How Blacks have failed themselves

[krazeeboi]

Now isn't THIS title one for controversy!

The following was written by a pastor friend of mine in Houston (who, by the way, is really involved in helping many of the evacuees reclaim their lives). It's a lengthy read, and everyone may not agree with everything he says, but it's certainly thought-provoking to say the least:

Let me give you my crass understanding of politics. Politics is about how many people you can get to side with you. This is done by one of two ways 1) how much can you talk and say nothing (sophistry) and/or 2) how many lies can you tell without getting caught (be they false witnesses or broken promises.) The truth is never popular and therefore will rarely be the will of the majority. A murder was more to be desired by the people than the purest truth, Jesus Christ.

Now here is the problem KB, the details are deceptive. The old saying goes, you can’t see the forest for the trees. Details must be viewed by two things. First -- the big picture and secondly -- principles. The big picture is what is supposed to happen. Then what and who have violated principles where and why. Details change, sometimes what is evil in one situation is good in another. I am not speaking of and do not believe in situational ethics. But for instance "war" may be bad in one instance and good in the next (i.e. what war accomplishes.) Or say, the possession of a firearm, good in one instance, bad in another. A classic biblical case is Rahab's lie concerning the spies.

Here my point, it is principle that helps one to codify the truth about the details, not necessarily “the whole story” as they say. You can here one side of a story and principles will allow you to know what fault the person who is speaking bears. So principles are unchanging primary laws, which tell you the direction in which the winds of details are blowing.

The primary principle issue of any group of people is the integrity of the group itself. The reason the group gets got is because someone(s) is not really integral (united.) There is some self-center ness, an Anninias and Sapphire that the group is not willing to judge and punish.

Let me give you a personal example of this principle of integrity. I was young, oh 20 or so, and a guy on the street approached me offering me to buy a gold chain. Now I knew it was stolen to say the least, but I went for it. Of course the thing turned green. The point is I got took not really as much from the outside as from the inside. I took myself because I lacked integrity. Where there is integrity the wall of protection is fortified. Where there is not, believe me there are holes in the wall and your enemy will take you.

Remember for all it is worth even Jericho fail from the inside, as Rehab for whatever her reason compromise that city’s integrity all the more by siding with the spies.

I could go into various principles but that is not my intention. My only intention is to show how important a principle is to proper interpretation of details, and that it is an internal principle-compromise that allows for the fall of any group – best friends; marriage; company; city; nation; etc…

My implications are these… blacks fail themselves in the most primary sense. Here are the PRINCIPLES of a social order that blacks violated…

1) Order – the female became dominate in our culture, largely through allowing them to become educated above our men. Women became the educators of our future rather than men. That is still around today in the so call strong black educated woman, who black men are too weak to deal with, as they say. Such was the white man’s weapon, but we allowed it, rather than recognizing the problem in violating the principle order.

2) Beauty (the give-back or life principle) – The beauty/glory of anything is not merely in “the thing” it yields but the “seeds” of the thing it yields. For therein is not merely life but abundant life. Obviously there were blacks who started great universities, churches, and other entities. However, those who have succeeded through such entities give very little back to them. They leave the community, rather than coming to employ and mentor the community. I’m not talking about superstars, whose image per se’ depend on giving out some bread crumbs, but the average Joe. People who come out of the community and know the community must be willing to bear the burdens of the community and give til it hurts.

3) Variety – Someone said “the spice of life.” The key to any sustainable social infrastructure AND economy is diversity of labor. There need to be black groceries, shoeshops, cleaners, gas stations, more as the industries broadened. However the whites did not close our businesses. We did! A) lack of integrity by business owners B) lack of community support C) Selling out for the easy material life D) Not rearing our children to carry these things on E) The slow demise of a black entrepreneurial culture whereby a sub-economical system can be sustained and sustain those who comprise it.

This would have provided jobs for our young people and chances for those who need a second chance (though such labor would have lessened black delinquency)

4) Unity/Integrity – There was no code of ethics that dealt with the one who sought to exploit various components of black culture – the most gross of which have of course been our leaders, spiritual and spiritual/political (as the way to black leadership in the latter nineteenth century is through the pulpit – I’m not sure that has always been the case… I need to research that.) But assuming it has not, then Martin Luther King set the precedent, although be it an unintentional precedent. That being the case, the exploitation of the pulpit should have been an indication of the lack of integrity. Anyway, point - community accountability is essential to integrity. As Augustine said, “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” There can be no untouchable demigods in the group/community if integrety is to be maintained.

