African American Apologetics  /   Defining Our Situation From The Biblical Alternative

A Page Of Discourse From Concerned Christians / This Article Was Written By Charles Reese

To Ramie and everyone else:

 I know that in previous e-mails, all of us so-called "black conservatives" keep asking ourselves the rhetorical question in regard to the REASON why the Black Race keeps suffering disproportionately from natural and man-made disasters that have relatively MORE devastating effects upon our people – than OTHER races of people who live in the United States.  Why is it that – in comparison to other ethnic groups in America – the Black Community keeps on either "receiving", "partaking in", and/or being "victims" of higher rates of illiteracy, unemployment, small-business failures, poverty, homelessness, fatherless families, orphans, chemical addictions, violent crime, domestic violence, incarcerations, environmental poisonings, bad health, chronic ailments and fatal diseases, inaccessibility to decent health care, out-of-wedlock births, abortions, teen-age pregnancies, teen-age suicides, bad study habits in school, dropping out of high school, dereliction of duty in parenting, indulging in the indecencies coming out of popular culture; consumerism, poor budgeting habits, lack of resourcefulness, lack of entrepreneurship, etc.   

After all of the numerous e-mails of which we have exchanged with our other fellow "pen-pals"; there's not much MORE that any of us can say.  Truly, yes, Black Americans -- and in particular, those of the "under-class", i.e., those who subsist within the lower socio-economic scales of American life -- are DO NOT emphasize, to their children, the universal [or specifically, the "Biblical" ] virtues of human life, such as "integrity", "honesty", "hard work", "responsibility", "altruism", "co-operation", "thrift", "respect", "education", self-sufficiency, etc. 

These universal or Judeo-Christian values need to be taught to ALL American children -- to both the Black and White alike.  Because parents today do not teach their kids on these same Biblical or universal "principals" for living; that consequently, the tragic result has been of what we NOW see, in the Black Community; that being, an unheard of -- and rapid -- acceleration  of vile displays of unspeakable pathological sinful behaviors. 

So now, what is the Black Community itself doing to help reduce and/or eliminate all of its manifold persistent problems??  What are private citizens of the Afro-American Community doing to stop the madness around themselves??  What are community activists – if any – trying to do in getting rid of all of this mess??  What is the Black Leadership – on the local, state, and federal levels – doing about all of our troubles??  Why is it that nearly all the members of the Black Intelligentsia – in already recognizing these particular problems – keep "looking" toward the Federal Government to help solve these serious problems; when, paradoxically, every time the Government does indeed come up with some "special program" to help eliminate these same problems; that STILL, these very same problems currently persist in our communities??  Why hasn't the Black Leadership – as it traditionally looks toward the Government for help – hasn't yet realized that in spite of all of the federal intervention that has taken place in trying to solve Black folks' unique problems, that the Black Leadership still refuses to try other creative non-governmental methods or novel approaches – instead of always devising federal programs – so that they may discover viable solutions that could once and for all get rid of the current problems that continue to plague our people??  And even for those concerned Blacks that are indeed making sincere attempts to implement more effective "non-traditional” methods in fighting our problems; then why don't we read or hear much about them through the Media??  And why do even our Black religious leaders oftentimes – like politicians – recommend secular solutions for our problems; instead of providing a Biblical interpretation –- and Biblical solutions – that relate to the reasons for all of these misfortunes that continue to victimize our brothers and sisters??  And even shortly after the 1950's & 60's – i.e., after the Civil Rights Movement – as Blacks were given their full political and economic "rights" under the Johnson Administration, why is it that – as more and more African Americans on the poverty level gradually entered the so-called "middle class" ; that SIMULTANEOUSLY – and paradoxically – after 40-years-worth of "Affirmative Action", that all of the current problems in the Black Community are now MUCH WORSE – quantitatively and qualitatively – than they were, four decades ago??

