WEDNESDAY'S WORD - MONOLITHIC - Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

A MONOLITH is a large single upright block of stone, especially one shaped into or serving as a monument or pillar. Figuratively, it is a large and impersonal political, corporate or social structure regarded as intractably indivisible and uniform. Webster defines MONOLITHIC as: constituting a massive undifferentiated and often rigid whole <a monolithic society; exhibiting or characterized by often rigidly fixed uniformity<monolithic party unity. In holding racial reconciliation conversations, I have made it a point to state that:

The African-American community is NOT a monolith. I nor anyone can speak on behalf of ALL Black people. No one asks a Caucasian person, "What do all white people think about..." There are too many individuals, unique feelings, experiences and thoughts. This freedom of personal expression is one of the things we've fought for. It has taken many voices to get there: Dubois AND Washington; MLK AND Malcolm X; Carson AND Sharpton; Condoleeza AND Oprah, etc. Surely Jackie Robinson, Angela Davis, the Black Panthers, Ali, Beyonce and Spike Lee have all moved the needle. Racism as an issue is so dire that leaders on platforms, legal officers, freedom riders, boycotters, analysts, artists, martyrs and quiet dissenters are all needed to expel its injustice. 

 

Walter Lippman, an American writer, reporter and political commentator, coined the word 'stereotype' -a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person. Sweeping generalizations of people often disagree with God's truth. In Acts 10, the Apostle Peter had been indoctrinated that certain foods and all Gentile people were unclean and to be avoided. He felt justified in his stance until it was challenged by the Lord,

"Do not call anything impure that God has made clean." (vs. 15) Peter had to be told 3 times that his conditioning was not God's truth. He then had to come into community with the very people he was devoted to shunning, "You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean." (vs. 28)  It wasn't just Peter, all the Jews believed this. Christ's cause to make One New Humanity, (Eph. 2) was higher than Peter's ideologies and self-interest. Peter had to accept and unify with Cornelius and the other Gentiles who were vastly different in background and upbringing than he. UNITY is not the same as UNIFORMITY. If I have to lose the core of who I am to join with you, to be relevant and heard, that's not unity or harmony.   

 

This monolithic concept is also an issue with class, gender and even Christianity.  All poor, middle class or wealthy people don't think the same, nor do all women or all Christian leaders. In fact, we address issues of injustice and disenfranchisement very differently, and often do not agree on methods or statements. However, Christ followers have the opportunity/responsibility to agree on Jesus Christ as the Answer to all the 'ism's' root cause - SIN and evil. He is the Way to reconcile with God and heal divisions. (2 Cor 5)

According to Wikipedia,
 a monolithic church or a rock -hewn church is a church made from a single block of stone. Because freestanding rocks of sufficient size are rare, such churches are usually hewn or cut into the ground or into the side of a mountain. Reminds me of Isaiah's admonition, "Listen to me, all who hope for deliverance--all who seek the LORD! Consider the rock from which you were cut, the quarry from which you were mined."  (Isa. 51:1) The uniform New Testament revelation we all DO have is... that ROCK is JESUS!

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WEDNESDAY'S WORD ON FRIDAY - ATROCITIES - 07/08/16 - Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES do not diminish in the face of ATROCITIES - extremely cruel acts, typically involving physical violence or injury- in fact, they intensify.  The injustices and reprehensible behavior we have seen in the senseless executions of unarmed African-American men, AND in retaliation against innocent police have us all in shock, anger, disbelief and grief. However, holding the truths we believe, even at potential loss of life is what Christ followers around the world have exemplified for centuries. They believe steadfastly that Jesus is enough, and are armed with these truths:

