“IS THERE A FORMULA FOR CHANGE AMONGST STRUGGLING AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHURCHES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES?”

SUBTITLE: 'A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF HOW TO MOBILIZE BLACK CHURCH LEADERS TO RESURRECT THE BLIGHT OF AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES'

UNHEALTHY PATERNALISM

I've noticed that the unhealthy dispositions of father-son relationships in the black church that stems from a) cultural traditions, b) a pathological and biblical interpretive approach based upon strong denominational-bents and history, as well as c) the residual affects of slavery, oppression and institutional racism that has plagued every governmental system that's been colonialized by white men.

Amongst the African-American representation in Christ's Body, there is this interesting cultural history with high regard for the "community spokesman" (church leader) on a range of important issues and subject matter that was the primary vehicle for rallying support and providing esteem for the leaders that fostered the Civil Right's Movement; and fought for human right's issues that helped more than just people of color.

Today, our leadership has a much more complex environment for doing ministry, but patterning ourselves after traditional models and mindsets is not beneficial or impactful to the communities of color that are struggling and dying, in many major metropolitan cities.

Jesus Christ "is" the Only Archetype that we should pattern ourselves after!

Submission to godly authority in leadership, while being a source of prayer coverage and accountability, is the basic task. But, real leadership development is not just about "copying or coercing allegiance from a son or daughter" to follow!

What's VERY INTERESTING in the black church in America is, MOST of "the father-son baton passing" amongst African-Americans especially, seems very INFREQUENT, JADED, and CLOUDED by a "Saul-like disposition towards David", if there's not LOYALTY and ALLEGIANCE pled to their churches and ministries "for life"

I could go deeper and uncover a lot of the FRATERNAL LOYALTIES, COVER-UPS, and DARK ALLEGIANCES. But instead, I'll share the link to a word that God spoke through Jeremiah Johnson Ministries about the African-American Church..

ARTICLE LINK: https://jeremiahjohnson.tv/2017/03/23/the-modern-day-slavery-in-the-african-american-church/

AFRICAN-AMERICAN SAINTS RESPOND TO JEREMIAH JOHNSON

Jeremiah Johnson said: I have already received more than 1,000 messages/emails in just the last 8 hours from saints and leaders across the world regarding the prophetic dream I had concerning what God is doing in and saying to the African-American Church.

As you can imagine, the responses are all over the place. Here are just five verbatim:

1. "Jeremiah Johnson, you are racist and a false prophet. There is no such thing as a white church or an African American church and if you have a word for us then where is your word for your white people..."

2. "Jeremiah Johnson, I am an African American intercessor from Chicago who has been praying for 50 years what your dream has revealed. I've never read anything more accurate. Any African American leader who does not receive this dream as from God is spiritually blind and stupid. And if they don't receive it because your white, then they are racist..."

3. "Jeremiah Johnson, I am an African American apostle and believe that your dream is 100 percent accurate, however, if I share it on my page, I will be kicked out of my network immediately. I will have to keep following you in secret..."

4. "Jeremiah Johnson, shame on you for posting such a dream. I will now have to disconnect from you because as a white apostle, I will not be welcomed in the black churches I preach in if they find out we are friends..."

5. "Jeremiah Johnson, I am an African American apostle who has been traveling and ministering for 50 years all over the world. This dream is definitely from the Lord but will never be received by 75 percent of African Americans simply because you are white. Thank you for your courage to speak the truth. Keep preaching and dreaming son..."

Jeremiah's take on all the response is:

"I firmly believe that the American Church as a whole has largely become so accustomed to tickle me Elmo, cookie cutter, and prosperity prophecy, that when a legitimate revelatory prophetic word is released on a national level, there is absolutely no grid for the true testing, weighing, judging, and division that a real prophetic word will often times bring. The real word of the Lord comes like a hammer, like a fire, and we better be more readily equipped for these last days we are entering into. Regardless of your skin color, if we are not ready for high level tearing down and uprooting, none of us will find ourselves in the will of God. Let the African American deliverers arise — Jeremiah Johnson"

>> PRAY that these important relationships become more healthy in the Body of Christ, and especially that the baton gets properly passed in the African-American community!

