Congratulations To Our First Black President...Let's Talk

CONGRATULATIONS are in order for the 44th President of The United States Of America, President Elect Barack Obama. Not only is President Elect Obama the soon to be 44th President but he is also the First Black person ever in United States history to hold the top political office.

I wish that I could stop there, and simply relish in an accomplishment for which there is no political parallel in the United States.

I wish that I could take the time and encourage all Americans that the United States is still the land of opportunity and that anyone can achieve and strive toward their goal and have success.

I wish that I could stop and simply say that the prayers of generations of individuals and people oppressed have been answered and fulfilled completely and that God in HIS good pleasure has exalted a person that shares the belief and dedication to the same God of the Bible that we know that sustained a race of people tossed to and fro for generations.

Unfortunately, I can take the time to do and say those things like I would like to, because if there is anything that this election has exposed, it is the weakness, misfocus and misdirection of the church at large and the African-American church in particular.

As a minister, this is my primary focus. As a Pastor, placing perspective on current events in light of the word of God is my charge. As a watchman on the wall, looking out beyond common foresight and beneath the surface of superficiality is my burden and gift.

In these days President Elect Obama will have the opportunity to speak to many of the mega-ministries that helped proliferate his success. Although I have no great congregation, or national presence or command of thousands, I am very involved in my family, church and everyday matters of my community. If I were able to speak to President Elect Obama, and if he were to take time with a small grass-roots minister such as me, I'm sure that we would discuss many things. There are a few things however, that have been disconcerting to both myself and many others over this election cycle and period. I probably would not enumerate all things, for fear of sounding like a pessimist, but I would begin with things that are of utter importance to the survival and welfare of America and in particular the Black Community of which the President Elect is a product.

I would do these things because God has called me to do so. In addition, I am at a loss because I have not heard the largest church organizations address you directly on any of the points that I would mention. Unfortunately I have not heard the mega-ministers such as Joel Osteen, T.D. Jakes, Eddie Long, Creflo Dollar, Joyce Meyer, Marilyn Hickey, Kenneth Copeland, Benny Hinn, Charles E. Blake, Rod Parsley and or others address these issues with you during this campaign or otherwise. I have not heard organizations such as The National Baptist Convention, The Church Of God In Christ, The Pentecostal Assemblies Of The World, The Methodist Church, The AME Church, The CME Church, The Higher Ground Assemblies, The Assemblies Of God or other organizations with their leaders address you, challenge you and require that you set forth a clear agenda in these areas. Such areas of initial interest include:

"But over the long haul, I think we make a mistake when we fail to acknowledge the power of faith in people's lives -- in the lives of the American people -- and I think it's time that we join a serious debate about how to reconcile faith with our modern, pluralistic democracy." ~ Senator Barack Obama "A CAll To Renewal" Washington DC 6/28/2006

Gay Marriage & Civil Unions:

I would begin by reminding the President Elect that although he has consistently stated that he does not feel that it is in the country's best interest to deny rights of civility upon same sex couples, I would remind you that in our system of representative government that you are constrained and must further listen to the consensus of the People Of The United States.

The people have spoken in during this election in over 7 states and have said that WE DO NOT WISH TO CONFER LEGAL AND MARITAL RIGHTS UPON SAME SEX COUPLES. Although this is challenging and contrary to your platform of gay inclusion, it cannot go without notice that much of your debate was fashioned around what the American people would decide that is right for themselves without CATERING TO SPECIAL INTEREST. We were already confident of the Bible's clear message in both the Old and New Testaments against the practice and sanctioning of homosexuality and same gender unions. Now, the American people have spoken through secular process that they do not wish to be brought under the domination and curse of practices that effect their children, schools and even existing marriages and family structures.

It is my reminder to President Elect Obama that we do not want you to change your fundamental approach by reversing tide and catering to the special interest of the homosexual lobby in the guise of civil rights. Not only would this be disingenuous to your understanding of societal laws and norms but, as persons of color, we should be highly offended at such an attempt to reconcile sexual preference with the color of skin or nationality. Further, the people have spoken that we reject the homosexual lobby's attempt to indoctrinate our children with gender bending psychology and realignment of traditional family values. those traditional values have proven to be the success of America and certainly pleasing to the God of the Bible.

To add further clarity to this argument it should be noted that according to WorldNetDailyNews.com on the same day in which you were exalted to the highest political office in the land, that American Citizens in Colorado, Idaho, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin have all adopted amendments to their States Constitution banning and prohibiting the recognition of gay marriages as an acceptable way of life or an American value. This is in addition to the pending ban by the state of Arizona, the additional 27 states that have already amended their States Constitutions to protect the sanctity of marriage between one man and one woman, and the pending reversal of the activist actions of the California Supreme Court who violated the will of California's American Citizens and imposed their morality upon the entire state.

SignonSanDiego.com reports that "In the five months since the state Supreme Court tossed out an earlier ban on same-sex marriage ban approved by California voters eight years ago, about 18,000 couples have been married."..."Spending for and against the amendment has reached $74 million, making it the most expensive social-issues campaign in U.S. history and the most expensive campaign this year outside the race for the White House. A large share of the contributions for the measure came from members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."

