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SCRIPTURE - ACTS 5:38-41                                                                                                          N0VEMBER, 2007

And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men,
it will come to nought:
But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they
should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

SUBJECT – SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE (3)

When I left off last month, I was beginning to address the issue of how, the influence of the government, has crept in to the church, and what the effects of it are, especially when it comes to the black community.

When we speak about separation of Church and state, as I mentioned previously, we are actually talking about a separation of God (Jesus Christ, Christian beliefs) and state.

The state doesn't want any direction, concerning any issue, coming from a Christian perspective. Now since I am talking about the state, I am really talking about the public, or, the people that make up the public.

While many of us, would recognize that God, knows what is best for us, as individuals, and as a nation, this issue, has made many of us, blind to the simple fact, that, as Jesus once said, 'John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.'

Now, that is pretty clear. In fact, it is so clear, that you would actually have to have help, to misunderstand it. And strangely enough, much of that help, is coming from those of us, that should be helping us to understand it. I'm talking about most (and this is not an exaggeration) preachers.

You see, these preachers, are usually the first ones that will defend this policy, by pointing out the fact that, if the two were combined, there would be confusion, about just whose beliefs would be accepted, seeing that there are many differing denominational beliefs in this nation. Then of course, there are many different religions as well, and whose would we follow??

Well, now, you see one major problem, that we as the body of Christ are in, once again, because of preachers.

Jesus preached that we, as Christians should love on another, and be as one, just as He and the Father are one. But, we let our little petty beliefs, and refusal to seek out the Truth, of the gospel, keep us, for the most part, separated, in to our own little groups, believing that we are right, and everyone else is wrong.

Denominations, in the Church, are nothing more than Christian names for the worldly phenomenon known as cliques (clicks), and this is not what Christ said we should be involved in. Ever heard the saying,'United we stand, divided, we fall!!' Well, this is one of the ways, that enemy, has used to keep the Church from being all that Christ wants it to be.

Even back when the Church was first being formed, people in power, were fighting against it, through attacking the leaders. But, they soon came to realize that that was only making the Church, more powerful, and that isn't what they wanted. So they decided to use another tactic, and that was to find a means to break the unity of the Christian faith, and they did so by questioning every little thing that the leaders were saying, and causing dissension in the Church, and breaking down the unity of the faith. This led to some, getting discouraged by certain things that were being taught by the apostles, and other leaders, leaving the church, and forming their little splinter groups, which later, became denominations.

In some instances, these groups' leaders, were rewarded for breaking with the main body, with money, power, influence with the governing body, of the nation.

Fast forward to today, and you will find the exact same thing.

Have you ever noticed how certain preachers are always called on by, politicians, to help them get their particular agenda passed?? Now while there is nothing really that wrong about it, unless that agenda, defies what God says.

Many of these politicians, who are strict believers in separation of church and state, will, when it comes time for election, flock to certain churches in their districts, looking for votes. And for allowing them to come in, to campaign, the pastor gets, favor with them. And if elected, they will remember those pastors, or that denomination, and do special favors for them.

Now, when the congregation, being under the influence of these preachers, see a politician, come in to the church, and get in to the pulpit, to campaign, they figure that it must be alright with God, because the preacher, God's man, is allowing it.

Now, say for instance, this politician stands for abortion, gay rights, environmentalism, and yes, even affirmative action, all of which, violate the principles that Christ says we should follow, and that pastor is either silent on the issue, or actually verbally supports them, then, in most instances, the members will support it as well.

So, what we have is government, coming in to the church, while at the same time, keeping the church, out of governmental affairs, unless, it is the church, that agrees with government policies, then that is alright.

If the church, or preacher, happens to be one that stands up for the principles of the Bible, and Christian values, then these same politicians, and preachers, jump up and say we must keep church and state, separate. And their congregations say the same thing.

But, as I mentioned earlier, there is a price to pay for this foolishness, and it is being paid, primarily by the black community in this nation, and I will tell you how.

First, let me say this, no one, or no group, or political party, is perfect. All of us have our faults. However, when it comes to the Christian, we have ways to have our faults, overlooked, and actually forgotten, not by man, but by God. It is called repentance, through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.

