Be careful what you ask for…

You might get it! Everyday many thoughts swim through our minds and we either attach to these thoughts our attention or dismiss them as fantasies. Many great leaders and artists have harnessed the power of attaching “I can” to their thoughts. All of us have had those moments where we simply know we can achieve something even though the external environment seems to paint a picture that we can’t. We either choose to accept these outside circumstances as real and true or we embrace our “knowing” thoughts as possibilities. Accepting possibilities is where we can start planning to create the life that we want. When we convert the possibilities to probabilities is when we begin to actualize the thoughts and dreams we have desired.

Take Barack Obama for example. I saw a video clip of him back in the early 90’s outlining the direction he believed America needed to go and then more than 15 years later he is in command of where America can go into the future. Several times Jesse Jackson ran for the presidency and was unsuccessful, but his dream that an African American would someday be president came to pass. Some say that the picture here in the article was his disgust that he wasn’t elected, but I vehemently disagree. The look in his face reflects thanks to God for fulfilling his dream; even though he wasn’t the fulfillment of the dream. I submit this picture as the picture of the decade, or perhaps for the past several hundred years in which this country embraced slavery. Jesse Jackson’s years of knowledge about Martin Luther King, Jr. prepared him and enriched his life so he could believe in the dream. He met challenge after challenge and kept the hope of his dream alive. He asked for a world where anyone could be elected president and he got it! The dream might not have manifested the way he thought it would, but it manifested nonetheless.

How many dreams have you let go by the wayside? Did you pay attention so much to the outside circumstances that you abandoned any hope of manifesting your dream? Did you realize that the outside circumstances are a result of what you thought last week, last month or last year? Start directing your attention to the thoughts in your mind that say “I can!” Know that you can achieve anything that you desire by grabbing those thoughts, thinking diligently about them everyday and manifesting them into your world by ignoring the outside world and believing in your ability to manifest your desires. Remember, the root of the word desire is “of the father.” God wouldn’t have given you those desires unless he had given you the power to create and manifest them.

I remember from seminary school when we studied a book that contained the four gospels on two facing pages. We could read what Christ said in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and compare what Christ said in the original Koinè (pronounced coinay) Greek. Even though some of the wording varied from gospel to gospel, the underlying truth in what Christ said was revealed. It was obvious and apparent. He told us that we could move mountains! But how can we do that you might ask? It’s simple; grab the positive thought of your desire and believe in your ability to manifest it. When Christ approached Lazarus tomb he told Lazarus to wake up. He spoke with conviction and authority. He knew he would arise! Know the gifts that God has given you and use them to create the life that you desire. Don’t listen to the nay sayers who try to beat you up with your own words or “God’s words” as they understand them to be. Read what Christ said and follow his example. Like Jesse and Barack you will win every time!

For more info: Download my free Wilmington Spirituality Examiner toolbar. “Life is a gift. Be thankful for it and it will be replete with abundance. Encourage others to express creativity, release negativity and embrace pro-activity." Dean A. Banks, MCIWD, DD can be reached at webproducer@hotmail.com or banksnet.com. Download my free eBook on Articles 1-10 here.

Off the wall

After the last week of the media blitz over Michael Jackson’s death I have a few observations to make and a story to tell. Many of us were shocked at this untimely death, especially in the wake of his comeback. In 1977 I was a musician who played with a band at the old Columbia lot in Hollywood and caught a glimpse of him one time at the canteen. He seemed to be a person who loved to laugh and have a great time. Many things have been said about him both good and bad but the only thing proven was his charity. Having not much of a childhood as a child, he reached out to others only desiring to bring joy to their lives. Many have said that he was “off the wall” but I say he was “on the mark.” The greatest message he relayed was in his lyrics for the song “Heal the World.”