OTHER LINKS:

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/godinamerica-black-church/

DEVELOPING MY THEORY OF CHANGE

My "career mentor" (Deceased, March 2012) was Reverend Eugene Williams (affectionally, "Gene") of Regional Congregations & Neighborhood Organizations (RCNO); and he shared some profoundly powerful words with me that have helped to both shape my active Theory of Change and Praxis that I use in the community-economic development and marketplace ministry work that God called me to do in the African-American community in 1995.

Here is short excerpt from one of his last speeches called, A motivation for faith leaders to engage in public policy formation', which was the keynote address that was given at Prison Fellowship's "Out4Life" Conference (May 2011) in San Diego, California.

Gene's Words:

"Today, I am extremely mindful that there are people of different faith traditions in the room. It is with the utmost respect for their traditions that I ask for your indulgence in allowing me to lift up a few examples from the Bible to make the point. I am using the Bible because I am a Christian minister. We have all heard the story of Jesus being born in a manger. (Luke 2:6-7 ) Can you help me out this morning? Why was Jesus born in a manger? Jesus was born in a manger because their was no room in the inn. There was no room in the inn because the government called for a census and all of the available rooms in the town were occupied. Later we learned that wise men warned his parents to take baby Jesus into Egypt because Herod sent out a decree to kill the young boy. Matthew (2:13-23) And we know that Pontius Pilate ordered Jesus to be put to death. (Mark 15:15)

These texts offer a cradle to the grave motivation for people of faith to engage in public policy formation to increase successful prisoner reentry opportunities. Simply put, it was tax policy that summons people to Bethlehem. It was public safety policy that forced Mary and Joseph to take Jesus into Egypt to avoid his premature demise. And it was judicial policy that resulted in Jesus death on the cross. Public policy and prophesy are inextricably tied together. In each case the circumstances seemed insurmountable. More on this final point later." (End of Excerpt)

The scripture says, "As a man thinks in his heart, so is he..". Well, let me take the principle revealed in this passage to unpack some important "ways" the African-American Church and its leaders, must TURN THE PAGE on "business as usual"!

Meaning, COLLECTIVELY we have to engage in public policy formation and community-economic development as a priority, by actively, consistently and intentionally demonstrating our commitment to change and restoration for our own communities; without the government having to assume leadership.

WHY? Because of Albert Einstein's wisdom, when he said, "The same mind that created the problem, can not fix the problem."

The "black church" must understand that the people who frequent their churches, are actually LOOKING FOR "their leadership", to effectively engage in public policy formation and community revitalization; by actively leading the charge around "true prophetic engagement" against the institutional and systemic racism that STILL has a foothold dominant influence in many residual policies, programs and .

#1 — The first reason is so that we can enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

#2 — The second reason is so that we can thoughtfully participate and engage in our country is on the brink of ruin.

"WHY WE CAN'T ADMIT TO "SYSTEMIC RACISM"...

In this very interesting article from Dr. Benjamin L. Corey about systemic racism, there a (3) things he believes that are important to the church "seeing change"!

1. If we admit to the existence of systemic racism in America, it will prove false the American narrative so many of us grew up believing.

I grew up believing in American Exceptionalism, the idea that we're the greatest country in the history of the world. To further the narrative, we were taught that America was a "Christian" nation founded on "Christian" principles.

However, if it's true that wide-spread systemic racism exists in America, the narrative we were taught cannot be true. The "greatest nation in the history of the world" wouldn't oppress people because of race. A "Christian" nation wouldn't be busy maintaining a justice system that disproportionately impacts minorities.

We can't admit that systemic racism exists, because that will mean the narrative we were taught about America is a huge lie.

2. If we admit to the existence of systemic racism in America, it makes us guilty.

Those of us who are Christian are probably well aware of the concept of sin. However, in many versions of Christianity, sin has been reduced to a wrong action of an individual– we have completely lost sight of the concept of "corporate sin", which is wrong action by an entire group of people.

Systemic racism is a corporate sin, and all of us who prop up, support, or tolerate the system, bear part of the guilt. We can't admit to the existence of systemic racism because admitting such a truth would mean admitting that we have done something wrong– either directly, or by neglect. Remember, the Bible defines sin not just as a wrong action but also as a failing to take a good action (James 4:17). We don't want to admit it because we'd have to admit that we've been complicit in the sin by not addressing the sin.

