Hip-Hop, Idolatry & The Church Pt. 30 ~ Church Girls Gone Wrong

In my 2013 post "Seduced Church: The Prostitution, & Sale Of The Psalmist" I started off with the following scripture:

Matthew 4:8-11 ~ 8-Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9-And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10-Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 11-Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

Unfortunately, nearly 10 years later, after world political and social fallout, a global pandemic that was also a rebuke to the church and the world, and a host of other issues, we are still dealing with rank secularism and idolatry within the church and among many of our leading so called "psalmists". it seems that not only have they sold themselves out to nothing more than "the enemy" in order to make money and or be relevant but they are continuing to do so regardless of consequences or the trauma that their actions perpetrate upon both the church and public. 

A Timely Word & Rebuke

Recently, Bishop Patrick Wooden of North Carolina 3rd Jurisdicion COGIC, who has been one of the most blessed and outspoken leaders in COGIC for a number of years, and who is certainly a friend of mine, recently undertook the ungodly presentation of hip-hop songstress Beyonce, in her song "Church Girl". It seems that her production staff, along with her approval for sure, sampled a foundational Clark Sister's song written in 1981 by Twinkie Clark-Terrell, called "Center Of Thy Will". Because of the nature and source of the sample, and resultant use in a very debase song, much controversy has been stirred. 

The Facts Have Been Made Known

In 2018, I outline in my article Hip Hop, Idolotry & The Church series #29 that Beyonce, is by all accounts, a follower of a demonic religious belief known as Santeria. In that article I state the following:

"Within Santeria, the manifestation of a god is called an orisha. orishas (of which there can be many) can be perceived in the physical universe by initiates, and the whole community can share in their presence when they possess a priest. The orishas can be perceived through dancing, drumming, speaking to and eating with the spirits. Unlike Yoruba, in Santeria, a woman or a female can be anointed or dubbed a priest and maintain or posses special powers to the degree that the priest has "yielded to" or dedicated themselves to the particular orishas that they serve." ~ The Dunamis Word 9/22/2018

These orishas are certainly demons or demonic forces. In that same article, I document the case of former drummer Kimberly Thompson who sued Beyonce for spell casting and her "extreme witchcraft" practices. This case was probably was settled out of court with an NDA, was dismissed as neither side appeared in court to answer or address the restraining order issue. Amazingly, Kimberly was used to discuss mental illness and no additional information is available on the case. 

With a false religion, witchcraft, combined with all the evidence of possession that she puts out through her alter-ego, Sasha Fierce, it is not hard to understand that Beyonce is doing what she has done, for the most part of her career, by promoting her false deity through her music and presentations, and either directly or inadvertently seducing the masses to viewing her as some sort of icon and getting paid a LOT of money for it in the process.

I mean look at it, the very thought of "criticism" being leveled at Beyonce causes some to get angry, cuss, fuss and just overall hate the critic out of pocket no matter what is being criticized. This indicates that in the mind and hearts of many, Beyonce has taken on a "goddess status" and is untouchable and is above reproach. Many minds have been seduced and believe me, her CD's and productions are prayed over in her spirit of witchcraft.

The fact that Beyonce and her husband JayZ, who have both been the inspiration for a non-traditional view of religion, spirituality and moral values, openly in their music and personal statements, should be a strong indicator of what one is "getting themselves into" in seeking to do core business with this particular music group. In essence, WALKS, TALKS, QUACKS...OK...

The Music Industry & The Sample Game

Artists sampling the music of others within their music is not all together a new game, but one that has certainly taken new and expanded dimensions in the age of digital music production. To be clear, many of the major gospel artists and choirs have allowed their music, songs or certain parts of a song or presentation to be sampled by both secular and fellow gospel artists AND/OR, in many cases have used certain portions of secular artists works to make, produce and present gospel music. 

For instance Kanye West, who has either sampled the music of others or been sampled by others over some 3,000 times, has, during his recent tryst into gospel music and the church, sampled songs as far back as 1976 in order to produce many of his more popular so called gospel songs, some of which are still anything but gospel.

