"Let Freedom Ring!"

As we reflect on the climate creating a need for the 1963 "March on Washington" and as we consider "where do we go from here?" with our challenges in 2013; let us remember – when we discriminate or allow discrimination; we deny ourselves irreplaceable threads in the tapestry of humanity! 

Each day we should ask ourselves, are my actions and interactions

 creating a network of mutuality or silos of exclusivity?

There is but one King and He left us with a clear call to action: "Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friend". We spend the bulk of our days thinking, desiring, dreaming, planning and implementing – as I sit here thinking and writing; I dream too, of a more perfect union for my children. I believe this new reality is attainable only if we spend the bulk of our time applying our gifts, skills, talents and resources to fulfilling Jesus' command to: "Love each other"!

What changes might we wrought; if our soul's sole focus centered on love, not love as sentimentality but a sacrificial love? We live in a "what's in it for me", a "me first" or "I" culture and even the most devout amongst us have succumb to its tenets. Either circumspectly or unknowingly; the "good" within us; the God in us, is capsizing in the tumult of our self absorption. Our vacuous view of love can only render an anemic reflection; whether seeing ourselves in the mirror; or from assessing the jangling discords of our hearts. The gauges of our sacrificial love tanks read, low to empty. 

Think about it, how often do we act on behalf of others (strangers, the least in society, etc.)

 or how often do we act on behalf of family, friends, co-workers, or constituents

without expectation of benefit for ourselves?

The love of which Jesus desires our mastery is sacrificial love. Jesus asks:

"If you love only those who love you,

why should you receive credit for that?

Even sinners love those who love them". Luke 6:32

"And if you do good only to those who do good to you,

why should you get credit for that?

Even sinners do that much!" Luke 6:33

"And if you lend money only to those who can repay you,

why should you get credit?

Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return". Luke 6:34

Practicing sacrificial love is akin to speaking a foreign language; unless someone is fluent in the language, they are unable to effectively communicate. Mastery of a foreign language is best achieved through immersing one's self in the culture and in the language. Hence, the only way we can become fluent in sacrificial love is through studying and putting into practice the teachings of Jesus.

While our culture celebrates and promotes all things self-gratifying; those who desire to follow Christ are invited to embrace an unpopular message. We are challenged to live counter intuitively rejecting the messages of "me, me, me, me"!  Jesus makes this clear by his admonishment and command of:

"Love your enemies! Do good to them.

Lend to them without expecting to be repaid." Luke 6:35

The best way toward grasping sacrificial love is: (1) through realization there is no earthly guarantee of return on our investment; (2) to accept that love is not about your feelings; (3) to understand that sometimes as you practice loving (for Christ's sake) you will experience hurt and pain; (4) to recognize that all your actions should honor God; (5) to know you aren't the focal point; and (6) having awareness that your ultimate goal is becoming more like Jesus.

As we become practitioners of sacrificial love we begin seeing through the eyes and heart of Jesus. We begin understanding people as Jesus understands people. We develop compassion and empathy for all of God's creation. We take courageous steps in defense of the voiceless, the working poor, the incarcerated, the homeless, the orphan (young and old), the poor, the sick, and of all those designated by our culture, our politicians, and by our history as the least.

We were moved and inspired by the March on Washington and the Civil Rights Movement because we witnessed (read about, heard or watched) sacrificial love in action.  Those men, women, boys and girls marched, protested, gathered and stood together hoping to create a network of mutuality and to overturn systems of evil and hatred. In his now infamous “I Have A Dream” speech Martin Luther King, Jr. demonstrated how we are to practice sacrificial love:

"We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline.     

We must not allow our creative protests to degenerate into physical violence.

Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force."

Sacrificial love is demanding requiring discipline, creativity, and suffering but it's not without reward. Jesus concludes in Luke 6:35b-36:

"Then your reward from heaven will be very great,

and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High,

for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.

You must be compassionate just as your father is compassionate". 

Freedom is the ultimate reward; could it be that sacrificial love leads to freedom? Is it possible that we aren't free until we love sacrificially? Jesus commands us to: "Love each other", perhaps Jesus was instructing us to "free each other"!

As you remember the travails and triumphs of the past; looking to the present and the future, will you have the courage to immerse yourself in the culture, the language and practice of sacrificial love? When you do, I know freedom will ring wherever you march, wherever your feet and sacrificial acts of love tread!

Let Freedom Ring!

Inspired By Love,

Marcus J. Singleton

Lead Pastor

Living Faith Community

Hoover, AL

Our Vision: "A diverse community of faith; inspired by the love of Jesus, 

committed to becoming and making disciples".

"4 Little Girls" - Racism, Terrorism and Hope

In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the church bombing that murdered four innocent girls, the city of Birmingham and the Sidewalk Festival invited churches across the Greater Birmingham area to host screenings of Spike Lee's documentary "4 Little Girls".  Of which, our church participated.

