1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (ESV)
“19 For though I am FREE from all, I have made myself a SERVANT to all, that I might win more of them.
20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law.
21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of GOD but under the law of CHRIST) that I might win those outside the law.
22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.
23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.”
Let me begin my saying that I have not achieved all that GOD has Planned for me to be! But I endeavor to be continually TRANSFORMED by the HOLY SPIRIT to become more of what I should be, and less like what “everyone else” in this world still is! The writings below are written by a dear friend, Bishop Robert E. Smith, Sr. Bishop Smith has a gift for articulating sensitive items like few others I have ever known.
"MARKETING BLACKNESS"
What is "Marketing Blackness," and what are the political implications on the economy? This is a very controversial subject.
First, let me qualify my position on the subject. I was born a Negro in the South, became Colored in the North, and wore the title Black in the military, until someone told me that I was an African-American in the marketplace. And each distinction necessitated a particular response.
As a Negro, you took what they gave; as a Colored, you bargained; as a Black you made demands, and as an African-American, you marketed your Blackness.
I was delivered from these erroneous distinctions when an Apostle named Paul wrote me a couple of letters and informed me, "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold ALL THINGS ARE BECOME NEW" (2 Corinthians 5:17) And "there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28). And don't forget that you "have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created Him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all and in all" (Colossians 3:10-11).
Now, back to my point.
"Marketing Blackness" Starts with the needless expense of advertising that which is perceived to be "Black:"
BLACK church, BLACK funeral homes, BLACK caucuses, BLACK banks, BLACK community developers, BLACK business, BLACK owners, BLACK power, BLACK schools, BLACK superstars, BLACK professionals and so on...
It ends with extreme over compensation of pseudo leaders who market themselves as representatives of all that is said to be BLACK.
This type of marketing has serious implications and is also a serious detriment to the Christian community.
While society underwrites this, it sends a subliminal message that some ethnic groups are inferior to others.
Those within the black community who market Blackness do not benefit, and those outside the Black community who market it only benefit by maintaining the status quo between ethnic groups.
As long as blacks have to promote blackness, there is a subliminal message that blackness is substandard to other ethnicities and therefore needs to be continually promoted. People outside of the black community who promote blackness are generally those who perceive themselves to be white and right, and desire to help those who think they are black, maintain their Blackness.
But if whites promoted Whiteness like blacks promote Blackness, there would be another civil war.
The Impact this marketing of Blackness has on the Church community is horrific.
It perpetuates erroneous distinctions in the Body of Christ and debilitates the effectiveness of the Church in society.
Erroneous distinctions also perpetuate hostility and erect the imaginary wall of division that scripture says was broken down through the death of Christ.
"For He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by cross, having slain the enmity thereby" (Ephesians 2:14-16)
Millions of dollars are paid to political imposters and social activists of the uninformed. These people are driving ignorance into the ground and creating a subculture. The by-product of that subculture is the "Low-Life." This can be turned around!
The social and economic turn-around that will relieve the cities, counties, states and federal government has to start with the spiritual leaders in the community. The multiple millions of dollars now going to rip-off artists could be re-directed and used to enable missionaries to return in droves to the Urban Communities where they could live, work, and worship, if they are worth their salt and carry enough light.
When (not if) the spiritual leaders stop taking money under the table from unprincipled politicians and become more informed of their purpose for being planted in this country, and how to attach their moral theology to their politics,there will be change in the pulpit, the pew, the home, and the street, Guaranteed!
I can see good churches, effective funeral homes, caucuses with Christian world-view, and other such changes. It will not be business as usual.
This is a note to the serious Christian: there would be no marketing of Blackness if the brother in Christ who thinks he is white or any other pedigree, understood that it is as much a spiritual crime to demean the finished work of Christ and refuse to be a "New Man" as it is to market any of the Old Creation. Too many believers yet celebrate diversity of ethnicity only to avoid growing up into Christ in all things (Ephesians 4:15)
Chapter 3 THE MARKETPLACE
The Theology of Politics:
Applying Sunday Morning Values to Tuesday's Voting Habits.
Bishop Robert E Smith Sr
The CHURCH MUST accept that THE FINISHED WORK OF CHRIST has made us ALL NEW! We are not like we were, but have been changed to be NEW CREATIONS! Turning over a new leaf isn’t enough. Wearing different clothing is not enough. Bathing multiple times daily will not get us clean enough to enter Heaven. Being “A FREE SERVANT” of the most high GOD is what we need to strive for!!!