1. This world is not our home, we are temporary residents and foreigners who represent a Heavenly Kingdom, and are held to a code of conduct. (1 Peter 2:11-12) We also have inside information. Wars, rumors of wars, earthquakes, nations/ethnic groups rising against each other, and darkness covering the earth, are all signs of the end times. (Matt. 24:7-14; Isa. 60:1-3) Our job is to preach the Good News about Jesus to the world, (Mark 16:15) and to wear our identifying mark: love for each other. (John 13:34-35) We have a credibility issue here, because we lack the UNITY that Jesus prayed for (John 17:20-23), and Sunday at 11AM is the most segregated hour in the US. Our light on the racism topic is sadly not shining as brightly as it could (Mat 5:14-16)
2. OUR STRUGGLE, the war we're really waging is NOT with PEOPLE, but with EVIL: the powers, principalities and rulers of the darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness in high places. (Eph. 6: 12-18)  We're fighting ideologies, arguments, attitudes, philosophies, and spirits. One such is the spirit of fear, terror or timidity, which God did NOT give us. (2 Tim 1:7)  Fear can only be cast out by mature, perfected love (1John 4:18), not by protests, retaliations or even social media posts. Christ followers use spiritual weaponry to combat what's going on in this time, appropriately called the 'evil day.' We stand, watch and pray to model Christ's way of living. If our enemies are hungry or thirsty, we are to help them and not to be overcome by evil, but to overcome evil with good. (Rom. 12:20-21) Those are statutes of the Kingdom of God.
3. Jesus is our example. He loved us in our sinful condition. (Rom 5:8) We hated Him, rejected and disavowed His worth and value. (Isa 53:3) He responded not only by forgiving and accepting us, but by healing our diseases, delivering us from the power of darkness, loving our children and meeting our needs, and He taught us what to do in times like these:

"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (Matt. 5:43-45) Jesus gives us a counter-cultural, no vengeance, yet winning strategy.

 

“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (Luke 6:32-36) I can hear the push back on this as I'm writing...but I didn't say it...

I am an African-American woman with a husband, a son and two grandsons whose lives DEFINITELY matter to me! I also have friends whom I love in law enforcement, government and the military. I pray for their protection, and my emotions have swung the pendulum.  Historically, I've marched and protested injustice more than the average person. I've also had more racial reconciliation discussions than most. When I devoted my life to Christ and was baptized, I began a NEW LIFE and immersed myself in Kingdom Culture.  My first allegiance and priority (even over ethnicity, class or gender) is following Christ. (Gal. 3:28) In pressure-filled times like these, I might not like what the LORD directs me to do in His Word. Sometimes I rebel, or I'm hesitant to obey, but God's ways are ALWAYS right. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. (James 3:18)

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - DISCARD - 07/06/16- Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

DISCARD means to reject and get rid of something no longer useful or desirable; to throw something away because it is useless or unwanted. A Brazilian baby was buried alive in eight inches of soil by his distraught mother in 2006. Neighbors retrieved him with his placenta when a dog started digging around. They took him to the hospital where he was fed, bathed and placed in an orphanage. They said he fared remarkably well, despite being discarded. In my search, there were other more graphic images of babies covered with feces from being left in toilets, or dead in swaddling clothes. Many more children are rejected and abandoned yearly in the US and around the world in circumstances not quite so dire. I happen to have been one of them, and occasionally I feel some residue. The origin of discard is 'rejecting a playing card.'  In bridge, whist, spades or similar games, a card is 'thrown off' which is neither of the suit led nor a trump and thus has no value. I've found solace in Psalm 27:10 "My father and mother walked out and left me, but God took me in." (MSG) My valueless card has great worth to God!

You don't have be an orphan to have felt discarded. This sense of being cast aside or thrown away can happen when scorned by a lover, in illness, when dismissed from a job, or as we age. In my prayer time, the Lord revealed some internal issues He wanted to heal that I wasn't aware of. It's not just due to not knowing my biological family, but other painful, rejecting incidences over the years that have caused me to withdraw. I offered excuse...REASONS, "I'm just glad to be anywhere!" "I don't think of myself too much." "I'm a simple, child-like person." "Trying to stay under the radar," undetectable, unnoticed and out of trouble. He asked, "How do you feel about having been discarded?" That was a loaded question! and it stung.

Isaiah writes prophetically of Jesus, "He was despised and rejected--a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on Him and looked the other way. He was despised and we did not care." (Isa. 53:3, NLT) How do I feel? On occasion I'll feel a gut-wrenching knot, an indescribable emptiness, grief or vacancy.  I know it's not Christian cache to admit it nowadays, but experiences like these allow us in part to know Christ and experience the fellowship of His sufferings. (Phil 3:10) We get what it's like to be betrayed, to no longer fit in, to lose relationships and feel great sorrow. It turns our stony-self-centered hearts into hearts of flesh. We feel compassion because we've been there. We can run toward trouble. Being discarded is great fertilizer for ministry. It brings authenticity and a genuineness that results in a more credible witness. How do I feel about being discarded? I feel more real. I'm doing remarkably well despite it, and I'm grateful!