Gospel artist Kirk Franklin (the KING of secular artist remakes and samples) who has either sampled or been sampled over some 62 times with portions of his most popular songs, such as "I Smile" using samples from secular artists such as Scarface ("Smile" 1977), Bob James ("Take Me To The Mardi Gras" 1975) and Little Feat ("Fool Yourself" 1973). 

Others such as Mary Mary who's 2005 hit "Heaven" was nearly an entire direct sample of the 1971 hit "Want Ads" by Honey Cone, is another example of the gospel music artist borrowing from secular music. Then there's the 2010 hit "Walking" (man some of my most favorite songs) which sampled Run-DMC ("Here We Go" 1985) and Crystal Water's 1991 hit "Gypsy Woman"

Ooh, yes, we're not through...there's the incomparable Fred Hammond, who has not only sampled a portion of Stevie Wonder's 1976 hit "Love's in need of love today" in his "2004 Love In Need, but he also sampled the biggest beggar of all time, Keith Sweat (1987 "I want her") in his 1998 "I Wanna Know Your Ways" and even the SOS Band's 1980 song "Take Your Time(Do It Right)" in his 2000 "Willing To Follow You".  

Then, there is the most SECULAR degenerate of them all...Deitrick Haddon, who has leveled great animus against the critics of  both Clark and Knowles saying:

"Gospel artists have been sampling secular songs and turning them gospel for decades. And you've been worshiping and dancing to them songs! Now when they want to sample our songs we get self righteous and fake holy. That's the epitome of hypocricy" 

He went on to say:

“Let Beyonce make her song for her audience and you make your gospel song for your audience. Then mind your own business and let God be God. If you have a problem or a concern about Beyoncé just pray for her strength!
On another note:
I’m glad that Twinkie Clark is getting rewarded after some fake gospel label shyster swindled young, innocent Twinkie out of all her publishing!
Twinkie is one of my musical heroes and it does my heart so glad to know she’s getting paid. Someone with her talent should have been super rich but she dedicated her gift to a people that half way appreciate what she has contributed to the gospel!
Lord I thank you for the wealth transfer to a woman of God that deserves it. It blows my mind how God works"

First of all, Deitrick delivers so many false narratives concerning this, I could spend another entire article addressing it. For instance Twinkie is 66 years old and was swindled out of some of her publishing when she was in her 20's from what we understand. So that is nearly 40 years ago. Then how do we "pray the strength" of a devil or evil? That is a RIDICULOUS notion. In total, his are ridiculous sentiments put as if Twinkie was just swindled yesterday or that all people deserve the blessings of God's people, no matter their worldview, goals or aims.

However, there is a good reason Deitrick would be all for sampling without limitations. It seems that 18 of his songs have either been sampled or include a sample and MOST, if not ALL of them, he sampled parts from SECULAR artists. In other words many of his songs COME FROM SECULAR ARTISTS or contain an element in them from secular artists including the following songs: 

*"Fire" (1999) which samples "Ascension" by Maxwell (1982) and "Outstanding" (1982) by The Gap Band
*"Don't Go" (2006) which samples "Stay With Me" (1983) by DeBarge
*"Glory" (2017) which sampled "Juicy Fruit" (1983) by Mtume
*"Hold on 2 your Faith" (1997) which sampled "Stranger in Moscow" (1996) by Michael Jackson
*"Oh Yea" (2002) which sampled "Break Up To Make Up" (2002) by JAY Z and R KELLY
*"Holiness" (1997) which sampled "Walk On By" (1969) by Issac Hayes

There is more, but I seriously grow tired. 

What a BUNCH OF GARBAGE!!! Jay Z AND R Kelly??? Are you serious Deitrick??? To call someone else a hypocrite is the BLACK POT calling the Kettle Black....Your team has dealt with devils and demons, presented things to the church in the name of God, and you try to justify your DIRTY deeds...What apostasy comes this way???