3. If we admit to the existence of systemic racism, it would demand costly change.

Change is never all that popular, but costly change is even less popular. If we were to admit to systemic racism we would also have to admit that something needs to change– and ridding ourselves of a system that is tilted overwhelmingly in our own favor would be too painful and too costly. Let's just be honest: we enjoy the privilege we have, and for many of us, it feels like the system is "working" because it's all rigged to work in our favor.

"Changing the system" and "reforming the culture", so that others can be equal to us in all respects? That would be too costly and painful of a process.

BLOG LINK: https://www.askpastorwalter.com/2013/06/walters-interview-detail-for-what-i.html?m=1

FBO's ARE 'FIRST RESPONDERS'

This is a sensitive time for ALL of America's "faith institutions". American public policy has historically expected faith-based organizations to be "first responders", by default. Government and citizens expect FBOs to respond to natural and man made disasters; oftentimes, WITHOUT the means (beyond congregational giving) to respond appropriately to the needs.

FBOs are also among the first to respond to incidents of urban violence. Families rely on faith leaders for grief counseling when a loved one is lost to gang violence. Public safety officials call on faith leaders to caution young people against retaliation that fuels more violence, etc. Also, residents returning from prison and jails, seek out faith institutions as a first point of reentry. These returning residents seek food, clothing, shelter, job training, drug and alcohol treatment, as well as assistance in obtaining healthcare...

When the reality "is", the church can not sustain this expectation of governmental authorities without OBEYING THE MANDATE OF SCRIPTURE; while also continuing to be "biased and discriminated against".

It's through the lack of "public funds" of FBO's — due to the thought that their "ontological/sectarian approach" of these churches and ministries and their faith-based programs, that by achieving and getting higher impacts and results than their counterpart "secular programs", FBO's continue to weather the storms.

URBAN VIOLENCE AND REENTRY CHALLENGES ARE "MAN-MADE DISASTERS"

Faith leaders want to readily respond, because compassion is part of our DNA. Despite both FBO's and the governments willing to respond, we must be "wise as a serpent yet harmless as a dove" in our involvement and participation through public-private partnerships.

Some of you might be asking; Well, why?

My response is simple-- government is concerned about public safety, public health and cost containment.

FBOs are concerned about public safety, public health and compassion.

Compassion and cost containment are not necessarily congruent.

Particularly when sometimes the government wants to achieve cost containment on the backs of FBO's compassion.

BIBLICAL APPLICATION ON PROPHETIC ENGAGEMENT IN THE WORLD

In an online article published May 5, 2015 called, "5 Myths About Christian Engagement in the Public Square" by Daniel Darling, his commentary rings true.

POST-CHRISTIAN AMERICA

Daniel said: "As in previous generations, evangelicals are wrestling with their role in the larger culture. Today's increasingly post-Christian America, has added new urgency to the discussion. Should Christians be involved in politics? Or should we simply preach and live out the gospel in our communities? Or are these two paradigms as mutually exclusive as they are sometimes branded?"

This is a constant tension (Kingdom Contention) that won't go away until Christ consummates His Kingdom. Meaning, until that "glorious day of Christ appearing" (The Rapture) we must ALL wrestle with these very real questions and realities...

DECONSTRUCTING THE MYTHS

Let's start by deconstructing some of the myths about "Christian engagement" in the public square.

1. We shouldn't judge the world, because the world is full of unbelievers.

Paul wrote this very advice in his first letter to the Corinthians (1 Cor. 4:5). They were a church who had imbibed the sexual values of their culture, to the point where they openly bragged about a "grace" that overlooked and even celebrated open sexual sin (1 Cor. 5:1-2, 6).

This was also a church that arrogantly preached to the culture; but refused to guard their family of faith. On the surface, Paul's words might seem a rebuke to any level of Christian cultural engagement. After all, the Church should expect believers to act like believers — and, unbelievers to act like unbelievers. This is true in one sense. Our message to the world should not be one of condemnation (John 3:17), but of love, by proclaiming the "good news" that salvation is available to those who repent and believe in Jesus Christ; the Rightful King who conquered sin, death and the serpent.

And yet Paul can't be saying we should ignore the false ideologies around us, turning a blind eye to injustice and caring little for the flourishing of our communities. If so, he'd be contradicting other very clear passages of Scripture that urge the Christian to apply the gospel to all of life.

