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SCRIPTURE - Hos 4:6                                                     OCTOBER, 2006

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

SUBJECT - IGNORANCE IS BLISS??!!

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Ahhhh....life.

How sweet it is. Nothing to do all day but sit back and relax. Not a care in the world. Everything is roses. Got plenty of money in the bank. Plenty of food on the table, and in the storehouse. Got health and strength.

All things just seem to be going right.

This is surely a fairy tale situation. It is a pipe dream for most.

Picture a little child, just coming in to the world. If they aren't born with any major defect, or have no sickness in their bodies, they are happy, and care free.

When they are hungry, their mother feeds them. When they cry, mom is right there to comfort them. All they do everyday, is play, sleep, and eat. And they are always smiling, and laughing, and if they could think clearly, they would be saying, 'This life, is great!!!'

They are completely ignorant, to what lies ahead for them, once they grow up.

Being unaware of the realities of life, is something that keeps them happy.

But, for us, that have grown up, and experienced more of life than these babies, it is too often, nothing to laugh at, or be happy about, is it??

We know the heartaches, headaches, trials and tribulations that life presents.

But, we have ways to deal with life. We turn to entertainment, drugs, sex, fantasies, and a variety of ways to escape the pressures that life brings our way.

What many of us don't want to do, is face the problem head on, and deal with it.

And this is where our major problem lies. We tend to think that, if we ignore the problem, it will simply go away. But in the mean time, we seek all sorts of distractions.

Nothing in life, will go away, if we don't face, and deal with, the problem.

But there is another danger, to this situation, and that is primarily what I want to look at, today, and that is, the total lack of dealing with a problem, head on, because we are either unaware it is a problem, or are being led to believe that the source of, or solutions to, the problem, is something other than what it really is, or should be.

In listening to most politicians, preachers, leaders of the black community, and other minority communities, one would think that all we have to do, is put a new crop of politicians that support what we think needs to be done, in office, and the problem will be solved. And, as the polls in this upcoming election show, that might just happen. And, as a result, many of these groups, are ready to celebrate.

On the talk shows in these communities, I have listened to many minorities calling in, talking about how we need to get all of those 'Republicans' out of office, and that 'devil', George Bush, out of office in 2008, then things will begin to be looking up, for them.

Sounds good, but, that won't get it.

Why??

Because it is another distraction, to help them, like drugs, alcohol, and sex, to make them feel good, while they are still heading, head long into the abyss of self destruction.

The reason I say this, is that they are totally ignoring the one, most major factor that is the cause of our problem, and that is, the positions we take, in relation to the Word of God.

The subject verse says, the people are destroyed for a 'lack of knowledge.' This lack of knowledge, is because, on the spiritual side of the issue, preachers are not knowledgeable, or are deliberately deceiving their followers, as to the relevance of what God has to say about those things that we like to do, and the solutions, we come up with to help us cope with life.

God, makes it perfectly clear, that He has standards, that must be adhered to, in order for us to be blessed by Him. By the same token, He warns us, what will happen to those individuals, families, communities, cities, and nations, that choose to go against what He says.

And, in far too many of our lives, we choose the latter, and end up being cursed by Him. And friend, if you are on that side of Him, then, no matter what you, or anyone else try to do, short of repenting, and turning away from what you are doing, you will only be digging a deeper hole for yourself. You might take one step forward, then God will let you slip, two, or more steps backwards. He will not extend His hand, to lift you up, and out, until you do repent.

Having said that, you can then see, that all of the problems we are facing in this nation, and especially in the black community, are a direct result of our disobedience to God, and His Word..

God says, this lack of knowledge, is due to our rejection of Him, and as a result, He will reject us. Mind you, that God's Word, is, Knowledge. And, I am talking about as it pertains to Jesus Christ, and the bible.

If we look at most of those that are suffering, in this nation, and could look in to their philosophies, or religious beliefs, they are both the same thing, you would find, that most of them, are suffering, because of this, 'lack of knowledge.'

As a black man, I look at the black community, and how, in every area of life, when it comes to those things that reflect prosperity, and blessing, we are at the bottom of the barrel. When it comes to those things that are negative, we are at the top of the pile.

This is not some sort of conspiracy of the 'white man', or the Republicans, to keep us down, it is the ignorance of those that lead the black community, as pertaining to the Word of God, that is passed on down to us, that is the 'real conspiracy.'

But, many will say, "That is nothing but the thinking of a religious bigot, or the 'religious right.'" Where do they get these ideas?? From their religious leaders, whom they feel, are the ones that are telling the truth.

And why is this??

Because they are telling the people what they want to hear, versus telling them what they need to hear.

It does me no good, if I am going down a path that is leading me to destruction, for you to pat me on my back, and tell me, "You are not going down this path alone. I will go with you, and help you overcome the obstacles, that are hindering you from getting to where you are trying to go.

This reminds me of the story of Balaam, in Num 22:21 - 35.

In this passage, Balaam, has started out on a trip, that God didn't want him taking, so God sent an angel to block the path that he was on.

The ass that Balaam was riding, saw the angel, and tried to turn in a different direction. And in each instance, Balaam beat the ass, and forced it to go the way he wanted it to go. This happened 3 times. And on the last time, God, made the ass talk to Balaam. Then after the conversation, God allowed Balaam to see the angel, with sword in hand, standing in the way. And the angel said, if he, Balaam, had come any closer, He, the angel, would have killed him, Balaam, and spared the ass.

