Faith Without Works is Dead

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 41^st Annual Legislative Conference was held on September 21-24, 2011 in Washington, DC.  Gathered in one spot were some 10,000 folks from hip hop to high level corporate and small business leaders; from the church to politically savvy women leaders and community organizers, along with the 43 members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC).  There were robust intergenerational dialogues and practical “how to” information sharing seminars, led by CBC Members, with some of the nation’s best and brightest thinkers, practitioners and opinion shapers, on every conceivable aspect of African American life, e.g.health care, wealth creation, job development, poverty elimination, and civic engagement.

One of the most popular of all the events was the Saturday morning Prayer Breakfast attracting about 3,000 of many of the same leaders who participated in issue workshops and seminars. I am humbled that 30 years ago, my late husband, Tom Skinner, and I founded the Prayer Breakfast as a sacred place for African American leaders to find spiritual renewal for the hard work of empowerment. The good news is that the faith of African Americans remains intact despite the weakening moral fabric of America. The bad news is that the faith foundation of African Americans in years past included less talk and more practical institution building than is now evident. 

The years following President Abraham Lincoln’s signing the Emancipation Proclamation saw the building of some of the most enduring African American organizations and institutions by folks who understood that “faith without works is dead”.  It is mind blowing that without access to technology, widespread political power, high level management positions, wealth, and the first African American President, Black people built such incredible institutions as Howard, Atlanta University, Fisk, Morehouse, Howard and Hampton universities. Believing in a God who could do anything but fail, they joined with progressive, White Americans to elect African Americans to high political offices, create sororities and fraternities, newspapers, service clubs, churches, banks, life insurance companies and other small businesses. This faith inspired work took place during a time when laws were passed that made Black life expendable with lynchings and terrorist acts against African Americans occurring regularly.

Given our glorious past, even in the midst of great dangers, I firmly believe that it will take the following faith-inspired actions for African Americans to re-gain a high level of political and economic momentum and turn our faith into community building work:  1) African American elders practicing a “lived faith”, reflected in life styles of moral excellence that can be modeled by young people;  2) Well educated African American middle class intentionally building connections and relationships with poor and working class African Americans in efforts to strengthen the total community; 3) Training of African Americans in wealth-creation and encouraging greater financial support of African Americans institutions like NAACP and National Urban League ; 4) Intentional efforts at civic engagement and mass demonstrations to protect civil rights, economic, and political gains made by African Americans, against actions to turn back the clock; and,  5) Mentoring of African American young people by older African Americans to provide the love, nurturing, core values, and support needed to build more stable African American communities. Faith combined with works is the key!

Downgraded, Yet Lifted Up!

Can you believe it?  Yesterday, America, the richest and most powerful nation on the face of the earth, was downgraded in its credit rating for the first time in its 235 years of existence as a nation.  What does it mean to be downgraded?  It means a lack of confidence that America will pay its bills.  It means a rejection of America’s AAA credit rating.  It means fear winning out over faith in America’s financial future with the largest stock market decline since World War II of over 600 points.  An incredible spirit of fear, rejection, and lack of confidence fell over our nation on Monday, August 8th as the stock market closed. 

But that was not the whole story.  America’s credit rating was downgraded and the stock markets here and around the world sharply declined.  Yet, the bond market, through record purchases of American securities, was at an all time high.  I do not know much about the stock market.  I do know that when you face a crisis, it helps to look at the big picture.  When I look at the big picture, I see a real message of hope despite all the gloomy news.  I remind myself how grateful I am to live in a nation that has been blessed so mightily by God.  Except for the 911 terrorist attacks, America has never been attacked on its soil.

Beyond good security, you have to travel abroad to know how blessed you are to live in a nation where most schools, telephones and cell phones, power systems, food supplies, airlines, cars, bridges, roads, police and fire departments, and hospitals work.  Despite the record number of natural disasters across America this year, we can still count on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (F.E.M.A.), Red Cross, Salvation Army, countless churches and millions of goodhearted citizens to show up with food, shelter, and survival supplies. The same is not true in earthquake devastated Haiti and Japan where restoration has not come quickly; nor in drought-stricken Africa where millions die daily.  America may be downgraded financially, but she is still lifted up, protected, and showered by manifold blessings from the God of all creation.

In our personal lives, there are times when we may also experience downgrading.  Whenever we are cut from our jobs, turned down by our college of choice, face a broken marriage or a personal tragedy, the death or serious illness of loved ones, school violence, declining health,  failed finances, or divided congregations, we face a downgrading or rejection that cuts deeply and rocks our world.   Any downgrading or threat to our survival and self-image shatters our confidence and causes fear to overwhelm our very being.  Yet, like America during this season of economic uncertainty, in times like these we need an anchor.  In times like these, when all else fails, we must turn to the only true power, the power of Almighty God, who lifts our heads, when life’s circumstances brings us down.  Be encouraged today by the Biblical Queen Esther, whose Jewish people were threatened with annihilation by evildoers who downgraded and marked them for death, who was lifted up and used by God to save her people.  Be encouraged today the by young Joseph, whose jealous brothers downgraded him, threw him into a pit, and sold him into slavery, but was lifted up by God and moved from the pit to the palace as governor of Egypt.

I encourage you to make today the first day for the rest of your life by rejecting the downgraders; and embracing with new passion and purpose, the uplifting love and power of God alone who can change your circumstances from failed to healed; and from helpless to hopeful.  Fight for those who are worse off than you, as others have fought for you.  Embrace a “Lift My Eyes To The Hills” and “Still I Rise” spirit today as you count your blessings and not your problems.  Remember that the “perfect love” of God, self, and others “casts out fear.”  Put your hope and trust in the God of Jesus Christ alone; not in the Congress, the White House, or even the stock market.  Look up, not down, and live!