As it is
written in 1 John 4:1 “Beloved, do not
believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God,
because many false prophets have gone out into the world” we as followers
of God need to be diligent in making sure that the people/organizations who are
claiming to be of God are just that, and not a false prophets.
We need to
make sure they are leading us down the right path and not one that only leads
to meet their own needs and personal desires.
God calls
us his sheep, but that doesn't mean that he wants us to mindlessly follow
anyone who claims to be doing his work, he wants us to proceed with caution and
question them to make sure their motives are clean and pure.
Here are a
couple of examples of people/organizations that speak with a forked tongue and
hope to lead you astray, to deceive you and to ultimately make you one of their
followers.
First we
have the Westboro Baptist Church.
They keep
their hatred and twisted views behind the guise of a church; they pretend to be
something they’re not all with the hopes of leading people off the mark.
They claim
to have your best interests in mind; they only do what they do to make the
world a better place and to guarantee you a spot in heaven.
What they don’t
tell you is that your actions are not of God, but rather against God, and in
the end they will leave you standing in front of Him to answer for your
behavior, and He won’t accept “because I didn't know any better” as an excuse.
They preach
hate and separation, and they do so with evil intentions and without any
concern for your soul.
Next we
have the Reverend (and I use that term loosely) Al Sharpton.
He spends
his time promoting anger, getting people riled up and fighting unnecessary and
unjust wars, all so that he can keep deposits from his god coming in.
This man doesn't care about the issues we face, he doesn't care about the wellbeing of
the world we all share, he only cares about the color of one’s skin and if
there is the possibility of a profit.
He doesn't see us as equals, and definitely not as brothers and sisters, only as a
paycheck and a way to get more exposure for himself and his own personal agenda.
Where is he
when there are no TV cameras, when there is no money to be made, when the skin
of the victim(s) is anything but black?
The
antichrist comes in many different shapes and forms, many different occupations
and backgrounds, and is not always as transparent as they two I've listed
above.
You will
encounter many wolves in sheep’s clothing on your journey in this life of ours,
so make sure to keep your eyes open.
When it
comes to your soul, remember the words of the poet Dylan Thomas and do not go gentle
into that good night, and rage against the dying of the light.
You don’t
believe any of this, you think I am completely out of my mind?
Well I challenge
you to find out for yourself, go to the source and question them, I encourage
you to make sure I am not misleading you.
WOW. What a powerful insight you share here, Michael. You know how I feel about this very thing...
ReplyDeleteI really think this is terrifyingly everywhere. And what bothers me most, is that people sign on to such leaders who teach them hate and separation and rejection amongst other things that lead them directly into satan's hands.
This world is such a mess. But I suppose, it always has been.
My friend I totally agree with you, this world is in such shambles and many people latch on to anyone who seems to know what they're talking about to lead them. They don't ask questions, and unfortunately don't seem to think for themselves.
DeleteNot defending Al Sharpton, but what other races need to be defended? Latinos have their defenders and I am one of their supporters. When Al Sharpton fought for civil rights many "others" participated. I am sure that Rev. Sharpton is aware of this fact even if you don't seem to know or acknowledge this.
ReplyDeleteHe does not promote anger, he reports on the justified anger that black folks have. It is a simmering anger just below the surface. I should know. I am old enough to remember what was and competent enough to see what still IS.
It does appear that he has become more in it for the money, but PLEASE understand that many of those BLACK FAMILIES requested his presence. They have stated so in public. So, if you want to throw shade, perhaps it should be toward black folk in general for having so few people willing to speak for them and their families. Or did I miss your point?
My friend thank you for taking the time to read what I had to say and for commenting, I really appreciate it.
DeleteI am not against him speaking on behalf on those in need and trying to help them fight the people/organizations that prosecute them, that is definitely a good thing and in most cases totally necessary.
However, he is only doing so when there is a chance for himself to be in the spotlight and also turn a profit, that is not the make of a good and truly caring man, at least not in my opinion anyways.
Where is he when people need him, regardless of color, who are being attacked on a daily basis and truly wronged? He is nowhere to be found, and why is that, because there is nothing in it for him to gain.
It's all a facade, he is not doing it for the right reasons, and if he was I would be one of his biggest supporters.
Please explain what people are being attacked on a daily basis? Who are you talking about? Do you not think shooting unarmed black men and boys constitutes "truly wronged?" Or is this yet another publicity stunt by black folks of America?
DeleteWhen you talk about the publicity, that is what happens when you are a public figure. Someone is going to recognize him, which in turn becomes news. You cannot know the heart of any man, only assume. If you can answer my 1st two questions, perhaps an honest dialogue can occur.
First off, and I mean this with the utmost respect, one would have to be naive or completely oblivious to what is going on around them to honestly believe that there aren't people being wronged in some way or another on a daily basis in this world of ours. Remember, just because it doesn't make the front page of the newspaper doesn't mean that it's not happening.
DeleteSecondly, I am not talking about the crime here, but rather the person, and by that I'm saying that if there were no news cameras and mass media attention surrounding the case, there would also be no Al Sharpton, bottom line.
Thirdly, I'm not claiming to be able to know his heart, my opinion comes from what I've seen with my own two eyes and from what I've heard with my own two ears. We all know actions speak louder than words, and to me his actions are anything but loving.
Finally, where is this holy man when there is no media around, when there's nothing to be gained? Why isn't he fighting for all the people, not just those with a camera in their face? Martin Luther King Jr is a perfect example of a person who was fighting for all the right reasons, not Al Sharpton.