Small Agreement...

To the point, of which I agree to SOME little extent, as I ALREADY STATED ABOVE, the sample game, from secular music to gospel music and vice versa, is strong and has been in existence for quite some time. So, in the ONE and ONLY area in which Deitrick and I can find some semblance of agreement, please be clear, Twinkie DID NOT start this trend, and Beyonce, who's team has either sampled or has been sampled over 400 times is no novice to the sampling game.

Now, none of this is an endorsement of the sampling game or what gospel music and gospel musicians or our "psalmists" are doing. It is a reflection of what is actually going on and why many people have called for an end to the gospel music "industry".  One can debate over that all day, but what should not be debateable is that gospel music and secular music may have common roots, but wholly different aims or end goals. Many of these people don't want you to believe that there is and should be a specific difference between the world and Gospel because they attempt to serve 2 masters, but that kingdom is coming down and ONLY the Kingdom of Christ will be exalted.   

Some Details On The SAMPLE PROCESS

There are 2 parts to the process of sampling. First, anyone sampling music means that SOMEBODY gets paid $$$. There is always, or should be an exchange of money from the sampler [aka: purchaser] to the sampl(ee) [aka: seller]. This means that the sampl(ee) would either ONE, get paid a flat fee or an amount of money for the sample, or TWO, receive royalties on the play of the music in which their sample is used. Sometimes, there could be a combination of both. It depends upon how the contract to sample is negotiated.

From industry insiders, normally under the latter arrangement, the payment to the sampl(ee) is roughly .06 cents per play, (under whatever ruberic play is counted) but that is for the life of the song in which the sample is used. Under the flat fee method, a person would get paid, a PRE-NEGOTIATED sum of money and walk away from the project. One payment, no matter how successful or unsuccessful the song in which the sold sample is used.

From a monetary standpoint, according to TVStarsInfo Twinkie Clark has a modest net worth of $6MM to $7MM, which pales in comparison to Beyonce's which is reportedly over $500MM. However, Twinkie has also been plagued with health conditions on and off which may take their toll financially. So I certainly don't condemn Twinkie (as we call her) for seeking to pad the bottom line and make money... However, unlike Haddon, who is ineptly blind in this instance, I will address the real issue in a bit...  

SECONDLY, under normal circumstances, the sampl(ee) is given the scope, range and sample use parameters BEFORE payment is made and the transaction concluded. In other words, the person who made and or produced, or has publishing rights of the original sample is usually and normally given full knowledge of what will happen to their sample and or song and the details of how that song will be used. There is always an exchange of vision and use of the sample and or song, is not blind. In other words, use of the sample, DOES NOT catch the seller or the publisher by surprise under most, if not all circumstances. 

IF that is true, Twinkie or her attorney's drafting and overseeing the transition agreement or sale of sample, would have also been given the vision of use for the sample and how her music would be used and what her music would in essence be promoting. That leads me to this 

The "Church Girl" Sample Difference 

Ephes. 6:12 ~ For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness
in high places.

 As stated, nobody blames Twinkie or anyone else for the "come up". God gives gifts and some of those gifts can be used to pay the bills. However, THIS TIME...there is and was a specific message directed towards the church and in particularly the women and young women of the church by the Sampl(ee) or PURCHASER. THIS is the PROBLEM!

It is without question that this song, "Church Girl" is a song which, like many of Beyonce's songs, encourages promiscuity and debase actions. This one in particular, seeks to call young women, FROM Holiness or the "Center Of God's Will" to LUST, HEDONISM, and degenerate behavior.

