The People's Preachers (a black preacher who is standing up)

I thank God for G. Craige Lewis because he is virtually the only black preacher who is standing up to speak against much sin that needs to be exposed.

Enjoy the article he wrote below,
Ricky

source: http://gcraige.blogspot.com/2009/06/peoples-preachers.html

From booty shaking youth groups, to secular love song singing shepherds. From old school concerts to homosexual Gospel performers, where has our church gone?

What happened to church being a house of prayer? What happened to church being a place where people came to change? Our churches are going south and it's the fault of secularized, insecure, affirmation seeking pastors.

Remember when divorce took off in the 1960's and the American family was challenged by the hippie movement, baby boomers, and feminist agenda? Homosexuality, infidelity, promiscuity, and drug use swept across America and began to undo the moral fabric that held our marriages together. The divorce and wedlock child bearing rates soared and an insecure nation of young people began to emerge. What began to happen was that the children of the broken home began to grow up with deficits.

The lack of strong fathers in the home birthed children that needed constant affirmation from their peers and social groups to replace the validation they lacked in their homes. They needed constant approval and validation because they felt that at least 1 of their parents didn't want them. Drugs, porn, gay lifestyles, etc. began to plague that generation of youth that sought to plug the missing parent hole in their hearts with the approval of their peers. And if their peers were gang members, then so be it. If their peers where alcoholics, drug users, promiscuous, you name it, they had to do it to fit in and get the approval that was missing in their homes.

Whether we want to face the fact or not, children deal with the death of a parent better than the divorce of a parent. You see, divorce usually leads the child to believe that they are not wanted by the parent that doesn't get full custody of them. No matter how you slice it, it gets sliced, and that has a negative affect on the child either way. This is a proven fact and yet homes are breaking up like never before. Ok, back to my original point. What happens when these young people, the children in need of validation at any cost, grow up? Well, they became our pastors and leaders, and, unless God fixes them, that hole that they have always sought to plug will continue to get bigger because the older they get, the more they will need attention and approval.

What happens when an insecure man is put in position to lead? He uses that position to get security and validation. He uses that platform to be a "star" in the eyes of the people so they can feed his need for validation. What happens when a homosexual man, which is the highest form of insecurity, is put before people? He will use the people's applause and accolades to validate his lifestyle and existence since God and nature will not. This is where we are people of God. We have full grown insecure men leading our churches and they are using their platforms to promote themselves so they can overcome their insecurities and lack of validation. They surround themselves with armor bearers and male cheerleaders. They fill their pews with people that deem them human gods and follow their every word. They lift themselves up and lord over their audiences. They do what they feel and want, not regarding the spiritual ramifications of it.

They do not lead, but instead, they appease and give the people what their flesh is desiring in order to be loved and adored by their congregations. These pastors are full of it and they make a mockery of God and his standard of holiness that he is calling for. They mix secular music into their gospel music. They mix secular themes and worldly fun into their preaching and teaching. They basically put the stamp of Jesus on the ghetto club mentality and promote the very lifestyles that are destroying God's people. Yet, for the sake of fame, notoriety, accolades, and validation by applause, they sell God out and do whatever the people desire. All of this has happened before, and Christ dealt with it all in his messages to the 7 churches of Asia. We have been covering these churches on our radio program and you can download these sermons for free here.

These same, insecure pastors build large buildings and live lavish lifestyles that require them to keep the people coming so they can pay the bills. They live like this to overcome the opinions of those that said they would fail or they wouldn't amount to anything. So, instead of taking small steps and establishing themselves gradually, they live to prove people wrong and build, buy, and floss, without establishing foundation and following God's leading. When you raise your standard of living and the churches financial responsibility up high, then you must keep the people coming to sustain it. This is a trap that the modern day, ambitious pastor, falls into. He sees what other men have and desires to grow to that status. But it comes with a price because if the people stop giving or coming, you are stuck with bills you cannot pay. So, the focus of the ministry has to be tithes and offerings and you have to keep entertaining the people so they will keep coming. Truth cannot be preached for fear of losing people, so, compromise becomes the spirit that resides in that house. And the people take on that same spirit and begin to live sinfully and in a spiritual state of compromise all because the pastor was overly ambitious and has selfish motives.

Then, they go for hollywood and get some movie stars, athletes, and money makers to attend services so they can help pay the large notes on these properties. This means that you have to accept the agenda of these people and not preach against them in order to keep them coming and giving. Now, our churches are coming apart at the seams because these carnal idolatrous pastors are leading them straight to HELL. They won't preach against sin and they accept any trend that is popular and will draw a crowd.

They welcome garbage into the house of God at any cost just to keep driving the cars, living in the big houses, and paying the bills of these lavish sanctuaries. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying there is anything wrong with having a large sanctuary and audience, but if you build it around your personality, then you my friend will have to sustain it with your ideas and concepts. If God builds it, then that would mean that the truth will sustain it. But if you have to resort to entertainment, lies, and extortion to keep the bills paid, then it wasn't God to begin with.

We are at a crisis people of God. Our singers and performers have sold out. Our pastors are selling out. The church as a whole is in trouble and the home church is fast becoming the norm because people do not want to subject their families and children to the foolishness of these insecure pastors. Only insecure, un-affirmed men would use the house of God to show themselves and gain approval of people. These products from the broken homes of the 60's are grown up and running our churches into the ground because of their own private agendas. Only God can deliver us and set us free from our own agendas and heal us from our deficits. Whether it was divorce, molestation, abandonment, abuse, or being born out of wedlock, we must be healed by God before we can ever truly deny our plight to get the approval of men! And God forbid we put ourselves in a church where the leader is struggling with validation issues himself.

