Real People, Real Issues, Real Solutions  

Sex, Drugs, Cash Money = Violence, STD’s, Slavery, Death

An Urban Reality

We have all strayed like sheep. Each one of us has turned to go his own way, and the LORD has laid all our sins on him.

Isaiah 53:6

 I rise this morning with a reality check from the Lord. In this hot urban summer in the hood where on yesterday I saw a man lying dead in the street after being shot five times. I started to ponder what in the world is going on. As I continue to pastor an urban church I was reminded of the ills of the community we are trying to reach and those that attend mine & your ministries. 

 I thought about all of the crime, sex, drugs, poverty, unemployment, incarcerations, limited education, down low, poor customer service, rapes, abortion, out of wedlock children, liquor stores, check cashing places, bars, clubs, gangs and churches that make up our urban landscape.

Then I thought about how I present the gospel of Jesus Christ in this type of climate. Am I relevant, am I in touch, do I really care? Do I want to just have church or be the church? Do I want to be status quo or will I allow my life experiences to hold me back? Then the Holy Spirit showed me the Failures of others.

·         Adam & Eve and their fruit encounter - temptation

·         Noah and his vine experience - drunkenness

·         Abraham & Isaac willingness to pimp their wives and save their own life- fear

·         Abraham  sleeping with Hagar –adultery

·         The birth of Ishmael – our of wedlock

·         Jacob  tricking Isaac- manipulation, stealing, lying

·         Onan- wasted seed, masturbation

·         Judah – buying and sleeping with a prostitute

·         Moses-homicide, fugitive

·         David, stealing a man’s wife and having the man killed-murder, adultery, covertness

·         Amnon & Tamar- rape, incest, molestation

·         Lot & His daughters, drunkenness, incest, seduction, out of wedlock children

·         Samson – a regular john

·         Solomon – the ultimate player

·         Reuben – was hitting Daddy’s jump off

·         The church @ Rome and Corinth had plenty of sexual issues to deal with externally and internally.

·         Mary Magdalene, the woman at the well, legion, thieves, publicans, politicians, Herodias, Herod, Peter, and others

Are sinners really welcome at our church or is it just an after sermon exercise. What about your church are you dealing with the real issues of life and giving people the resources and opportunities to be healed, delivered and set free? Or is your church just another light on the hill hid by the fences, stain glass and bushes that dot the landscape. I can’t speak for you but all of us has strayed, sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

Jesus is the only answer for the world today; He is the perfect, example of love, obedience, sacrifice and endurance that we have on record. He said if I be lifted up from the earth I will draw all men until me. I will work where he has placed me in the body and be who he called me to be. Don’t just talk about it, be about it. People need to see your strengths, triumphs, scars and wounds but most of all they need to see the attributes of Jesus in your life style. Redefining the way we do ministry. This is my thought for today. Peace & Love, Pastor Ali aka Pastor In The Hood