However, the paradigm shift from the issue of basic human ‘civil’ rights, to a pursuit of material equity with whites, gave birth to a leadership and eventually a people who have taken on the nature of our oppressor.

The lack of internal integrity has made our own leaders our oppressors, because the nature of the white man has been to oppress the weak. That is the nature that the black man has pursued in his quest for equity. So those who are ‘the weak’ that he must oppress – WATCH THIS! – not the white man… he’s not weak. Your own are the ones who are weak. So in the black leader’s “exercising his will to power” (Hitler’s philosophy from Nietzsche’s book ‘The Superman’) he exploits and oppresses his own people as do the white man. Thus the old white will is still in affect through the black leaders.

The results were the white man still affected his oppression but used exploitative black leaders to do it (Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and the like.) They killed King, because they could not control him for better or for worse. WHY DID KING DIE? He did not really die as a result of the black cause, but rather for moving beyond the social plight of blacks in the political controversy of the Vietnam War (Which in my opinion he should not have done.) Such a move would have position king to gain wide support from white people all over this country. The government was simply not going to have it. My point is they could not control king at all. I think he was sincere about the war and his move was based in his Ghandi – derived anti-war pro-peace philosophy, but I think it cost him his life. These others after King, did not have the shear tenacity, fortitude, and most important the conviction of King. King was a lot of things, but he was no sellout. You could not buy him. He was his own man, not for sale and not selfish in the crass/immediate sense of the word. Maybe he was a bit overly humanistic (in my opinion), but not selfish.

Lastly, the result of giving direct oppression over the black leaders (thus an indirect oppression by the white man remains) is the black body was freed but not the black mind. True freedom explores what it does have and not what it lacks… Check out Psalm 126. Our leaders, preoccupied us with what white folks were not doing for us, rather than what we could do for ourselves. For instance, we pursued getting into their schools, getting their books, etc… The only possible underlining assumption has to be theirs is better than ours in one way or another. All that only to later complain that there is nothing in their books that reflect us… well duh! We were not led to be resourceful and self-motivated and self employed. We looked to the white man for all of that, which it is impossible for him to give anyway.

Lastly, and I could go on and on… since you asked… This created a new class of black youth, who do not follow Jesse ‘em, with a WATCH THIS! Americanize philosophy – pragmatism… whatever works – just do it. So while white America is highly secularize “whatever work legally” the new breed of underworld youth says whatever works legally, illegally or whatever. Works for what? make you feel good, gets you paid… REMEMBER! Their bodies are free but not their minds. And licensousness has been loosed. And they use their body in all kinds of way to get what they can’t get with their minds – material and fame. And our children are with their children and their children are acting like our children. WHY because their were granted physical rights (in their parents) but not mental rights and as the bible says… the curse is down to the third and fourth generation. There is nothing that America's little girls (black and white) will not do today for a dollar, and there is not that America's little boys won't ask them to do to make a dollar off of them.

So while it is enough blame to go around and the consequences are now coming around to their children and homes, we bear primary responsibility for our own condition. Such a condition is a result of ethics, although we like to deny that our ethics are even in the equation. However, your house not being clean is not the white man’s fault, and not because you are poor. Our run down neighborhoods is not the white man’s fault and it is not because you are poor. These things are because you won't take care of your yard and your house.

We choose a Benz over a good new roof on the house or a paint job. By way of antidote… I had a dear friend who had come into a couple thousand dollars. He had just had a baby in addition to the other three he already had. So he was contemplating what he would do with this money – buy a big screen or a washer and dryer. I said to him, “Look man buy your wife a washer and dryer. I mean you all have all these kids. The washateria thing is a lot of work dude.” He says to me, “Solomon you are messing me up man… I ain’t trying to here that…” Needless to say he bought a big screen.

That is unethical and wicked, and that is generally black folk type of thinking at various levels.

[beck]

Excellent Post KB!!

[MsKayLander]

We can blame a whole bunch of stuff on the plight of black folks... but we, as those who are called by His name, have failed miserably.... WE have not sought his face... instead, we have gathered together in the name of religion and refused to join with those that don't baptize, praise or worship like we do... WE have not turned from our wicked way... instead, we have criticized, condemned and complained about any and every thing all in the name of our religiosity.... He has not heard us... because we haven't earnestly sought GOD... we seek Him in tragedy... when all is going great, we continue to build grand cathedrals and mega ministries... all in the name... but of course...

