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Blessed love
and strength
Both of these
topics specifically about Christafari/Lion of Zion entertainment + the
explanation of divisions within Christ body over temporal issues I have a
few thoughts on...
First quickly,
my Empress father just got a book I will find out the name of it but
dealing with the problems of race + protestantism in America today...
I will get the title but it seemed to be addressing the very things you
mentioned. One thing personally, is that Jesus is going to accept ones
the way they are, if they simply have a repentant heart. Especially
protestant-'white' people have to get beyond the notion of changing
someone's culture, and instead focus on sharing the Gospel. InI know
it is Jah who will do any conversion, and save them. I am not saying
we shold not go forth preaching the Gospel as this is Jesus command,
however we need to show that the body of Christ is 'inclusive' of everyone
on earth for all time, if they will accept it, rather than saying that
salvation is an 'exclusive' thing, for only those who have accepted
it. In reality, both points are true, but it is how we represent our
faith to others, as well as how we carry and put onthe mind of Christ, that
others will be drawn to Him.
Also the whole
reasoning on the issue of Christafari, well, I have been wanting for a long
time to wirte a post on their message board but didnt want to bother
creating an account etc...
Anyway my
reasoning is that there is definitely a confusion there with the whole
taking of Rastafari and Orthodox Ethiopian symbols etc and using them as a
'cloak' of their missions work. Now anyone reading this please
overstand I do have the same goal, leading ones to faith in Jesus Christ as
Savior. However it has been Rastafari that revealed the truth about
the orthodox faith and living in love, manifesting the works so others will
be drawn to our faith that brought me back to a relationship with
Jah. So like Jahsh said, if they are ministering to Rastafari people,
then why not respect their faith, and if ministering to ones that aren''t
Rastafari, why use Rastafari and misrepresent it and distort it and
discredit it?
My case in
point. The question is on their FAQs of why do they use Red Gold
Green? Isn't that Rastafari colors? Check this. At least
a year ago, probably more like 2 years ago, I checked this page, and the
answer was simply, 'these are the colors of Jamaica'. While this is
obviously untrue, as Jamaica's colors are Green Black Gold, recently I saw
the answer was changed. It now states:
Question:
Why does
Christafari choose to use the colors Red, Yellow and Green? What do they
symbolize? Aren't they Rastafarian colors?
Answer:
The colors
we love to use are the Colors that represent all of Africa.
Black
represents the people of Africa.
Red stands for the blood of the people that was shed.
Gold is for the Gold that was stolen from them.
Green is for the land of Africa.
It was
Marcus Garvey (a Christian) who first identified the colors with the
continent of Africa. He simply looked at all of the nations flags and
realized that most of them had something in common. To me the theme of Red,
Yellow and Green is a constant reminder of where reggae music and virtually
all other genres of music originated. Africa is the heartbeat and musical
foundation of Reggae Music and this Music primarily reaches those that are
of African heritage.
I know that
these colors are also identified with the Rastafarian movement. In part,
our use of them is also to become all things to all men (I Cor 9:19-23).
Yet some
legalistic Christians would have us never use these colors again. To them I
respond with this question: Did you know that homosexuals have chosen a
rainbow as the symbol to represent their lifestyle? Given its clear
identification with the homosexual culture today should we as Christians no
longer use the rainbow? Absolutely not! Imagine the Noah's Ark story
without this symbol of hope and promise. God created all colors in the
world with each one of them painting an image of His glory!
So all that being said, it is clear that Mr Mohr has not properly
researched or studied these things. First off, as we know, Marcus
Garvey's colors, which were the colors of the UNIA as well as the colors of
flags used by Garveyites, were Red Black And Green. Not gold.
So this may have been stated on some Rastafari website, or maybe he just
got confused hearing different stories.
As we well
know, the colors Red Gold Green are actually the colors, or banner, of
Ethiopia! Now why would that truth not be shared, even if the point
that he is trying ot be is all things to all men! Why is Ithiopia
having these colors important for InI Rastafari? Well, to start, as
Mr Mohr did say, these colors are the colors of the rainbow. Why is
the colors of the rainbow important as it relates to the Bible +
prophecy? Well John did show us in Revelation that the Ancient of
Days throne is encircled by a rainbow!
Revelation 4
2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a
throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a
sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne,
in sight like unto an emerald.
4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats:
and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white
raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
as well one
of the angels associated with the seals being opened, is described having a
rainbow over hsi head....
Revelation
10
1 And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven,
clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head,
and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:
So it stands
that the Red Gold + Green is a sign of the covenant that Jah made with
Noah, as well is represented by the colors of Ethiopia, in that their
Kingdom was one that was perpetually livicated to representing the
Christian Faith.