The chorus is as follows:

Heal The World
Make It A Better Place
For You And For Me
And The Entire Human Race
There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Better Place
For You And For Me

What a message! We all have the power that God has given us to heal the world and make it a better place. Do you care enough for the living? Have you reached out and helped another person who is in need? If you have then God bless you for giving. If you haven’t, then try to help someone who is not where they want to be in their life. It’s not just about money. It’s about giving your time, sharing your talents and abilities, going the extra mile especially when you don’t feel like it. Jesus said that if someone shows up at your door in need and your reject them, you are rejecting him. Why would he say this? Because we are all connected through God. He has created us to be express His knowledge, wisdom and beauty. Christ said not to cover your light but to shine it forth unto the world. Give of yourself to others. That doesn’t mean that you allow others to use you, but you allow others to benefit from your experience and knowledge.

On the day of MJ’s funeral I was in Wilmington donating my time to a workshop that trains kids in television production during the summer. I left the workshop and turned onto 4th Street heading for 95. When I came to the light under 95 it was green and I proceeded into the left turn lane. The light changed and the rear of my car stuck out a little bit in the intersection. Coming towards me in the opposite left lane was a new red pickup with a guy waving his hands. As he passed me he shouted, “You’re a true nigger!” Sometimes I am ashamed to be white. Especially when someone uses derogatory and racial terms. I was raised to respect all races and people; whether they were like me or different from me. The African American community and the entire world just lost an iconic figure that gave so much of himself to help others and here is a guy broadcasting hate. The only thing I could do was to ask God to bless him.

We all might look and act differently than one another but the spirit of God is within each and every one of us. Recognizing that is the first step to attaining the Kingdom of Heaven. Respecting our differences and embracing the unity we have in our diversity is next. Finally, making the time to help someone in need is God in action. Blessings abound when we share the spirit of God with all. Find someone in need and go ahead; make their day!

For more info: Download my free Wilmington Spirituality Examiner toolbar. “Life is a gift. Be thankful for it and it will be replete with abundance. Encourage others to express creativity, release negativity and embrace pro-activity." Dean A. Banks, MCIWD, DD can be reached at webproducer@hotmail.com or banksnet.com. Download my free eBook on Articles 1-10 here.

Are you attached to the outcome?

I had a great conversation with a good friend of mine over the weekend. He has owned several businesses in the past and is very successful. In fact, he owns a business that finances and factors other businesses. In our conversation he outlined what he has learned from starting and running his businesses. I think this information is relevant based on the exchanges with evangelicals I have had lately concerning the Word of God. First, my friend said that one has to respect his customers, employees, financers and finally himself. Without respect for your environment you cannot completely understand what is going on around you. Secondly, you must not be attached to the outcome of your efforts (or others’ efforts) or you end up getting involved in more than you can handle. Finally, you must learn to trust your actions based on your perceptions after you have carefully thought out your course of action.

Doctrines have a way of being static. They are rigid and reflect a manner of thought and principle which limits the creativity and expression of those who are different than the mainstream. Doctrines and principles are necessary elements of an organized and lawful society. But just as our criminal justice system is notoriously 30 years behind social change, we need this lag in order to gradually adjust to our ever growing perceptions of our world. All of this comes from observing our world and environment as it stands; not how it was 2000 years ago! Respect for your environment comes from observation, clear perception and an understanding of growth. Taking the correct action and making the steps to change things to allow their growth requires a correct visualization of their outcome. Not how they get there, but the end result. Problems arise when people attach themselves to a perceived outcome based on just their understanding of doctrines and principles without taking into account the perceptions and observations of others. When we take others perceptions and observations into account we truly begin to see a 360 degree picture of life. Then, and only then, can we make a decision to take a course of action that is beneficial for all and not just for us.