 Ramie and everyone else, I believe – and especially like you, being a self-declared "Christian" – that the REASON for the self-nihilism of the Black Community is because MOST – if not ALL – of the problems that occur in the black inner-city and black middle-income neighborhoods is simply because of the REFUSAL of our people to OBEY THE WORD OF GOD!!

 In other words, the REAL reason for our people's FAILURE to escape the vices within the "ghetto" and the "hidden" problems within black middle-income neighborhoods, is simply because our race REFUSES to fulfill God's "mandate" for Mankind to take "individual responsibility" in adequately taking care of our personal "relationship" with God; as well as taking proper care of our own bodies; and taking care of our own family members and neighbors.                     

 In my personal assessment of the dismal state of the Black Community, the reason why we are catching more "hell" than any other group of people is simply because the Black Race, as a whole – in being descendents of African slaves – is right now being severely "chastised" by God – because we are REBELLING  against Him; in spite of all the racial SUFFERING that we had gone through.  After five centuries in being victims of racist crimes "against humanity", God expects us to "know" the Lord better than the average White American; but yet and still, we constantly REBELL against His divine authority, as we cavalierly and ceaselessly break His commandments every day.  In other words, Ramie and everyone else, it is my personal belief that the Lord is punishing our people for our sins – and MORE SO, than He would do toward White folks (and others); because – with all of the centuries-worth of unspeakable racist crimes that have been perpetrated against people of African descent, the Lord has a  GREATER expectation an "oppressed" group of people – such as Afro-Americans – to bear the "fruits" of righteousness  MORE than He would from White folks.  That is, after all of the evil racist treatment that Black people have experienced – and with the Lord, during the 1960's, having finally and completely "delivering" us from such diabolical treatment, I believe that He has put a greater responsibility upon His people to study, teach, and obey His Word.  Yet, in this PRESENT generation, our people NOW refuse to fully OBEY Him; as we no longer reverence the Almighty like we used to do; but rather, in today's generation, we have greatly backslidden and have utterly disregarded His commandments; and thus have totally FORSAKEN HIM !!!

And as far our modern generation of African Americans are concerned, it is a tragic irony that our contemporary Black political leaders, most of whom were raised in "Christian" homes and/or became Christian ministers – and who participated in the Christian-based Civil Rights struggle – now, at this present time – have unfortunately, for three decades, adopted liberal political philosophies from White social activists; and abandoned Christianity; and followed after the Secular World, in deciding for themselves – without God's help – in defining "right" and "wrong"; and have decided that  "politics" – and not  the Bible – is THE  SOLUTION to "all" of the problems of the Black Community.  In other words, after the miraculous success of the Civil Rights Movement, INSTEAD of Black folks primarily trusting in the Word of God, and INSTEAD of customarily going to the Heavenly Throne of Grace, to Jehovah God Himself – petitioning Him to solve any of our physical, emotional, social, or spiritual problems; we now think that we NO LONGER "have to" rely first and foremost on God Himself to help us; but rather, we can now rely on other  “gods” – such liberal socialist programs of the "Federal Government” – i.e., the "Welfare  State" – to relieve us of our personal problems or societal ills. 

 Many Black people in this country – including those in the Black Church – have fooled themselves into thinking that the solution to ALL of their problems lies with our political systems, especially of the Federal Government.  The Black Race is much too occupied with the false idea that America’s political institutions are the sole answers to the problems that currently exist within their communities.  There are some problems in our communities, which do indeed necessitate governmental involvement or federal intervention; but most certainly, not all of our problems.

 Even members of the Black Race who DO NOT believe that the "Government" is the solution to "all" of our problems, these same individuals nevertheless – like the REST of their people – refuse to acknowledge that MANY (if not most) of the problems within the Black Community are spiritual or moral in nature.  Some of the problems that we now face – especially the self-inflicted problems – may simply be defined or characterized – according to the Bible – as nothing else but good ol' fashioned "sin".

