(ThyBlackMan.com) There comes a time when a man takes an unpopular stand, regardless of how some may ‘feel’ about the issue at hand. After all, REAL manhood is not based upon ‘going along to get along’, but being honest and forthright in times when taking a dive–or a bribe–may be socially acceptable and even politically correct. (I hasten to add that OUR fathers and grandfathers had such qualities in abundance–especially during the times when a bullet or rope was awaiting their stand.)
Let me clarify something here. It is NOT right to say NO to GOOD things! Too many in our society today–male and female–have been saying NO to continuing their educations; NO to getting married BEFORE having kids, NO 
to staying crime free, and NO to becoming producers instead of consumers. THEN they ‘expect’ society to ‘kick in’ with a pat on the head, money and sympathy to co-sign on their ignorance.
Balderdash!
Unpopular as a negative decision may be, it serves notice upon one party that they need to get their act together, or forever wind up as a statistic.
WHERE CHURCHES GO WRONG:
A few months back, I happened to read about a few churches around the country that have actually helped to pay for relocating gang members from their current communities in order to ‘shield’ them from the whirlwind of their criminal acts.
Let’s take this from the top. Gang membership is a voluntary choice. It is not mandated by law. There is no social mandate for young people to get into a gang. Young men are not ‘segregated’ into gang membership because of the color or their skin. Gang members join for the power, money, and greed. Before they got into their current round of drama, the church was the last place they were thinking about–no matter how many times they AND their families were warned from the Bible.
These individuals were living it up in grand style.
Until.
Until the gang member’s family has been threatened. Until someone gets hurt. Until someone gets killed. Until someone is facing juvie, jail, or prison time with the tag of being a gang member. Until the police show up at 2 am at Mr. or Miss Gang Members home with a warrant for their arrest. All of a sudden being ‘good’ and getting ‘out’ of gang life is sounding reallllly good.
And they expect the church to sign off on their foolishness.
Pastors…just say NO!
NOT THAT LONG AGO:
Back in the day, when a family member was ‘hot’; when they were in trouble with the law, they would send that family member out of town–quietly–to stay with relatives in another city. There were no ‘church interventions’. It happened much the way that it did on the old ‘Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ show: The family member was packed up and shipped out.
When the ‘heat’ was off…they were sent back home.
I’ve had it done in my family in my ‘Before Christ’ days and I know that many have done in their families. Say AMEN somebody!
The central job of the church is not relocation–but resurrection! There is a clearly defined list of what the church is supposed to do in the Scriptures, starting with the evangelism, obedience and leadership roles. The church is not meant to usurp the role of the parent, nor the role of the family…even IF those individuals or families may be prominent members OF a particular church.
Water is wet; and jail time goes along with hard crime!
Advising individuals and families when trouble comes: YES! Paying bail and setting up known criminals with bus tickets and housing vouchers as a part of relocation? NOT a good witness of the church, and NOT a good, biblical use of church funds.
Family relocation of a gang member is one thing. A church subsidizing such a move is out of biblical order. Sometimes the best witness of Christ is not ‘jumping into’ situations that could best be handled by parents and the family. The church is not a relocation center. If one rejects the gospel and Jesus Christ, consequences DO take place.
The quickest means of repentance? Let folk suffer their OWN consequences!
INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY:
Ungratefulness seems to be the drink of choice in many of our communities. One can often find it on the same shelf as the ‘Hater-aide’. We are living in an age where the terms ‘responsibility’ and ‘accountability’ only surface when a person is about to be caught in a net of their own doing. One reaps what they sow. If one sows the wrong type of seed, they should not be shocked when the crops come due in their season.
We live in a time of deflection and excuses. A well placed NO will get many wayward individuals (and their families) to sober up and seek to correct themselves before they wreck others. Or, it will force them to move on.
What is the danger of the church saying YES to the wrong thing? It might shock you to know that teen gang members who have been relocated–in many instances–‘brag’ about the old gang to which they used to belong. Pretty soon, these ‘transplants’ start up a new gang. Instead of solving one problem, more are created.
How’s this for a glowing recommendation of a family friendly church?
Pastor, you may hurt some feelings, and the offerings may be short for a season but co-signing with congregation members who are raising professional thugs and thug-ettes will cause the upright members of your congregation to find another place to worship. Who could blame them?
Pastors, have the courage to say NO!
Staff Writer; Mike Ramey
This talented writer can be reached at the following address; manhoodline@yahoo.com.