For instance, are Paul's words to the Corinthians a rebuke to John the Baptist, whom Jesus called the greatest man who ever lived (Luke 7:28)? John called out Herod for marrying his brother's wife (Luke 3:19).

Were Paul's words a rebuke to Jeremiah who encouraged the Jewish exiles in Jerusalem to "seek the welfare of the city" (Jer. 29:7)?

Were they contradicting Paul's own boldness in Athens, where he stood on Mars Hill and declared the falseness of the heathen gods?

When Paul says not to judge the world, he's echoing similar themes as James, who in his letter to the Jerusalem church writes: "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world" (1:27).

2. We shouldn't be against things, only for things.

This is a common cliché. The church shouldn't simply be known for what it is against, but what it is for. This sounds very good. Christians, after all, should be known for their love for Jesus and for each other. And the story we are announcing is the "good news of the gospel", the evangel that Christ has come to reconcile sinners to God. This was Jesus' mission, to announce the Gospel of the Kingdom.

And yet, Jesus was also clearly against things. For instance, Jesus was strongly against the corruption of innocent children. His language in Luke 17:2 is provocative, saying that it would be a better fate for the abuser "if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea."

I imagine if a politician used language like this today, we'd have a lot of Christians wringing their hands and wishing Jesus could just "show more love." Jesus is against sin, against exploitation, against any spirit of the age that can corrupt, destroy and kill the very people he came to save.

Paul seems to affirm this when he says, "We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ" (2 Cor. 10:5). What we fail to understand is that to be against something is to be for something else. So to be against abortion is to be in favor of life. To be against poverty is to be for the well-being and nurture of humanity. To be against human trafficking is to be for the dignity and respect of innocent people.

The gospel is not only a positive declaration that Christ has conquered sin and death and has made a way for sinners to find their way to God. It's not only a positive declaration that Christ is King over the earth. The gospel is also a crushing blow against the evil powers that enslave men in sin and death. You might argue that if Christians are only ever for things, they are preaching an incomplete gospel.

3. We should only preach the gospel and make disciples and not worry about politics. It's true that no political party or movement can change the world.

Sometimes political activism on both the left and the right can be overly triumphalist. Only the gospel, not political ideology, has the power to change hearts. Yes, and amen.

But the gospel, if you notice, is a rather political statement itself. The gospel declares, first of all, that Christ and not Caesar, is the ultimate King (Mark 12:17) and that even the most powerful rulers serve under the authority of King Jesus (Rom. 13:1).

Even the most popular prayer in the world, the Lord's Prayer, is really a prayer of revolution, declaring that there is another King and another kingdom that is not of this world (Matt. 6:9-13).

So you can't really preach the gospel and avoid politics. Politics are embedded in the very heart of the gospel. Furthermore, think about Jesus' words in the Great Commission. The imperative is to "make disciples" and teach them "all that I have commanded you" (Matt. 28:19-20).

The gospel doesn't simply punch your ticket to heaven; it empowers Christians for a radical new lifestyle, one that is at odds with the world (Jas. 4:4; Rom. 8:7). The most nonpolitical Christian, if he is faithful, is a political statement to a world system that is under the temporary and restrained rule of Satan (Eph. 2:2).

The Church is to be an counter-cultural change agent, an outpost of the kingdom to come (1 Pet. 2:9). This means the gospel calls us not simply to make converts who have no effect on the world around them. The gospel calls us be agents of reconciliation, to be the hands and feet of Jesus, to live and work toward justice and righteousness, to seek the welfare of our cities, to advance human flourishing. In fact, a Christianity that has no impact on the world around it, according to James, is a dead, lifeless faith (Jas. 2:14-16).

I'm glad, for instance, that men like William Wilberforce, Martin Luther King Jr, and Deitrich Bonheoffer had a gospel "big enough" to demand justice for the innocents.

To ignore injustice is to say to the 19th-century slave in America, to the 20th-century Jew in Germany, to the 21st-century unborn baby: "Be warmed and filled."

It's a diminished gospel; and a lifeless faith.

What our generation of evangelicals has to understand is that love of neighbor doesn't mean only the politically safe endeavors of charity that everyone affirms. It might also mean having the courage to get involved in the socio-political structures that either advance or hurt human flourishing.

