannot refute this because it just all make since and i have loved Martin Luther King and everything he stood for but not digging deep enough to why i felt like that other than what he done for blacks therefore missing how he doesnt believe that Jesus is who He says He is. So now that i have researched and seen with my own eyes what he said, my eyes are open just that quick because i believe in the Savior Jesus the Christ. This is so shocking tho, and it brings me to the question that is this what Jesus says when He said false prophets would arise deceiving even the Elect? Im drawn to believe that this is one of those situations as well as Obama too. Lord have mercy on our souls.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Keeshkeeon36,

      I have to admit that I too was shocked when I actually took a look at what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. believed and taught. Truth be told though, I didn't honor him because I knew anything about him. I honored him because my family, my school, and the world said I should.

      However, I thank God that He has indeed opened your eyes! This article was not written to put down Dr. King; after all, he is dead and gone. However, it was to encourage every believer to truly examine what we support and endorse. We can not afford to simply give lip service to the Lord and have fellowship with those who do. Let us walk in truth with Christ and with each other.

      In terms of the deception arising through false prophets, yes, I do believe Dr. King falls into that category. It is simply amazing to me the number of professing Christians who are willing to set aside their faith in Christ in order to champion Dr. King...even after knowing what he believed. And yes, it is the same with President Obama.

      I can only stand with you and echo, "Lord, have mercy on our souls." Yet, He does, and He will. As we seek Him first in all things, He will reveal to us those things which are not like Him so that we will not be deceived. That my friend is mercy too. :-)

      Delete
  19. I could not agree more friend! I have been following your page for a long time now and I have got to tell you that you are a blessing to me. it is so rare that I encounter pages of sound doctrine that I know that is true. I seek nothing but truth nomatter how it hurts because Im tired of being in bondage. lately I have just wanted to be away from people so i can seek God and hear his voice more. Do u see whats going on now friend? I hate it and I dont understand how Christians say they love Jesus but will argue u down for the stuff that Jesus is against. I just wanna fry out because people think Im crazy. I say something about obama of anyone of thing that is wrong and I get an arguement by family and others thats why I need to be alone with God for strength and knowledge to right those spirits. I wish I could put on the whole armor when Im attacked because I always seem to fall short when it comes to getting mad at the madness that the people believe as truth. I am drawn to the truth of Jesus Christ nothing and noone can take that I just dont wanna become a angry radical. and that whole inauguration didnt feel right to me. I didnt know who Mrs. Evers was praying to even tho she added in Jesus name to it. Obamas speech turned my stomach and Beyonce made me just shake my head. I could never bring the real Jesus to the forefront in my hometown cuz they would Stone me. lol. I dont live in my hometown anymore and Im so glad even tho my Facebook is full of family and people who sent me requests I look at how they operate and its very disturbing and I really believe this is why the church have no power because they bring and allow anything to enter. this is so sad to me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Keeshkeeon,

      I couldn't agree with you more. No matter how it hurts, we must seek truth at all costs for that is the only thing which will make us free.

      Yes friend, I for sure have seen people claiming to love the Lord argue you down to defend that which God hates. Honestly, we must seek to have on the whole armor all the time. There is such a thing as righteous anger (feeling what God feels about a situation), but if you feel that your anger is of the flesh then certainly resist it.

      If you notice, Jesus often rose up early (even while others where still sleep) and go off to a quiet place to pray and seek the will of the Father. I think this is the example of how we put on - and keep on - our armor. There is a nightly prayer line which can help edify & encourage you.

      I actually didn't watch the inauguration, so I don't know much about that. But I agree with you in that compromise short circuits the power of God in our lives.

      Keep pressing in and forget those who won't go in. Either they will repent later or change not and be damned. You still must make your calling and election sure. I am not saying to only care about yourself. I am saying that as you die to self so that Christ can live, then He will live through you and take care of all the rest. That is your sum total obligation in the Lord.

      Be encouraged and may the Lord fill with power to preach His word and win souls for Him!

      Delete
  20. Awesome...this is a golden calf. I pray for those bound by the effects of slavery, segregation and discrimination. It has caused alot pf black people to seek justification thru the flesh and idolatry. We're only justified thru Jesus Christ. Great job...

    ReplyDelete
  21. As I read this, just hits the nail on the head for me, and it explains a lot of what I have been feeling since the President was first elected. At the time of Obama's first election I was actually going to vote for Ron Paul in 2008, I only voted for Obama because he made a promise about bringing the troops home, and deep down yes, to possibly witness a black man become President WAS nice. Afterwards deep down it bothered me because of the pridefulness most blacks showed at that time elevated to arrogance in a lot of them I think. I was just ready for the changes to happen like our economy coming back, and jobs coming back, not what was he going to do for US black folks. After two years though I could not continue to deny that no matter what he looked like, he was not a good leader for our country.
    After repenting and rededicating my life to Christ last year the Trayvon Martin verdict came out and it was the same song and dance with the same civil rights pimps coming out and dangling that bait. It was sicknening and I could not stand being on Facebook for a few days, the hatred was so overwhelming to my spirit. I wrote a long post that pretty much pointed to Christ for the solution to this all and that Satan was behind the hatred and the media fanning the flames. I got 3 or 5 responses that agreed from a list of almost 150 "friends". NONE were from any family members because they are Obama-fied to the core and some of them were talking about boycotting and the usual fight for freedom. It hurts to have your closest family still tied up in the President and not see how his actions do not line up with TRUE Christianity. It is sad to see comming from professed Christians the devotion to the civil rights pimps when they are just getting richer. Your post was very eye-opening to read and I recommend that you read the antichrist statements that have come from our founding fathers in bro Joseph Herrin's book Dragon Flood. I also recommend the film Runaway Slave that you can watch on Netflix. Seeing what the civil rights pimps are REALLY about will make you sick to your stomach! Thank you for bringing out the truth sis. God bless!

    ReplyDelete
  22. This is a very good post. When the world loves someone and gives them a Nobel Peace Prize, I think there is a good chance that they are not a Christian. Look at Mother Theresa of Calcutta: I see no evidence that she was a Christian, yet the world loved her and gave her a Nobel Peace Prize.

    The world loves those who make peace with the world system; the world HATES Jesus Christ. Jesus died on the cross so that we could make peace with our heavenly Father.

    "Mother Teresa of Calcutta: False Christian"
    https://hitchhikeamerica.wordpress.com/2013/01/02/mother-teresa-of-calcutta-false-christian/

    ReplyDelete

In an effort to reduce the amount of spam received, Anonymous posts will no longer be accepted. Comments are still moderated and will appear once approved.

If you have a personal message to relay, please use the "Contact Us" form at the top of the blog. Thank you!