God doesn’t see color.

That’s what someone sent me, based on the picture I posted on my story timeline. Another person wrote: “there is only one race, the human race”.

For the record, I am not writing this post because I feel the need to defend my “blackness”. There is very real trauma and a sense of tiredness that African-Americans feel in relation to that. (If you’re interested click here for medically focused viewpoint on the concept of white ignorance).

The reason I’m writing is because the message sent to me is not about sociology - it’s about theology. Whenever someone addresses me with what they believe God does or doesn’t do, it gets my attention.

Now, this idea that God doesn’t see color is one of the reasons why I have advocated and spearheaded gospel-centered, biblically-based conversations around ethnicity and race as a church leader. For years. I actually don’t think I need to explain why the notion that God doesn’t see color is a misreading of the Bible story. To be fair, this person did also say, “we are all equal in God‘s eyes” - which I completely agree with. As a matter of fact, the biblical vision of God’s people who have been redeemed by Jesus from every nation, tongue and tribe shows said unity. Incidentally, this vision also shows that God sees the various colors, or at the very least, ethnic nuance and diversity. When the apostle Paul wrote that there is neither Jew or Gentile, he wasn’t white-washing (pun intended) ethnic diversity. In his writings, you can see that he was very aware of his ethnic, cultural identity. His point was that his ethnicity was not salvific, to the point that it warranted elevation above other ethnicities.

Here’s the deal: Jesus didn’t save me because I am African/Haitian American. I’m not a Christian because of the color of my skin. At the same time, my identity as a Christian does not remove or erase my cultural identity. God sees me. All of me. One of the root issues in this world is when others choose not to.

Revival Is Not The End Game…

Have you ever heard the word, revival? If you’re a Christian, chances are you have. If you’re not a Christian, chances are you have. It’s a very common word in Christianity with historical reference points. Although it is not a biblical word (found in the Bible), it is a biblical concept. I was raised within a particular expression of Christianity where prayer was central. My mother and other elders around me had an acute sense of their reliance and dependence on God. They surveyed their lives and the lives of those around them with the desire to see change. The kind of lasting, undeniable societal change, in line with the Bible’s vision.

The word revival implies a bringing back to life. It is a supernatural change that acknowledges the world (as we currently experience it) is not what it was intended to be. As Christians, we believe that God created the world and everything He made was “good”. The cry for revival, then, is a cry for the world (and humans) to be what God always intended.

You see - Revival is not the end game...revival is a means of preparing us for the end game. Revival is the door that we walk through to experience the Bible’s vision for the world.

The end game is unhindered, barrier-less life with God in pure light and love. This kind of life has implications on every aspect of the world as we know and experience it. It’s seeing the world, and everything in it, finally reaching its telos. Revival has a goal and we do it a dis-service by thinking it is the goal.

There have been many “revivals” in the history of the world, with some lasting longer than others. One in particular that I see as closest to the Bible’s vision is what took place off the coast of Scotland in the Hebridis. I won’t go into detail (you can research for yourself) but here are some of the markers of the revival there: decrease in crime, emptying of jails, closing of bars. This is the kind of revival our country needs. Only God can make that happen. In a nutshell:

• Unless we see safer, cleaner streets - it’s not revival.

• Unless we see equitable wages in the workforce - it’s not revival.

• Unless we see the elimination of racism, ageism, sexism and all negative isms - it’s not revival.

• Unless we see decarceration, justice reform and zero crime - it’s not revival.

• Unless we see value of life in every stage and for every person - it’s not revival.

• Unless we see every person in our area, in relationship with God through Jesus Christ - it’s not revival.

You see where I’m going with this?

So, yes…pray for revival. But, also pray for where it will take us.

The Symbol Of Christmas

The symbol of Christmas—what is it? It is the rainbow arched over the roof of the sky when the clouds are heavy with foreboding. It is the cry of life in the newborn babe when, forced from its mother’s nest, it claims its right to live. It is the brooding Presence of the Eternal Spirit making crooked paths straight, rough places smooth, tired hearts refreshed, dead hopes stir with newness of life. It is the promise of tomorrow at the close of every day, the movement of life in defiance of death, and the assurance that love is sturdier than hate, that right is more confident than wrong, that good is more permanent than evil.