How can the land be healed if we COLLECTIVELY have not sought a healing... we talk a good game and we say all the right things... but what have we done as the BODY of CHRIST??? Why did the gay marriage agenda even come into play??? Shouldn't our land be healed by now??? Why haven't Pastors gathered together and said enough of fighting... we need to join forces to COMBAT the devil.... nope.... He/She may pray better than me and I might lose some members.... sad, but true...

So, I'm all for the insights of those that seem to know what's going on... but, what are we seriously doing about it.... WE are all sinning, because we know what to do... but we haven't done it... why do people go out and buy Nikes and things they don't need?? Because they never had and then they don't really know the value of anything because we give KIDS, tvs and dvd players and so forth.... But then we sit and complain when they buy it... we haven't taught them anything different... because when you know better, you do better.... have we done anything as a body? Yes, put on mega conferences... can those folks be empowered when they can't afford to take off work and participate??? Have they shown the BODY OF CHRIST gathering in N.O. or Houston or wherever and join hands and pray?? Nope, they show looting, fighting and folks shopping at the mall... where are the Mothers of Zion??? Why didn't somebody rebuke the devil when he was reaking havoc over that area??? All these folks prophecied this day would come... why weren't they guarding the city?? Did they ask GOD, to spare the city???

This was a catastrophe.... but much more will happen if WE don't do what we are called to do...

2 Chronicles 7:14 If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.

[livinganewlife]

KB, EXCELLENT topic and an insightful posts.


But MissKay, oh your words are yet echoing in my ear.

You mentioned that our children (as well as the article) that our children have not been taught anything mental but all of our "acceptance and validation" is coming from material things.

For instance a big screen vs a washer and dryer.....

Yes I am GUILTY as charged........... I too have went off the mark and purchased material good s just to prove that I have arrived.

When in essence, those monies could have been better spent.

In church what are we teaching our children....
1. That bigger is better
2. Quantity outweighs QUALITY (truth): 10,000 membership church preaching a water downed gospel is better than 100 preaching the Unadulterated TRUTH of God's Word.
3. That in order to attend church on Sunday's you GOT TO Be dressed to the 9's
4. That God's blessings are ONLY material, because we have preached and beaten people about that your only Blessing is through material GIVING ..... and have not teched about INTEGRITY, living RIGHT, treating people right and living in HOLINESSS....

Are black people the problem with Black people. I dare to say YES....Why would I say Yes because we have been given opportunities, we have been given ways to succeed and yet we fail to take advantage of what opportunities are available to us.

A FREE Education!!!! You cannot beat that, so what if we don't have pictures in books about US. Get educated and go an work for Simon and Schulster and create the CORRECT History books.

That's what should have happened but no we use EXCUSES as to why we can't achieve and those same EXCUSES should have been the fire we need TO SUCCEED....

[Nikkol]

I would say that the church (Body of Christ)did do something. Many reasons of which we may never know. We may never know why this occurred and why God didn't spare the city...yet, the one thing we do know which is something that ALL Christians need to hold onto is that ALL things work together for the good to them that love the Lord and are the called according to His purpose. This includes Katrina. How can this work together for my good? I may not know... yet if I hold fast to the word knowing that God is not a man that he should like neither the Son of man that he should repent, I know that if he said it he'll make it good and bring it to pass.

[Beck]

electladynb said:

I would say that the church (Body of Christ)did do something. Many reasons of which we may never know. We may never know why this occurred and why God didn't spare the city...yet, the one thing we do know which is something that ALL Christians need to hold onto is that ALL things work together for the good to them that love the Lord and are the called according to His purpose. This includes Katrina. How can this work together for my good? I may not know... yet if I hold fast to the word knowing that God is not a man that he should like neither the Son of man that he should repent, I know that if he said it he'll make it good and bring it to pass.

Agreed, but let me add this... things wont work out for your good if you don't love God. I think its high time that we as a people start loving God. If we loved God it would be less crime, If we loved God we would value education more, if we loved God, we wouldn't treat our brother who has made up his mind that he wants an education to better himself and family as a traitor. Loving God means we ditch the crab mentality and start living each other up. As a people we need to stop talking about it and blaming others for our own ignorance and laziness and do something about it. As a people we need to learn how to face our fears instead of embracing things that gives validity to our fears. This person talked about integrity and character...one thing that we must improve as a people.

