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The Willie Lynch Theory was one of the best books that I ever read. Through out this great work you began to see how slaves were developed and brought into submission to comply with the nuances of slavery. The slave owners used a system that was similar to horse rearing. They would take the strongest horse form the steed and then beat him into submission before the others. In doing this they would break the horse to comply to their orders and put fear in the horse.
As I look back over my life and see the great changes that have occurred, I see they came through me being broken. I was a hard headed dude that wanted by own experiences instead of listening to others talk about what had happen. It took God to allow me to go through hard times and to be broken to experience the joy of coming out of problems. The major difference in comparison to the Willie Lynch Theory is that he did it by showing me his love. Yes he allowed me to suffer for a while but it was his love that really rocked my world. Never in my life had I experienced a love like that in my life. I had good parents and a good wife but this love was overwhelming. When I read Romans 5:8 my whole world was flipped upside down. I remember that day like it was yesterday. That was one of the first days of a 4 year long time of being broken.
To this day I still am in a place of brokenness. I am starting to see that many of the people that I have engage in spiritual debates have placed me at arms distance. As God continues to break down my walls of pride I shutter at the endless possibilities that can manifest. I must say that it is only because of the broken state that I am able to make it. 2 Cor. 12 has become a model of my life that I find refreshing.
To see the Apostle Paul admit that he had the same struggles puts me on bugged out status. Here is the greatest theologian, disciple or servant for Christ admitting his character flaws before others of his day and days to come. I see daily how renewing your mind is essential to you walk in Christ.
Constant Reformation
I am often blown away by the true lack of concern that some of the body of Christ have for the “common man.” Now when I say common man I am referring to one who is not a so called pastor, prophet, bishop or whatever other title one chooses to bestow upon a man. I see members of certain churches defend their pastors regardless of the actions or wrong doings they have performed. The pastor could have been caught red handed and they will still say it was the devil. Man will quote scripture out of context…touch not mine anointed and many others to defend their pastors. Never once addressing the fact that this person has sinned and sinned greatly.
Now I believe that all can be forgiven but that is not the issue that I having with the members of these churches. The problem rest in the fact that the same forgiveness that they give their pastors is not reflected in their relationships with those who do not hold titles. If a member fornicates then they are ridiculed and made a mockery of but if the pastor does the very same thing then it was the devil and we need to pray.
So when some one writes a story holding the pastor accountable then we hear the same sad comment, “Instead of putting him down why not just pray for him.” Yes we do need to pray for him but we also need to call him what he is…if that is adulterer then that is what he is….if that is a liar then that is what he is. So if you have a pastor who is foul please not reading folks blog and leaving comments without acknowledging that your pastor is foul. We all make mistakes but many of them rake over there mistakes without owing up to the error. Check some of the great people that have fallen in the last six months……
I would love to see those same members go out and comfort those who have sinned and now stand crushed. Where is the love for those people without condemning them with your egocentric behavior?
5On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. 6Though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. 7So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Cor. 12:4-10)
As I read 2 Cor. 12:8-14, I see Paul playing the humble upon what he just experienced while being taking up into the third heaven. He disclosed that he had heard things that he can’t share with others. Upon the gathering of this knowledge we find that Paul declares that he was giving a thorn in his flesh so that he might not get puffed up. It interested Paul declared that he could boast but he refrains so that so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. (v.6) Truth be told he could have boasted but he choose to chill because Paul understood that it was nothing so great that he did to get him to the place that he was in God.
Paul main objective was not to dazzle people with his knowledge but to display a submitted lifestyle to the truth of the Gospel. Though laced with knowledge from on high he did not want people to look upon him as some sort of anomaly of the faith but as a humble servant. As I ponder the presence of mind that Paul possessed I am struck to ask what would some of today do with the same knowledge.
Paul was not out to show off his divine revelation but yet choose display his weakness and how God became his strength through those very same weaknesses. Dr. Constable states,
“This is one of the most important lessons every ambassador of Jesus Christ must learn. Both natural weakness and supernatural power are constantly at work in us, as they were in Paul and in Jesus. The Cross is the greatest example of divine power working through human weakness. The greater we sense our weakness, the more we will sense God’s power (cf. Eph.3:16; Phil. 4:13). Someone has said that Christians live on promises, not explanations. This is one of the greatest promises that God has given us to live on.”
With the stake of the gospel now being the emphasis of obtaining money I would make an assumption that most would divulge any information that they may have for the the sake of the mighty dollar. Some pastors would use the divine knowledge as a means to put on a spectacle of sorts to get people loot. They would take the thorn in the flesh as the devil working against them moreso than God using it to provide a reminder of his limitations.
Simply put the love of money is killing the body of Christ…….
Good looking to my man Lionel Woods for the lyrics.
“En:Trance”
It’s like I’m enterin’ into the temple/ left my flesh at the altar bathed at the laver, continuin’/ in identifyin’ with Christ and sacrifice/ purged with his word and Spirit the knife, cuttin’ precisely// dividing the soulish and spiritual, devotion from ritual/ Pharisaic traditions and relational pinnacles/ no longer seen as sinful linen cloaks my physical/ like the ship of Vulcan, my sins become invisible// in visible distance I behold the holiest/ pass the pillars and the porch and approach with boldness/ establish in his strength, glad to be his associates/ communing without the communism of the Soviets// consuming the shewbread frosted with pure frankincense offered for a memorial is the metaphor makin’ sense/ a wonderful fragrance made when the Son was offered/ grantin’ me access into the throne room of the Father// continuin’ onward after glancin’ at the lamp stands/ light providin’ sight, so I see where my Timberlands stand/ filled with His Spirit the light of Christ that shines before man/ Holy Ghost promote more than Jordan and Foreman// for a minute I pause at the altar of incense/ thanked the Lord for interceding for my since an infant/ an infinite God in torn flesh ripped the curtain/ He searchin’ my dirty heart but his heart is worthy of searchin’ for certain//
“Christ Crucified”
To speak the truth is my main aim
And I don’t mind saying the same things
We live in strange days and cats are trying to maintain
While sin holds the world prisoner like a chain gang
If you don’t believe me, how do you explain pain?
Soon it’s gonna rain flames; you can’t play the blame game
You’re on the highway to hell, you’d better change lanes
‘Cause you’ll only gain strain and your fame won’t remain
It’s plain, salvation through any other name is lame
I can’t trip off somebody saying “He’s offending me”
I see the enemy- plus the world needs the remedy
And I don’t wanna dis you just tryin’ to confront the issue
‘Cause everyday, shells from guns rip through stomach tissue
Street soldiers toke spliffs and hold pistols
They got smoked- or take short cuts like cliff notes
Politicians might slit throats to get votes
While rich folks with jokes sniff coke on big boats
I spit quotes that make you sense your need for the Lord
And I don’t seek your applause cause He’s my reward
Spiritual hijacker- don’t have to pack a nine; in line
With the Divine Mastermind- crash ya like a linebacker
Plus, there’s a time factor- tomorrow’s not promised
You borrow God’s homage? You’re just a blind actor
Life is fierce and dark- heed the pull of the truth
Christ can pierce your heart- even through your bulletproof.