In other words the Mormons were the greatest financial contributors to the fight AGAINST gay marriage in California. THANK YOU LATTER DAY SAINTS FOR STANDING WHEN OTHERS REFUSED TO STAND.

Abortion And A Right To Life:

"I may be opposed to abortion for religious reasons, but if I seek to pass a law banning the practice, I cannot simply point to the teachings of my church or evoke God's will. I have to explain why abortion violates some principle that is accessible to people of all faiths, including those with no faith at all."~ Senator Barack Obama "A Call To Renewal" Washington DC 6/28/2006

President Elect Obama, another circumstance that you have been consistent with, is your stance on abortion and abortion rights. While you were a Senator in Illinois you sided in every instance with abortion advocacy groups and even choose to to embrace the most vile form of abortion called Partial Birth Abortion. It is thoroughly documented that you were so firm in your belief that you refused to make an exclusion for the medical care of a child who survived abortion, leaving that living, and breathing child to die in the most inhumane manner ever imaginable.

At Saddleback Church, during this hard fought campaign Pastor Rick Warren asked you at what point does a baby receive human rights? You responded by saying this:

• "Well, you know, I think that whether you're looking at it from a theological perspective or a scientific perspective, answering that question with specificity, you know, is above my pay grade." Senator (Now President Elect) Barack Obama at Saddleback Church 8/17/2008.

I would simply point out that NOTHING IS ABOVE YOUR PAY GRADE FROM THIS POINT ON, and Pastor Warren's question deserves a clear, and straight forward answer from you. In fact I want you to look at this picture and tell me and our fellow American Citizens when and at what point did your beautiful daughters Malia and Sasha obtain their human rights? Did they have rights and were you protecting of them as humans as soon as you and the soon to be Fist Lady, Michelle Obama found out that she was pregnant with them, or did they ONLY have rights after they were born?

This is a question that I not only want to know but that your daughters and every American young person and adult must hear and know in order to rationalize your past, and know what to expect from you in the future.

I would like to stop there for a minute just to say that although all of America, has been devastated with the bad science and ultimate results of Roe v. Wade, that the community to which you are inextricably attached has suffered the most.

You see, I believe you already know that the Black community has suffered to the tune of 13 Million lost lives since that dreadful decision in 1973, and because of our lack of education, we currently kill our children at the altar of the Pro-Abortionist Lobby to the tune of 1,450 children per day. This has decreased not only the tax base of America in general, but it has reversed the Black population's ability to advance itself in numbers. In fact, it has been said, that the effect of this plague is so devastating that the death rate within the black population will exceed the birth rate for the first time in history in the near future. This translates to an enormous and insurmountable loss of human potential in solving societal problems, tax revenues to sustain our economy, and earnings potential to enrich families of a communities yet struggling from high unemployment and social injustices.

There is much more that I would like to discuss including the phenomenal incarceration rates of young black men that in states such as New Mexico exceed 33% of the black male populous. I would like to talk about the rise in HIV and other STD's among young Black Women in particular, I would talk about the failed education system that is unfortunately run from government central (which it should not be) and that has left our children behind educationally with an inability to compete for jobs in a global economy.

But most importantly President Elect Obama, I would like to remind you that the church belongs to God. It is neither your or mine but it is HIS and HE is the only one that directs it. The church is not meant to be ruled by current or popular opinion or entry or exit polls. It is solely governed by God and HIS WORD. That's why I would remind you of this statement, so we could discuss it and put proper perspective on it:

"Moreover, given the increasing diversity of America's population, the dangers of sectarianism have never been greater. Whatever we once were, we are no longer just a Christian nation; we are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, a Buddhist nation, a Hindu nation, and a nation of nonbelievers. And even if we did have only Christians in our midst, if we expelled every non-Christian from the United States of America, whose Christianity would we teach in the schools? Would we go with James Dobson's, or Al Sharpton's? Which passages of Scripture should guide our public policy? Should we go with Leviticus, which suggests slavery is ok and that eating shellfish is abomination? How about Deuteronomy, which suggests stoning your child if he strays from the faith? Or should we just stick to the Sermon on the Mount - a passage that is so radical that it's doubtful that our own Defense Department would survive its application? So before we get carried away, let's read our bibles. Folks haven't been reading their bibles." ~ Senator Barack Obama, "A Call To Renewal" Washington DC 6/8/2006

There is a long list of individuals who forgot exactly who was in charge down through history. From the Pharaohs, to Sennacherib, to Nebuchadnezzar, to Alexander to Antiochus Epiphanies, to Nero, to Napoleon, Karl Marx, to Joseph Stalin, to Hitler to even others that name themselves political and quasi-spiritual leaders, none of their efforts stood against God or HIS church. Please affirm that you will stand with the church and not against the hand and the power of the one who is mightier than all of the Presidents, Kings and Kingdoms of this world both past present and future...The Lord God Almighty himself:

Psalms 24 : "1-The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. 2-For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods. 3-Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? 4-He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. 5-He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6-This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah. 7-Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. 8-Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. 9-Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. 10-Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah."

Ephes. 5:27 ~ "27-That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."

Revelation 2:12-17 ~ "12-And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; 13-I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. 14-But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. 15-So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16-Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 17-He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it."

Blessed!