Mini-Analysis

The CHURCH GIRLS are called by Beyonce, to leave the position of prayer and seeking God to be THOTTY'S   aka: The Ho's Out There......According to Beyonce...this CHURCH GIRL that had been seeking the Lord and going through trials was supposed to let go, go to the PARTY (aka: world) and don't worry about anyone's judgment, but "Drop it" and "Pop it Like A Thotty"... and be a "loose" church girl and not a "bad" and "snotty" one and "let it out"..."twirl that ass" like she "came up from the South" (admonition to what we know as TWERKING and a stereotypical vision of Southern Black women being sexually promiscuous (although she didn't refer to race, the suggestion exists))...she should "get her racks up" (expose her breasts) and he should get his "math up" (aka: get hard or erect) as this CHURCH GIRL "backs it up" on him...and she should do these things regardless of whether she is planning on going to church or not, because "she is trying to do the best she can"...In other words, this admonition is one of empathy, because this girl has no husband and even if she does, she was born "free" and needs to do something for "herself"...then don't be afraid to get paid for your actions (blank check) and be a prostitute "do it baby", "stick it baby" and in the end, Beyonce isn't trying to hurt anyone but "trying to bring life within your body" 

 So Beyonce's thoughts suggest that these CHURCH GIRLS have no life! 

The DEVIL IS A LIAR!

John 10:10 ~ The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

As we can see, this song, using this particular sample, is NOT merely about music. It is about 2 diametrically opposed world views. It is about to POLAR OPPOSITE visions and views of life. one, where the life is subject to God, that is living in HIS servitude, and the alternate that seeks to serve self, if not always, then for times, when there can be a "letting down of the hair" and a less intense view of life itself. one in which these GIRLS and LADIES can give themselves to devils as some sort of pressure valve release to the flesh...

Romans 8:6 ~ For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is
life and peace.

Conclusion:

Bishop Wooden was so on point in his analysis and it is GOD that used him to observe and bring this EVIL to the surface. With all of what is going on, our young people and Saints in general need to know that the position of prayer is the right position and that God is still God and will answer prayer and is soon to come. 

Twinkie DID NOT and DOES NOT need Beyonce to be relevant in any way. 

Obviously there are individuals seeking to undertake the issue and they are blind, held in the flesh and following friendship with the world so tightly that they cannot divest themselves from it. 

1 John 2:15 ~ Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

They know little or nothing of SANCTIFICATION and HOLINESS and if they do, they have been seduced by the god of this world into aligning themselves with his deceptive and degenerate vision for the human condition of life. 

It remains SAD that our leadership within the church in general has been so easily seduced into non discernment of truth, right and reality. What judgement we face from a GOD who is not simply some low life charlatan passing by, begging for friends...HE IS GOD and he deserves not only worship, but our very best in response to HIS being. 

Joshua 24:15 ~ And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house,
we will serve the LORD.

This Pastor and Supt. WILL and HAS, repented of sins and faults and will forever seek the Lord without compromise of HOLINESS which seems to have taken a back seat to humanism even within the holiness church and as people examine this issue. Thank God we can clearly see the sign of the time and the great falling away from truth.

One more question...how can we be in consecrated prayer and CUSS at or to God, put it in a song and think it's OK? This is SAD!

Blessed!

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Hip-Hop, Idolatry & The Church Pt. 22 ~Satanism On Your TV

Praise the LORD from whom ALL BLESSINGS flow! Taken a break but I'm back for a minute...But you need to read this:

Theurgy (Magic) - The Operation of Moon - Theurgy translates to "The Science or art of Divine Works." There are two different types of magic, according to Giovanni Pico della Mirandola's Apology, completely opposite of one another. The first is Goëtia, black magic reliant upon an alliance with evil spirits (i.e. demons). The second is Theurgy, divine magic reliant upon an alliance with divine spirits (i.e. angels, archangels, gods). In the practice of Hermetic theurgy, these are invoked in order to awaken elemental, planetary, an zodiacal forces in the physical and energetic bodies. Theurgy is the practical aspect of the astrology. Ritual magic and all modern magical traditions ultimately derive from Hermetic theurgy.

Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn ~ website

I haven't visited this topic in a while due to other equally as important and exciting ministerial ventures, topics and programs undertaken. In part, my children, bless their hearts, have kept me informed of some of the latest happenings in the music industry, because I am one of those saints who DO NOT listen to R&B, or it's brother hip-hop except to review it's content and when my attention is called to certain points, lyrics or beats. However, as I turn to focus my eyes once again, I find that the modern music industry and most specifically that associated with modern hip-hop, neo soul and R & B, is in a most desperate and continued need of deliverance.

I will focus on a few points delivering information and focusing on the subject from a slightly different perspective than most do. I will also discuss and reference a couple of websites that I believe you may want to link to and keep up with as they have undertaken to thoroughly examine this particular aspect of modern music. That aspect is satanism and the 'devil' in the music. 

I have talked about this trend in bits and pieces in multiple articles previously. What I have found is that producers and sometimes unwitting artists, are producing more and more "mystically centered" garbage in effort to seduce and cast spells on the minds of our children and those who give themselves to the pursuit of fame, association and attention. The church is impacted because it has taken upon itself to mimic the styles and imaginations of these enemies of the cross. As we will point out, these efforts usually occur in the name of "reaching" children. Needless to say, this is a horrible strategy of evangelization and, in my opinion, must cease as a strategy and be thoroughly denounced through and by biblically centered preaching and teaching.

Side Note:

...And I must say I APPLAUD a Mt. Salem BAPTIST church that undertook to remove their pastor as he  by his actions expressed that supporting hip-hop could be reconciled with faith and purity in Christ...It seems that while many of the so called "Saints" (as we were once exclusively called) are running to and fro to find out how much of a partnership and fellowship with the world that we can have and still "resemble"

Read more!

Hip-Hop, Idolatry & The Church Pt. 13

The New Age

Act I
Kanye & Jay-Z

In what may be the signal of the accelerated pace of hatred and destruction that the devil wishes to perpetrate upon humanity and women in particular, Kanye "Jesus Walks" West and Jay "I Am Jay Hovah" Z have taken their talents of ungodliness and mysticism to a completely new level portraying the murder and destruction of women as if it were art in his new video called "Monster". To be fair, dark portrayals are sometimes what sells in Hollywood and  this type of dark portrayal of women has taken place and is hailed as an art form by some who love "dark" and sadistic artistic expressions. However, when all things are considered, including statements, symbolism and moral and spiritual implications of the presentation, it is rather disturbing to say the least. Here is one of the scenes from the video. We should ask, is this what we call art?

Released Dec. 30th 2010, "Monster" seems to set the world on edge displaying the mutilation of of women and models, even portraying them being beheaded while Kanye and his number one friend, Jay-Z, dance and rap around the dead corpses while both of them proclaim that "every body know that I am a mutha(***Shut Yo Mouth***) Monster". Now, immediately, individuals revert to the thoughts of a metaphor or contrast to their talent and money being so great that they could be considered "monsters" of the stage. However, what does that have to do with dead women and the dismemberment and mutilation of bodies? Stop and think for a minute, what if they are saying more than just that their ability to make money is superior and that their talents are off the hook? Since it's obvious that these men are under the influence of satan and satanism if only for show, what if the spirit through them is proclaiming much more than meets the eye? We must further ask, since these people are doing these things for fame, money and controversy; is it true that they have sold their souls for it? In addition, what does a truly possessed person look like? We picture the demoniac in Gadara, running wild and crazy in the graveyard with no clothes on, and say certainly "he" was possessed. What about the modern artist that brings the graveyard scenes to life in YOUR living rooms and through music that infects our children and adults by the droves...Could this be what possession in the 21st Century actually looks like??? THINK!  

The Outcry Against Misogyny

Did you read outcry? Well, as stated, an outcry doesn't exist as the video is hailed as being a display of "art" by many within the music industry. Yes, we are aware of freedom of speech and artistic expression, but there is also something called responsibility that comes along with every freedom that we have. These men show absolutely NO responsibility for their whims. It is called being intoxicated with sin and the world itself. Thank God that What About Our Daughters.com has spoken on the issue. They said this:

Read more!

