Toni V. Lee

The bat...Romans 13 has been repeatedly used to beat folk into submission and oppression.  Let's talk about it...It's long, but overdue. This passage of scripture has often been interpreted to mean that Christians must blindly obey the government with no dissent or questioning.  It's been used as a bat by Christian leaders throughout history to ensure total and blind submission during turbulent and horrific times. For instance, it was used against slavery abolitionists, the Civil Rights Movement, opposition to Hitler in Nazi Germany, etc.  Blind obedience and submission is not what that passage means for other scripture let's us know we shouldn't disobey...or rebrand (calling evil good and good evil)...God in our obedience to and support of man.  In the Romans 13 passage of scripture, Paul says that rulers are not a terror to good works, but evil. You should be afraid if you do evil, not good.  Context is important. Paul wrote those passages during the early par...

Let's talk about it.  Historical records indicate King Ahab was viewed by some as a strong and influential leader because of his military power and economic successes.  The Bible tells us that because of his actions and what he allowed, his reign was one of oppression, corruption, and injustice.  He was a morally and spiritually bankrupt leader who led Israel into worshipping a false god, instead of the true and living God.  He was greedy, weak--easily influenced and led, self-centered, emotionally immature, and morally corrupt.  You'd think nobody in their right mind would support that kind of leader, right? Some did, including prophets. Not the Lord's but Ahab's court prophets...the prophets of the false god.  In a showdown, the 450 prophets of the false god were no match for Elijah--the prophet of the true and living God. They were brought to an open shame, then disappeared.  Ahab reigned for 22 years. For 22 years, the people Israel endured his gre...

During the horrors of yesterday's deadly whippings, lynchings, death camps, concentration camps, white supremacist persecutions, etc., some folk spoke out. They lost friends and family. They risked all to stand for right.  As it is today, there were also some who dismissively blamed the victims saying, "They should have complied...done as they were told." Those standing for right were not viewed with warm and fuzzy feelings.  As it is today, those opposing the atrocities were considered undesirable agitators, too political, and rebels & insurgents (domestic terrorists). Like yesterday, some of these folk do not claim to be Christians...yet, some do--they teach Bible classes, preach, prophesy, and attend church services faithfully.  Heartless, soulless, and self-centered folk existed during yesterday's atrocities...they exist during today's. Just keepin' it real...