Judgment of others restricts our own growth and well-being. It separates us from God. God’s creation is wonderful. It exudes life and growth. What comes into your life is based upon the thoughts that you hold on to. How you feel reflects your resistance or allowance of life. If you feel good about life you are allowing the blessings of God to come forth. If you feel bad then you are resisting these blessings. Pointing the finger at those you perceive as sinners does not create positive feelings. It creates a separation between you and God. God daily supplies you with life and abundance. Why cut yourself off from that supply by judging others? There is no poverty or sickness. Only the thoughts that accept these conditions based on a lack of understanding and a separation from God by either judging others or yourself. You attach yourself to an outcome based on the thoughts that you hold true. Holding separation thoughts daily and viewing the results of these thoughts time and time again create a holding pattern for your life. You never get to where you want to be because you are holding yourself back. You accept these thoughts because of your experience and they become your beliefs. Stop it! God has given you the power to change these false beliefs and make heaven on earth; not just for yourself, but for everyone.

Seek the truth and know that God is a God of love. His creation is perfect and it is not your job to judge it based upon what someone wrote thousands of years ago. The Bible is a guide as how you should behave but the books in it were selected by men who wanted to lead others and be glorified for their actions. It is a guide and NOT the final word on life. Any time you look outside of yourself for the truth you are putting yourself in a position where you can be attached to the outcome of your actions or others actions or lack thereof. Jesus said the Kingdom of Heaven is within. It is in you right now. Seek the truth and read the red. Anytime you choose to believe that you need a middle man between you and God you are off course. Go within and seek the Kingdom of Heaven. Meditate on the God within you and listen to His still small voice. It is there that you will receive the truth. Not in the translations and manipulation of man. Attach yourself to the truth that is revealed by God and not the truth that is revealed by the middle men of God.

For more info: Download my free Wilmington Spirituality Examiner toolbar. “Life is a gift. Be thankful for it and it will be replete with abundance. Encourage others to express creativity, release negativity and embrace pro-activity." Dean A. Banks, MCIWD, DD can be reached at webproducer@hotmail.com or banksnet.com. Download my free eBook on Articles 1-10 here.

Are you resisting well-being?

At varying times in our lives we have situations that occur when we know something is wrong. We feel it down deep in our beings, yet we follow the conventional acceptance because of societal programming. How does this affect our well-being? Well-being is defined as a state characterized by health, happiness and prosperity. The outer effect reflects the inner state of mind. If you repeatedly bury facts brought to your attention because of societal programming they will eventually surface and affect your well-being. Why? Because truth in life flows easily and effortlessly. When human beings manipulate the truth to their own end is when it gets convoluted. Manipulating the truth is what creates resistance to the truth and this is where religions and churches have controlled the masses over the millennia. Churches and religions have become the middle men between God and man. People have sought out religious leaders because they believe they have a special connection to God, when in reality, we all have that special connection.

I was raised in the Assembly of God Church whose sect of Protestantism is Pentecostal. Every week we were hammered with memorization of Bible verses. Yes, we memorized them, but without a clue as to what they really meant. Verses taken out of context to support assertions made by the pastor and his wife. The pastor’s wife was a pistol. During the sixties she translated the meaning of the Bible to whip game over the women in our church. She twisted Bible verses into facts that women shouldn’t wear slacks, go bowling or be forward with men. As a child something felt wrong about this but I went along with the conventional wisdom of the church leaders. I kept observing the women in the church believing what the preacher’s wife said; they took it hook, line and sinker. They would never question her because she was the preacher’s wife and they feared her. Did Jesus teach fear? Hardly. He taught compassion and understanding. Year after year I observed and prayed for understanding about the way these women were being misguided. I asked God to somehow be an instrument in making this woman understand that she was misguiding others and imposing her beliefs on the women in the church. She was teaching what she believed and not what Jesus had said! Be careful what you ask for; sometimes you get it.