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - RESENTMENT - 06/29/16- Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

RESENTMENT is being angry, upset, or having bitter indignation at having been treated unfairly. The French resentir means to feel aggrieved or distressed by. Another word for resent is RANKLE - a wound or sore that continues to be painful or fester until it becomes septic (infected with pus).  Resentment ensues when a negative feeling or problem becomes more intense especially through long-term neglect or indifference. It is a mixture of anger, disgust, disappointment, and sadness. Resentment can be triggered by an emotionally disturbing experience felt again or relived in the mind. This emotionally debilitating anguish may not be detected by casual acquaintances. Disillusionment, distrust and despair set in when the experience of our relationship fails to meet our expectations. But they're close, what do you do?    

 

David's resentment over his enemy's actions distressed him so; he cried out to God in Psalm 55. "I am restless in my complaint and am surely distracted" (vs. 2) "My heart is in anguish within me." (vs. 4) The pain and fear was so great and overwhelming that he wanted to take flight. "I said, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest." He asked for God's intervention to fight on his behalf, but then makes an interesting statement: "For it was not an enemy who reproaches (slanders, defames) me, Then I could bear it; Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me, Then I could hide myself from him.  But it is you, a man my equal, My companion and my familiar friend; we who had sweet fellowship together, Walked in the house of God in the throng."(vs. 12-14) Scholars surmise that King David is referring to his close friend and counselor Ahithopel, who later turned against him in his son Absalom's coup attempt. Julius Caesar's above was shocked when his confidant Brutus conspired his assassination, "Et tu Brute?" You too, Brutus?

It takes a village to help someone courageous enough to admit they are struggling with bitterness and resentment. Paul instructed the Hebrews,
"Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many." (Heb. 12:15) You or someone you know might have an infected heart. Jesus' healing love through you is part of the cure.

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - DESPISING PROPHECY - 06/22/16 Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

A few weeks ago we had a class on Discovering God's Will: the Providential will of God - what God has planned regardless; the Moral will of God - commands in His Word; and the Personal will of God - His direction for our individual lives.  We find His will through the Bible, by obtaining wise counsel, and through listening to the Spirit's guidance within us. John said, the Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth and show us things to come (John 16:13). One way God reveals His will is through PROPHECY - the gift of communicating and enforcing revealed truth. Prophecy comes in two forms: prediction (foretelling) and assertion (forthtelling).  In foretelling, the phrase, "And it shall come to pass" is used to say, "God will surely do it!"

As is too often the case, Habakkuk's prayer to God begins with a complaint. "How long, Lord must I call for help but you do not listen?...Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? (Hab.1:1-3) He protests the evil Babylonians, whom he doesn't realize the Lord is raising up to execute judgment on the land and deal with Israel for her sins. We don't have a construct for the possibility that God will use our enemies to bring us to repentance. We, like Habakkuk ask, How does a Holy God who cannot look at sin use evil people to bring about righteous judgment? (vs.13) Then we wait, to see how God's gonna answer that challenge!  God tells Habakkuk, while I'm purifying Israel, I'm going to judge the Babylonians too. So write this vision down. It's going to go down EXACTLY as I say. If it takes a while, still wait.  Live this next part of your story by faith, be fully persuaded that what I've spoken will come to pass.

Do not quench/stifle the Spirit. Do not despise or treat prophecies with contempt, but test them all; hold to what is good. 1 Thess. 5:19-20

Two things will make us stifle the Spirit, despise God's assertions and predictions, and disregard or even oppose God's visions:

1. We don't like the content. Like Habakkuk, or Jonah, we disagree with what is being said.  We don't want to do it or don't want it to be done.
2. The waiting makes us despondent - we become dejected and lose confidence. The humiliation makes us give up and abandon the promise. 

