(Akiit.com) I am among those who tremble when I hear people refer to “The Black Church.” Christians believe that there is only one church and the only proper description of the church is the Christian Church. However, ever since the beginning of the Christian movement, ethnic and doctrinal distinctions were made among the followers of Jesus. Many of the books in the New Testament are identified by the geographical location of the intended recipients. We therefore often refer to the Galatian Church or Thessalonian Church. In that sense this “black church” recognition of a significant number of Christians whose common identity is the African American experience is as valid within the Christian tradition as scholarly and historical references the “Roman Church” or the “Ethiopian Coptic Church.”

So my negative feelings about the term “the black church” is not in response to the word “black.” Rather it is in response to the word “the.” Whenever someone waxes eloquent about “the” black church I want to ask them which black church they mean. Historically, black churches have a common heritage being the only major branch of Christianity that emerged from a dispute related to justice and not doctrine.

The major schisms in Christian history in the 4th, 10th and 16th centuries were all related to differences in Christian doctrine. The 18th century movement of black Christians in North America, however, resulted from black worshippers refusing to be treated as less than human by their white Christian counterparts. This protest against Christian injustice by black Christians gave birth to what we now call “the black church” and every African American congregation has its roots in this legacy. The term “black church” summarizes the institutional response of black Christians in North America to the individual and institutional racism practiced by white Christians.
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(Akiit.com) Memphis, TN — Urban Radio Group LLC announces the launch of their new website and service Gospel Radio Spots (www.gospelradiospots.com). Gospel Radio Spots is a full-service voice-over production company dedicated to enhancing the brand image of churches and ministries through voice overs and audio production specifically targeting the Christian and Gospel Industry.

From advertisin your church or ministries special events to holy convocations, Gospel Radio Spots provides customized Christian and gospel radio commercials and television audio commercial production for church organizations.

Gospel Radio Spots has male and female voice over talents that understand the Christian and gospel industry thus creating a unique approach to church radio commercials, video and podcast ministries, and ministry promotions.

Gospel Radio Spots specializes in creative radio commercials, television commercials, and multimedia voice-over applications tailored for the gospel and Christian industry. With royalty-free music beds and extensive effects libraries, the production company works closely with its clients to achieve maximum results.

Denise Langshaw Advertising Consultant says, our production services are unique because we are able to take ministers audio clips, podcast sermons and enhance it to a better sound or incorporate it with one of our voice over talents for a complete radio, tv commercial or podcast opening , all we need is the pastors audio clips and or sermon.

The production company strives to be a media partner with its clients by providing high energy distinct radio and television voice-over production that captures the minds of their clients’ target audiences. In addition, customers have several choices of male and female voice over talents that can be utilized for audio production.
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(Akiit.com) As I write this, Obama has just signed an Executive Order lifting restrictions on Embryonic Stem Cell research, a move he said, rejects the “false choice” between science and morality. As well, it has been just 49 days since the inaguration and already there are grumblings among the voters who supported the presidential candidacy of Barack Obama. The ones which amaze me are the cathartic voices of the people of faith who are claiming betrayal, but even more, are the ones that are of the Ecclesiastical Order of the Church in America — Our beloved Clergy! One might ask, ‘why am I astonished at these disillusioned disciples of change?’ My bewilderment is due to what was obvious from the beginning: Barack Obama was never on your side! Never.

What does betrayal mean? Betrayal, is a form of deception or dismissal of prior presumptions; it is the breaking or violation of a presumptive social contract — trust and/or confidence — producing moral and psychological conflict within a relationship, amongst individuals, between organizations, or between individuals and organizations. Often betrayal is the act of supporting a rival group; or it can be a complete break from previously decided upon or presumed norms by one party from the other. Does that sound like what’s going on? Barack Obama has not betrayed his social contract with his followers, for if you think so, just ask, “Joe the Plumber” who would clearly beg to differ with you!