Swine Won't Stop The True Gospel or The Real Church!

The "Swine Flu" or now the H1N1 Virus has placed a scare into the country because of the virulence of the disease. Our current pandemic alert level in the US is 5, set by the World Health Organization. The H1N1 virus is a hybrid of swine, avian and human strain virus. The two anti-influenza drugs on the market, amantadine (Symmetrel) and rimantadine (Flumadine) are ineffective in treatment. And there's no other current and effective vaccine made by any Rx company in the world as of today. In recent days it's been reported that shipments of influenza vaccine have been sent out to various locations, however any vaccine sent could not be to combat this particular strain of H1N1 as one does not currently exist. So the question is what was shipped and why?

According to CNN as of today there have been 331 confirmed cases of the disease worldwide, 109 confirmed US cases resulting in 1 US death and 156 deaths in Mexico, the suspected origin of the disease. Additionally CNN reports that known cases worldwide are as follows:

• Austria (1), Canada (34), Germany (3), Israel (2), Netherlands (1), New Zealand (3), Spain (13), Switzerland (1) and the United Kingdom (8) An additional 230 cases are being investigated in the United Kingdom, and Spain has 84 suspected cases. Australia, which has had no confirmed cases, was investigating 114.
  
  

Could This Be A Biological Terrorist Attack?

There are a number of theories regarding the nature of this flu epidemic. Most of it comes as a result of a post 9/11 mindset.

Drug Cartels Working With Terrorist Groups Theory:
One thing is for sure is that the Mexican drug cartels and terrorist groups have seemed to "hook up" in recent times and this has been noted by the US Government. The cartels have more money and weapons than the Mexican Government and Army and are not afraid to engage the US law enforcement of any kind. This has led to a great suspicion that either Hezbollah or another Jihadist group, working through Iran, has either assisted or at the very least been resourceful in this venture. This theory overlooks the fact that the true Jihadist also views drugs as being not honorific to Allah and the West in general, including Mexico, as being inspired of Satan. Not to mention that the drug cartels wouldn't want to eliminate their clients right away. They would loos whatever money that have accumulated.

One point of interest regarding this is that Islam yet teaches against consumption of pork, and none of the countries known as "Islamic countries" are on the list. This is especially intriguing since the disease is said to easily spread by human to human contact past one generation, which, up until this point, is highly unusual so far as influenza viruses and illnesses are concerned.

Terrorist Test Theory:
Another argument is that this whole situation is only a warm-up much like a Beta-Test to see how far this could spread and to see the reaction of the world community. In other words a testing of the waters by the international community be they "terrorists" or other "string pullers" who need to know about our emergency preparedness systems. While this may be plausible, terrorists usually study and know procedures of countries and governmental agencies long before those procedures are implemented. The object of terrorism is death and absolute fear, and as sicknesses go this one within the US has not caused the death or fear that a genetically engineered virus would seem to aim for. So upon evaluation, it becomes a rather uncompelling argument to say that any terrorist was just trying to find out what would happen IF...

Drug Company Conspiracy:

Another theory is that this has somehow been structured and layered by the Rx companies in efforts to bolster need for their products and consequently allowing them to make more money. Although every company has to create a need for their particular products and services, I find this one kind of hard to swallow from a humanistic standpoint. Maybe that's just my hope that even the pharmaceutical industry would hold to better standards than that.

Population Control Theory:

Another theory (that goes in conjunction with the next one) is that this is the beginning of a population control measure. Many atheists, humanists and Christians and otherwise are so worried about the depletion of natural resources. There is a push for countries such as the US to adopt measures to stifle the growing population trends. Some have invoked ideas such as China's population control standards as a means to relive the earth of the growing threat of human expansion and resource depletion. In other words people need to die so that others won't be inconvenienced. I guess for them who hold this view, it's more a process of natural selection of survival of the fittest.

A Final Conspiracy Theory???