4. Courage and civility are incompatible.

We have this notion that in order to stand up for justice, we must embrace the carnal tools of warfare. But we'd be wise to heed the words of Peter, who encourages an apologetic bathed in kindness: "But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil" (1 Pet. 3:15-17).

Notice the tension in Peter's words. He calls Christians to have courage, to stand and declare what is true in the face of opposition. And yet we're to do it with "gentleness and respect." We are to disagree without being disagreeable. We're to love and respect and honor even those we might consider political adversaries.

We do this, not simply as a new tactic to win hearts and minds, but as a representation of the gospel within us. We are, after all, a different people. We represent a different kingdom. This should affect even the way we speak and interact. How we post our opinions on social media. The types of emails we forward. The conversations we have about those with whom we disagree.

Peter is reminding us that courage and civility are not enemies, but friends. Our culture sometimes confuses bravery with bravado; crassness with courage. But the gospel calls us to a new and different way to engage.

5. Our real enemies are human.

This is perhaps the biggest temptation for Christian political engagement. The yin and yang of politics can often drag us into the messy trench warfare, forgetting that our real enemies are not elected officials, presidents of activist groups, or even liberal seminary professors. The real battle is unseen, spiritual warfare at the highest levels. Paul reminds us that we don't wage war with "flesh and blood" but "cosmic powers over this present darkness… the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places" (Eph. 6:12).

Every generation faces a battle of ideologies, a battle of worldviews. People who espouse and believe ungodly philosophies are held captive by the enemy, their minds blinded by unbelief (2 Cor. 4:4).

We err in two ways when we forget the spiritual nature of our political engagement.

First, we concentrate on vanquishing seemingly human enemies. We want to see actual people destroyed. This was Peter's problem when he chopped off the ear of the high priest's servant (John 18:10). This man was not the enemy, Satan was. Sin and death were. The servant was a mere pawn in a larger cosmic struggle. Which is why Jesus, in some of his last words on the cross, said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). When we make humans the enemies, we easily forget love and kindness and grace. We abandon the way of Jesus, who fellowshipped and ate with sinners, who tenderly loved even the one who would betray him, Judas.

Second, we put all of our faith in human instruments, the newest tactics and technologies, and the next election. While we should steward our citizenship wisely and vote for those whose positions most closely resemble biblical values, we must remember that all kingdoms of this world are temporal and that only the gospel has the ability to change hearts and minds.

Gospel warriors cannot be fatalistic, those whose hopes rise and fall based on fundraising numbers, Gallup polls, and the get-out-the-vote program in the suburbs. We are looking for another kingdom, a city whose builder and maker is not Republican or Democrat.

Knowing that the cultural battles are simply proxies for larger spiritual warfare, we fight for justice and righteousness without the roller-coaster emotions attached to changing political currents.

HEAVEN FOR SURE

Preferences, perspectives and worldview's more self-enlightened (selfish) than community-enlightened (generous), are the primary force behind the seeming complexity of eradicating racism and healing the prejudice in our world; so much so that it actually powerfully consumes the person's heart! 

SOMEWHAT PREJUDICE?

Have you ever met a person who was "somewhat prejudice"? Probably not, and if you're thinking about your own "little" quirky particulars, you either justify or pass-off those things as "normal", or you go-along with society's "profiling culture" that lumps everybody into the same basket, if there are any struggles, similarities or issues that seem prevalent amongst a certain ethnic or cultural group, more than others.

So, what is nationality, ethnicity and culture anyways; and why is it important?

"Nationality" is the state of belonging to a particular nation.

"Ethnicity" is the state of belonging to a particular "social group" that has a common cultural or national tradition.

"Culture" is the arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively.

Celebrating our "culture" use to mean or suggest that you have a certain orientation to your ethnic group's taste, which were collectively appreciated and valued.

From our definitions above, my "cultural preference" could mean that I connect on a particular issue with Asian men, who have similar interests in a certain technological  product line that a Caucasian female invented; which was actually manufactured by a African-American owned business, etc.

KEEPING TIDY LINES

While we like to keep "tidy lines" around our 'race's particular preferences',  like defining "blackness" amongst ourselves as African-Americans, the futility of attempting to completely "define" one person by looking at another (within an ethnic group) is absolutely foolish; although our commonalities communicate the humanness none of us can deny!

