(07/23/2017) Another Form of Blindness

Today, reply is on why sacred knowledge and the word of GOD repeatedly focus on the operations of sin.  The fighter at “Yahoo! Answers” who uses the ID “STEVAN” (Level 3 with 2,461 points, a member since October 17, 2007) posted the following:


Why are Christians obsessed with speaking about sinning?


THE GOLDEN ARROW:  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:  old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;  To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.  Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us:  we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.  (2nd Corinthians 5:  17-21, King James Version, KJV)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Christian Beliefs About Sin (07/20/2017); Becoming Free From Sin (07/16/2017); Warnings Against Forgetting GOD? (02/16/2017); Become An Anointed Healer (09/04/2016); Sin Must Be Personal (04/29/2016); Sight to the Blind? (07/30/2015); Night Cometh (06/11/2013); Missing Information? (06/12/2013)


“STEVAN”, along with ignorance and presumptuousness, the operations of sin in the lives of created beings and living creatures may be described as a form of blindness that can be healed through the ministry of Jesus Christ.  Sin is no material object or spirit substance created by GOD; yet, sin may dominate awareness and self-will within the living.  Sin opposes the continued existence of divine law, the Law Giver, and the entire universe put forth by divinity.  Sin has direction, effect, and presence; however, without the provisions of GOD for discernment and healing (e.g., sacred law, preaching, rebirth), the living fail to correctly recognize and respond to sin in the life as a threat to their own existence.

Many today can not grasp that sin supports only the expression of an animal nature for mankind, and is contrary to the fulfillment of all our truly human and divine potential.  They argue that sin is “natural”, normal, and even, necessary.  Yet, sin can not be eliminated or removed by relying only upon scholarship, secular knowledge, and finite tools such as intellect, logic, carnal reason, critical thinking, philosophy and science.  Increasingly, the campus and the classroom are defiled and profaned by sin.  The elimination of sin requires the various operations performed by divinity.  Included are atonement, judgment, sanctification, and the second death.

The active presence (we also say, breath, life essence, spirit) who is GOD appears, and uses human form (we say, is incarnate) through Christian believers that serve as vessels of his word and his imparted Spirit.  The revelation of GOD that makes divinity knowable, known, and accessible, also exposes the destroying influence and power of sin.  In the same way, Jesus of Nazareth died on the cross as an embodiment of sinners from Israel and all humanity, Jesus also was an embodiment of sin and separation from GOD.  Consider again the following that uses language from the Bible:

(1.)  John 9:  1-7, King James Version (KJV):  1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.  2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?  3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents:  but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.  4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day:  the night cometh, when no man can work.  5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.  6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,  7 And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

(2.)  Ephesians 4:  17-19, KJV:  17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,  18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:  19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

There is much more to be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (3.)  John 9:  39-41, KJV:  39 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.  40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?  41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin:  but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(03/14/2017) A Ministry to Cripples?

Today, reply is to whether the love and ministry of Jesus included cripples (“the lame”).  Our ongoing relationship with the Creator now must rely upon sacred operations of faith, hope, and love through the Holy Spirit.  Therefore, conviction and trust for mature Christian believers may rest upon the events reported by the holy writings, and require no new instances, proofs, and statistics to describe the unchanging yet active presence who is GOD.  The fighter at “Yahoo! 7 Answers (Australia) using the ID “Steve” (Level 3 with 1,437 points, a member since January 25, 2017) posted the following:

Did the Bible include cripples in it's Love thy neighbor speech?

Past life sinners !!!!!!