Every Sunday the kids in Sunday School had to get up in front of the congregation and recite Bible verses. The preacher’s wife would say a word and we would have to recite a Bible verse from each letter of the word. The boy next to me had an “I” and I had a “T”. We switched letters because we had already memorized verses from those letters. When it came to me I quoted Proverbs 21:9; “It is better to dwell in the corner of a housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.” “Sacrilege!”, she screamed and demanded I quote another verse immediately. I followed with Proverbs 21:19; “It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious woman and an angry woman.” The congregation burst out in laughter and she looked up at her husband behind the pulpit and he had his hand over his mouth covering his laughter. She stomped her foot down and stormed out of the church; never to return. The pastor and his family left the church and we never heard from them again. I was terrified that I had done something that had affected so many families. I went to Brother Brown (a Deacon at the church) and cried because God had answered my prayer but I didn’t want anything to happen like this! He said, “God works in a mysterious way, his wonders to perform” (William Cowper/1731-1800). It wasn’t until years later that I truly understood this statement. God will reveal the truth in His own good time. He will allow others to be blinded by those who whip game over others because His glory will be revealed at just the right time! The Apostle Paul’s teachings have corrupted believers for too many years. Even as a child I recognized the contradictions between what he preached and what Jesus preached.

To the first comment by L.E.G. on the last article I would like to say that it wasn’t my intent to label all Christian Conservatives as the Religious Right. But if the shoe fits, wear it. If it doesn’t, then cast it off. The reader provided a link to his article, “Did the Apostle Paul Preach Another Gospel? I suggest readers read this article and the comments that follow. Thank you L.E.G. for responding and providing enlightening material. To the second commenter (IIDHM) I reply, “What about the truth do you not understand?” Do you know who wrote Leviticus? Were you there? Were you a part of the people that experienced life at that time more than 2000 years ago? I don’t think so. Yet you speak with such authority about something that you know not of. Yes, the literal translation of abomination is “God hates it”, but did God say this or did man? You are wrong about sin. God has given us the free will to choose whether we sin or not. What a great God! The fear of sin and God’s reprisal has been the downfall of mankind since the first priests whipped game on the masses with this concept of sin. Like Jesus said when he forgave the adulteress, “Go and sin no more.” God doesn’t hate sin. God loves his most prized and creation. You and me. He is a God of love and not hate. As for the final commenter (G.D.) I say the following: Your attitude can only come from many years of sitting on your shoulders. Pull your head out of you know where and seek the truth. It will truly set you free! My training has been quite extensive, and if you have read any of my other articles I am very well prepared in my presentations. Before I write anything I extensively research it and make sure that I am presenting the facts and not an individual skew presented by Holier Than Thous like Pat Robertson. As far as my arguments being untenable, then please, present your case and I will argue with you ad infinitum about your faulty conclusions. Brush up on your facts because I refuse to have a battle of wits with an unarmed person. People like you are what gives true Christians a bad name. Get off your high horse and don’t blame the Examiner for publishing someone who researches their topics as opposed to someone like yourself who just spouts off at the mouth with no rhyme or reason. As for being an expert, neither I nor the Examiner has ever claimed that I am an expert. By the way you talk, you surely think that you are by your presentation of your facts (which were somehow left out of your comment; hmmm). If you are an expert, then please continue to write your 500 word articles to those who will listen to your skew and B.S. I can only pray for your enlightenment and awareness to the truth of God’s word and not the skew of man’s religious leaders.

For more info: Download my free Wilmington Spirituality Examiner toolbar. “Life is a gift. Be thankful for it and it will be replete with abundance. Encourage others to express creativity, release negativity and embrace pro-activity." Dean A. Banks, MCIWD, DD can be reached at webproducer@hotmail.com or banksnet.com. Download my free eBook on Articles 1-10 here.

