The Attack on African Americans

Attacks on African Americans are at an unprecedented high.  In the past, systematic and institutionalized racist policies, laws and practices were the norm.  Our history is one of being attacked, ridiculed and demeaned by society.  However, our young males are now attacking each other, and at alarming rates in a violent manner.  Chi-Raq is alive and well!  So brothers, I ask you, “What is the answer?”  

While a deep intellectual and passionate discussion may generate possible solutions, the one I am convinced will work is when we unite together and call on “The Force”, the supernatural power we Christian men have been endowed with. Those who encourage, and those who need encouragement, can come together and through our mutual faith and actions, we can address some of the societal burdens placed upon us.  And, on a more personal note, we can learn how faith and prayer can help us deal with our own personal needs and challenges in life.  We can evolve into and serve as role models for our young men. 

As a young African American male raised by a single father, my twin brother and I have always been blessed to see upfront and personal what happens when God fearing Christian men unite.  We also had the opportunity and privilege to attend an all-male college, Morehouse, where once again we saw powerful men of God coming together to worship, pray, and do God’s work.

Elijah, one of my favorite Biblical prophets, comes to mind.  Elijah, a servant of God, was sent by God to rebuke King Ahab for worshipping and leading the Israelites to worship a false god.  It was through faith that Elijah trusted God to demonstrate how He was the one true God.  What at first glance may seem surprising was that after the Showdown on Mount Carmel, Elijah’s faith shifted to fear.  He showed weakness and vulnerability when King Ahab’s wife Jezebel threatened his life.  But, God in His faithfulness, provided and protected Elijah despite his shift from faith to fear.  What I am trying to say is simply this:  God works when we are faithful.  And,  God’s power even works when we are fearful!  Why?  Because God has promised to never leave us or forsake us, and God always keeps every promise He has made. 

The notion of faith may seem nebulous to some.  However, it is real and it has power.  Examples of triumph abound in Biblical stories as well as everyday people in our modern times.  Faith coupled with Kingdom focused action, can turn something that seems impossible, into the possible. 

We all work at something or somewhere.  The variety of the types of work we all do is numerous.  We work at our corporate or government jobs; we work in industries that serve others, we work in our family life, etc.  We do lots of work!  But the most important work we can do is God’s Kingdom work.  We must be men on assignment.  We must use our faith and Kingdom centered actions to make what the faithless would deem impossible, but the faithful see as definitely possible.  And many times, the result can surprise us and make our faith stronger.

Assignment…Problem...Solution.  If we approach our circumstances with these three themes in mind, we have a framework for how to make a change or a difference in life. 

For example, in Mark 2:1-12, the story of how Jesus healed the crippled man demonstrates this approach.

The Assignment:  Get the crippled man healed by Jesus.

The Problem:  There was a crowd of people in and around the house that Jesus was in, which prevented the four people carrying the crippled man from getting near Jesus.

The Solution:  They made a hole in the roof of the house above Jesus, and let the man down in front of everyone.

The Resolution:  Jesus saw how much faith they had in his ability to heal the crippled man, and the extraordinary measures they went through to get the crippled man to Him.  Jesus not only forgave him of his sins, he demonstrated for those who questioned his authority to forgive sins, that he had that authority and more.  He told the crippled man, “Get up!  Pick up your mat and go on home.”  The crippled man did as Jesus said and WALKED out.  All there were in amazement and praised God.

In summary, this story shows that we all have problems.  And more importantly, it shows that through faith, our problems can be solved.  The first step is to admit that we have problems and stop trying to cover it up so others will think all is well with us.  As soon as you identify and admit you have a problem, actions can be started to resolve it.  You may think the problem is insurmountable, but through our collective faith, the problem can be resolved.  Maybe not in the way you expect, but in God’s way and in His time, which is always better.  

The solution to the issues that plague many African American men may not be easy and may not come quickly.  However, when Christian men come together, united in worship and prayer, we can have a “showdown” for God’s work in our homes, in our cities, and in our country, instead of “showdown” of violence in our streetsSo, meet me for a Kingdom Showdown!

Pastor Kelon Duke 

Calvary Baptist Church of Glenwood

Why Do We Need Another Men's Conference?