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee:  In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.  And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up:  and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.  And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.  And all the people saw him walking and praising God:  And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple:  and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.  And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.  And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?  The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.  But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;  And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.  And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know:  yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.  (Acts 3:  6-16, King James Version, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Saying “GOD is Love” (12/18/2016); Believers Are To Love (12/07/2016); The Work of Forgiving (11/23/2016); On Expecting Quick Results (11/07/2016); Become An Anointed Healer (09/04/2016); The Correct Prescription? (11/19/2015); Why Did Jesus Heal? (02/03/2015)

“Steve”, with GOD, love is more than a feeling or sentiment.  The present operations of GOD are understood by mature Christian believers as a demonstration of love, a “good faith” down-payment, and a “promissory note.”  GOD does not have to heal or directly prosper every last individual at this time, and, the fact that some among us have been released and touched is the anchor for our faith.  In Jesus Christ, the active presence, sovereign authority, and love of GOD for the full Creation are revealed by the Savior using a range of natural, practical, and sacred events (we say, miracles).  More important than simply granting blessing and favor, divinity also must address the operations of sin through judgment, for sin opposes the continued existence of divine law, the Law Giver, and all divine order.  Awareness and self-will in the living may be dominated by sin.  Sin has not been created by GOD, has no spirit content from GOD, and sin promotes death, misery, nonexistence, and return to the conditions that prevailed before Creation week.  Only the provisions of GOD make sin known and visible to created beings and living creatures as something contrary to their own intended character and nature.  Included are divine law, the embodiment of divinity (we say, Incarnation as Jesus Christ), and fresh deposits of the imparted, indwelling Spirit from GOD (we say, the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of Prophecy, the Spirit of Truth).  Mankind’s reliance upon finite human tools such as emotion, intellect, logic, carnal reason, philosophy and science have not been effective for eliminating, correctly recognizing, and consistently resisting sin (thus, there are scientists and scholars who also are sinners).  Consider the following points from the holy writings:

(1.)  Isaiah 61:  1-3, King James Version (KJV):  1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;  2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;  3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

(2.)  Luke 7:  19-23, KJV:  19 And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?  20 When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?  21 And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.  22 Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.  23 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

(3.)  Mark 2:  16-17, KJV:  16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?  17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick:  I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (4.)  Mark 2:  3-12, KJV:  3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.  4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was:  and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.  5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.  6 But there was certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,  7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?  8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?  9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?  10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)  11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.  12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX 
Washington, DC

(02/04/2015) Where Should We Look?

Today, a poem is shared to celebrate Black History Month, 2015.  The African American historian, Carter Godwin Woodson was born December 19, 1875.  He was the seventh of nine children born to two former slaves.  He was raised on their tobacco farm in Virginia, worked there during his early childhood, and as a teenager, went to work in the coal mines to help the family survive.  Carter G. Woodson learned to read using the family Bible and his father’s evening newspaper.  He began high school at the age of 20 and completed studies there in less than 2 years.  Woodson went on to Berea College (Kentucky), the University of Chicago, the Sorbonne, and Harvard University, where he earned a Ph.D. in 1912.  Although discouraged by some at Harvard who taught “the Negro had no history,” Dr. Woodson would later teach and serve as a dean, there; and in 1915, Dr. Woodson would found the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History to train Black historians and to collect, preserve, and publish documents on Black life and Black people.  Also in 1915, Dr. Woodson published his first book, The Education of the Negro Prior to 1861.  In 1933, he published The Mis-Education of the Negro.  In 1926, the second week of February was chosen for Negro History Week to acknowledge Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln, who both were born in that month.  Doctor Woodson also founded the Journal of Negro History (1916), Associated Publishers (1922), and the Negro Bulletin (1937).  Woodson spent most of his adult life working to promote racial harmony by educating all people about the vast contributions made by Black men and women throughout history.  Doctor Woodson died on April 3, 1950, and Black History Month established in America’s bicentennial year (1976) is his legacy.

Should we call upon the scholars
With their parchments and their scrolls
Having knowledge from the ancients,
Or the dark and hidden holes
Showing records prehistoric
Carved in stone, or made with chalk
Should we begin with reading, or
Should we begin with talk?

WHERE SHOULD WE LOOK?
[A Poem for Black History Month, 2015]

Where should we look for our history?
What should our study be?
Should we always start in Africa,
Across the vast blue sea?
Its village life, its tales of war,
Its empires raised in glory
Its trek and struggle to survive
Its tears and human story?