Obama let all of us know before November 4th, 2008 that socialism was going to be the first order of the day. The stimulus bill should not have surprised you at all. Government getting bigger and bigger is only Obama fulfilling his promise to his constituency for “Change.” A stimulus bill that specifically discriminates against schools by withholding funds, if they provide worship and religious space to groups on their campus, is reflective of a socialist agenda, for remember, it was Karl Marx, father of Maxist Socialism who penned, “Religion is the opium of the masses…” Betrayed?
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(Akiit.com) I received a rather rude email from a local minister who took umbrage with my failure to support Barack Obama for president. I was disappointed that rather than do what Jesus would have done and offer a reasoned and well-thought out rebuttal to my column, this man of the cloth simply called me a bunch of ugly names. I am certain this was just one of those moments a good man failed to put his best foot forward. Although something tells me he is even now wishing he had talked about my mamma. There is, I am sure, a great sermon somewhere in this episode just waiting to bust out one Sunday morning to thunderous applause. Maybe I’ll get an invitation.

The note did, however, bring to my mind a few questions I would like to ask my Christian readers. If you are not a Christian, please feel free to continue reading and if you are so moved to share your thoughts as well.

Note to all: If you wish to call me names afterwards, please limit your notes to 25 words or less and please use spell check.Americans are blessed to live in a society where we have the freedom to choose our political leaders. We have the freedom to debate, to question and to disagree, even to change our government because ultimately our leaders are beholden to “we the people.” This incredible blessing is more than America’s experiment with democracy; it is God’s gift to the world. As such we have a responsibility to be both politically involved as well as religiously faithful.

Politics, of course, demands compromise. However, as Christians, we are taught to be uncompromising. In all things we have, as a friend of mine put it, “an obligation to surrender our will to the will of Christ in our lives. One’s spiritual/religious beliefs should direct every decision that is made. There is no decision too small to surrender to God.” To help discern God’s will, we have help in the spirit that speaks to us through prayer, and scriptural study.

How then do we as Christians reconcile our religious beliefs with our support of political candidates that engage in immoral behavior? What of candidates that endorse policy that is in direct contradiction with our Christian teachings?

The Bible, of course, is full of great leaders that were guilty of huge moral failings. In many ways, the Bible is a commentary on man’s transgressive nature and the willingness of God to forgive us in spite of our failings. Christians learn early on that none of us is without blemish, that we are redeemed by faith and the grace of God. Judging a candidate based on his or her falling short seems, well, unchristian. The sins of a man’s past ought not disqualify him from leadership or public service.
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(Akiit.com) My son saw the caption on the magazine cover. I did not. I was late for work and headed towards the door. “Daddy,” he asked. “Who would Jesus vote for?” He then pointed in the direction of a magazine rack and repeated his question. Apparently one of the news weeklies had asked the question on its cover.

“I think none of the above.” I answered.

“Well,” he pondered. “If Jesus wouldn’t vote for any of the candidates why would you?”

Good question. Clearly my son got his good looks from my side of the family and his brains from his mother’s. I took a deep breath before answering him. Children often say the darndest things and I didn’t want to dampen his intellectual curiosity by patronizing him with my answer.

Though I am a Christian, I always cringe a bit when some political party or organization pretends some proprietary relationship with God. The Lord is neither a Democrat nor a Republican. In fact I am not convinced that God cares a great deal for politics (and even less for politicians).

In the New Testament the apostle Matthew recounts the time the Pharisees attempted to trap God with a query about taxes paid to Caesar. Jesus takes a coin from his questioners and says, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and give to the Lord what is the Lord’s.”

I have always understood this scripture to say to us that God recognizes that men are imperfect and social creatures and must therefore somehow organize and govern their associations. Governments – that is moral governments — exist to protect the liberty, lives, and property of those it governs in order that men may live together in their imperfectness. So we become political. We vote, we campaign and often feel a sense of divine appointment in our political institutions though such sentiments are often misplaced. The message of this story in scripture is that leaders as well as citizens must remember that ultimate authority rests with the creator. And he is not concerned with our political institutions. His primary concern is with the hearts and souls of the individuals that make up the institutions.

I do not claim to know the mind of God. I suspect anyone making such claims is engaged in pretense. However, as it happens we do have a moral and ethical roadmap of sorts that clues us in to the direction the Lord would like us to walk. I am of the opinion that God is always on the side of Liberty and Justice and if we as individuals keep that in mind, trust in his benevolence and mercy, follow his commandments and offer ourselves as sacrifices to our fellow man as he did for us, all will go well with us.
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