Well, many of the so-called obstacles that we are facing in our lives, are put there by God, to turn us around, before we get in to 'real trouble.' But, those ignorant religious leaders, say the obstacles are, somehow tied to 'institutionalized racism', the 'white man' or the 'religious right.'

If you can't identify the source of a problem, then you can't, effectively deal with it, and it will still be there causing problems. And as the problems remain, you will seek distractions, to help you cope.

Do you see the problem here??

All of the alcoholism, drug abuse, crime, rampant spread of venereal disease, HIV, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, heart attacks, and everything else, are the result of our trying to deal with problems, the wrong way.

All of us, black, white, Asian, Muslim, and others, all live in the same nation, under the same conditions, but the black community, is far behind all of these, even though, we have been here considerably longer than the other minorities.

You could take a white person, and a black person, with the same disease, at the same stage of that disease, and give them both the same treatment, at the same level, and 9 times out of 10, the white person will get better while the black person, will get worse or die. That is not a political conspiracy. That is a curse.

Well, use economics, the same thing applies. With all things being equal, whites, and other minorities will prosper, blacks will suffer. That is a curse.

The mortality rate for newborn children, and children in the black community, is at least 2 times higher than that of other groups, even though both have the same access to the same system. That is a curse.

Do you think having a Democratic controlled house and Senate, and a Democratic president is the answer??? Do you???

Well, that is what we had, in 1976-1980, under Jimmy Carter, when the biggest downturn in all of our history, for the economy and jobs occurred. That is when the Democratic party, embraced, environmentalism, and animal rights legislation. Hundreds of thousands of jobs were lost, and we entered in to the biggest recession of modern times, because of the policies the Democratic party implemented. And those policies are in place today. And when the Republicans, or the 'religious right', says something needs to be done away with, the black community is usually the first ones to jump up, and protest against it.

Abortion, gay rights, animal rights, environmentalism, affirmative action, and such, started the downfall of this nation, and especially the black community, and continue to do so. Yet, try to remove them, and you get all types of flack. In fact, I would dare say, you wouldn't get that much flack, from Christians, if you said something negative about Jesus Christ, especially in the black community.

Ignorance!! Nothing but ignorance. People can't see, or they don't want to see. They want to go on their merry way, dealing with their problems through any means necessary, other than having to admit they are wrong, and turning away from it.

God is consistently sending people their way to tell them the truth, and they don't want to hear it. They reject it. So, in like manner, since they reject God, then He will reject them. Thus we have the problems we have.

And, at some point, God will stop sending these messengers, and leave them, to their own self destructive ways. Ge 6:3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh:.... Hos 4:17 Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone. Mat 15:14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

So, with this little bit of truth, what are you going to do?? Accept it and start to change, or continue to fight against God??

The problem, my friends, will not go away unless you change you mindset. 2Cor 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.......,Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Only God can change our circumstances, and He will only do that, as we turn from our ignorant ways.

Notice the last part of the subject verse. Not only will He reject, and forget us, but, He will forget our children.

Do you think this is a joke?? Look at what is happening to our kids, today. They are killing each other, committing suicide, using drugs, having sex, getting pregnant, getting sick, and dying from diseases and illnesses usually associated with old people. Graduating from public high schools and can't even read at the 6th grade level. Can't pass an entrance exam in to a college, or an employment exam, to get a good job. They have to settle for flipping burgers at Burger King, or McDonald's.

Do you think this is some type of conspiracy??? Do you think that the bible is the white man's tool for keeping the black community under control??

You refuse to accept the notion that your leaders are wrong, so you continue to listen to them, and follow what they tell you to do, and yet things continue to get worse. And what do they tell you to do?? They tell you to 'hold on,' They tell you, 'God is able.' They tell you 'God will make a way.' What they don't tell you, because they don't believe it themselves, is, God has already made the way, but we, or rather, you, refuse to walk in it. You don't like it.

Rejection!! Rejection of the Truth, for fairy tales.

You are just like that little baby, that doesn't know what life is really all about, because its parents, want to allow it to be happy and content, until such time as it becomes necessary, for the child to know that everything is not peaches and cream. You want to keep on thinking that everything will work out fine. You want to think that the only problem is the Republicans. Get them out of office, and everything will be fine.

Not to blame all Democrats, but, the leadership of the party, are the same ones that caused the problems back in Jimmy Carter's administration, and, for you black folks, are the ones that adhere to the mentality of keeping the black community in social, and economic slavery. Those Democrats, that want to do positive things for us, are denied the opportunity, to do so, if they don't go along with the leadership of the party.

If you want to blame anybody for our problems, blame the leadership of your party. If you want to get anyone out of office, get the leadership of your party out. And the only way to do that, is to essentially, break the party.

The leadership of your party, knows what will happen, if blacks, get on their feet, and know the truth about them. They would be kicked to the side, and spat upon.

Ask yourself this question. The black community, by far, are the number 1 backers of this party. Right? Over 91% of the registered black voters, support this party, no matter what. Yet, the black community, is the poorest, most uneducated, most unemployable community, in this nation. Detroit, America's first black populated and run major city, is the poorest in the state of Michigan, and since as goes Detroit, so goes the state, Michigan is the poorest state in the country.

Why is that??

It is by design, from the leadership of your party, and curse, from God, for supporting the ungodly agenda of that party.

Bottom line is, you only have yourselves to blame. There is a gospel song that proclaims 'We need a Word from the Lord.' Well, consider it, delivered.