 Now that Black folks' lives are qualitatively better – thanks to Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights laws – African Americans, as a race of people, have mistakenly dropped the use of "common sense" – or the Bible – in relieving themselves of certain problems that have arisen within their families and their neighborhoods. Now that the Civil Rights Movement is long gone – and because Blacks have "life" so much easier now – i.e., have greater political and economic freedom – all of a sudden, they now don't see the relevance in using the Bible to tackle the problems that are currently taking place in their communities.  And most tragically, now that their lives are going much "better" for them – after entering into the "promise land" of full equality with Whites, they have become just as greedy, materialistic, and debaucherous as their fellow Caucasian Americans.  Therefore, this current generation of Black folks are just as "godless" as all other generations of White Americans.  Black folks today – including their political/religious leaders – are rapidly becoming just as immoral and decadent as their fellow White citizens.  African Americans – for today's generation – no longer stand as they once did – as the moral consciousness of the United States of America. What a pity this is !!!

 Due to the fact that liberal Whites  fought "side-by-side" with Blacks during the Civil Rights Struggle, is it any wonder that the Black Church and our political organizations, even without realizing it, are following after the sinful lascivious ways of their fellow ultra-liberal White counterparts – i.e., the very White folks that have ALWAYS supported Blacks in fighting against racism in this country?  Because liberal Whites in this country have always supported Blacks – and rightly so – in the fight for political and economic equality, the Black Leadership is now more than willing to return the "favor" – by blindly supporting White folks' perverted left-wing causes, such as getting involved in the "new" frontier of civil rights – i.e., "matrimonial rights", or the "right" of an American citizen to marry another person of the same sex.

 Furthermore, because some of our Black leaders constantly make excuses for our self-inflicted problems – by laying blame squarely on that long-time “enemy” of ours called “racism” – these leaders unknowingly cause our people to believe that any “immoral” behavior taking place in our communities is NOT of our “own” doing; and that we are indeed “justified” to continue “sinning”, until that “demon” of institutionalized racism is totally eliminated from society. 

 Because most of our Black leaders – who happen to be "liberal" – constantly make excuses for our self-inflicted problems – by unfairly laying blame squarely on that long-time “enemy” of ours called “racism” – these leaders unknowingly cause our people to believe that any "immoral behavior" taking place in our communities is NOT of our “own” doing; and that we are indeed “justified” to continue our destruction behaviors (or Biblically speaking, continue in “sin” ), until that “demon” of institutionalized racism is totally eliminated from society.  In other words, our Black leaders have caused our people to NOT  take "personal responsibility" for their own foolish actions, as they rationalize their unseemly behavior; saying that their "inexcusable behavior" is not of their “own” doing; and that "society" – or "racism" – is to be blamed for their problems, and thus they are indeed “justified” to continue their sinful pathological behavior – until "society" obligates itself to help Blacks in the ghetto (or Blacks who live in middle-class neighborhoods) "get over" their self-made problems .

 Black people in America – and particularly our liberal (or politically progressive) Black Church brethren – do need to STOP blaming the "White Man" – or others – for ALL of the problems that exist within our communities.  There are indeed some problems that we could solve – and should solve – for ourselves.  Again, many of these same problems are spiritual in nature.  In other words, many of the problems in the Black Community are ones simply caused by SIN – or mere DISOBEDIENCE against the Commandments of God.  Today, because of constant rebellion against the Most High, we now have – as Hosea 8:7 says – "sown the wind, and [we] shall reap the whirlwind".

 The Black Church, of course, shares much of the blame for the progressive moral decay taking place in American society.  It is understandable how liberal philosophy and liberal Christian theology has corrupted not only the minds of our Black religious leaders, but also has corrupted the minds of our Black political leaders as well.  Our contemporary Black leaders NOW foolishly make excuses for Biblically-defined sins, such as "pre-marital sex" and drug addiction.

