Tie A Knot & Hold On!

The last couple of years have proven to be some of the most difficult times ever in recent history. The economic climate has been tense which has resulted in a myriad of other pressures. Marriages are breaking up, jobs are being lost, homes are being foreclosed upon and hope seems to be a scarce commodity. It is in times like these that it becomes very easy to just quit. I am one that understands that sentiment very well. When I was younger and things did not go my way, I was quick to throw in the towel. Now that I am older and responsible for leading a family and a congregation I have learned that greatness does not come to those who concede defeat too readily but rather to those who dig their feet in the ground and refuse to be moved. In other words, when you get to the end of your rope and you feel that all is slipping away, don't let go! Tie a knot and hold on.

I have been fortunate to experience a nice degree of success in my life and business. In the process of building my business there were some lessons God taught me. I began an insurance agency in the New Orleans area just 59 days prior to Hurricane Katrina. Things started off very well but on August 29, 2005 it appeared that all of my dreams were beginning to be swept away with the flood. In the aftermath of the storm, no one was interested in buying insurance. Everybody was trying to rebuild their homes and lives. I did not know how I would provide for my family and if that was not enough, my wife had been laid off as well. I was at the end of my rope and I began to seek God. All the Father did at that critical time was remind me of His promises for my life. Those promises was the knot that I held on to.

God impressed upon me to pen a daily confession over my business. Here is how it goes:

Father, according to your Word in Job 22:28, I can declare a thing and it shall be established for me and light will shine upon my ways. Therefore, I declare that increase, influence, overflow and favor are being manifested in all my dealings today.

Your Word also says in Proverbs 18:21 that death and life is in the power of the tongue. Today, I choose life and speak it into my business. I believe in and confess over my business the power and authority of your Word. I call all of my business goals met and exceeded because Ephesians 3:20 states that you are able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that I ask or think according to the power that works in me. Because of that, I give to you all the glory by Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:13 says I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me and 1st John 4:4 states that greater is He that is in me than He that is in the world. Thank you for manifesting your power and authority in me.

I now declare according to Philippians 4:19 that you are supplying all my business' needs according to your riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Furthermore, I come into agreement with Psalm 37:4 and I receive into my business the desires of my heart because I am delighting myself in you.

I call all this done in Jesus' name, Amen!

Ladies and gentlemen, prayer works. I am confident that if you do what I did (pray the Word and stand on the Word), you too can find blessing beyond your wildest dreams.

Tie a knot & hold on!

The GLBT Lifestyle & The African-American Church

The African-American church is at a crossroad. We have come to the place where we must clearly define our purpose for existence or risk losing any remaining credibility we have within our respective communities. The purpose of any church that operates under the name of Jesus Christ, as I understand it, is to be agents of reconciliation for all people. After all, John 3:16 does say whoever believes in Christ shall gain eternal life. To reconcile simply means to bridge the divide between God and man. The sole divider in each of our lives is sin. Sin is any behavior that runs contrary to the Word of God. Therefore, to isolate the sin of homosexuality and demonize those who practice it is not only counter-productive to our scripturally mandated purpose, but it is also hypocritical. It is counter-productive because we have set the house of God on fire with our fire and brimstone messages against people and yet we are wondering why people don’t want to come in to the Christian Faith. Who, except firefighters, goes into burning buildings?! This is hypocritical because we have taken a hard line stand against those who practice the GLBT lifestyle without offering a hint of compassion or grace like we do for those who practice other “acceptable” forms of sin in our eyes such as fornication or adultery. Who among us does not need the grace of God?

For decades, in the African-American church, we have created a culture of hostility towards our own brothers and sisters because of their homosexual lifestyles. Historically, we have accepted the GLBT lifestyle in our churches as long as we were benefitted somehow, i.e., gifted musician, large financial contributor, or someone of fame and notoriety. It seems that it has never occurred to us that some of our brothers and sisters may actually agree with us that their lifestyle runs contrary to the Word of God. However, they dare not come seek spiritual guidance from us because they don’t know if Pastor Perfect is going to judge them and put them on Front Street. Having served as a Senior Pastor for nearly 13 years now I am beginning to wonder why only one person has ever felt comfortable enough to discuss this particular struggle with me. Maybe it is because that one person is the only person in all of these years that has ever engaged in homosexual behavior, or could it be that I have portrayed myself to be “holier than thou” and without understanding and compassion? I think the latter.

Fellow African-Americans, here is the reality that we must face. There are those in all of our congregations who practice the GLBT lifestyle. Some are perfectly comfortable in this lifestyle while others long for someone to minister to them and show them a way out of it. It is our sacred duty as Christians to understand, be compassionate and non-judgmental as we offer our own the ministry they desire and deserve. Isn’t it interesting that Jesus was silent regarding the issue of homosexuality, but He did have this to say in Matthew 22:37-40, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend the whole law and the prophets.” There was a woman in the Bible (John 8) who was caught in the very act of adultery. This was not idle gossip, innuendo, or slander. It was pure fact that she was engaged in adultery. When left alone with Jesus, He neither condemned her, nor condoned her behavior. He simply provided grace and peace. At this crossroad where we now stand, let us all strive to be more like Jesus or risk losing any remaining credibility that we may have within our respective communities.

Grace & Peace
Pastor B.