[Nikkol]

Does our love for God necessarily have to make the "world" stop being the world? I believe that we have some missionaries, etc. who love God and pray and seek God..... yet, we find that they are being martyred or tortured to no end. We know that we will go through persecution..... also, I would say that those who are His, do love Him. Maybe the issue is between discussing this as black people in general and should be more geared towards black people who aren't saved. This is why salvation is important for if people are saved, everything else will fall into place. For sinners do what sinners do..........

I do believe that this work needs to begin at home and spread abroad. Going into the neighborhoods around your church. Finding out what the needs of the people are. We've been doing that and it's interesting to hear the stories and the struggles that they go through. Some have never stepped foot in the church building but the impact that one can make outside is just as important...........

[livinganewlife]

electladynb said:

Does our love for God necessarily have to make the "world" stop being the world? I believe that we have some missionaries, etc. who love God and pray and seek God..... yet, we find that they are being martyred or tortured to no end. We know that we will go through persecution..... also, I would say that those who are His, do love Him. Maybe the issue is between discussing this as black people in general and should be more geared towards black people who aren't saved. This is why salvation is important for if people are saved, everything else will fall into place. For sinners do what sinners do..........

I wish it was EASY to say and validate that ALL saved Black people uplift one another, and that ALL Saved Black people REALLY truly Love God and love their neighbor.

Sad to say that IS NOT the case. In our salvation and in ALL of our (black people) righteousness we still have ISSUES to deal with.
Even as SAVED Sanctified Holy Ghost filled Black People, UPLIFTING the race is one issue that we as Blacks have problems with.

Even in church, you often hear "It doesn't matter how much Education you get you still need Jesus."

I dare not say that Education is above JESUS, however I do believe that we as people do not VALUE education.

Belittling education only makes one feel that their education is not important.

Having an education does not make a person better than anyone but it does offer opportunities that those with out education may not be able to experience.

And as Saints of God we should strive to do BETTER because we serve a God who is able to make our situations better.

No matter how we look at it BLACK people still down other blacks who are Educated, speak correct English and try to uphold right living.

It is sad but what Elder Beck spoke in his post is very TRUE......We still suffer from the "crab in the Barrel syndrome" and a whole lot of other stuff.

Our souls maybe Saved but we need to be Saved in our MINDSETS!

[Nikkol]

Sad to say that IS NOT the case. In our salvation and in ALL of our (black people) righteousness we still have ISSUES to deal with.
Even as SAVED Sanctified Holy Ghost filled Black People, UPLIFTING the race is one issue that we as Blacks have problems with.

Could that be because instead of lifting up "the race", true men and women of God care about all people no matter what the race?

[lanl ns]

electladynb said:

Sad to say that IS NOT the case. In our salvation and in ALL of our (black people) righteousness we still have ISSUES to deal with.
Even as SAVED Sanctified Holy Ghost filled Black People, UPLIFTING the race is one issue that we as Blacks have problems with.

Could that be because instead of lifting up "the race", true men and women of God care about all people no matter what the race?

I will say that yes true men and women of God should care about all races but in order to care about ALL races we must first understand that Charity begins at HOME than spreads abroad.

I cannot go help in Asia when my brother whom I see everyday is standing on the corner without any hope and without anyone telling him that he can make it and better yet giving him a PLAN and STRATEGY to make it.

Yes we must be concerned about ALL people. But it disturbs >:(me to no end to see these Major churches in urban areas go way across the ocean to help but cannot see what is going on in the projects right behind their own church doors.....

[Nikkol]

lanl said:

electladynb said:

Could that be because instead of lifting up "the race", true men and women of God care about all people no matter what the race?

I will say that yes true men and women of God should care about all races but in order to care about ALL races we must first understand that Charity begins at HOME than spreads abroad.

I cannot go help in Asia when my brother whom I see everyday is standing on the corner without any hope and without anyone telling him that he can make it and better yet giving him a PLAN and STRATEGY to make it.

Yes we must be concerned about ALL people. But it disturbs >:(me to no end to see these Major churches in urban areas go way across the ocean to help but cannot see what is going on in the projects right behind their own church doors.....

I do agree that we need to work more in the area around the church first.... think about all the people that can be benefited.......