The bible says, 1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Heb 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

Combined, the two scriptures are saying, that through repentance, we become righteous in God's eyes, and our iniquities (sins that we have confessed), He remembers them, no more.

Now, getting back to what these preachers that support separation of church and state have done.

They have, for all intents and purposes, led their followers, and most of the politicians, and the unsaved, to believe a lie, that God, somehow, has forgotten about what He used to do to nations that, in the past, rejected Him, and has given us a free pass.

But, consider this.

We have two major political parties in the nation. Democrats and Republicans. These are the two that, garner the majority of our votes.

One party, stands for what is right, as far as God is concerned, while the other, stands for, what ever the going trend is in public sentiment. More specifically, it stands for just about everything that God dislikes, far more than the other. In case you don't understand what I am saying, The Democratic party, has adopted an agenda, that thumbs its nose at God. If it has Christian values, the Democrats don't want anything to do with it. In fact, anyone that promotes those values, is labeled, ironically, by the Democrats, and their supporters, 'the religious right.' I say ironically, because they are calling us, what we always are, when we follow Christ, right. That is because we are following the Truth incarnate, Jesus Christ. And you can't go wrong, following Him.

So, anyway, the Democrats, thumb their noses at the teachings of Christ, and attack those that adhere to them.

Now, if we look at this, the Democratic party's strongest support, comes from one segment of this nation, and that is the black community. In fact, if it weren't for the support of the black community, this party would not even be a major party, let alone, be in power, as it is today.

Now, let's add 1 + 1 and see what we get.

The Democratic party, thumbs its nose at God. The black community, empowers the Democratic party, to keep doing it, by supporting them, no matter what. And, God hates what this party is doing. So who is the recipient of His wrath??? Those that empower the Democratic party, the black community.

If you think I am blowing smoke, consider these facts.

Quoting the late Coleman A. Young, former mayor of Detroit, “It seems, when the nation gets a cold, the black community gets pneumonia!.'

No matter what it is, if it is bad, the black community is at the top of the list. Crime, high blood pressure, strokes, heart attacks, infant mortality, unemployment, poverty, illiteracy, rates of teen pregnancy, and diabetes, just to name a few.

If it is good, we are at the bottom of the list.

Detroit, once the motor city, automobile capital of the world, is now, little more than a shadow, of its former glory. Why is that?? It has a black population of about 87 percent, the only major city in this nation with those statistics. Look at any city, that is majority black populated, and it is almost a disaster area. Not to be making fun or anything like that, of disasters, but, I think about the devastation of Katrina on the black community in Louisiana, and what the black mayor, and the Governor did, down there, and how that blacks are still suffering, and one has to ask, who is responsible. Most preachers, in the black community, want to blame George Bush, and the Republicans. They completely ignore the fact that the Democratic mayor, a black man, allowed all of the buses that were supposed to be used to get the people out, to become inoperative, due to being flooded out, when the storm's arrival was imminent.

However, it was God, who, has the ability to protect His people, that allowed things to get to that point, because of His displeasure with the black community, there, and in this nation.

As I mentioned earlier, the preachers that throw their support behind this party, ultimately share in the blame for all the suffering that the black community is going through. Because as Jesus once said, 'If the blind, lead the blind, both will fall in to the ditch.' The more the black community supports this party, the more we will suffer.

These preachers, seem to believe that God, does not keep His own Word, about cursing those that disobey Him. They don't mind talking about His blessings though.

You know, lawyers, will take a doctor to court, for malpractice, if what he, as a person that is supposed to heal people does, that ends up hurting them. And we all would agree with that.

What do you think about a preacher that is charged by God, to be one that cares for your soul, and your well being, but is actually leading you to destruction?? Should they be charged with malpractice?? I think so. But, don't worry, God will take care of them, when the time comes.

So, in effect, the black community is cursed, by God, for their support of a party, whose agenda goes totally against Him, and these preachers are ultimately responsible.

Cursed?? Yes, cursed!! Most of these preachers don't even believe in cursing, unless of course, it involves Bush, or Republicans, then they will point to the fact that he, or they, must have done something that displeased God.

I will finish this message next month.


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