We all know that the days of May 8th and 9th of this year were two of the gayest days we’ve had in some time. What took place shocked the world and this state. What shocked the state of North Carolina was it voting for Senate Bill 514(Amendment One) and the world was shocked with the announcement the President made in support of same- sex marriage. It set off a fire storm in which black pastors tried to accuse the President of dissension. They were arguing that Obama should have first spoken to them before making his declaration for same-sex marriages. What’s wrong with this picture: everything? The two are in bed together and they shouldn’t be. Churches shouldn’t be supporting politicians directly or indirectly and politicians shouldn’t be in the business of garnering votes from the clergy. It is wrong on both sides of the aisle.
Patrick Wooden is a local minister from Raleigh who single-handedly wanted Senate Bill 514 brought up before the newly elected, conservative North Carolina General Assembly. He tries to say now he was in the background but don’t believe one word of it. He was seen visiting with legislators often. At the ending of gay week Libergirl and I decided to visit the self-proclaimed humble preacher at his church, Upper Room Church of God in Christ. After all the Sunday following gay week was to set the black church apart. Upper Room itself has a good atmosphere with friendly people until the preacher started working the crowd into frenzy, mostly by mentioning his name followed by honorable; all people stand clap and cheer.
I’ve been in many churches much larger than this fellowship and it didn’t have this type of worship of the man. He spoke about how he and his wife were unassuming sitting in the back at the North Raleigh Hilton awaiting the votes to come in. As soon as it became clear the amendment had passed, he stood with fist raised followed by a snapshot with his picture plastered on the front of the paper of the News & Observer. The paper took the picture because he was the most vocal preacher out there. He then begin to talk and talk he did. He quoted one Scripture then derailed gays. He quoted every statistic to prove his credo that gays are the vilest most reprehensible beings walking. He yelled, spat, foamed, sang, and screamed. He had every right to do what he did, it’s his building. He has every right to speak out against homosexuality within his building. He quoted one Scripture but didn’t finish reading the entire text. During the service I showed Libergirl how he missed the other 23 sins in the following versus.
The church never wants to avenge its own from the preachers who get caught doing naughty things as well as conservative politicians. They never want to deal with what takes place in the black community yet they can rail against one community that is doing what they choose and want to do. Sodomy is a person’s right. I thought the bedroom was undefiled between two consenting adults. I’m speaking in this instance between married believers. Some woman may enjoy that pleasure, are they wrong? Next the church will want to tell you, you can only enjoy two sexual positions. The Ecclesia misses it badly, who is their audience? This is in some cases a confusing argument. People who haven’t accepted the loving saving grace of the Messiah has but one sin against them, they haven’t accepted, that’s it. Everyone who hasn’t accepted is acting according to their morality. On the other hand if you have entered into a contract with God in which he has dos and don’ts, then you are accountable to him and him alone.
Wooden is teaching a mixed message of confusion. He wants his cake but he can’t have it. There is separation of church and state, it’s a clear distinction one can’t interfere with the other. They are both protected by the law of the land; the United States Constitution. Wooden needs to be honest and teach the complete word so his people aren’t misled. We have laws for a reason, he being an elder should know we as blacks used our rights to gain freedoms promised to us by those laws. We all don’t have to agree but we all have to be honest about the argument.
Wooden is what is wrong with the four fold ministry, there is no office for the Apostle, (Paul was the last). Preaching is the least. Preaching is to get the people riled and excited but teaching shows people how to live and walk accordingly so they can teach others when confronted. So much ignorance within the Ecclesia is due to preachers. Teach the people! Wooden can say he’s humble, unassuming and correct, yet when you ingratiate yourself into the narrative; you’re no longer humble.
The NON-Conformist
TheConfirmationFiles 