The colors
represent to Ethiopians, besides the Green being the Earth or resources,
the Gold being the wealth of the nation, and the Red being blood shed to
keep the freedom, ALSO represent the 3 Christian virtues! FAITH =
red, CHARITY = gold, HOPE = green.
All these
things are 'embedded' in Ethiopia, besides being the oldest Christian
nation on earth, do represent and point (at least in my mind), to Christ's
coming eternal kingdom. As well, I do know that the orthodox faith
spoken of and represented by Haile Selassie I, was very important for me to
find. Being raised in a 'born again baptist' home that was broken up
by legalism both in our family as well as our 'church', I personally got
away from Jah and would not have found Him again was it not for the Spirit
bringing me to a 'true' remembrance of Jesus Christ through the testimony
of Faith in the life of Haile Selassie. This indeed was prophesied by
Jesus. If it was not improtant, he would not have promised that
the Comforter would bring us to a 'true' remembrance, had their not been a
'false' remembrance of Him in the world. So to clarify, I man see the
Comforter as the Holy Spirit, but without apology saw the Spirit
functioning in and through Ras Tafari, and these things did cause me to
check my life, and livity, and faith.
There are many
other things which Ethiopia represents to InI as a place of truths about
Biblical faith, about a place of refuge for both Israelite, and later
Christian faith (as well as Islam to some extent), and finally, the most
important one, the representation of Christ's coming eternal kingdom,
ruling as Conquering Lion of Judah, King of Kings, Lord of Lords. As
well, the fact that Ethiopia (or Africa as a whole, as Ethiopia one meant),
was in fact an Israelite and later one the first Christian kingdoms on
earth. This is of great importance, as the majority of slaves in Colonialist
society were forced to go to church, and have slavery
theology forced on them, however they were not allowed to
read the Bible for themselves (sometimes being killed for this alone!), and
were taught that Africa was a place full of heathens. In fact,
representing Ethiopia in its truth, will reinforce and greatly uplift the
minds of Christian African descendants, much the way the Rastafari elders
were inspired upon reading for themselves about Ethiopia and its role in
the Bible. As well, continuing to misrepresent the truth, will only
serve as a greater stumblingblock to those African descendants who lump the
whole of Christian faith in with slavery and oppression and the wrongs that
were perpetrated in Jesus name throughout time.
An elder
Christian man once showed me that regardless of how or why Jah has revealed
certain prophecy to InI throughout time, it is supposed to show us 2
things:
- Personal revelation or reinforcing our faith that these Bible things are
true
- Reminder that the more prophecy unfolds, the closer we are to the
Judgement, so make sure you are prepared and are ready to account for your
life and most of all your sins, which InI know can only be wash with the
blood of Jesus on the cross 2000 years ago.
I say all this
not to fight anyone or start arguments. Persoanlly, I think that LOZ
could be a very powerfull force in the music world. However they have
in fact marginalized themselves, by instead of properly examining and
respecting the faith of Rastafari, are excluding and turning ones away from
hearing what they have to say, because ones will be accusing them of being
wolves in sheep clothes. Now again let me be clear, I think the
minstry is great, most of the music I think is good, however Rastafari
youth seek out answers that are logical and backed by fact. The issue
of red gold green is a very minor one, but is so big of an issue that I
feel it would turn many people away (it did me for a time - reasonably I
thought they were jokers!). Youths are already looking for Jesus Christ,
however their vision and interpretation of Him has been distorted so they
are now looking at a temporal manifestation of Him as being His 2nd
coming. Also as I have said befire on this site, personally, it seems
like MOST Christians have slightly different views of legalism, end time
theology, dispensationalism, Sabbath observance, etc. The thing is,
there is only one thing that really matters, and that is our redemption in
the blood of the Lamb. So as I have stated before also, while many
many Rastafari see Haile Selassie as being their redeemer and King and
Saviour, I am not trying to shake no ones faith in what has been revealed
to them. To me what matters is if they accept that Jesus in his first
advent paid for our sins. Everything else Jah will work out.
As a final
note, my church did have a function this weekend where reggae gospel
artists and a sound was brought in to a park in the city, and they gave
away food and the artist performed. It was NICE! One of the
artists was on LOZ and I was very impressed and blessed with his
performance. So I do think these artists and even Mr Mohr have good
intentions, it is just that they do not realize that there are already
Rastafari inside the faith that are looking to lead ones to Jesus Christ as
the Saviour, and Haile Selassie I as the divine King in our time. InI
need to work together, not fight each other down, which inadvertently, Mr
Mohr is doing by stereotyping and disrespecting Rastafari in general by
talking down about it.
Love in Jesus Christ
still!
Selassie I
Love!
Bro Phil
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