Doctrines in Christianity

For the past week I have been in some heated debates with evangelicals who simply refuse to acknowledge the facts about the Bible as it stands today. From the mindset of examining the correct translations to the use of idioms the baby gets thrown out with the bathwater when it comes to challenging the “Word Of God.” It doesn’t seem to matter that man has translated and attributed meanings to the “Word.” The only thing that seems to matter is what was taught by a religious leader and their interpretation of the “Word.” I have never encountered such closed minds as I have when it comes to evangelical interpretations of God’s word. What amazes me is that most of these evangelicals are among the 256 sects of Protestantism. Protestants are those who follow the doctrines of sola scriptura and sola fide. Sola scriptura maintains that the Bible is the final source of authority for Christians; in other words Literary Authoritarianism. Sola Fide maintains that faith and not works is what is necessary for salvation; in other words the gospel according to Paul. Since Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses on the door of the All Saints Catholic Church on October 31, 1517, the Protestant Reformation has re-translated and imposed doctrine much similar to the Roman Catholics. In fact, let’s consider the source of these doctrines from a man that thought that homes of the Jews' should be destroyed, their synagogues should be burned, their money confiscated, and their liberty curtailed. These opinions were revitalized by the Nazis during WWII. Didn’t Jesus say that the Kingdom of Heaven was for both Jews and Gentiles?

Since the Nicene Creed of 325 A.D. the Catholic church has embraced the Gospel of John as the definitive source of their belief. The two major opponents in the Council of Nicaea were the Gospel of Mark which refers to Jesus as the “Son of Man” and the Gospel of John which refers to Jesus as the “Son of God.” The two predominant schools of thought were the Antiochene and the Alexandrian. The adoptions of this council were as follows: We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, begotten of the Father [the only-begotten; that is, of the essence of the Father, God of God], Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; By whom all things were made [both in heaven and on earth]; Who for us men, and for our salvation, came down and was incarnate and was made man; He suffered, and the third day he rose again, ascended into heaven; From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. And in the Holy Ghost. Those that didn’t adopt this creed were excommunicated. Martin Luther’s 95 Theses were disputing the authority of the Roman Catholic Church to interpret the Bible; yet the Protestants whip their own game similar to the Catholics. Christianity has gone through many changes since the death of Christ and many have argued, maligned and killed others in the name of Christ and God. Why? Didn’t Jesus teach peace and to love your neighbor as yourself?

Yet, just get the average evangelical to think his way through the Word and come to know the spirit of the law and you are in for a long night. I am not saying this about all evangelicals; just the ones I have recently spoken with about Bible interpretation. The conditioning of many protestant churches has their constituency focused on what they believe and how they interpret the word. Just because we might not interpret the word the same as others doesn’t mean that the baby should be thrown out with the bathwater. Some Christians believe that there is no difference between homosexuality and murder because they are both sins. Depriving someone of their life is much worse than loving another individual; no matter whether that relationship is homosexual or heterosexual. God is a God of love and He loves His most prized creation; us!!! Stop judging others and stop thinking that it is your job to dispense punishment to those whom you perceive as sinners or wicked. Remember, Jesus sat down and ate with sinners and Paul said not to do that. Who are you going to follow?

For more info: Download my free Wilmington Spirituality Examiner toolbar. “Life is a gift. Be thankful for it and it will be replete with abundance. Encourage others to express creativity, release negativity and embrace pro-activity." Dean A. Banks, MCIWD, DD can be reached at webproducer@hotmail.com or banksnet.com. Download my free eBook on Articles 1-10 here.

Paul: Apostle or Apostate?

I was surprised that I hadn’t received more comments on my previous article. Especially when I attack the Apostle Paul. Paul is the fundamental follower that the Religious Right quotes when it comes to justifying their judgment of others. One reader made several comments to my article and I would like to address them here. First, in regard to the differing beliefs from Jesus, the reader wanted me to list a few. Well, here they are:

Jesus prohibited public prayer and public displays of worship (Matt. 6:1-18). Paul organized churches and started the “religion” of Christianity. His letters (epistles) were more to maintain control and to make standards for the church. Most of these were not based on the teachings of Jesus, but on his own beliefs. The apostles were horrified when Jesus sat and ate dinner with Matthew, the tax collector. Jesus made it a point to sit down with sinners and the downtrodden. Paul states in 1st Corinthians 5:11 "But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat." This is in direct contradiction to the behavior of Jesus. Jesus fed the poor and those not capable of working. He said that if someone comes knocking at our door and we turn them away we are turning him away. Yet Paul says in 2nd Thessalonians 3:10 "For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat." Where is Paul’s charity for the poor?