BLATANT IGNORANCE, INDIFFERENCE and PREJUDICE

It's "time out" for the blatant ignorance of indifference and prejudice towards our racial diversity as human beings, because the "pure genes" and twisted judgments that so many ethnocentrist's want to espouse, by evaluating other cultures according to their own preconceptions that originate in the standards and customs of their own culture; is simply blind, foolish, shortsighted and unreal.

But, what about the "professing Christian's heart", which should actually be purely devoted to the Lord's will and purpose, and also full of forgiveness, light, love, and peace -- especially towards or amongst the brethren!?! Do "we" get a pass somehow for stubbornly holding prejudice in our hearts towards one another? Don't you dare be deceived..Of course NOT!

PROPERLY REPRESENTING OUR GOD

I'm not sure about anyone else, but I'm definitely fearful (godly reverence) of not properly representing and upholding God's Word by HIS grace, and when it comes to this volatile issue of racism and prejudice -- What do we do with I John 2:7-11?

Can we "add to" or "take away" from this particular passage, without placing ourselves in the dangerous posture of being heretical or of a reprobate mind; ignoring the very context and meaning of the passage, understanding that the implications are "eternal" in nature?

"Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes." (1 John‬ ‭2:7-11‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

THE COMMANDMENT OF LOVE

"Brethren, I write no new commandment to you" … "a new commandment I write to you": The commandment John wrote of was at the same time both old (in the sense that it was preached to them their whole Christian lives) and new (in the sense that it was called the "new commandment" by Jesus in John 13:34, who came to fulfill the law).

The new commandment to love that Jesus spoke of in John 13:34, was really new for several reasons. One of the most important reasons was that Jesus displayed a kind of love never seen before; a love we were to imitate.

The Cross of Jesus Christ points in all four directions, representing the encompassing of eternity past to eternity future, to show that the love of Jesus is without limitation or restriction..

• Wide enough to include every human being.
  
• Long enough to last through all eternity.
  
• Deep enough to reach the most guilty sinner.
• High enough to take us to heaven.

This is a new love; a love the world had never really seen before the finished work of Jesus took place on the cross. Because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining: The new commandment of love is necessary because the darkness that marked humanity, especially the Gentiles, and occurred prior to the true light being illuminated through the finished work of Jesus Christ.

He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now: Previously in this chapter, John examined us according to the moral measure of our walk with God. Later he will examine us according to doctrine as a measure of our walk with God. Now he examines us according to our love for other Christians as a measure of our walk with God.

Just as our relationship to sin and obedience is a measure of our fellowship with God, so also is our love for God's people. If we say that we are in the light yet hate our brother, then our claim to fellowship with the God who is light (1 John 1:5) is hollow. But the one who does love his brother shows that he abides in the light and is not stumbling.

"It seems plain that the expression here is not the same as 'his neighbor,' seeing that St. John is writing to Christians, and treating of their fellowship with one another." (Alford).

Sometimes it is easy to think, "Following Jesus would be easy if it weren't for all the Christians." And many, many Christians live as the walking wounded, crippled by the scars other Christians have inflicted on them. Yet this measure still stands. If we can't love each other, then we have no way to claim a real love for God. Our relationship with God can be measured by our love for other Christians.

On the one hand, God is merciful in requiring this, because we are measured by how we love other Christians, not those who are not Christians. On the other hand, God gives us a particularly difficult measure, because we often- perhaps rightly- expect much more from our Christian friends and associates.

But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness: The point is plain. If we lose love then we lose everything. There is nothing left. You can do all the right things, believe all the right truths, but if you do not love other Christians then all is lost. The three tests- moral, doctrinal, and love- all stand together, like the legs on a three-legged stool.

It is all too easy for people to place "ministry" or "being right" above love in the body of Christ. We must do ministry, and we must be right, but we must do it all in love - if not in perfect actions, then following with proper repentance.

Does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes: Knowing the importance that Jesus placed on our love for each other, John will go so far as to say that if we hate our brother, we are walking in darkness, and are unable to see- we have been blinded.

Remember that hatred can also be expressed by indifference; true love will demonstrate itself for one another. We can be sure that John himself lived this life of love, but he wasn't always this way. John himself learned love at this point, for early in his life he was known as one of the "sons of thunder." He once wanted to call down fire from heaven upon those who rejected Jesus (Luke 9:54).

