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Sunday, October 24, 2010

No Graven Images




TBR--Memphis, TN--Leighton Bradford, Editor-in-Chief
 I wonder if when Moses came down from the mountain, with the Ten Commandments,
would there be the following reaction. Jesus Christ! A seventy-two foot statue of liberty, holding a cross!
Moses probably would be taken a back from the experience. An implicit intrigue started to build. Had they
applied for a permit? Was the permit necessary for this venture? You know, all of the pertinent concerns
regarding a distinctly placed monument. A local church in Memphis erected the monument. What may we
ask a monument towards? According to biblical text; Aaron was charged with holding it down, while Moses
prostrated his existence to God. The Israelites were doing a number of things they had no business doing.
Erecting a graven image unto another deity became an identified wrong.

Mega churches are taking the act of faith to another level. These seemingly corporate entities operate more like a business, rather than ensuring their parishioners, a transcended soul. Dr. King’s legacy eclipse most evangelical clergy. Some may suggest falling short of an implicit dream. High finance and materialism seem to be the way churches define their mission. Whose responsibility is it to deal with poverty, illness, crime and oppression? Obviously salvation must exist, within the endless depths of the offering plate. Religion may very well be the opiate of the people. Hell, fire, and brimstone, and the ministers laying there hand on you. Do ministers have a social responsibility in regards to humanity? Some would argue; social degradation impedes life, similar to a defective compact disc. Memphis is where Dr. King took his last breath. The civil rights movement seems a fading distant memory to a few. Coffee shop patrons discuss sub-prime loans, increased debt, and falling short of presumed souls touched. So many individuals seem to lack hope and understanding.

"These ravening wolves in Shepard’s garb,” a timeless quote, but what is the meaning? Memphis seems to cling to the haunting effect of the antebellum south. Once removed from a conscious understanding of who they are, and their role within society. The power of Egypt is vanquished, and held hostage, by apathy and indifference of the plight of there fellow human beings. A shrine erected towards egoism, or is it truly a humble offering towards a belief. The past administration promoted a faith based initiative. Tele-evangelism purports salvation through tuned in media; however, what do you get for your buck? Steel, concrete, glass and an obliged pulpit; thus, pressuring deacons to solicit contributions towards the building fund. An apparent take on media personalities may have humble intentions. At least that is what they started out to do. While attending one of these Mega Churches, I noticed an uneasiness about the vague message, handed down by the second string minister. I explained to my friend, it seems to be an abrupt program. A certain pew warehoused the sanctified folk; moreover, each of them hung on every word of their presumed spiritual teacher. Some individuals may seek a universal truth irregardless of where the message comes from. I went to what appeared to be a conscious rally, and it had the same pseudo-panther rhetoric. It was held at an institute named after famed Black Nationalist, Marcus Moziah Garvey. The old standbys of the man are the fundamental root of the problem, along with racial epitaphs. These extremes come across as if they represent the cross section of humanity. Well there seem to be a number of graven images outside of faith. I imagine churches will soon accept credit cards. You know saving souls has an overhead.