Someone said, try the barber shop,
Another said the lodge
Fraternities, sororities
The newspapers, but dodge
The bullet, leave the gangsters out
The number runners, booze
Migration from the south to north
The singing of the blues

The buffalo soldier cavalry
The winning of the west
The struggle for our civil rights
Is part of our behest
A trove of entertainers
Those inspired who believed
Inventors, painters, film makers
The athletes who achieved

The captains of our industries
The funeral homes, the schools
Discoverers of continents
The “educated fools”
The hustlers and the hoochies
The money changing hands
The scourge of dope upon our streets
The royalty of bands?

Start at the bridge from yesterday
That spans to reach tomorrow
Woven strong with simple truth
Life triumph laced with sorrow
The challenges, accomplishments
And what we sought to gain
The risk we took, or what was lost
And how we endured pain

Go to the edge of sanity
Its mix of peace and strife
The family Bible scribblings
Wherever there is life,
The baptized, married, born and died
History past, behind
The history that is yet to be
In your heart, your gut, your mind.

©Michael Andrew Williams, 2015.  All rights reserved worldwide.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(06/01/2014) On The Passing of a Poet

Today, I share an acknowledgement of the contribution and works of the much loved African American scholar, teacher and writer, Dr. Maya Angelou (born Marguerite Annie Johnson).  As I was going through the checkout at a local grocery market, the cashier remarked on the news that the poetess had died, and asked whether I had ever met her.  I confessed, I had not, yet, had already finished a work in tribute.  We agreed, her passing should be received as a peculiar alarm, and call for re-commitment throughout the Nation.  The most fitting and lasting memorial we may make is to carefully preserve the culture that has been the setting for her jewels of thought.

 

ON THE PASSING OF A POET
[Maya Angelou, 1928-2014]

Because it meant the passing of our greatness
As a people it was right the neighborhoods
Should mourn and wail
“The Drum” was more than a bookstore
And a “hangout” for the ones who felt
Their standard and their scale could be
Anchored in their Negritude
A vision of Pan African possibilities
The rebirth of all tribal truth and love
An oasis became a desert, where the voice of life was stilled
Soft sands became the foundation, the campfires were smothered
And the palms and waters salted into silence

We quietly accepted when the “Negro Digest” closed
Its open doors, and publishers of our magazines and newspapers
Like the little corner stores where mom and pop had challenged us
By hanging foreign cheeses that made the place to reek
One by one began to disappear, we could no longer speak
As if a culture, a collective, an ancient mind today
The self began to be released
And computer generations began to forge a new age
Of communication, of social media, of tweet and hash tag
Of see is worth a thousand say
A blitzkrieg of selfies, candids, still life, and portraits by Instagram

We must alert our children and our grandchildren
the race war we expected, and worked so hard to shun
By replacing “burn baby burn” with “learn baby learn”
Was waged in stealth, with quietness
the embers of the midnight sun the signs of soot
In the turnings of the wind
As if still ruled by plantations that separate all kin
The assault on home and family by divorce
Thug life, same sex protest, single-parent pain
Surely we should not lose this pillar of our people
With only tears to go against the grain
Without charging our children to start to live with purpose

Person to person, toe to toe, some things ought to never go
Our theaters darkened by idol Internet, reality TV
The falling of our stars, an “out of business” sign placed on display
We are losing the great ones, the institutions that nourished them gave them to us, and that they bequeathed to us to be our own
The Apollo, the Howard, the Lyric, the Regal
Radio stations and DJ personalities
Our world will become a ghost town
Filled with shadows that are known by going viral
On a global stage
Our casualties and losses are more than we can ignore
fatherhood, heritage, blues, and legacy
The anchors had when everyone was poor
our barbershops, our churches, the funeral parlors
a city of nomad tents against the storms

We mustn’t let the loss of one more scholar
Be the loss of our eternal wisdom too
For this is not a time for weeping, this is not a time to cry
The mall is not a refuge, nor the “burbs” a hiding place
There has to be a warning
Even more than a pledge to save what’s left
The caged bird now must sing her notes of jazz and song
to hold above the ruin while we rise
Challenged to create ourselves anew
We must hear with new ears and see with new eyes
Beyond all ivory towers, projects, ghetto dungeon walls
In Harlem renaissance from house to house

May this passing strike our daughters like a Muse to shower them
In history, with poetry and dance
May they now give birth to the architects of forever

 

 

 

 

©Michael Andrew Williams, 2014.  All rights reserved.