- Howard Thurman

Merry Christmas!

3 Things Christians Do

We are in a unique moment in history and it feels like a transitional, generational moment. As Christians, it is important to remember the universal characteristics that are shared with all Christians, in all times. In other words, there are some fundamental things that Christians just do. Period. I summarize three of these things based on a sentence from a letter written by Paul, the Apostle, to some friends in the ancient city of Philippi.

1. Worship - This is a core universal value and one of the areas many are attempting to reconcile now with the stay-at-home orders. The tension many are feeling is embracing the distinction between event-based worship & lifestyle commitment-based worship. What makes worship, worship in the truest sense of the word? Regardless of how you answer, worship is what Christians do.

2. Boast about Jesus - The point here is that Christians celebrate Jesus and make Him the focus of their praise. Jesus is the MAN and we are all fans. If He had a jersey, every Christian would wear it proudly. The word Christian comes from Christ anyway, so that’s saying something. What we boast about communicates something about us, which leads to the next point…

3. Put no confidence in flesh - Christians go against the tendency of drawing ultimate self-definition from social categories. In other words, Christians live from the basis of their relationship with God through Jesus. The things typically used to get ahead or build social capital don’t translate to the Christian life. Those things have a shelf-life and expire based on whats en vogue. Christians build their lives on something way more stable and lasting.

Based on Philippians 3:3

What Does It Mean To Follow Jesus?

…following Jesus is less like math and more like white water rafting. - Michael Spencer

If you’ve heard the phrase, “following Jesus”, you might be wondering what that means. Growing up, one of the songs I remember hearing often included the words, “I have decided to follow Jesus… No turning back, no turning back.” For many people, these were more than just words accompanied to music, it was a way of describing the Christian life.

For all intents and purposes, the Christian life is about following Jesus. What comes to mind for you when you hear that phrase? Is it equivalent to following a favorite sports team or following a public figure on social media?

The above quote is quite descriptive of what following Jesus looks like. It has less to do with logical neat steps and more ‘strap-on-your-seatbelt’ kind of life. This is to say that following Jesus is an adventure; a journey with unexpected twists and turns. When you read the story of Jesus, primarily in the New Testament Gospel witness accounts, you’ll find that there is hardly a dull moment. It is full of surprises and often very disorienting, but ultimately, it results in discovering the meaning and purpose of our lives.
Following Jesus will include: going places we never thought we would go, talking to people we never thought we would talk to (in a way we never thought possible), and seeing life in a more meaningful way. His way is love and love has a way of doing those things.

Now is a perfect time to consider following Him…even if you follow from a distance. If you want to take a next step in this direction, let me know.

Easter is over…now what?

This has been an Easter weekend for the record books. For the first time, the highest attended Sunday for churches happened online - not inside physical buildings. It was disorienting at best and seemingly sacrilegious at worst. Nonetheless, the message and meaning of the season remains. This is important to say: The holiday of Easter is different from the season or epoch of Easter. Here’s what I mean…

The followers of Jesus, went through the agony and grief that comes with the death of a loved one. But, those that saw Him again were impacted in a way that words can’t describe.
While their circumstances did not change, the way they looked at their circumstances did. Their day-to-day life probably didn’t look different after they encountered the risen-from-the-dead Jesus. Their outlook on life and way they lived their day-to-day life, however, was different. This is significant and shows the point of departure from any other historic person. “If Jesus had not been raised from the dead”, says Fleming Rutledge, “we would never have heard of Him.”

Now that we are in the season of Easter, it doesn’t mean that schools are opening this week, churches will be gathering back together, the economy is open and people are back to work. It does mean, that even if schools and churches aren’t open or we still have to practice social distancing, all is not lost. In fact, none of those things define our humanity. The resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth reminds us of hope beyond hardship and life beyond the grave. 

So, let’s celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. Let’s celebrate the precious value of our faith. Let’s also: 

• Wash our hands

• Wear masks in public and when appropriate 

• Pray for first responders, medical practitioners, etc. 

• Allow this time to be the practice field of what we believe about Jesus  

The holiday of Easter may be over, but the season and new way of looking at life remains for those who trust in the life and believe in the words of Jesus of Nazareth.

Upcoming Event!

In spite of where things are all over the world, this remains an important week for many people of faith. I’ll be going live on Facebook this Friday at 8pm to share some meditations on Good Friday. I hope you’ll be able to tune in!

What Do Yo Miss Most?

It has been 3 weeks since churches have congregated together. While some have been ahead of the technological curve, many churches were not as prepared for the sudden shift.

I am conducting a survey to determine what church-goers miss the most about physically gathering together. Would you help by participating? The link to the survey is below and I will post results in about a week.
Thank you!

https://forms.gle/EkeA1SXazWAM54rs7

What To Do With Your Dreams

Dreams.

We all have them. It is one of those mysteries, similar to understanding how the mind works, that we find ourselves dreaming about - pun intended. What should we do with dreams?

For some, the answer lies in pursuit - “follow your dreams, go after them.” For others, the answer may be to just enjoy the experience of dreaming - “let’s dream together, what might this look like?” While both approaches (among several more) are valid, I like the visionary perspective Langston Hughes shares in his poem, The Dream Keeper:

Bring me all of your dreams,
You dreamers,
Bring me all of your
Heart melodies
That I may wrap them
In a blue cloud-cloth
Away from the too-rough fingers
Of the world.

It makes sense to offer our dreams to the One who gives us the ability and capacity to dream in the first place. What if, in this perspective, lies the way to make sense of this mysterious experience? Try it.

An Open Letter To Kanye West

Kanye, you don’t know me. We may never meet or have an opportunity to speak, but the internet makes lions out of us all so, here goes.

I have listened to your music for quite some time. Your musical genius and creativity is without question. From your first album until now, you’ve had an audience of people who admire and look up to you. I’m thankful for your gift and your musical genius. Your testimony of how Jesus has changed your life has inspired and caught the attention of millions - in this country and across the world. Very few people have the kind of reach and influence like you. To say that I was excited when I heard of the impact Jesus has on your life would be an understatement. As a fellow Christian, I rejoice when any person encounters Jesus, in whatever way it happens. As your brother in Christ, there’s just a few things I want to share if you’d be willing to give me an audience.

1. You’ve been in the music industry for quite some time and you know how challenging it is to work with people. We are fickle and often misdirect our pain. I want you to know, unfortunately, Christians are not the exception. You’ve alluded to this in your song Hands On (my favorite song on your album) with Fred Hammond (my favorite gospel artist). Although we are Christians, we are also human. As a result, we have the tendency to celebritize people. In many ways, you were already a celebrity according to the world’s standards. Sometimes those standards are blurred with Christian values. So, you’ll be invited to speak at churches, conferences and all types of Christian gatherings. You’ve already made various appearances, with several more in the pipeline. As your brother in Christ and a pastor, I would encourage you to take your time. You probably don’t need me to tell you this but, it’s OK to say no. It will by no means invalidate the change that Jesus has begun (and will complete) in your life. You will be called upon to share your testimony, which isn’t a bad thing - in fact, keep on sharing it! But, some of us see relationships as merely transactional. You’re hot as long as you don’t mess up. Once you do, well, you know how that goes…”they’ll be the first ones to judge you”. Don’t let us rush your process. We have the capacity to push you on our stages and then push you off, which leads me to my next point…
   

2. Many of us view the kind of platform that you have as the pinnacle. We view that as our life‘s goal and driving ambition. If we learn anything from 2 Corinthians 3-4, it is this: Our Christian lives, which many call ministry, is not a platform for talent. The Christian life is a journey. It is a marathon. We will spend the rest of our lives loving and following Jesus. As much as tomorrow is not promised to any of us, we don’t swing for the fences. Sometimes getting to first base is the most important thing we can do. Remain faithful to Jesus, your wife, family and your craft. Settle in to a local church and spend time there. That may be difficult (see #1), but do your best.