Government Control Theory:

A Final theory, and one that is much more malicious in its intent, is that the US Government had something to do with it. More specifically that President Obama, hid or is hiding information regarding it, or that former President Bush made some deals at the very least set the stage for this...

Well, the government's record hasn't been good historically. Look at Tuskegee and the controversial suspicion about AIDS. Sorry, but truth is what it is...However, since Katrina and Kanye West's statements that "Bush doesn't care about black people!" We've seen that everything that seems to go on in this country is somehow now part of a conspiratous governmental scam or theory...Since I'm in no position to investigate every claim, I can only say that I've been around the block a few times in these 45 years of mine and heard a lot of suspicion raised on many issues only to live and find out first hand that much of what people go to elaborate means to claim is garbage, and garbage is just what it is...GARBAGE...Take it out, throw it away and it'll eventually all fade away...One thing is certain, what's hidden will come to the light.

The More Than Likely Scenario:

More than likely the H1N1 virus is a reassortment of existing human virus which is a relatively new type of viral path as these sort of viruses are concerned. The sustained transmission from human to human means that this virus is not based on the standard or traditional norms that were previously understood. In other words, no conspiracy theory needed just an understanding of basic evolutionary science which most Christians agree that occurs on a micro evolutionary basis such as this. In fact, this just may be a micro evolutionary observation within our day and age that adds significant value scientific understanding...we'll see.

With All Of That Said, What's The Church's Response?

The most disturbing thing that I've heard during this course of days is that Saints (ie: Christians) are saying, they "ain't going nowhere", because of this flu pandemic. I've even heard them say they were changing and cancelling vacation plans and even church attendance plans. In other words church folk are afraid that they will catch the Swine Flu and die as a result. I've even had folk call us about our upcoming conference, asking questions about cancellation or the safety and health of our guests who are flying to the event. Some have even asked if I think it would be a "safe idea" to continue...

I can only respond by asking and saying, when did PIGS ever stop the preaching of the gospel or the blessing of God's people? WE ARE SHO-NUFF GONNA HAVE OUR CONFERENCE! Lay Hands on folk too! Jesus is Lord over swine flu and what we don't know that is yet to come, and HIS church won't be overcome by any of this.

Mt. 16:18 ~ "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

The Word of God has made it through multiple historic wars, 2 modern World Wars, at least one Great Depression, extreme persecution throughout history worldwide, a host of ungodly and godless world leaders and dictators who souught to stop Christianity, a series of plagues and unfavorable weather patterns, and horrible natural events. Not even the swine flu will defeat God's church or stop the message of Christ from being preached or stop the real Siants from fellowshipping.

With the exclusion of Vice-President Joe "Open Mouth Insert Foot Here"Biden, (and we probably all feel about like how Senator Leahy appears whenever Biden speaks) even the World Health Organization continues to encourage people to travel and do what they do. They say what they say based on their own humanistic understandings of things. What about the church that says it knows God? Where is our confidence in our redeemer?

What Have We Lost?

As a church we seem to have lost insights into the whole idea of a supernatural God. Another one of the principles that seems missing is a biblical understanding of the Israel/Egypt concept, and our inheritance as believers in Jesus. I mean yes, I agree that we may get sick like anyone else, however, our lives, as believers, ARE NOT in the hands of a virus, especially not one related to a pig.

Ps. 31:14-16 ~ "14-But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God. 15-My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me. 16-Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies’ sake."

Our lives (times) are in the hands of God. In other words, God always made a difference between HIS people and the people of the world. There is nothin NEW under the sun, (Ecc.1:9) simply a variation of what's already here:

1 Cor. 10:13 ~ "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

We all should remember the Passover. When the death came saw the "blood" and kept on movin'. What were we to say and how were we to respond?

Ex.12:27 ~ "That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD’S passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.

Who was that "passover" for us that are now hid in HIM?

Jn. 1:29 ~ "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."

Jn. 1:35 ~ "Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; 36And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!"