 Thus, our "liberal" Black leaders, the "liberal" Black Church, and the general Black population now make all kinds of excuses for their willful sins and their self-inflicted problems – and tries to alleviate their guilt for sinning, by rationalizing sin; by mitigating their culpability – by intellectualizing their rebellious behavior, using pseudo-Christian doctrines; or using liberal philosophies, and/or pseudo-science. Therefore, in following behind liberal Whites, the Black Church likewise refuses to ever more identify just exactly what the Bible says that "sin" – in the eyes of God – really is...

 That is, S I N !!! ...   
Again, "S" - "I" - "N" !!!

 In other words, we need to DEMAND that our Black leaders STOP "intellectualizing" our anti-Christian behavior and our self-inflicted problems – as we keep on doing, by misusing biology, psychology, sociology, philosophy, and "liberal theology" – and once again identify “sin” just exactly what this “thing” – in the eyes of God – really is.  To reiterate, we must go back to the "days of old" and simply identify "sin" as the only way that "sin"  presents itself to the World.  And that is.......S I N !!

 And even though the senior members of our Black Leadership most likely grew up at a time during "Jim Crow" ; nevertheless, these same folk – like the younger generation of Black leaders – have nevertheless deserted their fundamentalist Christian principals, and have cast aside America's traditional moral values, by trading in their conservative moral upbringing for the new, chic and liberal "politically correct" way of solving problems in society.

 Again, to reiterate – our Black leaders have misdirected our focus on the proper way to solve problems in our communities.  Today's Black leaders continue to mislead our people into believing that "politics" or "Government" is the answer to all of our problems.  Indeed, as I mentioned before, most of the problems occurring TODAY within the Black Community (whether in the ghettos or suburbs) are NOT due to White Racism, as it is so often claimed by our current "liberal" Black leaders, most notably Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton.  But rather, the problems are usually self-inflicted – and  sinful in nature ; since there are particular problems (e.g., teen-age pregnancy and drug addiction) that have much less to do with RACE than it has to do us being "irresponsible" in violating universal Biblical principals of living – by NOT taking "individual responsibility" in adequately taking care of our personal "relationship" with God; as well as taking proper care of our own bodies, and "looking out" for the well-being of family members and neighbors.                   

 As I've mentioned before, in a past e-mail message, liberal blacks – like Jesse Jackson, who at ONE time (during the 70's and 80's), did indeed rightly point out and fight against the systemic "racism" found within government and Corporate America; has NOW become IRRELEVANT for the Black Community; since he has now become, metaphorically speaking, a "race pimp" – i.e., a sinister race demagogue – and a corrupt Black shyster, who is very greedy, and a self-serving opportunist who always tries to  play the "race card" with any [supposedly "racist"] government agency or "Fortune-500" business that has been falsely accused of racial discrimination; and with Jackson thereby always trying to get "media attention" or trying to "make a buck"; by always taking advantage of some hypothetical discrimination allegation made against these same institutions and corporations; with the ultimate purpose of him FULFILLING the ongoing lusts and pride of his own vile flesh. 

 Even Black liberals themselves can be very selfish, as they go about committing endless nauseating political shenanigans; as they ceaselessly, inappropriately, and unnecessarily play the shallow game of "race politics"; with the ulterior motive of acquiring for themselves more money, fame, and glory; by simply bringing media attention to themselves; all the while operating under the pretext that their numerous political speeches and ongoing political demonstrations are supposedly in the "interests" of Black America; but in actuality, these Black shysters are giving the public the false impression that they are operating altruistically for the "benefit" of "all" African Americans.  And even though, Ramie and everyone else, we can never let White people "off the hook" for their ongoing discriminatory practices against people of color; at the same time, I must admit that certain Black celebrities (like Bill Cosby) are correct in saying that our people have done much more DAMAGE to our own communities – more than what the "White Man" could ever do to us at this present time.

 Written By Charles Reese / Brother Charles regularly submits his comments concerning African American People in America.  I Thought this article pertinent in that it addresses in full detail most of our problems.  Thanks Charles  PJ  8-2-08