The Best Religion? Removing the White Sheet (Part 1 - Christianity) (536 hits)
I have decided to write my thoughts on the 3 monotheistic religions, their relationship to the Black community and what I see as flaws in the followers and how they can be corrected. I am first starting off with Christianity because it is the religion that the majority of Blacks are raised in and practice. This essay series is not meant to be an indictment against Christianity or any of the other religions but a critical analysis on the problems and possible solutions.
I believe that Christianity, along with Islam and Judaism, has to a large degree lost they way and in some cases have been taken over by worldly practices. If these issues are not corrected within the 3 major world religions, particularly within the Black community were will be persecutions and genocide on a mass scale.
Although I believe a change is occurring in the Church, in all do respect, has become a breeding ground and a refuge for homos*xuality, gambling, and other worldly affairs. It’s difficult to separate Sunday morning from Saturday Night in some churches today. The beliefs of a worldly person may be different than a individual that goes to church religiously, but their practices and how they treat others are, if not the same, are in some cases worst when it comes to how Christians treat non-Christians. Some Christians are so dogmatic that anyone outside their circle is looked on with suspicion and distrusted, this is also true of some Muslims. The only difference I feel coming from Christians is that they, instead of desiring to educate you, look down on you.
History says, Christianity was forced on the Black man and woman in America. None of our ancestors came to America as Christians. They were either Muslim or Animist (The doctrine that all natural objects and the universe itself have souls). When we were brought here, we were strip of our religious persuasion and for over a century we were not allowed to practice any religion. It was only after the white slave masta came up with an acceptable doctrine for the slaves that Blacks were allowed to practice Christianity. What was the acceptable doctrine? 1) Serve your Master; 2) Pray for those who despitefully use you; 3) Turn the other check and 4) you will get your heaven AFTER you die. Till this day it has been difficult to get Black Christians to unity and do something for self. The Nationalist have called for unity, the Muslims have called for unity, but Black Christians who are in the majority have not heeded the call and continue to believe and hold on to the 'American Dream.'
Christianity was and continues to be a tool used by the dominate white society to keep Blacks divided, docile, subservient, ignorant of self, history, the time and what must be done in this time. It has made many Blacks complacent and content with our pitiful condition. Waiting for Jesus to do all the work when Jesus stated in John 14:12 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” He also stated in Matthew 17:20 He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
How is it, with a church on every corner, literally, that the Black community is still divided, still suffering from self hatred, still suffering from an inferiority complex, not motivated to do-for-self and kind and on top of that, we have become confused as to weather we are born a man or a woman. Our children roam the streets in packs, without guidance or direction, with no sense of self-worth because we were lead to believe that history was a thing of the past and had no bearings on the future, no connection with the future, teaching them Black history was holding on to a negative past and would offend the white man. Don't say it's not so. Some Black Christians won’t even defend the FACT that Jesus is Black, because they feel it will offend the white man. When Black people cry out for and unite to get justice, there is always Tommin' Black Preachers and Negro intellectuals who stand up to condemn our just call for justice. Those days are quickly coming to an end.
I know you maybe asking, are you a Christian? While I don't claim to be a Christian, I do claim to be a follower of Christ, the Saviour. I don't separate myself from my Hebrew family, Muslim family, Buddhist family or my Christian family. I believe in One God, One Faith and One Baptism, I believe that Christ died for my sins, but I don't believe in denominations or sects, I don’t believe that the Christian God is different that the Hebrew God or Muslim God. I don’t believe that the Christ is coming back for only Christians. I don't get mixed up in who's God will destroy the most sinners. I hate, despise, and detest Black Muslims looking down on Black Christians and Black Christians looking down on Black Muslims and both looking down on people not of their faith. That I think is sick! While we argue, about God and His Christ, our community continues to suffer. Where is God in that, were is the intelligence in that type of thinking and belief?
The scriptures say: Romans 3:22-24 22 “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Sadly, because ignorant, some times outright deceitful preachers, many Christians don't know, and some choose not to know, that Muslims, all one billion plus, believe in The Christ and His imminent return. Some Christian say, "Muslims don't believe that Jesus is God only begotten Son." There are some Christians that don't believe that, and Jews don’t believe that Jesus of 2,000 years ago existed at all. All Muslims believe that Jesus was a messenger of God and all faiths believe in His return in the End Days to remove Satan and his followers and establish the Kingdom of God on Earth.
As we see the old world dying and a new world coming in. Let's abandon the ways of the European, the Willie Lynch mentality that keeps us divided. Let's abandon the belief that Black people will always be dependent on and second fiddle to the white race or any other race for that matter. Let's abandon the old superstitions and backward rituals that we brought from Africa. Let’s embrace the FACT that Black is Beautiful, that the Black nation is original and progenitors of all
Let's strive for unity, respect, and responsibility. Instead of recognizing our differences let's respect the path that God choose for each of us as long as it is in harmony with Truth, Freedom, Justice and Equality. Instead of congregating every Sunday to sing and dance, let's plan and strategies, like our mothers and fathers did during slavery. The church is the freest institution we as Black people have. We own it and control it. We meet in masses every Sunday at it. We give our last nickels and dimes to it. The solution has always been in and with it. Let now unite it, pull our talent, skill and resources in it and do something for self. Can Christians do that? Will Christians do that? Only God knows.
The best religion is called the Golden Rule. The golden rule was espoused by all the great prophets and sages of God; Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, Buddha and Confucius used it to summarize their ethical teachings. What is the Golden Rule? It can be summarized in these words: Serve One God and want for others what you want for self. You have to WANT, desire, demand for others what you want for self. Peace.
