Are Blacks being used by the democrat party as the point of the spear? Pastor Paris

-- Anonymous, February 18, 2001

Answers

I am not sure what you mean. I think that both parties "use" Afrikan Americans to further their own agenda. The Republicans are "using" Afrikans---see I've got friends who look like the rest of you (blacks), but think like a republican. Therefore, I identify with the blight of Afrikan Americans, WRONG. Some of us are fooled by the tricknology Republican Party. I see too many Republican Afrikan Americans buck dancing and throwing spears of ignorance at the Democratic Afrikan Americans (I will not mention the independent thinkers like myself.) It is just plain painful. The biggest spears that I dodge are the ones thrown by Afrikan brothers and sisters at me for thinking for myself. I refuse to elevate the Republican Party to a celestial plane. They are just people to me...just as the democratics. Both are mortals with carnal minds. We should ALL work together and create a better community. Instead of focusing on the differences. Let's put our energy toward to the positive. It is far more productive.

In Love and Light,

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2001

One of the great things about America is the right to affiliate with the party of your choice. SOME African Americans, (and Latinos, and Asians, and and and...) have chosen the Dems. Good on 'em.

If there are any Christians in that group, I hope they're basing the political opinions on Scripture. If not, bad on 'em.

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2001

Is that to suggest that there are no Christians in the Democratic party?

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2001

Nope. I'm sure there are some. I just can't figure out how they reconcile their vote against Scripture. But we've had this discussion at length before. One group says the Dem's position on abortion automatically rules them out. The other says the death penalty is just as bad, so they're both bad. No need to have this conversation again. Just seek God and vote.

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2001

I made the assumption that most posters understood the phrase, "Point of the Spear." Sprry about that. The point of the spear refers to the unit that is out front leading the rest of the troops into battle. This unit takes mosts of the casualties. Are the DEMS using blaks as the lead unit in the battle in Florida for example, Rev. Jessie went down and made exaggerated claims of voter fraud, etc. When that didn't fly, he went back making claims of refusing to allow black voters to vote. Jessie told the lies that Gore wanted to push. Pastor Paris

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2001

Ahhh. I think I get it now. For years I have heard in the army-based movies, "Private, take the point!" I had always thought it was the point of the patrol, but "Point of the Spear" makes more sense in the context of Greco-Roman formations, etc.

Thanks, Pastor Paris. I love coming here and learning something. :-)

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2001

There are probably a number of points. How about a pitchfork? I see Hollywood as a point, Ted Turner and the whole CNN/AOL/Time Warner empire, the globalists, the environmental movement, the abortion crowd and feminists in general, and college professors by the bushel. It's been said the only people on earth who believe communism works anymore are college professors.

Of course we're sterotyping here. Within all these and other groups Republicans, Libertarians, and others can be found. BTW, I consider the Libertarians to be some of the most interesting people out there. They're consistent for one thing. Only their positions on homosexuality and drugs prevents me from joining them. As a Christian I just can't support them there. Interestingly, in my heavily Republican town there were more Libertarians on the ballot than Democrats. They're growing.

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2001

Pastor Rob...

Why don’t we just burn down the universities and libraries so that people will not think for himself or herself? Mortal decay is not due to learning. College is a great experience, which stimulates THINKING. It appears that any group that uses the mass of tissue between the ears is a threat to this society. The real enemies are ignorance and GROSS materialism. Communism in its ideal form is not a bad thing. (I don’t prefer it, however, some people many choose this as one of their options). The way you discussed the Turner/AOL/Warner, it sounded like you issue with capitalism.

This question is for Bill...please explain how a person can be a capitalist and a Christian. This appears to be a contradiction of values.

In Love and Light, Brenda

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2001

Once again we have evidence that

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2001

Once again we have evidence that the Republicans have God on their side. Thank you Rev Rob. However, you do confuse me at times. Some of your postings seem not to be serious but to provoke a response from the readers here. Are you serious when you claim

"SOME African Americans, (and Latinos, and Asians, and and and...) have chosen the Dems. Good on 'em. "If there are any Christians in that group, I hope they're basing the political opinions on Scripture. If not, bad on 'em." ? If so, I refuse the insult and am praying for you. Bro Bob McCain

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2001

Remember that I consider politics to be of marginal importance, and writings on this subject are generally tongue in cheek on my part. That's why I don't put the Reverend in front of my name on non- spiritual subjects. Got to catch a plane now. See ya'll Saturday.

Oh yeah, thanx for the prayer. I'll take it gladly.

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2001

Our charming and equally cerebral fellow poster B. Sutton has asked me to comment on the alleged contradiction between capitalism and Christianity. While I am not an intellectual descendent of either Max Weber, Ayn Rand or Michael Novak, I welcome the opportunity to respond. To minimize economic theories let me propose three factors for why the two systems are mutually compatible as opposed to the popular view about their adversarial relation. Capitalism in its purest elemental form is based on private property, free markets and robust competitive activities. Property is sacrosant. This simply means that the rewards resulting from ownership of any productive resource should simply accrue to that owner [i.e worker or entrepreneur]. Free markets assure that economic transactions carried out by unregulated parties will yield the best set of socially desirable outcomes. This is the "Leave it to Beaver" principle. In other words, buyers and sellers know what's best to meet their wants and needs so "get out of the way". Finally, robust competitive activities function as a hedge against buyers purchasing items above the technologically feasible level. Or, better stated, creative competition forces prices to approximate social cost. No firm can maintain a sustainable competitive advantage.

Now, you might be wondering how is it possible to reconclie these fundamental principles which seemingly foster greed, material acquisitiveness and selfish behavior with the basic tenets of Christianity? I would argue that the basis of modern Christian theology rests on the unrecognized or overlooked fact that "God is in search of mankind". Reconciliation as described by the Apostle Paul in I Corinthians is a process where Christ is involved in a search and rescue mission for fallen humanity. However coercion is antithetical to Christ's mission. The absence of coercion is the genesis of freedom. We are truly "free to choose" as one prominent economist described it in the early 80s. Salvation is a gift it is not a quid-pro-quo. He admonishes us all to repent but freedom is never rescinded in the process. Freedom is the cornerstone of capitalism and it is also a cornerstone feature of Christianity. The alleged contradictions about both systems is primarily seen in the public outcry about income and wealth inequities in countries like the US. While such inequities do exist economic evidence has been accumulated that wealth distribution is also problematic in non- capitalist economies also. Furthermore, just like material incentives compel us all to not become complacent, the goal of spiritual perfection works to keep us "pressing toward the mark of the high calling". Secondly, the story of economic communalism described in the Book of Acts suggest that Christianity is incompatible with private property. Such a conclusion is premature. Jesus criticism of Dives [parable with Lazarus] or the rich farmer was based on their attitude about wealth not wealth itself. If individuals desire to engage in philanthropic activities of the type described in Acts only the guarantee of freedom will allow this decision.

The love of money is truly the origin of societal malfeasance and evil because it diefies currency and acquisitiveness. Responsible riches can indeed be an instrument to further God's Kingdom and address some of the modern problems which plague our society [i.e. cancer research, homelessness, nutrition, etc.]. I hope this rough primer helps although I suspect it will prompt more questions. If so, I have performed a useful service. QED

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2001