Some of us have heard from God. He's given us a vision of what will take place. We may not like the content, and the wait that seems eternal...but we know the outcome. The Lord has given us instructions on what to do in the meantime. Some of us have discarded these directives due to hopelessness.  I encourage you to GO BACK to what was PROPHESIED or the VISION that was written. Drop your pride and walk it out by FAITH! (Hab. 2:4)  

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WEDNESDAY'S WORD - ORLANDO - 06/15/16 - Sadell Bradley -New Life Covenant Cincinnati

The word ORLANDO is a Spanish word that means famous land. No truer words could be spoken right  now, as the US and the world mourn the tragedy that occurred there this weekend. Amidst the barrage of news reports, social media opinions, prayer vigils and protests, our collective American voice is shocked, outraged and dismayed at the terrorist execution and wounding of scores of our citizens by a deranged person claiming terrorist indoctrination. As is often the case, we have decided that love trumps fear. (1 John 4:18)

Does agreement from Christ followers that this is a tragic and grief-filled situation that necessitates love to all involved cause us to run from our beliefs? No. We still believe that Jesus Christ is the one way to the Father, the Truth and the Life, (John 14:6) and that marriage presents God's boundary for purity in sexual relationships. (Heb. 13:4) Believers don't expect or require Christian beliefs from non-Christian people. Our mission, like Jesus' is to seek out and love and help people who want to reconnect to God. (Luke 19:10) We must accept the fact that many will not agree with our beliefs... Jesus did.

In John 8, Jesus was teaching a group publicly in the courts of the temple. The Pharisees and teachers of the law brought before Him a woman whom they said, "Was caught in the very act of adultery." They stated, "The law says we should stone her, but what do You say?" Their goal was to accuse Jesus, which is still Satan's purpose. [Jesus purpose is to destroy the devil's work. (1 John 3:8)]
Everyone knew this woman was a sinner. They all knew she, and the unexposed man who had been with her, were in the wrong. That went without saying, so Jesus didn't say it. He wrote something on the ground then first addressed her accusers, "Whoever is without sin among you, let him be the first to cast a stone at her," and with that, her critics were silenced. "Where are your accusers? Didn't even one of them condemn you?" Jesus asked her. "No Lord," she replied. "Neither do I condemn you. Go, and sin no more." Jesus' sequence here is important: 1. He corrected/rebuked the religious leaders; 2. The woman encountered Him. He loved her and defended her from attack; 3. He revealed Himself as Lord and forgave her sins without condemnation; 4. He brought her to repentance. Stop sinning. To attempt to get to 4 before 2 or 3 is where we miss it.

If this attack had occurred in a heterosexual club, would the headlines read, "Club full of drunken, fornicating, addicted reveling, adulterers blown up in terrorist attack?"  I seriously doubt it. Did we first investigate the sins of those killed in Columbine, Oklahoma, Sandy Hook, or San Bernadino? No. Every shooting or killing of innocent lives is a terrorist act. Whether the hatred is inspired by race, gender, religion or class, it is meant to inspire fear in us. Only God's perfect love will cast out that fear (1 John 4:18) Christians are not to be overcome by evil. Evil can only be conquered with good. (Rom.12:21)

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - THE GREATEST - 06/08/2016 - Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

The word GREATEST is a superlative adjective of the word GREAT.  Superlative means of the highest quality or degree; an exaggerated expression of praise, something embodying excellence. GREAT means of an extent, amount, intensity, ability, quality, or eminence, considerably above normal or average.  The acronym G.O.A.T. means Greatest Of All Time. In sports few athletes have garnered this superlative. One who did, Muhammad Ali, died this weekend. The entire world mourned a man of unparalleled boxing talent and skill, unmatched charisma, unabashed confidence and pride in the beauty of his heritage, far reaching humanitarian efforts and philanthropy, and unswerving courage in his religious and civil rights convictions. It seems the only battles Ali did not win were self-control with women and his fight against Parkinson's Disease, which brought him to frailty, motor skills impairment, and silence. 

As a child, my entire family would sit in the living room and watch Ali's bouts with Foreman and Frazier. We'd laugh as he vocally sparred with Harold Cosell.  At 14, I met Mr. Ali on the track preparing to run the 200M final at the Jesse Owens Invitational in LA.  I was representing my home town.  He said, "Philadelphia? That's Joe Frazier's town!" I replied, "Yes, Sir."  As the race was about to start I said I would win it, and did. There is history with me and Ali. I'm melancholy (a pensive sadness) as I think about him. As an athlete, I am in awe of his grit, domination, prowess and intelligence in the ring. As an African-American, I've cheered in the stands behind his power-filled words that went into life's arena to fight for rights we could not gain on our own.

As a pastor, and follower of Jesus Christ as the one way to the Father and access to eternal life; all I could do as I heard the news and watched all of the posts, tributes, video clips, expressions of mourning and memories, was wonder...Where is Muhammad Ali now? For all of the money, fame, prestige, and accolades he has, and will continue to receive posthumously... What has happened to his soul?  I haven't heard much talk of that on social media among Christ followers, but I hear Jesus' words ringing from Mark 8:

34Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 38If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."