There is a lot more to be said, carefully contemplated, and spiritually reflected on than simply what I’ve shared here in a poem.  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith and willingness to love.


But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord:  for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:  (Philippians 3:  7-9, KJV)


THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(09/16/2012) The Gospel not Logical?

      Today, a reader challenges the logic of a scholar’s take on the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and more is presented on how many chances we are given for salvation. A “Yahoo! Answers” writer using ID “Robert” (Level 3 with 1,073 points, a member since March 31, 2012) posted the following:



According to christian scholar?

if i don't believe in jesus death on cross for my sins

i will not be saved

i will go to hellfire

but he says if i believe and even if i commit sins

i will be saved kos jesus already paid for my sins

this does not sounds very logical to me, is this true?



THE BATTLE AXE: Chances for Change (09/15/2012)—After the teachings of the Scriptures, many Christian believers hold that each new day is a new opportunity to come to Christ, to enter into repentance, and to be returned to GOD (e.g., see Lamentations 3: 22-23, Psalm 68: 19 and Proverbs 8: 33-35, KJV). GOD extends opportunities to mankind for salvation on a daily basis (see Jeremiah 7: 25, Acts 2: 47, and Acts 5: 42, KJV). So long as one is alive, a voluntary choice for change may be made (Ezekiel 18: 30-32, KJV). Salvation and the spiritual change, growth and learning that occur are not discrete, one-time events; there must be an ongoing and regular progression experienced as new life (see Romans 7: 6, 2nd Corinthians 5: 17, and Hebrews 3: 12-14, KJV). With the end of mortality, there will be an end of the Temple in the heavens. The holy city, the New Jerusalem, will be set like a jewel within a new heaven and earth; and will be the home of mankind that has received incorruptibility and immortality (see Isaiah 65: 17-19, 2nd Peter 3: 9-14 and Revelation 21, KJV).



THE GOLDEN ARROW: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, (Romans 1: 16-22, KJV)



THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Sin Without Wrongdoing? (08/28/2012); Tests for Origins (08/27/2012); To Be or Not To Be? (08/26/2012); Why No Answer? (08/25/2012)



      The things concerning Jesus Christ are profound, and may not be correctly understood without contemplation, reflection, study and extended life experience—all elements associated with academics and scholarly pursuit. In the effort to simplify the Gospel, many offer explanations that are plain and uncomplicated, while others share material that is overly charged with emotion. Given their goals to maintain such values as neutrality, objectivity and professionalism, scholars tend to avoid stating their personal convictions, their heartfelt beliefs in GOD, or their spiritual experiences that derive from the presence of GOD through faith.

      Just as sin cannot be eliminated from a person’s life (and our prisons cannot be emptied and shut down) simply on the basis of “common sense,” debate, logic, and reason, the salvation of GOD through Jesus cannot be understood and fully received into a person’s life simply by intellectual exercise (dialogue, research, study). Rightly understood, sin is no material or spirit “thing” that has been created by GOD. Sin has neither “dimension” nor “substance;” yet, sin has “effect”, “direction” and “presence”. Sin may dominate the will of created beings and living creatures; however, sin has no influence upon the will of GOD. Sin opposes the continuing existence of GOD, and all that GOD has Created.

      Among many, many things, the Gospel teaches that, through Jesus Christ, mankind receives an added measure of the Spirit of GOD. This imparted, indwelling spirit, transforms human nature, and, releases mankind from sin as a continuing aspect of existence. To actually understand the Gospel, ones spiritual awareness must be reconfigured, and so we say, one must be “born again.”

      There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, GOD is a spirit, sin is not. Apart from GOD, created beings and living creatures DO NOT detect sin as something foreign or separate, and destructive of their own being. Therefore, they account all of their own attitudes, behavior and conduct to such elements as appetite, desire, chance, destiny, pride, and self-control. Saying this another way:  most of us accept and approve sin believing that we are acting normal, and “just being ourselves.”) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.   Be it unto you according to your faith.


THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC