Thursday, August 18, 2016

Preachers Promote the System Against the People

We preachers have also been tempted by the enticing cult of conformity. Seduced by the success symbols of the world, we have measured our achievements by the size of our parsonage. We have become showmen to please the whims and caprices of the people. We preach comforting sermons and avoid saying anything from our pulpit that might disturb the respectable view of the comfortable members of our congregations. Have we ministers of Jesus Christ sacrificed truth on the alter of self-interest and, like Pilate, yielded our convictions to the demand of the crowd?
We need to recapture the gospel glow of the early Christians, who were non-conformists in the truest sense of the word and refused to shape their witness according to the mundane patterns of the world. They willingly sacrifice fame, fortune, and life itself on behalf of a cause they knew to be right. Small, they were giants. Their powerful gospel put an end to such barbaric evils as infanticide and bloody gladiatorial contests.
The Church became so entrenched in wealth and prestige that it began to dilute the strong demands of the gospel and to conform to the ways of the world, and ever since the Church has been a weak and ineffectual trumpet making uncertain sounds. If the Church of Jesus Christ is to regain once more its power, message, and authentic ring, it must conform only to the demand of the gospel.
The hope of a secure and liveable world lies with disciplined nonconformists, who are dedicated to justice, peace, and brotherhood. The trailblazers in human, academic, scientific, and religious freedom have always been nonconformists. In any cause that concerns the progress of mankind, put your faith in the nonconformist.
The system is designed to conquer and divide which includes the Church. The system has many tools, such as the Church, court system, food, clothing, and housing. The have's and the have not's. The rich against the poor.
As the economic crisis continues to grip America and threatens to get deeper, people in the working class communities across the country are beginning to stand up and demand that the government serve the people's interests, not those of the corporations. The Church has refused to take a stand, but the people as they stood up have come under fire from the corporations and the government. This is especially true in Benton Harbor, Michigan.
This is a call for action for churches, organizations, and individuals who believe in justice to show up in Benton Harbor to rally in honor of the truth and justice. Fifty years after the fight for civil rights and human rights we still are faced with brutality, inequality, and racism. Our attempts at resistance are often met with violence. We must confront this fascist government.