Message for People Identifying as Christian

People identifying as Christian, you can't say you love God and are committed to following Jesus while ignoring the cause of the pain, suffering and injustice experienced by oppressed people. 

You can't say you love God and are committed to following Jesus while blaming the powerless who are paralyzed by their plight and praising the powerful for maintaining the debilitating divide of haves–have nots.

The system IS rigged! The so–called majority have advantaged themselves since 1619 – the advent of slavery. The so–called minority continues the struggle, having to fight to gain their universal birthright, freedom–liberty.

People identifying as Christian, if you believe humans were created in the image of God and that Jesus taught the universality of love, equity and equality for every human being – take a cursory look at history and see if equality or equity exists in America for all people. Start in 1619 with slavery since slavery has informed the racial torment in America.

In fact, this is an election year – take a quick look at the American voting history:

·         Have white men ever been denied the right to vote?

·        Have blacks had to fight for their constitutional and human right to vote? Every 25 years, is the protection of this right in question?

You can't say you love God and are committed to following Jesus while resting in your own freedom oblivious to the people shackled by the bonds of systemic oppression.  People identifying as Christian, Jesus’ rebuke of the 1^st century religious leaders serves as a reminder of what is important to an identity in Christ:

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You give a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin,        yet you neglect what is more important in the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness!   You should have done these things without neglecting the others.” Matthew 23:23

Jesus modeled the way for the People who would call themselves Christian, always teaching justice, love and grace. Even giving his life on the Cross extending the possibility of reconciliation – justice for all. 

May every Christian and not yet Christian continually discover our true identity in the life of Jesus and the scriptures. The Good News is Jesus always invites us to view the world anew.

“Blessed are the peacemakers;

for they shall be called children of God.”

Matthew 5:9

How does your faith journey embody justice, mercy and faithfulness?

Inspired By Love,

Marcus J. Singleton

A fellow sojourner identifying as Christian

"Do What's Right Because It's Right!"

 As I reflect on Muhammad Ali's death, I am reminded of what I constantly tell my young sons, "always do what's right because it's right".  Muhammad Ali's life is a testament that the moment might not reward doing what is right but nothing is greater than remaining true to one’s convictions.  

History always unveils that righteousness reigns over expedience. Courage gazes beyond the moment into the future, questioning: 

What's at stake when we "go along to get along" (maintaining the status quo),

even though we believe or know it's wrong?

In the case of the Vietnam War, over 1.3 million people died because unlike Muhammad Ali, the majority (of leaders and people) lacked courage to resist the albatross of misguided nationalism. 

Courage isn't discovered in towing the company line of any system/culture/nation.  True courage emerges when a person/people cross lines of acceptability daring to trudge through and against the mob of cultural norms.

Courage doesn't belong to the people seated in the arena! Courage is the price and reward garnered by people (the woman, the man, the child) who step in the ring of adversity and “fight for" what they believe. 

Muhammad Ali stepped in the ring/arena standing with an indomitable commitment to justice and equity for all human beings, particular oppressed people of color. By rejecting induction to the draft at the height of nationalism, Ali stood against imperialism, war, and oppression accepting the repercussions of imprisonment, demonization and being labeled a traitor. 

The depth of Ali’s convictions was such that losing his livelihood and prestige were minor sacrifices toward the pursuit of peace, justice and equity for all humanity.

The World’s Champion modeled courage and the fighter spirit both in the ring and in the arena of life.  Ali's legacy demonstrates every human being has the capacity to champion her/his convictions. 

What else can we learn from Muhammad Ali?

When someone resolves to remain firm in their beliefs,

God gives birth to an undeterred courage.

My prayer is that we become champions for the oppressed believing God will give us an impregnable courage to face and overcome the adversity awaiting us! 

When we "do what's right because it's right", we act courageously and we become instruments of love, mercy and grace; moreover, we are God's agents of healing and deliverance from pain/suffering! 

May each of us dare to act with courage even at the cost of losing, knowing courage gazes into the future giving birth to champions who act in the moment.

To God be the Glory!!

All Praises be to Allah!!

Much Love,

Marcus

Why I am Taking a Break from Social Media

Dear FB Family – Please read my reasons for taking a break from social media):

Convinced that God’s plans for me (and you) exceed my current reality; extend far outside the proverbial boxes where I have dwelled and from without the places others have defined/confined me, I will be stepping away from social media for a period of time effective February 1.

What am I doing? I will be pursuing “God who sits high above the round ball of earth”.