No problem. You are entitled to your opinion of Rev.Sharpton. Feel free to continue to call him the antichrist but why stop there? What about the Koch Brothers who are poisoning thousands of people by legally disposing of poison in rivers and streams? What about Dick Cheney who started a war for profit, and George Bush who aided and assisted that effort?
DeleteI an neither naive or oblivious, after all, I have survived being Black in America for 58 years so I take your comment as the utmost in disrespect. When I said WHAT people, I meant specific instances you can state, like I can state specific and personal instances of oppression, racism and police brutality. There is enough lack and despair to go around. The question is how to change the world for the better for all, not just a select few?
I am striving to move past the hate, but when any person does not understand, respect or acknowledge what has happened to a SPECIFIC group of people who just happened to be former slaves, I take offense. It is not something you just "get over" It is not something you forget. Spirituality comes easy to those who have never had to defend just being HUMAN. That is the issue, that Black Lives Matter, that we too, have a right to survive. Most black people have no time to worry about "others." WE have our own children and loved ones to worry about 24/7. That, my friend is living while Black in America. Like I said, if you wish to have an actual discussion without throwing shade, then let that begin. But get real, be honest.and specific. Facts matter. We all have opinions and you are certainly entitled to yours. But in regards to being black. I can give you facts. That is if you are actually willing and open to hearing them.
My argument for why I consider him one of, but definitely not the only one of, the Antichrists is because of who he is as a person not because of what color his skin is or because of the color of the skin of the people he chooses to "represent". I wouldn't care if the man was white, I would still dislike him and have a problem with his motives.
DeleteAl Sharpton is not the black race, nor does he represent it, he is just a hateful loud mouth who is more interested in lining his own pockets than he is with bringing the people together and/or fighting a just fight. A Martin Luther King Jr he is not.
I'm not entirely sure why you would bring race into this, since obviously it has nothing to do with it, but if it makes you happy then have at it.
We are at two totally different places here my friend, so let's just respectfully agree to disagree.
nice piece MJM. we can add Obama to that as well. probably not a hate preacher like Al sharpton but a liar, pretender...the list goes on. he is instrumental in dragging America's image low among the nations- paving way for the much awaited "new world order". This might sound hard to believe but unlike he claims, this man is actually muslim - and an important servant of the Muslim brotherhood in fact. he isn't leading America -- just misleading it. Like you said, the antichrist comes in many shapes and forms. its tentacles stretches everywhere!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for the love my friend, I really appreciate that.
DeleteYou are right, we must be mindful of what is going on around us and not just blindly march forward.
you are welcome Mike. and glad you raised the flag on Al.Sharpton.
Deletenever was convinced of his intentions as his comments most times throws me off as hateful, inflammatory and lacking genuine empathy or real love as he claims. he often comes off to me as an attention seeker who just uses race to further his own goals. in my opinion, he's just a shrewd businessman at best, (lol) deceiving people that he is liberating them when all the while just turning a profit on the side. lol.
what can i say, he is a sharp thing~! lolz
No matter which way you cut it my friend, he (Al Sharpton) is just not a high quality individual and totally not someone I would personally want representing me and/or my plights.
DeleteYou've handled all the comments very diplomatically, I must say. Well Done! I don't know that I would classify Sharpton as the antichrist, though. He's more like Swaggart, Roberts, and many others that use the name of God to achieve financial wealth. Hypocrite, yes! Here's what I found most interesting. In the comments, there is a clear distinction in the different views concerning what's right and what's wrong in two cultures in the the U.S. You have the "innocent young men getting killed" philosophy and the "they were criminals and deserved it" philosophy. Ah, I've just given you a future topic to write about ... "When is a criminal a criminal, or does being poor and living in the urban environment or rich and living in a country club environment excuse you from the law?" You could work in the Ten Commandments and draw some real comments with that one. Good Job!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for the love my friend, I really appreciate it.
DeleteRegardless of how we classify Al Sharpton, the bottom line is that he is not a person of integrity and love, but more so someone who is only interested in keeping himself in the public spotlight and lining his pockets with poor people's money, just like the other individuals you've listed.
Crime is crime, no matter where you live, how much money you have and/or what color your skin is, and totally should be treated as such. We should not give special privileges and/or make allowances based on those things, because when we do it makes a mockery of our whole judicial system.
What I want to know is how I missed your list. Here you give credit to the Westboro Baptist Church and Al Sharpton....in my opinion, Novices to the craft of Chaos and Mayhem. I had to move my blog but in my hey day no one bashed religion better than me.
ReplyDeleteI can honestly say that I am both offended and disappointed. Looks like I am going to have to try harder next time...
Laugh at Joker
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI'm actually not against religion as a whole, I think it is a great tool for some people to make their journey through this harsh world of ours a little easier and more tolerable, and that I'm for.
DeleteWhat I am not for are the people who use it as a weapon, and this includes Atheists, to bring down and/or hurt others fr no good reason. Religion is personal, it's not meant to be spread around like fertilizer.
Religion isn't necessarily the problem, it's the wicked people who hide under its banner (regardless of the faith, or lack thereof) who desire to cause havoc and destruction amongst the people are the real issue here.
well, from a fellow joker to another "joker" i must say don't be disappointed.
Deleteperhaps this time the joke was on you.
*laughs*- hahaha hehe hahaaa!!!!
would laugh harder next time.
signed- the Joker
Okay I'm lost, who is the real joker here, this anonymous fella or Mr. Napier? Also what's the joke, what did I miss?
DeleteI'm not against religion as a whole, it is a certain set of beliefs concerning the nature, and purpose of the universe, where everyone gives a unique insight into religion.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much my friend. Nice sales pitch there.
Delete