I celebrate you. More importantly, I celebrate and give praise to the Savior who saved you - not because of what you’ve done, but because of His rich mercy. Enjoy life with Him. Enjoy the journey.

Your brother in Christ,

Samuel

One Way To Read The Bible

The Bible is a fascinating piece of literature. To get the most out of its message, it must be engaged on it’s own terms. Instead of reading the Bible like a textbook or a newspaper, what if we read it with the intent of having a conversation? I firmly believe the Bible invites us to converse with it and not simply read it the way we read an online article or an editorial.

A conversant approach opens the door for all kinds of discoveries. In fact, the invitation to converse with the Bible gives us an idea of the nature of its main focus - God. In the Christian tradition, God is not a stoic, distant abstraction. He isn’t a mean, white-bearded tyrant waiting to pounce. He desires and invites relational interaction. Here’s a brief excerpt from the Bible itself that illustrates this point:

You have said, "Seek my face." My heart says to you, "Your face, LORD, do I seek." - Psalm 27:8

This is the kind of interaction that is possible for anyone willing to take the risk. Will you?

What Time Is It?

In various traditions, King Solomon is known as one of the wisest men in history. One of his most famous writings is found in the Bible, as the book Ecclesiastes (known in Hebrew as Kohelet). There is a section in the book where Solomon gives one of the most enlightening perspectives on timing. He writes:

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

The wisdom that Solomon gives in these words are golden - there is a time for every life experience. As a goal, we should not force something when it isn’t the time for it. If it is a time to mourn, it would be un-wise to make it a time of dancing. If it is a time to let go, we may do ourselves (and others) a disservice if we try to hold on. It is important not to avoid an experience because of the tension it puts us in. The things we often view as negative, are often opportunities for growth because…its the time.

What time is it for you? Embrace the experience, whatever it is. Chances are, its the time for it.

The Beauty Of Advent

During this Christian season of Advent, we remember the hope of people in the Bible story as they waited for the promised arrival of God. Advent prepares us for Christmas: God dwelling with man, heaven coming to earth. Advent is a time of reflection of humanity’s longing for divine presence and anticipation of divine intervention.

Advent is counter cultural in the sense that it demands that we slow down and reflect, in a season when our culture demands speed and busyness. It reminds us to prioritize sacredness over sales.

People that prefer to keep doing things the way they’ve always been done or maintain business as usual, don’t enjoy the season of Advent. The Advent voice says, “Stop, God is on the way...get ready”. Let’s slow down enough to pay attention…let every heart, prepare Him room.

A Hymn Of Thanks

Some things are best communicated through the medium of song, particularly in lyric. May this 19th century hymn provide language for you to give thanks today!

Thanks, O God, for boundless mercy from Thy gracious throne above; thanks for ev’ry need provided from the fullness of Thy love! Thanks for daily toil and labor and for rest when shadows fall; thanks for love of friend and neighbor and Thy goodness unto all!

Thanks for thorns as well as roses; thanks for weakness and for health; thanks for clouds as well as sunshine; thanks for poverty and wealth! Thanks for pain as well as pleasure—all thou sendest day by day; and Thy Word, our dearest treasure, shedding light upon our way.

Thanks, O God, for home and fireside, here we share our daily bread; thanks for hours of sweet communion, when by Thee our souls are fed! Thanks for grace in time of sorrow and for joy and peace in Thee; thanks for hope today, tomorrow, and for all eternity!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Be Strong

Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD!  - Psalm 31:24

Everyone experiences weakness, whether it be physical or emotional. There’s something about weakness that makes us pay attention to our human frailty. Consequently, the last thing we want to hear is someone telling us to “be strong”. Think about it - if we could be strong we would, right?

When we are weak physically, rest is the obvious solution. Even when we would rather push through, our bodies will let us know who’s in charge. I believe the same applies spiritually. By the way, when I say spiritually, I mean our inner world of consciousness. That’s a very general definition, but I think it works for now.

Spiritual strength comes alive when we are most weak. That may seem backwards, but that’s how it works. Our weakness is the stage from which God‘s strength can be displayed in our lives. God‘s strength is perfected in our weakness. To be strong, then, is not the ability to somehow muster up inner resolve or flex muscle. It is not the skill to act like everything is OK, when everything is not OK. To be spiritually strong is to rely on someone else’s strength - God.