I’m troubled by what I see and hear not only in the news but within the spheres where I am and have influence(d). It’s disheartening listening to the dearth of Christology being applied to the injustices damning humanity. Yahweh says "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.” And Jesus echoes the same sentiment, “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me”.

I’m disconcerted not by those who haven’t confessed Jesus as Lord; rather, it’s the absence of a demonstrated commitment to Jesus’ commandment to “Love, the Lord Your God and Your Neighbor” from women and men confessing Jesus is their Savior. It’s disturbing, no heart wrenching to hear and see Christians cling to politics, xenophobia, patriotism, religiosity, denominational doctrine, etc. self-righteously walking by the women, children, and men who have been and are being attacked on the roads to Jericho (in the U.S. and around the world).

Jesus reminds his disciples “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. "By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” 

Perhaps, we don’t understand what it means to “love” someone? 

Yahweh asks, “…what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?”

One who “LOVES” acts! Imagine watching someone you love being attacked by cancer. Visualize cancer punishing your loved one (through their pancreas, lung, bones, breast, prostate, ovaries, etc.) and they didn’t do anything to “deserve” cancer nevertheless this disease robs them of life, decimates them physically, emotionally and spiritually. The “Love” you have for the one suffering would well up an anger, a discontent within you demanding something is done to preserve, save, protect, or deliver them from this unfair suffering.

Systems in our world are unjustly attacking people groups (poor, female, non-white, non-Christian, LGBTQ, "the Other", etc.) and strangely Christians are leading the vicious assaults. The example whom I’m striving to follow, Jesus the Christ, never condemned the unrighteous (sinners) but harshly rebuked those claiming to have “religion”. In Matthew, 23:11-30, Jesus declares “woe” over the church people (religious folk) who failed to practice His message of love, justice and inclusion saying :

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, calling them hypocrites” 

for failing to live out the truth of God.

Has the Body of Christ, the people of God sold our birthright for a mess of pottage (for denominationalism, Americanism, Capitalism)?:

John Wesley raises this concern for the future of Methodism – “I am not afraid that the people called Methodists should ever cease to exist either in Europe or America. But I am afraid lest they should only exist as a dead sect, having the form of religion without the power. And this undoubtedly will be the case unless they hold fast both the doctrine, spirit, and discipline with which they first set out.” 

Martin Luther King, Jr. offers this analysis - “The contemporary church is so often a weak, ineffectual voice with an uncertain sound. It is so often the arch supporter of the status quo. Far from being disturbed by the presence of the church, the power structure of the average community is consoled by the church’s often vocal sanction of things as they are.”

Have we Christians not known, not heard, not believed, not understood the God of our lives, the God of creation, the God of our church? Have we become consumed by our quest for the American dream and a perverted distortion of Christianity and the Church? Are we in the wilderness condemning the Joshuas and Calebs (they see and believe in the power of God) to the status quo? 

Jesus asks the disciples, “Who do you say I am?” Upon Peter’s God inspired revelation, Jesus says: “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it."I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:13-19).

In our quest to “grow the church” and build physical churches have we missed God?

With Peter’s revelation and belief, Jesus promises to give the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Isn’t heaven, God’s perfect plan and place for all who believe? We pray “thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” – what is in heaven that we need God to release on earth? Have we given up seeking and discovering what Jesus meant and decided to build and worship golden calves (everyone and everything except Yahweh)? The kingdom of heaven sounds like a spiritual attainment, an other than earthly pursuit, one that has power and significance capable of circumventing and destroying sin and death. Is the church like the government intent on maintaining systems that rewards a minority and blinds the majority? It seems Jesus envisioned an outbreaking of the Paraclete (Holy Spirit) that would destroy the enemies of heaven and any attempting to thwart the kingdom come on earth.

If heaven represents the ultimate goal and can be had and experienced on earth, what does it look and feel like? We pray, “Our Father who art in heaven. . .thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven…” but what happens when God’s will is accomplished on earth as it in heaven? 

I have experienced glimpses of heaven on earth, my desire is to know and receive the keys of the kingdom of heaven. I remember the excitement and anticipation when I could finally drive and my parents gave me the car keys (to their Chevrolet Corsica and Chrysler Fifth Avenue), I believed therein lied my freedom and power. I have a hunch when I receive the keys to the kingdom of heaven, God will release dunamis which is miraculous power, ability and strength. If the keys to the kingdom of heaven are filled with such great power that Hades (hell and the devil) can’t overpower, why are Christians allowing the enemy of this world to rule the church, the culture, and the city?