 
Were we so enamored with Ali's status that we forgot we believe that without Christ he, like us, was a sinful man on a pathway to destruction and in need of forgiveness? Cassius Clay grew up Baptist, but what did he see? He made a decision not to follow Christ: a choice that God gives, and a right and freedom Americans have for which Ali fought. I just hope there were people close enough to continually tell him about JESUS' sacrifice for sin and show him God's love. (Phil. 2:1-11; John 3:16-17) I pray that in Ali's heart, though he could not speak, it was revealed and he accepted that JESUS is the GREATEST OF ALL TIME! He is far above every power, and HIS name is above EVERY name. (Eph 1:21) He ascended there with humility: by becoming the servant of all, dying on a cross for our sins, and silently but powerfully sacrificing His life for us all (Isaiah 53) to HIM be all glory!

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - RUT - Sadell Bradley 06/01/2016 New Life Covenant Cincinnati

A RUT is a long deep track made by the repeated passage of the wheels of vehicles.  To the right is a picture of a circular rut. Figuratively, a rut is a habit or pattern of behavior that has become unproductive and dull, but is hard to change. Ever been, "stuck in a rut? in your personal life, work, marriage or ministry?"  It's frustrating! paralysis has set in and momentum is gone. As the cliche goes... Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. In certain situations, that is so true.

40 years of wandering in the wilderness? now that was a rut! A mere 250 mile journey should have taken just 11 days to accomplish, even for 600,000 men, plus women and children. However, to transform the habits, behaviors, and idolatrous patterns of 400 years of slavery in Egypt took 40 years. The identity crises, character issues, doubt, murmuring and complaining, etc. were much more difficult to root out than to shuttle their bodies to the destination.  The day eventually came when it was time for them to get out of the rut.

 

1“Then we turned and set out for the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea, as the LORD spoke to me, and circled Mount Seir for many days. 2“And the LORD spoke to me, saying, 3‘You have circled this mountain long enough. Now turn north.. (Deut. 2:1-2)

God explained the reason for their rut, once it was time to enter the promised land, "You shall remember all the way which the LORD your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not." (Deut. 8:2)

Humility is having a modest or low view of one's own importance. Selah! (pause and think about it) Testing or proving is being put in a situation that reveals your strength, performance, reliability or quality. God tells Israel, "Here's why you've been stuck in this rut for so long."  It isn't just the way it is. It isn't her fault or his fault. I'm not punishing you for being bound in your past. It isn't even 'the devil.' It's training to purify you, to help you get over yourself and obey Me.

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - SECURITY - 05/25/16 - Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

SECURITY means the state of being free from danger or threat. It is the safety of a person, state or organization against criminal activity such as terrorism, theft, or espionage, or procedures put in place to ensure that safety. Security is the state of feeling safe, stable and free from fear or anxiety  The Latin securas means "free from care." We spend time, money and energy on making our homes and possessions secure with locks, keys, passwords, identity theft services, etc.  We've lined up savings, retirement, long-term care and other insurances to protect us against possible eventualities. We work to make sure our marriages and families are physically and relationally secure, and that our jobs and reputations are invulnerable. For some, anxiety is constant, and the threat of danger seems ever-present.

I don't know that we can ever be totally free of the possibility of peril. Satan, the thief's, purpose is to kill, steal and destroy. (John 10:10) His name diabolos means to slander, falsely accuse, defame, malign or unjustly criticize to hurt, and condemn to sever a relationship. We live daily with forces set against us that influence situations and the behaviors of frail humans who inadvertently or intentionally hurt us. They may or may not actually have ill-will toward us. The devil is the father of lies. (John 8:44) Kingdom citizens are not struggling against flesh and blood, but against powers and spiritual forces in heavenly places (Eph. 6:12),  especially when you're doing God's work. So how do I protect myself? Sometimes you can't. God has to do it for you!

Proverbs 14:26, NLT states, "Those who fear the LORD are secure; He will be a refuge for their children."  The psalmist encourages us to, "Cast your cares on the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken." (Psalm 55:22, NIV) Peter admonishes us to "Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares for you." Whatever you're going through today, God sees you, He knows, and He's working it together for your good. (Rom. 8:28) Relax. Security is found in Him.