[Beulah5]

livinganewlife said:

electladynb said:

Does our love for God necessarily have to make the "world" stop being the world? I believe that we have some missionaries, etc. who love God and pray and seek God..... yet, we find that they are being martyred or tortured to no end. We know that we will go through persecution..... also, I would say that those who are His, do love Him. Maybe the issue is between discussing this as black people in general and should be more geared towards black people who aren't saved. This is why salvation is important for if people are saved, everything else will fall into place. For sinners do what sinners do..........

I wish it was EASY to say and validate that ALL saved Black people uplift one another, and that ALL Saved Black people REALLY truly Love God and love their neighbor.



Even in church, you often hear "It doesn't matter how much Education you get you still need Jesus."

I dare not say that Education is above JESUS, however I do believe that we as people do not VALUE education.

Belittling education only makes one feel that their education is not important.

Having an education does not make a person better than anyone but it does offer opportunities that those with out education may not be able to experience.

And as Saints of God we should strive to do BETTER because we serve a God who is able to make our situations better.

No matter how we look at it BLACK people still down other blacks who are Educated, speak correct English and try to uphold right living.

It is sad but what Elder Beck spoke in his post is very TRUE......We still suffer from the "crab in the Barrel syndrome" and a whole lot of other stuff.

Our souls maybe Saved but we need to be Saved in our MINDSETS!

[krazeeboi]

livinganewlife said:

electladynb said:

Does our love for God necessarily have to make the "world" stop being the world? I believe that we have some missionaries, etc. who love God and pray and seek God..... yet, we find that they are being martyred or tortured to no end. We know that we will go through persecution..... also, I would say that those who are His, do love Him. Maybe the issue is between discussing this as black people in general and should be more geared towards black people who aren't saved. This is why salvation is important for if people are saved, everything else will fall into place. For sinners do what sinners do..........

I wish it was EASY to say and validate that ALL saved Black people uplift one another, and that ALL Saved Black people REALLY truly Love God and love their neighbor.

Sad to say that IS NOT the case. In our salvation and in ALL of our (black people) righteousness we still have ISSUES to deal with.
Even as SAVED Sanctified Holy Ghost filled Black People, UPLIFTING the race is one issue that we as Blacks have problems with.

Even in church, you often hear "It doesn't matter how much Education you get you still need Jesus."

I dare not say that Education is above JESUS, however I do believe that we as people do not VALUE education.

Belittling education only makes one feel that their education is not important.

Having an education does not make a person better than anyone but it does offer opportunities that those with out education may not be able to experience.

And as Saints of God we should strive to do BETTER because we serve a God who is able to make our situations better.

No matter how we look at it BLACK people still down other blacks who are Educated, speak correct English and try to uphold right living.

It is sad but what Elder Beck spoke in his post is very TRUE......We still suffer from the "crab in the Barrel syndrome" and a whole lot of other stuff.

Our souls maybe Saved but we need to be Saved in our MINDSETS!

You said it, sis.

And to be honest, the Black community as a whole wouldn't need to be looking for "our next leader" if we started being role models at home.

[stillfocused]

This is a excellent thread. It hit upon many topics of how we fail ourselves, one another, and if we're honest and allow ourselves to be judged by the Word of God...we fail God. So many times it is said " I am trusting God, and I know he's going to work it out for me !" And then we take a seat and do nothing; when the rent is due, we know it, and ain't thinking about finding a job. And if one smacks one in the face to tide one over until "the change" comes..it's turned down. But, we can dance over the church, "worship" the Lord, and bolding proclaim that "Jesus is on the throne". All the while waiting for God to touch somebody's heart to give us the funds we need to survive for another 30 days. Never seeing the sad reality that even though we love God, speak the Word, proclaim his promises, and receive the wonderful prophecies..one is walking the very fine line of pride. We are a very prideful people; yet, we will not turn to God, repent, and get a determination within our hearts to hear from him. Our children have been so churched by us; that because of the way we live is totally different from the way we live at home. Giving them whatever they want and allowing them to do whatever they want; never teaching them that one day they will have to work to get things they want. I always tell young people..please take the education that you are being given....because you're not going to get anything for free !! After you graduate from high school it's going to cost you!!

[Beulah5]

Amen to your comment Krazeeboi-i am tired of black folk who love to complain and hide behind a victim mentality as an excuse for not doing anything.

My main issue is with our men who should be out at work and raising their children in the fear of the lord but are found hanging around street lamps with their bodies tilted at a certain angle so the rays of the sun can adequately reflect on their gold capped teeth talking about 'its hard being a black man'.