Perhaps, we have not yet received or sought the keys to the kingdom of heaven.

I’m foolish enough to believe that Love loosed from heaven will terminate and abolish the sin(s) that plague humanity - idolatry, hatred of neighbor, covetousness, greed, etc. and all perversions which exalt creation over God.

In my absence from social media, I ask your prayers that I will hear revelation from the God of Love, Grace and Justice as to how best to submit my gifts for God’s glory and as useful to bring the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. Pray that God strips me of religion and clothes me with God’s anointing, God’s righteousness, God’s Mercy, God’s Justice, God’s Grace and that God instructs me how to Love and lead others to the promised Kingdom “on earth as it is in heaven” and that I faithfully continual to share the truth of Jesus and the Gospel.

Thank you in advance for your prayers as I “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”

Inspired By Love,

Marcus

The Joy of Killing: Cease Fire

It broke His heart.. .

As a young person coming of age, physical confrontation was an inevitable rites of passage. I wasn't a fighter per se but there were times when I had to or chose to knuckle up....I met both defeat and victory. 

While the reasons for engagement were often nebulous, they were always fair because neither I nor my occasional adversary concealed any weaponry beyond our own physical and tactical capabilities.

As years passed, I grew weary, even fearful when disputes swirled. Why? The rules of fighting had shifted, fists and knuckling up steadily ceased being chosen tools of engagement. Use of physicality and outsmarting one's opponent quickly gave way to brandishing guns and using trigger fingers. In short cowardice found courage shadowed behind cold steel. The rites of passage marks of busted lips, bruised egos or black eyes gave way to bullet wounds, bloodshed and boxed bodies. 

Conflict, once ending in mutual respect or an unstated understanding is now militarized. Mirroring the militarism of America the greatest superpower - the mediator of choice became war. Handguns and semiautomatic weapons were now negotiators of peace, practicing a deadly diplomacy. 

Looking back, the few instances leading to me knuckling up were reasoned by insecurity, ignorance and an immersed infantility. I'm grateful for surviving those moments...because now countless are numbered and celebrated collateral damage of conflict. 

Has the citizenry become wanton imitators? Mimicking revered armed forces and an anemic legislature who bullies and belittles anyone with whom disagreement arises – declaring war against and death to – while pulling the triggers of registered and unregistered silencers of peace!

Even a cursory glance at the number of people killed by gun violence reveals a national disregard for human life. Murder is our accepted way of life – from the discovery and founding of our Nation to the national celebration of the assassinations of Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein to law enforcement murdering citizens to the terrorist acts on school and college campuses to homicides to politicians choosing to support the NRA versus passing laws for the safety of its citizens to the glorifying of murder in action movies to the vividly calculated murders on video games, and the joy of killing list goes on and on...

We have become so numb to human beings pulling triggers that release

incendiary powder-filled brass – into tender human, God-created souls –

with the intent to sear, debilitate and kill.

Could it be that cowardice has successfully redefined winning at conflict,

means one must murder?

I remain weary, even fearful when disputes swirl and conflict festers because the rules have changed...

I do not want to continue bearing witness as people die from confrontations most likely born of insecurity, ignorance and an immersed infantility. 

The winning has to cease fire!!!

 “The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. So the Lord was sorry he had ever made humans... It broke His heart.” (Genesis 6:5–6)

Courage: Christians, White Supremacy and Healing

Read this reflection then view video below

Discussions on race and white supremacy will continue to be difficult until both Black and white people realize they are infected by the disease of white supremacy.

While the disease impacts each VERY differently, the humanity of both continues to be debilitated as this corrosive evil denies the omnipresent God within Black people who like white people are created in the image of God.

To dismantle the ravages of this disease (white supremacy), it will take courage from white Christians to do some soul searching and began to reevaluate their understanding of God, Jesus and the Gospel. All too often "well meaning" white Christians – even clergy sound more like a political party than the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Jesus doesn't accept injustice enacted against God's creation, Jesus doesn't sleep with and isn't in cahoots with the Empire!  Jesus doesn't attempt to gain favor with the political or powerful oligarchs; rather, Jesus disrupts and challenges their actions and points them to the Kingdom of God!

