The Shame of being Black in AmeriKKKa Part V

Blending my Christian Views against My Reality

I’m sure I’m not alone in my experiences.  I was born into one of the traditional dominations of faith, I left it to follow a non-denominational program only to realize that their version of non-denominational meant ‘winging it & making it up as they went along’.  There wasn’t any real direction and that lack of structure meant control over nurture resulting in a cult.  When I joined a real non-denominational church I could definitely see structure and a combination of real beliefs.  

In my birth church, the pride of us as a people was ever present, it was right there in our name, African Methodist Episcopal. In fact the foundation of the church began because we, as Black Americans, weren’t allowed to worship in the other congregation.  This meant that my church experience was pretty segregated.  The first non-denomination church I joined, the one who ‘was winging it’, didn’t address Black Cultural at all.  There was plenty of shouting, speaking in tongues and even family-oriented programs for economic, social and emotional growth. When I joined the denominational church whose structure was sound, I found it all.  The conflict within no longer existed.  In spite of the church being multi-cultural, the church managed to bridge the gaps for me as well as other ethnic groups without exclusion or isolation.

I’m often challenged or asked as it relates to my Facebook Page, how do I consider myself a Christian and I posted or support groups like; ‘Black Lives Matter’ or that I vote Democratic Party Lines.  My Responses:

1. YOU DO NOT #VOTE God’s Agenda!  What Bible are you reading?!  God’s agenda doesn’t require a VOTE!  HE IS! PERIODT
2. GOD holds us accountable for OUR ACTIONS not the actions of others!  So voting for women to not have or get abortions doesn’t make you some kind of super Christian. In fact, it makes one more of a religious tyrant. The only issues that make it to the polls are visible ones like abortion or same-sex marriages or even death penalty; but what about adultery, rape, incest, molestation?  Some of those Christians because republicans are conservative values defend other acts of violence.  NONE of that, is Christian behavior and NONE OF IT supports the values of God!
3. To Know GOD, TO WORSHIP HIM, is TO KNOW HIS WAYS! IF GOD doesn’t make us do anything, who are we to force people to live a lifestyle?!  GOD allows us to live freely, HE DOESN’T FORCE ANYONE TO DO ANYTHING!  When Christians feel the need to force, dictate the lifestyles of others through legal means, it is extremely invasive, judgmental and places them in a position as well as under personal scrutiny for which that most aren’t ready to stand! STOP IT!
4. When we, as Black Americans, buy into the fact that we have to be either a Christian or Black; we are implying subtly that God made a mistake with us.  THAT’S NOT SO
5. The concept and idea that being Christian means being passive, ignorant, less than, never hurt, never disappointed, never upset, never tired or angry and that we just accept everything with a dance or shout is disrespectful and extremely ignorant which OUR GOD IS NOT!  God knew, knows and has shown us conflict and conflict resolution!  It’s like we are mesmerized by some parts of the Bible while ignoring other parts. A consistent theme throughout the Bible you watch men and women of God, conquer and overcome their enemies! To paint Christianity as some sort of passive idea is not a true picture of Christ.

From wanting, questioning and even bashing us to forgive things that keep occurring to our community repeatedly to dismissing our humanity or citizenship because we protest conditions in our community; Black Americans are judged by everything we do and say!  We, our children, watch while immigrants and white Americans do, say, and act anyway they choose and their punishments are little to none!

So to the critics that follow my page and try to decide whether I’m Christian or Black, I’M BOTH! I’M BOLD IN BOTH AS WELL!

I cannot take my color off (I wouldn’t want to) and long before you know whether I’m a Christian, you know my color. Voting for conservative issues, leading a conservative lifestyle will NOT EXEMPT YOU from the possibilities of being brutalized by the police or any ‘karen’ who decides you don’t belong where or in the car you have!

We have tried it all!  That’s why many of us are aggravated, fed up, outraged because despite our attempt to ignore, be better, not place ourselves in position all to no avail!

~~~Black in ameriKKKa~~