You know, y'all should really take some time and check out the cable access shows in your area every now and then. If you can get past the the grainy picture and the poor production, you'll be able to get a great idea of the thoughts of the underground media in your region...some of which you might even represent. I had an opportunity to do that this Saturday, viewing a show that was a comedy-slash-black-power program that focused on a flaming hot topic here in the 804...the proposed baseball stadium in the Shockoe Bottom area of the city...an area that served as a thriving slave port during America's ugly slave trade years. The long-dreaded host and his black-fist friend used the hour of air time to promote their stance on the issue, a stance that's popular among the recent black political in the area...no stadium over "our" ancestors. They were real solid in their position until I proposed to them this question: "being that slaves worked for free, wouldn't it honor our ancestors more if we presented opportunities where their descendants can work for pay, such as this stadium? If you don't see this stadium as an opportunity such as this, then what alternatives do you present?" At that moment the crickets filled the room.
In this experience and many others, this is what is what I find so glaring with the new age Black Nationalist (those who vehemently disagree with every thing that is or related to being American...except actually living in America...as they haven't as much planned a virtual trip to Africa). They are reasonably intelligent but woefully misguided. They are deeply talented but also unoriginal. And they are desperately insecure. They have believed falsehoods about themselves on both sides of the issue of being black, that they've sided with inaccurate philosophies of freedom, expression, religion, and self-love. Along with that, they are so connected with history that they are delusional about current realities. Frankly, they are or have chosen to be hurt. But this isn't just a trait for the person wearing the African dashiki that was actually made in Minnesota; so many of us are exhibiting hate for others because we're hurt about ourselves. And because we haven't taken the appropriate time to submerge ourselves in the appropriate information about the truth, we build an entire existence on lies. But what if we could only see ourselves as the Divinely loved...which is what we are?
Mark 15:21-28 tells an intriguing story concerning this. A woman whose daughter is under demonic possession pleads to Jesus for Him to remove that demon. Jesus, recognizing the woman's nationality and her time of request, refuses. But the determined mother, even after being humiliated, engaged Christ with facts about herself and the compassion about Him. Jesus, pleasantly surprised about her faith, could refuse her no more and her daughter was healed. Now, while miraculous healing is always great, don't miss the underlying pieces here. This woman didn't allow even Jesus' immediate perception about her to stop her from receiving the power He had. Instead, she was confident that Jesus was a lover of all mankind...and most importantly, she was confident in herself; knowing that she deserved to be healed by Him.
Do we have that same confidence? Do we know that regardless of our race, sex, sexual orientation, or any other man-influenced divider that we are to be recipients of God's complete love with certainty? Are we positive that God truly cares for us, and so we will care for ourselves with equal passion? I mean, I know we proclaim that God is awesome...but do we believe God is awesome for us? Perhaps that belief is the separating factor between being an outcast and being secure; between hating ourselves and hence hating others, and loving God and the restoring plans He has for us. But you must know, whether the world is completely against you and everything the world feels you represent, through Jesus Christ you are adored among the heavenly...and you have a right to live like it.
Instead of overcoming yourself with hatred, live peacefully in the love of God.
Peace
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