Jesus' purpose (salvation plan) isn't to leave people dreaming about a heaven in the sky while living in hell on earth – Jesus modeled his intention – "thy (God's) will be done on earth as it is in heaven".  Do Christians believe that God's heaven is racially divided? Will God have lesser kingdoms in heaven for the poor and oppressed? Will God have a portion of heaven for people having darker pigmentation or those in lesser white robes to dwell?

Seemingly, God works through those who believe in a Gospel of inclusiveness to bring about love, justice, mercy, grace and a restored Hope in God. God created human beings in the image of God with the purpose of Oneness. We the human family were destined to live entangled in the oneness of love – loving God and each other in Shalom. Shalom meaning peace but more importantly the absence of war, the absence of injustice, and the absence of violence (spiritual, physical, emotional).

Yet, this oneness is evidently anemic in the church, in culture and throughout society.

Certainly, anyone even with limited awareness knows we live in a divided world of despair vs, prosperity, white vs. Black, rich vs. poor, white privilege vs. discarded, Christian vs. Muslim, American vs, Other, Christopher Columbus vs. Terrorist, quality education vs. denied education, prison vs. college, and minimum wage vs. the top 1%, among others.

How do Christians reconcile this world with the one Jesus speaks? Jesus says: "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly" (John 10:10).

The continued silence of Christians on issues of

 oppression and white supremacy emboldens the thief.

While it's normative (in American culture) to accept that Christopher Columbus discovered "occupied land" but once reevaluated and examined, its validity is rejected as a lie. Thus, everyone is challenged to embrace the truth that Native people (already residents of the land) were terrorized and are victims of genocide. Hence, "the thief" is exposed limiting the ability to kill, steal and destroy people (the image of God).

If all people are created in the image of God, through evaluating how we love and treat one another, we discover that we are often an enemy – a murderer of God.  As we are awakened, hatred and vitriol against Blacks and other people groups ceases and becomes unacceptable because it's not of God! 

How can we say we follow and love Jesus, when we participate in, 

condone and even promote systems that oppress people 

(created by God in the image of God) whom God loves?

So why will it take courage from white Christians? Admitting the existence of a pernicious system of which one is a willing or unwilling benefactor is borne only through courage. Furthermore, courage is imperative to expose the system of white supremacy and requires reexamining history and the Gospel from the margins versus from privilege.

For instance, how would one understand: "We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" (Declaration of Independence), if you were a Black person and it's illegal for you to vote and you are are denied access to home ownership (even present day attempts continue to circumvent said Rights)?

Upon reading Jesus say: “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family,*you did it to me” (Matthew 25:40, 31-45), how would one respond to issues of race, poverty, and justice (i.e. prison industrial complex) in a society that "thingafies" Black people and poor people as monsters and takers, thereby labeling them the Least of our great Union?

To experience Shalom – not just peace – but the absence of war/injustice, courage is required and   re-imagining the world through God's point of view.  If white Christians are stirred by courage, the disease of white supremacy can be cured/eradicated resulting with Black people, Brown people, Native people, White people, Yellow people – all people healed and restored in the image of God, [perfect(ed) love].

In wrestling with how to address polarizing issues such as: racism, white supremacy and injustice, our challenge is to question presuppositions both historical and biblical - then have the resolve to correct our previous miseducation.  As each of us search ourselves, my prayer is that we develop the courage to work toward fulfillment of the Amos 5:24 vision:

But let justice roll down like waters,

and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

If we fail to develop courage – the image of God is endangered!

“Courage, do not stumble…

Perish policy and cunning,
Perish all that fears the light!
Whether losing, whether winning,
Trust in God and do the right.
Trust no party, sect, or faction;
Trust no leaders in the fight;
Put in every word or action…

Trust in God, trust in God,
Trust in God and do the right.”

-- 

INSPIRED BY LOVE, 

Pastor Marcus J. Singleton

Pastor Singleton@gmail.com
 

Loveless Politics: Christians Beware

I'm not a politician and I'm not the perfect Christ follower...yet I do believe that politics has an important role in our society and Christians are to be careful how we engage politically. 

As a believer in Jesus the basis of my worldview is; grounded in the fact, that God inspired by love created Human Beings and Nature – endowing them with Her same inherent desire to Love and embody said Love for God and All of Creation. 

What troubles me is that too many professing Christian politicians and leaders (of ALL political parties) actively support policies diametrical to the Gospel and the nature of God as related throughout the metanarrative of the Bible. For example throughout Scripture: the foreigner (immigrant) is welcomed, the criminal (murderers to felons) is rehabilitated, the prostitute is restored, the victims (of political and ecclesial injustice) are rescued, and the causes (the people-systems) of social and political malfeasance are exposed.

