The Week

Social media is my platform; it has been for years. Some use it for fun but since Jena Six in 2006 I have used it to become socially aware and to help others become socially aware. You see I don't just talk, I petition, I will march and ask what it is I can do to help the cause because I feel that in order to be heard and have change we should take action. I am baffled by those who say "well I don't sit on social media all day" yet you're on there every time I am. It is no longer" sitting" on social media because when I'm working I often take my phone out on breaks, my phone is with me wherever I go so I wouldn't call people who actively make their followers aware of social injustice on social media sitting ducks. When I gave my life to Christ in 2010 I noticed that many Christians are quiet on social injustice, it bothered me then and it bothers me now. It bothers me even more now because a good 72% of our new "president elect's" supporters are evangelical Christians. At one point I labeled myself as an evangelical but over the years my views, concepts and ideas about religion have changed.

I have had a year of hardship, eye opening situations and life has made me more compassionate about people. I am political, I consider myself to be conscious although I've been told the majority of conscious people believe that Jesus is a myth. It is no secret to my followers that I have always supported Senator Clinton. In 08 before Obama took the lead I was "with her" so last year when she made the announcement I did not hesitate to alert social media that I was "with her" and that there was no other choice for me as far as candidates go. My bios from Instagram to twitter are littered with #BlackLivesMatter to #ImWithHer and at the same time #ILoveJesus which I am told is contradictory. I ask how is it contradictory to love Jesus and be socially active? How is it that I'm told that Christians have to be put in this conservative box? I hold views and thoughts that cannot be considered conservative. For a long time, I kept them to myself for the fear of being judged or shunned (Christians are really good at isolating people who do not think like them) but this year I got vocal because when you sit down and study the word which we are told to in 2 Timothy 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."  

I learned that too many church people go by hearsay and not scripture or they take parts of scripture and misinterpret for their benefit or simply to mislead non-believers. It is a sad truth and no not all Christians do this but too many do! Sometimes the misinterpretation is not even on purpose, when we are ignorant of anything we always put our spin on it. Now we can sit all day and argue about abortion, same sex marriage but where does it really lead us? Usually ends in heated debates with scriptures being given in a self-righteous tone or causes a rift. I often think of Luke 15 when I see or hear Christians disparaging non-believers, stay with me: 

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

"Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." Luke 15:1-7

Now I don't know if the majority of Christians understand what they have done or if they are too prideful to accept that they're destroyed, lost and abandoned some flocks! I'd say about 72% of you and this is not saying I agree with all democrats or the way things have been handled. I am saying there is a lot of contradiction that has went back and forth that has led us to this point. As a child I realized that this nation was never built on a Godly foundation so to speak considering that the land was stolen and people were stolen from other countries to work it! So Christianity was misinterpreted by our founding fathers from day 1, yeah, yeah you all like to hold on to this white supremacy CLEARLY that the battle we are facing at this very hour. I have learned that the church is and always has been one of the most segregated places. For the most part I grew up in "black church" I mean a few white parishioners but like many of you I was raised around like minded individuals who looked like me which can limit your view on a lot of things to be honest. The same can be said for those raised in a white church and I guess I am saying that at some point we need get it together! If we are to be one body like the bible says, then we have to heal and healing is not reading off scriptures to justify your mean and hateful ways that's not even "Jesus-like"... Yeah we all know that the bible was flipped and manipulated by slave masters to make believers out of slaves and that's just fact and reality! I think we can all agree that many slaves were limited in understanding and majority could not even read so that myth that Christianity is a white man’s religion can be put to bed, but the way 72% of evangelicals voted brings it up again! I don't care how many black friends you have, black relatives etc. if you voted for the guy you signed on to all the nonsense he spouted and now are confused as to why your "friends" are hurt which is a whole different discussion we can have later about "privilege." And for the minorities who voted for him for so called "religious convictions" you know that many are rolling their eyes at you too right? 

There are riots and angry people protesting all over this country because in a way we have been betrayed. We supported this campaign, we have been loyal to this country, heck some of us even pay our taxes and once again much like year 2000 the electoral college board has FAILED us. No presidency is not a popularity contest but when someone who has spread that type of HATE gets elected I have to ask why do we not have the right to question this 200-year-old "rule" that has been set in place? I will say a lot has changed in 200 some odd years and I have only been around 29 but looking at history I don't really know if we are progressing or going backwards. I think that this past Tuesday we chose backwards! And maybe you are annoyed by my social media presence or the voicing of opinions of others, I don't really care but apparently some generations do not understand the pain many of us are feeling. I am a black/Hispanic woman so that's two strikes against me and I AM all minority. I am not gay but I have friends who are therefore that makes me an ally to those who are. I am not Muslim but I consider myself an ally to those who are and I am not an immigrant but my great grandfather was which makes me want to be an ally to those who are. Do you get where I am going with this? America is angry and hurt and I am a part of that hurt. This former evangelical who loves Jesus and has a hunger for reform. I am this black girl with Hispanic blood flowing through her veins who is a little afraid for her friends and I am a little afraid for myself although I know Jesus protects me there are people all around this city and state who want to hurt me. Now there is a president in place backed by hate groups who are thrilled with his thoughts and they feel warranted to hurt US so excuse me for being hurt, lost and angry. My belief in Christ hasn't been lost but I have questioned everything I was taught because of this change of events. I have had to disconnect from ministries because of MY convictions which I will never abandon. Jesus commands us to love those who may not look and think like us, they are our neighbors and coworkers. I have been told I could ruin my witness but mostly by people who have already ruined their own by supporting ignorance so I'll keep going. Our witness has already been ruined to be honest because that 72% and their decisions backfired and now we have someone in place who has no clue or skills to lead us as a nation. God is gracious, he loves us (yes all of us) and scripture does tell us to pray for our leaders which I plan on doing but I'll never support their plans because I disagree with the hatefulness that got them into the White House. So yes I am hurt and I feel like after 8 years of progress it is like a slap in the face, we have a right to grieve because this is a BIG loss for many of us clearly the popular vote shows who we voted for. Lets pray for one another, love one another but don't lose focus. God loves you and I do too.- Cdj