In Ephesians 6:5 and Titus 2:9-10 Paul says to the slaves to “obey their masters” and never condemns the ownership of man over man. The reader asks why we should care about what Thomas Jefferson said. Jefferson was a slave owner and still recognized the folly of Paul’s words and how they undermined what Jesus had said. Go ahead my friend, defend Paul over Jesus and reap the rewards you so justly deserve! Paul didn’t believe in equality for women and that they should be submissive to their husbands (Ephesians 5:22-24 and Colossians 3:18-19). Oh, that’s right; it’s a man’s world for the Religious Right. Finally, the only thing about homosexuals in the New Testament is Paul’s account in Romans 1:26-27. Please take note: JESUS DID NOT SAY THIS!!! PAUL DID! Yet, church after church, preacher after preacher, believer after believer quotes this passage to JUDGE a group of people who only want their God given right to love another human being and to not be trampled upon by those who are “HOLIER THAN THOU.” Listen up Pat Robertson! How dare any of you judge another human being! Like in the account of the adulteress whom the crowd wanted to stone, Jesus said, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” (John 8:7). Drop your stones my friend and start acting like Jesus wanted you to act! Paul asserts that the Law of Moses is no longer operational in his writings EXCEPT when it comes to the passage in Leviticus 18:22! It sounds like Paul didn’t respect women, slaves and homosexuals. Perhaps they didn’t fit into his idol picture of the followers of Christ. This is the man who stated so eloquently, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13). Then why didn’t you embrace what Jesus did and stop preaching what you “thought” he would say?

The reader further states to me, “You cherry pick Jesus' words, I say. Of course Jesus was not opposed to judgment. He opposed hypocritical judgment, not prudent judgment. John 7:24 says "Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment." And who determines what is right judgment? Man? As with all verses in the Bible, they can be taken out of context. Preachers and theologians have been doing this century after century. In reference to this verse and the previous verse I respond with what Jesus said; “The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27). No one has the right to judge another! Pluck the beam out of your own eye before criticizing the mote in another. Love is love. That’s what Jesus taught. Judgment is judgment; no matter what form or excuse you can make. Can you see this? If not, then I can only pray for your salvation. I read what Jesus said and I listen to the spirit of the law behind it. Don’t judge others based on your standards. Live and let live; or should I say live and let God. If there truly is a problem based on what Paul has said about anything, then who appointed you judge and jury? It is not your cross to bear. Why do you choose to bear it?

Jesus’ behavior and actions are the ones we should emulate. He is our role model. Stop listening to “Holier Than Thous” who misinterpret the word. Don’t just read the Bible and not take into account the translations, idioms and proclamations made by those in robes with pomp and circumstance and their extended reach on the radio, TV and Internet. I have one question for you; did Jesus act that way?

For more info: Download my free Wilmington Spirituality Examiner toolbar. “Life is a gift. Be thankful for it and it will be replete with abundance. Encourage others to express creativity, release negativity and embrace pro-activity." Dean A. Banks, MCIWD, DD can be reached at webproducer@hotmail.com or banksnet.com. Download my free eBook on Articles 1-10 here.

Pat Robertson – Spokesperson for God or Today’s Paul?

This week I’m beginning an analysis of the evangelical wing of spirituality. Let’s examine one of its biggest representatives and spokespersons today: Pat Robertson. I have watched the 700 Club from time to time and I appreciate the intent to help and alleviate suffering that CBN and Robertson practice on a day to day basis. Pat Robertson operates Operation Blessing International, which has provided hunger relief, disaster relief, medical aid and community development to more than 192.8 million people in 96 countries and all 50 states, providing goods and services valued at more than $1.2 billion (Source: Wikipedia). God bless this man and his family for their love and kindness to humanity. However, I must take pause with Pat Robertson about his self-appointed elevation to being a spokesperson for God; in effect, becoming a modern day Paul.