Conversely, whether heard on CNN, Fox, MSNBC or via a stump speech, politicians (including Christians) ardently practice demonization of the people effected by their policies and decisions (i.e. planned-maintained poverty, food insecurity, creating permanent underclass, violence, war on drugs, distressed familial systems, etc.). Unfortunately, these politicians (and their supporters) choose to continually exploit the suffering and oppressed (often a result of unjust laws/policies). 

Perhaps, the worse outcome of loveless politics/politicians is well-meaning followers/supporters like sheep following wolves cloaked in deception become mere fodder for the advancement of the politician/the political party. Thereby scathing and diminishing the image of God within the supporters and stifling their ability to love as God has created us to love. 

Christians must beware when we equate loveless political policies and politicians with Jesus/with God that:

if love is absent, if equity is absent, if compassion is absent
so is Jesus – so is God, 

For Jesus followers our understanding of love is to be our North Star in all our decisions. Particularly when it seems politicians and leaders (Christians included) attempt to lead us to exalt political parties and ambitions above loving God and neighbor. We must remember – our politics are to be shaped and inspired by Jesus and the nature of God! 

We mustn’t forget Jesus entered the Temple not in the name of party or politician but because there was an absence of love, equity and compassion. Jesus demanded justice and overturned tables because politics led to corruption and the absence of Love for All.  (John 2:15 – 16)

As politics continue to take front stage, my prayer is that those of us professing Jesus as Lord cease to elevate the Democratic, Independent, Republican and Tea parties above Jesus Christ. Not one of these parties can claim comprehensive values inspired by Love for God and others, so why should we lose our faith in support of "our" party or in support of "our" politicians? 

 ”But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin."
 James 2:9

-- 

INSPIRED BY LOVE, 

Pastor Marcus J. Singleton

PastorSingleton@gmail.com

"Tear the Roof Off the Sucker!"

Is it time for the Christian Community to act in ways consistent with Jesus Christ i.e., lovingly and courageously rejecting the mores and values of the world as it is currently constituted? Perhaps, in the words of Parliament’s George Clinton, the time has come for followers of Jesus to:

"Tear the roof off, we're gonna tear the roof off the mother, sucker

Tear the roof off the sucker"

We understand voting is foundational to the political process of American Democracy and is the means through which our lives are ordered and shaped. Yet, is it possible that the System in which we live makes the voting process and our society stumbling blocks to our living faithful lives for Jesus Christ? It seems:

Every year and with every vote we face false choices. . .

If Jesus is Lord of our Life, the question the Christian voter asks – Does my vote express the values and purpose espoused by Jesus? However, for every believer in Jesus (whose concern is restoring God-centered order of harmony and provision for ALL of creation) this is a conundrum because neither democrats nor republicans are representative of Jesus’ "Other-Worldness". Both parties wield power over the people and support and develop policies to maintain the System of imperialism (the ruling over lesser subjects).

But Jesus plainly states there is a distinction in praxis between He and the leaders of this world:

"Jesus answered, "My Kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my followers would 

fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. 

But my Kingdom is not of this world."" (John 18:36)

""My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the LORD.

"And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine." (Isaiah 55:8)

Thus, as we vote for the lesser of Evil, we might begin engagement of another question/solution like Jesus did – How can I/we overturn the current "Democratic" System of oppression and enact God's reign of Peace, Justice, Mercy, Equity, and Love for All?

If we say we follow Jesus and Love God with all our heart, mind and soul – Can we continue to silently participate in a System that subverts the nature and nurture of God which is Love? Any true expression of love is shared power. Power wielded over and against is not an expression of love, conversely it is an act of hatred and abuse. To rightly understand power expressed through love and compassion, let's look to Jesus:

“The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17:22-23)

While voting is important overturning the System that is inconsistent with the values and purpose of Jesus Christ is even more essential. How do we expect "God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven" when we are complicit in strengthening the System which is contrary to God's will?

If we are to tear the roof off the sucker (System of oppression), our challenge is re-imagining the world through the lens of Jesus’ life and daringly taking actions to create a system whereby Jesus’ model of shared power is its cornerstone so that ALL people are valued and God is glorified. Amen!

Benediction:

Go, ye therefore to find and create opportunities to "Tear the roof off the sucker"!

--

INSPIRED BY LOVE, 

Pastor Marcus J. Singleton

PastorSingleton@gmail.com