It wasn't because death didn't come to Israel that they lived, it was because the blood was there and the power of God was upon them that were obedient to HIS word. Does this mean that we should be foolish and uncaring about where we go and who we are around...absolutely not. We should however exercise the biblical faith the God has given us and expect that we will not be let down...As they say, We've come this far by faith and HE's never failed us yet...By the way, HE never will fail. I cheated a little bit and read the END of the book to find out how it all comes out and WE GOOD!

Jn. 16:33 ~ "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

Blessed!
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Hip-Hop, Idolatry & The Church Pt. 4

The Effects Of The Hip-Hop Culture On Social Morality, Sexuality & Promiscuity.

To continue our examination of the church and its relationship to hip-hop we must look at some of the peripheral issues that help set the stage for the message and trap of hip hop and the churches oblivious nature in relationship to those peripheral issues. ie: We gotta look at what the culture uses to trap our youth and why the church has been so slow to respond to those set traps.

One of the first things to note about modern hip-hop is the tone that it sets for it's adherents and followers. As we've stated in Hip-Hop, Idolatry & The Church Pt. 1, hip-hop is a anti-God and anti-Christ world view, complete with it's own codes, standards, and statements of faith or belief. These elements qualify it as a humanistic religious system. That alone makes hip-hop incompatible with Christianity and Christian practice in general.

Biblical Insights

In ANE or (Ancient Near East) biblical history there were several areas that pagan religions affected among it's adherents. I will focus on a few of them in this section and draw parallels to what hip-hop has done among many of our youth and society in general.

Part A- Social Morality & Clothing

Deut. 22:5 ~ "5-The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God."

Known as probably one of the most popular scriptures in the identification of a holiness church, this verse has often been quoted in and out of context to make the point that God wants there to be a difference in appearance between male and female. In proper context it should be noted that this scripture was referring to pagan practices of dawning the apparel of the opposite sex during religious and other ceremonies.

• “As the word...geber is here used, which properly signifies a strong man or man of war, it is very probable that armour is here intended; especially as we know that in the worship of Venus, to which that of Astarte or Ashtaroth among the Canaanites bore a striking resemblance, the women were accustomed to appear in armour before her.” ~ Clark, Adam. "Commentary on Deuteronomy 22:5". "Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible".

Due to false worship, there is also strong historical evidence that a woman was not permitted to array herself for battle with a man's armor or war garments including men's weapons such as swords. This is one reason that Jael killed Sisera with a tent spike and not a sword. (Judges 4:21) A sword was used as a man's weapon and would be prohibited for a woman's usage. (See Rabbi Jon-Jay Tilsen of The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism from an article entitled “Cross Dressing and Deuteronomy 22:5".)

Regardless of the interpretation, the bible is deliberate about setting forth a distinction between not only men and women, but apparel that is honorific to God in general, and does not confuse genders. In the Christian world view garments were and are an extension of worship and honor towards God.

Hip hop however, has established it's own purpose for garments and totally blurred if not obliterated the lines of acceptable societal standards and reestablished and norm based on it's own idea of street fashion.

A Culture Of Death & Resurgence Of False Religion

One such evidence of garments that help proliferate the hip-hop message is the skull and crossbones scheme set forth and popularized by fashion designer Mark ECKO. This is one of the most popular arrays of garments among today's youth and the hip-hop faithful. The problem here is that the design itself was originally used to indicate either one of two things 1- When the bones are behind the skull- poison or danger and 2- when the bones are underneath the skull- a "Jolly Roger" which indicates piracy or thievery. In both cases the skull and crossbones combination ultimately indicates DEATH. In other words the whole symbolism and purpose of the display is death.

Now, the skeptic says that the military also uses such symbols, and we call them heroes and I respond by saying, rightfully so. However, I would point out the mission of the military in times of war. The military shows up for an express purpose and that's to destroy the enemy and his plans. Knowing that, I would say that the use of the symbol is highly known and in line with its message...need I say more?

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