I recently saw an interview with Pat Robertson where he said that homosexuals were “on their way to Hell; you’ve got to love them to rescue them.” How DARE he! As with many other preachers since the birth of Christianity they misinterpret the written word based upon their understanding of what it means. I have coined the term, Literary Authoritarianism for those who follow the written word alone, without deep introspection into the spirit of the law of God. Jesus said, “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:8-9). Personally, I am a Read the Red guy. This is a term that applies to those who read what Jesus has said in red-letter editions of the Bible. I follow what was uttered from the mouth of Jesus after I have compared what he said paralleled in the four gospels. I also apply what idioms were used during the time of Jesus’ life. What is an idiom? An idiom is an expression whose meaning is not the literal meaning. For example, the saying “It’s in the bag.” Does it mean that something is literally in a bag? No; it means that something is definitely going to happen. All cultures have geographic and language specific idioms and one must know the meanings before one can embrace the message being imparted.

A good translator of the French language listens to the words and visualizes the thoughts, ideas and idioms that are being said and then translates those thoughts into the words of the translated language. They don’t translate the meaning word for word because it might not be the same thoughts. The books in the Bible were written down with geographic and language specific meanings; they were recopied and canonized by the Catholic church; their misinterpreted meanings have been the source of wars, pilgrimages and acts of atrocities all by people who misunderstood their real meanings. Is this what Jesus had intended? Hardly. He preached a message of love and forgiveness; not judgment. Jesus said, “Judge not, that ye be not judged” (Matthew 7:1). Pat Robertson obviously has missed this one. In fact, check out his off camera chatter here. In his quest to help he has forgotten that you do not enforce what YOU believe on someone else. For example, I do not believe in abortion unless the health of the child or mother is at risk. I am a man and I don’t have woman’s body. How can I choose for someone else? The same applies to homosexuality. For myself, I am a heterosexual. That is my choice. Homosexuality is not for me. But what right do I have to judge another for the choices that they make? None. I am responsible only for the choices I make in my life. I have no right to judge others or I will be judged myself. Jesus made this crystal clear.

Not once did Jesus mention homosexuality or abortion. In fact, he embraced those who were outcasts of their society or practiced alternative lifestyles. Those who were looked down upon by the mainstream population or status quo. Jesus stated in Matthew 25 that being saved is expressing universal compassion and those who don’t express compassion and judge others are not saved. Where does that put you Mr. Robertson? Click the above video to view his compassion. In following Christ Mother Theresa sought out to help others and not condemn them. Victor Frankl noted the deep compassion of the Jews in concentration camps and according to the Apostle Paul, because they didn’t confess Jesus as their savior, they were going to Hell. What? A converted Jew that would sentence his brothers and sisters to Hell! And what about Paul? Who was he anyway? Paul was originally known as Saul of Tarsus; a persecutor of Christians until his “conversion” to Christianity. Paul was astute in his knowledge of the law. But did he use his knowledge of the law to enlighten the followers of Jesus or lead them astray? Paul was a devout and mysterious character to say the least. His influence on Christianity is profound. In his writings he espouses many of his own beliefs and not necessarily what Jesus said. In fact, Thomas Jefferson once wrote, “Paul was…the first corruptor of the doctrines of Jesus” (Works, 1829 edition, Vol. 4, p. 327). Who do we believe? Paul or Jesus? Pat Robertson or Jesus? Since I am a Read the Red guy I know who I am going to believe. More to come…

For more info: Download my free Wilmington Spirituality Examiner toolbar. “Life is a gift. Be thankful for it and it will be replete with abundance. Encourage others to express creativity, release negativity and embrace pro-activity." Dean A. Banks, MCIWD, DD can be reached at webproducer@hotmail.com or banksnet.com. Download my free eBook on Articles 1-10 here.