Why do we need another Men’s Conference? Because manhood is in the midst of a crisis; the conflicting messages of our culture and the pulpit of the media have waged an all out assault on manhood. When you combine this with the lack of a Christ-reflecting image of manhood in most homes, many men are confused or unconcerned about God’s design for manhood. When they turn on the television, they are bombarded with caricatures of manhood. If you survey the men in prime time television today you will find a collection of men who portray adultery, femininity, or immaturity, but rarely will you find a God honoring reflection of manhood. Sadly, this image problem is not a new phenomenon. Just think for a moment about the images of fatherhood depicted on prime time television in the last few decades. In the 70’s we had bumbling idiots like Archie Bunker and George Jefferson, in the 80’s passive Dad’s like Alex on Family Ties. Rarely were we able to turn on the television and see a father leading and nurturing his family, thank God for the Cosby Show, Cliff Huxtable was a rarity in the 80’s; a husband who was faithful to his wife, loved his children and looked to mentor and encourage other men to do the same. Nowadays we have Homer Simpson, Peter from Family Guy to Allen from Two and a Half Men. From sitcoms to cartoons to movies, men today are being bombarded with negative images of manhood almost twenty-four hours a day. And if you believe the message being broadcast today you would think that the only thing the culture expects men to do is pursue passivity, adultery, femininity, and immaturity. Over the years, the cultural image of manhood has gone from Father knows best, to father knows nothing, to who needs a father!

As a result of this assault on manhood, many men today are unaware of their God given mission to reflect the image of God to their family, their community and the world; because of this men often wander aimlessly through life searching for meaning and purpose outside of God’s plan. Because they lack a model of biblical manhood, many men go through life guessing at what it means to be a man. In First Corinthians Thirteen the Apostle Paul said: “When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.”

But the sad reality for many men is that they cannot tell you when they became a man, too often they try to obtain manhood by reducing manhood to the pursuit of boyish behaviors; they believe one becomes a man by having his first drink, having his first sexual encounter, or purchasing his first automobile. But none of these things makes a male, a man. I believe every man needs a man to help him understand and embrace biblical manhood, because without a clear vision of what biblical manhood looks like men will continue to descend to society’s definitions, instead of stepping up to God’s design.

Often these men are like the biblical character Samson (Judges 13-16), created for a mission, but derailed by their own desires, disobedience and pride. And in their attempt to discover their manhood and display it to the world they often damage their families, their loved ones and themselves. I have seen the damage that this void can cause in the home, the local church and in the community. 

That is why we need the Barnabas Brotherhood Conference, we need a conference that focuses on equipping the men to understand the missional nature of God and to embrace their calling to join God’s mission in their families, their churches and their community. And since Jesus Christ is the ultimate example of manhood, we must look to him to understand his purpose and plan for biblical manhood and follow his example.  When men experience the perfect love of our heavenly father they will submit to him as Lord and follow his leadership in every area of their lives. This is the missional manhood that our churches and communities need to experience, men who have been sent by the Lord to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16) in a dark and decaying world.

This issue is significant to me because growing up on the South side of Chicago I was one of the few boys in my neighborhood who grew up in a two-parent household. Most of my friends didn’t have a father who was present in their home to teach them how to become a man, so many of these boys sought out men in the streets to be father figures in their lives. And as a result many of them learned the world’s standard of manhood and leadership.

My father was not perfect by any means, but during my elementary school years, he made a commitment to put God first in his life. Not long after that a deacon at our home church began to disciple him and model godly manhood to him on a regular basis. And from that point on my father began to grow in Christian maturity. My dad would later become instrumental in molding and shaping my understanding of manhood as he demonstrated by example what biblical leadership was all about. He sacrificially served my mother and provided for my siblings and I. He was strong and loving, as he embraced his commitment to follow Jesus Christ and changed the course of our family for generations.

I am convinced that every man needs a man to help him understand and embrace biblical manhood; the Barnabas Brotherhood Conference exists to equip and encourage men for this very purpose. Manhood is under attack, and your family needs you to be victorious, that is why you need to attend the Barnabas Brotherhood Conference.

Dr. Adron Robinson

Hillcrest Baptist Church