Everything that the Apostle John addresses his readers with, is really according to the measure of spiritual maturity that they possessed!

INTIMACY, MATURITY and UNITY

INTIMACY, MATURITY, and UNITY is the "calling card" of Christ's Remnant during the end-times! If we don't allow those empty spaces and places to be healed "in us", we are going to miss possessing the victory God had in mind, when HE fully released us through Christ's Redeeming Sacrifice that wiped away the guilt, the shame and the stain of all humanity's sin; no matter how any of us may feel justified in disliking, in hating or in despising the person we believe deserves such treatment.

If YOU and I are going to experience "heaven, for sure", we MUST clean up our acts and reposition our hearts through sincere repentance, so that God's Redemptive Plan of restoration and restitution "in and through us" manifest without issue! WS-3 💯🎯🙏🏽🔥🔥

ATTACHMENT:

WS-3's Theory of Change (see attached) is the approach I've assumed in multiple communities through both my church and ministry consulting, as well as my OD consulting with FBO's and CBO's from all across the U.S. and from all over the world.

When "black folks" that have been REDEEMED BY JESUS CHRIST, speak about the horrific prejudice, unjust racism, and the SORTED HISTORY of the U.S Government, the "white" evangelical church, and/or the long-standing institutions that have benefited and profited from our ancestors demise, we should do it with a "liberated heart", "reconciliatory tone", and a "redemptive lens"..

LIBERATION THEOLOGY amongst "black Christians", has NO BASIS in the Holy Scriptures, and only serves to further exacerbate, frustrate and isolate us from ALL our brothers and sisters in Christ — who've also suffered in this cursed cosmos, which remains under the influence of Satan's illegitimate authority and deception!

By the way, if you're REALLY UPSET about events that had "no direct affect" upon you, your family or your current livelihood, your LACK OF FOCUS upon God's Word has you lured by the deception of the enemy; and you should IMMEDIATELY REPENT!

"For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs [of the intolerable anguish and the time of unprecedented trouble]." Matthew‬ ‭24:7-8‬ , AMP‬‬

YOU and I should be carrying the mantle and the mandate associated with The Spirit & Word of Reconciliation (to the masses) which truly represents GOD's HEART, about ministering to "every person" that's been "created in His image and made after His likeness"; so we can TRULY "BE", FREE INDEED..

"Therefore, since we know the fear of the Lord [and understand the importance of obedience and worship], we persuade people [to be reconciled to Him]. But we are plainly known to God [He knows everything about us]; and I hope that we are plainly known also in your consciences [your God-given discernment]. We are not commending ourselves to you again, but are giving you an occasion to be [rightfully] proud of us, so that you will have an answer for those who take pride in [outward] appearances [the virtues they pretend to have] rather than what is [actually] in heart. If we are out of our mind [just unstable fanatics as some critics say], it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for your benefit. For the love of Christ controls and compels us, because we have concluded this, that One died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that all those who live would no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and was raised for their sake. So from now on we regard no one from a human point of view [according to worldly standards and values]. Though we have known Christ from a human point of view, now we no longer know Him in this way. Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life]. But all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ [making us acceptable to Him] and gave us the ministry of reconciliation [so that by our example we might bring others to Him], that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting people's sins against them [but canceling them]. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation [that is, restoration to favor with God]. So we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us; we [as Christ's representatives] plead with you on behalf of Christ to be reconciled to God. He made Christ who knew no sin to [judicially] be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we would become the righteousness of God [that is, we would be made acceptable to Him and placed in a right relationship with Him by His gracious lovingkindness]." 2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:11-21‬, AMP‬‬

WS-3 💯🎯🙏🏽🔥🔥 w/Pure In Heart Int'l Ministries, Inc. - PIHIM

Walter L. Smith III

Founder/President

Pure In Heart Int'l Ministries, Inc./

The Center For Kingdom Advancement 

1445 Valleyhigh Dr NW #7052

Rochester, MN 55901-9998

Corporate Line: (424) 333-4047

www.PIHIM.org

www.AskPastorWalter.com

**Leadership Greater Rochester, Class of 2018!

**Gallup Strengths: Positivity, Learner, Connectedness, Responsibility, & Activator

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