First, I give thanks to all who attended the "4 Little Girls" screening with Living Faith Community and throughout the city. I am grateful for the opportunity and encouraged by the response. Here are my thoughts:

We need to realize that racism, injustice, inequality; terrorism, etc. are all means of distorting one's humanity. Our challenge; especially for those of us who believe we are made in the image of God, is continuing naming these evils and fighting toward their defeat.

Even more simply; as we did on Wednesday, each day we are to continue risking having conversations with people who aren't of our same – ethnicity, social economic status, religion, sexual orientation, political party, etc. – thereby defusing these barriers which have become divisive and destructive.

The TRUTH is; our American history has forever etched DIFFERENCE in our collective memory – "whether we choose to" or "choose not to" have these conversations, the reality is RACE has an unconscious and/or conscious influence in our daily lives. Spoken or unspoken our history has made RACE the elephant in every room and our every encounter.

We must remember; it requires courage and vulnerability to address our (all people – black, brown, red, yellow, white) own biases, bigotries, ignorance, privilege, etc. Our silence breeds contention and amnesia. The more we ignore the elephant, the bigger it becomes; the more divided we remain; the deeper the roots of hatred grip and entangle our hearts and minds in distortion and inhumanity!

I am thankful for the people that gathered with us to view this film. I am appreciative of their choosing to engage in meaningful conversation; honestly sharing their experiences of racism – naming the evil, the terror AND looking forward with hopeful eyes toward God's love foiling the unconscionable practice of racism. 

Isolation inculcates the status quo!

While shared experiences promotes transformative action.

As we heard perspectives from African-Americans, Latinos/as, and Caucasians; I believe sutures began forming around our broken hearts, broken dreams and broken hopes. Some shared being denied their humanity and some shared intimately knowing people who actively sought to desecrate the humanity of others.  Sharing produces community; and shedding light on secrets, diffuses the power of darkness.

One evening of honesty;

of remembering man's inhumanity to (wo)man;

became a balm toward healing;

authentic conversation can heal sin-sick souls.

I invite, challenge and encourage each of us to look forward with hope; hope that God's children continue from mountaintops and valleys; churches, mosques, schools and synagogues; cities, countryside’s and suburbs – and everywhere we go – to decry racism and trumpet to everyone Love God and your neighbor:

With all your heart; with all your soul;

with all your strength, and with all your mind!

Inspired By Love,

Marcus J. Singleton

Lead Pastor

Living Faith Community

Hoover, AL

Our Vision: "A diverse community of faith; inspired by the love of Jesus, 

committed to becoming and making disciples".

Will the Real Jesus, Please Stand Up?

In the year 2000, rapper Eminem performed at the MTV Video Music Awards, the name of the song was “I’m the Real Slim Shady”.  He stood before 100s of white young men; adorned just like him with blond hair; wearing blue jeans and white t-shirts; while bobbing their heads to the music.  Amid these competing images of himself (or his persona Slim Shady); Eminem emerges with a microphone in hand, repeating the question, “Will the real slim shady please stand up, please stand up?” Later in the chorus, he reveals, “Cause I’m slim shady, yes I’m the Real Slim Shady”. Remembering this song and video caused me to wonder, will the real Jesus please stand up?

Over 2000 years ago, Jesus emerged as this radical, relevant and rebellious figure. Below are His first public words; defiant and directed toward a religious and cultural hierarchy, who desired to maintain a status quo of which they were the beneficiaries:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come”. Luke 4:18-19

This Jesus stood before an audience in search of a Messiah (One who would finally deliver or set free a specific people) and declares hope for excluded people. His message is clear; God’s mission/purpose is not limited to the hearer’s particular people group.  After stating his mission, Jesus with a sense of rebellion (toward this oligarchic audience), radically declares: “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!” Luke 4:21.

In essence, Jesus exclaims today your lives and the lives of those

who have yet to know about the Messiah is irrevocably altered.

For the remainder of Jesus’ earthly life, his actions are both indicative of his message and give evidence that he is the Messiah.  By virtue of the miracles Jesus performed and his willingness to obey God above religious doctrine; even unto death, his every expression and resurrection reveals that He is the real Messiah. Yet, doubt lingers and many continue to ask will the real Jesus please stand up?

Today, the once radical, relevant and rebellious Jesus is cast as one that fits into the culture; that follows the status quo. Woefully, Jesus is characterized as meek and accommodating; one that acquiesces to popular political, social, and religious pressures.  Consequently, some are wondering what happened to the daring Jesus who willfully declares the truth of and lives in obedience to God?

For many Jesus seems like those extras in Eminem’s performance;

they looked like him but they were powerless, mere accessories.

As a Christian and as a pastor, I admit sometimes I wonder have we (the church), have I caused Jesus to become a mere accessory?  Are we Christians following a radical, relevant and rebellious Messiah? Or are we Christians capitulating to a Jesus whom we have remade in our own (powerless) image?