So yes, be strong...The strength is His anyway. 

Kanye West…now what?

Jesus is King.

By now you have either listened to the album or listened to someone talk about it. I have done the former, so now I’ll do the latter.

I can’t remember an album that has stirred up this much dialogue in a while. As I listened to the album, and read numerous articles and social media posts, I wondered…now what? After our listening parties and commentaries, what happens next?

Here are a few things that come to mind for me:

• Jesus - The album is all about Him. Throughout the album, I wondered: when was the last time I was that excited about Jesus that didn’t include attending a church service? How often do I bring up Jesus to people I don’t know? This album inspired me to be more intentional and consistent in mentioning Jesus to people I meet. You know, like we’re supposed to do as Christians.

• Gospel Music - There’s nothing like it. It’s present throughout the album and it reminded me of the beauty of this genre of music. Once you’ve come in contact with gospel music you’re never the same. It touches your soul. The world needs to hear it more often.

• What next? Again, I keep coming back to this question. Everyone who hears this album will choose to do something. What about you? I leave you with the words of Jesus Himself (italicized for impact):

20 Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, "Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?"

21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about (insert Kanye’s name here) this man?"

22 Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!"

- John 21:20-22

So…what now?

The Two Step Of Faith

We are all growing in faith. In my growth personally, I realize there are typically two aspects of faith (I am speaking in general terms for the sake of breadth). There is the initial conviction of faith, then the action to move based on conviction. After the conviction of faith, there is a season of living in the tension of faith - that middle ground between what is hoped for and receiving what is hoped for.

It takes faith for the initial step but it also takes faith to persevere and endure until you receive what you have hoped for. Along the way, there will be opportunities to give up, question if you’ve made the right decision, etc. 

It takes faith to move you, but it also takes faith to keep you moving.

Faith doesn’t end after you act on it...faith carries you over the finish line, and sustains you through the highs and lows of the journey. Faith is a gift. Faith is precious. 

The Power Of Hope

Hope….is not the same as joy that things are going well, or willingness to invest in enterprises that are obviously headed for early success…Hope is definitely not the same thing as optimism. It is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out. In short, I think that the deepest and most important form of hope, the only one that can keep us above water and urge us to good works, and the only true source of the breathtaking dimension of the human spirit and its efforts, is something we get, as it were, from “elsewhere.” It is also this hope, above all, which gives us the strength to live and continually to try new things, even in conditions that seem…hopeless.

- Vaclav Havel

God Remembers

Sometimes it seems like life comes at us fast and hard. Over the course of our lives, we go through many challenges. Having people in our lives along the way often makes these challenges bearable. Community is a great thing when people stand with us. However, life being what it is, everyone has their own challenges. As a result, we often forget about others - that’s not a bad thing, it’s just a real thing. But the amazing thing about our relationship with God is that He never forgets us!

Think about it - in spite of the billions of people on the planet, God knows us by name and He remembers us. When Abraham’s descendants were in bondage in Egypt and crying out for deliverance, God remembered the agreement He made with Abraham, their forefather. That led to their freedom. In the same way, when we cry out to God for help and hope, He remembers what Jesus did for us and the agreement it represents (new covenant). In fact, the agreement He has with us now suggests the only thing that God forgets is what comes between He and us - (sin)! Why? Jesus has taken them away! Today is a good day to remember, that God remembers and He has not forgotten about you.

The Long Way Of Love

Usually when people think of God, they think of his commandments. They think about rules and the outcome if those rules are not followed. We don’t usually associate Jesus with issuing commands, but He does:

If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. - John 15:10

Jesus doesn’t command many things, but He does command the most important things. Arguably the most important command that He gives us, is to love one another; using His love for us as a point of reference. When we follow that command, we can expect certain things to take place:

• When His command or words are in us (by reception and action) His joy is also in us; and…

• when His joy is in us, our joy is made full…

• when His word is in us and our joy is made full, we will receive whatever we ask for.

You see, love really does go a long way when we simply do it.