As Eminem spoke into the microphone and declared I’m the real slim shady

and led those who looked like him toward the stage;

he removed any doubt of who was the real slim shady.

Are You Following the Real Jesus?

Lord, I confess I need the real Jesus to please stand up! Gracious God speak into my heart and into my spirit. I need the real Jesus to restore in me His spirit of radical; relevant, rebellion. Jesus, my Messiah, empower me toward a more consistent and unflinching belief in your miracles; in your promises and in your commands. Fashion in me an unto death resolve – to willingly obey God above religious doctrine; above societal, cultural and political norms.  God, I know, I am made in your image; remove any doubt in me that the real Jesus is radical, relevant and rebellious; thus reminding me that I, too, am to live and be radical, relevant and rebellious. In Jesus name, may this prayer be fulfilled this very day!  Amen.

If this is your prayer, say Amen! Today your life and those around you is being irrevocably altered. Let's go live unto death.

Inspired By Love,

Marcus J. Singleton

Lead Pastor

Living Faith Community

Hoover, AL

Our Vision: "A diverse community of faith; inspired by the love of Jesus, 

committed to becoming and making disciples".

"God's Favor Isn't Fair!, Really?"

God's Favor Isn’t/Ain’t Fair is a phrase sometimes uttered when someone receives an unexpected gift or has a positive response to their prayer.  Viewing God in such a manner is troubling because it suggests that God truly has a list of favorites.  If God's favor ain't fair, Christians might do well to reevaluate the God to whom they confess their allegiance.

Perhaps, God isn’t the problem; maybe the Christian’s definition or understanding of God is the problem. Or could I be incorrect for suggesting there is a problem?

When Christians bask in the notion of God choosing them over/at the expense of others, does their response demonstrate a well-nourished understanding of God? Or might their concept of God be more exemplary of the divisive and bereft nature of people (the creation)?  

Asserting that one is favored is informed by the need to be first, special, better than, etc. Leading to an unhealthy drive to head the food chain even to the extent of classifying God as one that mocks and labels "the other" as not favored. History records the flaws and destructive consequence of such thought: i.e. slavery, Holocaust, Jim Crow. Philosopher Samuel von Pufendorf warns us: “More inhumanity has been done by man himself than any other causes”.

Too often our inhumanity is cloaked in God or religious accouterment.

When we suggest that God’s favor isn’t fair, we in essence claim that God is unfair. In doing so, we deprive people of hope! We are telling the "not yet favored" that God's gifts aren't for them. Is that the message, we want the world to hear about a God we say, loves ALL? 

Think about it in these terms, the gifts of God are denied to others because "Favor ain't fair"! Really? So:

• the 870 million people in the world suffering from chronic malnourishment,          are not favored?  
• the more than 16 million children in the U.S. that live in households with an income below the poverty line, are not favored?
• the near 3 million people receiving jobless benefits, are not favored?
• the 634,000 people that experience homelessness on any given night in the U.S., are not favored?
• the 32 million adults in the U.S. and the 774 million people in the world who     can’t read, are not favored?

Be careful what you believe because actions follow beliefs!

Announcing, "favor isn't fair" is akin to the first grader bragging she/he was the only one to receive a special gift card from their teacher. The teacher’s gift wasn't motivated by the teacher loving/liking the student more than their classmates. The Christian; like the first grader, proclaiming God's favor of themselves over others, places the character of God in question:  Does God love you more than me? Is God selective with whom He blesses? Does God give certain people/ groups preferential treatment?   How does God choose who receives His gifts? Do I matter to God? Does/Did God really "so loved the world"? We might consider the following:

Does God have character issues or have Christians

misappropriated the meaning of God’s gifts?

Perhaps, we are too quick in defining God through our own prisms and too slow in allowing ourselves to be shaped and defined by God! Maybe, we lack a correct/accurate understanding of the nature of God. If we discover that God is indeed the lover of ALL our souls, we would know that God’s favor extends to everyone. Favor isn’t measured in material possession, social status or economic status but is measured in God’s love for His creation. God’s favor for ALL of us is so great that Romans 8 reminds us that NOTHING we have or lack ”will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord”.

Some of the aforementioned people have a greater appreciation for what God’s favor is because despite their circumstances; they continue to see the favor of God’s love at work in their lives. Suffering and disappointment may abound but they recognize favor is not defined by one’s power over, accumulation of, or the privilege one receives. When God is rightly perceived; we see and experience God’s true favor; in terms of love, forgiveness and grace.

Proclaiming Favor isn't Fair is divisive and destructive; immediately barriers are cast between the "Favored" and "unFavored". By announcing favor isn't fair, we are saying God has declared winners and losers; and worst of all, the Favored (winners) want us to believe that God proudly crowns them so!