God is not pleased people! Look around you. If you are at a church where the youth are hip hoppers, the young adults are club goers, and the seasoned saints are singing Franky Beverly and Maze at the church picnic, then you my friends are under a selfish, insecure, carnal leader and the spirit of compromise will rule your house and family. Don't believe me? Look at the state of your children and you will see, because this is where the compromise takes it's toll......on the next generation. What the adults do in moderation, the youth will do in excess!

Jeremiah 12:10-13 Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness. They have made it desolate, and being desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth it to heart. The spoilers are come upon all high places through the wilderness: for the sword of the LORD shall devour from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land: no flesh shall have peace. They have sown wheat, but shall reap thorns: they have put themselves to pain, but shall not profit: and they shall be ashamed of your revenues because of the fierce anger of the LORD.

Hear me church,
G. Craige Lewis

Excellent! Thanks for posting this..

What the adults do in moderation, the youth will do in excess!

This quote is loaded! The implications...

And what is it we do in moderation? Is it the things that we argue for, and then justify?

I am learning to not argue against something or justify it either. You may justify simply by saying "but, I want it!" But when you get it will it bring the satisfaction you expected? This ought to teach us a lesson.

ginnyrose

I love the articles by G. Craige Lewis. This one is very powerful....

Good words Neil.

Obviously I know there are many "no name" black preachers preaching the real truths. I have been to the ghettoes of Buffalo, Detroit, New York City, Toronto, etc and have lived in Winston-Salem, NC and know many who are holding down the Gospel in the areas.

I should have prefaced what I said "I thank God for G. Craige Lewis because he is virtually the only black preacher who is standing up to speak against much sin that needs to be exposed." with
"there is virtually no online or wellknown black preacher...".

Some of the reasons we do not know of many of them is because of racism in the church. Period.

Then on the flip side the well-known black preachers are predominantly hirelings who have no love for the flock, and it grieves me tremendously.

There are a few "big name" black preachers I respect (like Voddie Baucham), I just wish they would stand up more than they are and speak up in ways which they are not.

God bless,
Ricky

While G. Craige Lewis shares many good and true things, I would caution all of you to not take everything he says at face value, examine everything and hold fast to that which is good. This man has been known before to spread half-truths and slander, and has had an unreasonable attitude towards those who question what he says.

nearthecross,

please provide examples of half-truths and slander from Lewis.

thank you,
RIcky

Wow. What an article. Thanks for sharing

please provide examples of half-truths and slander from Lewis.

I was particularly referring to some controversy surrounding his well-known exposes on hip hop. Some online have posted responses concering erroneous facts and half-truths in these, and concerning his attitude toward other professing believers with whom he disagrees. Below is an article by Christian hip hop group Hazakim. Regardless of your view of "holy hip hop", I think it's worth reading because they bring up some good points.
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From: http://www.clarkyboy.com/hazakim.htm

Not everyone agrees with what G Craige Lewis says in The Truth Behind Hip Hop DVDs. Holy hip hoppers Hazakim felt the need to respond with a controversial rap called The Truth Behind Craige. You can read what motivated their response here.

"Shalom. I am one half of the duo Hazakim, who responded to Craige Lewis's name-calling against other believers. While Craig has many valid points, I ask you this: Do his few valid points make up for calling other believers "fags" and claiming that they are "not saved"? Do his FEW valid points (which an unbeliever with an ounce of moral clarity would agree with) make up for his historical inaccuracies and absurd claims? And please answer this: Why does the black church often fall into the error of labeling everything "cool" or "new" as being of the world? I mean, is the "world" a state of the heart or a beat or a style of dress? Please read the Biblical references of when Jesus and the disciples condemned "the world". You will see that is NEVER in reference to music, a style of dress or slang (though it can encompass these things). Jesus condemned the "world" in terms of SIN. Slander is one of these sins (please read 1 Corinth 6:9-10). Here is an article I wrote before our song's release. Just something to think about.

"In recent months, many within the holy hip-hop community have taken up the task of answering the contentions of G Craige Lewis and his organization, EX Ministries. The mature, gracious and gentle fashion in which these brothers have answered this man makes us truly proud to be numbered among them in this awesome movement. Rarely do we see an argument refuted with such grace, humility and gentleness; especially when the opponent being refuted has shown absolutely no grace, humility or gentleness in his approach.

"Initially we, like many within holy hip hop, decided to ignore this man and his inflaming rhetoric. Despite the contradictions, historical inaccuracies and invective accusations spoken by G Craige Lewis, we believed that a gracious response would provoke him to eventually see the error of his ways. Even after he arbitrarily posted our ministry’s name, among many others, on his web-site and demanded that parents and pastors not support us until we submit to his demands, we did not speak out against him. Even after I sent him a very brief non-confrontational e-mail in an attempt to engage in honest dialogue and received a response telling me to “get a life”, we still took it with grace. Recently, however, G Craige Lewis has taken his personal attacks on various ministries to the next level. In the December episode of his “EX Cast”, he and his guest Rondy Long spent at least an hour and a half mocking, condemning and name-calling legitimate ministries; ironically, all in the name of “holiness”. They went on record as calling the Cross Movement “backslidden” and “ridiculous” and even asserted that they had ‘signed the devil’s contract to make money’. In addition to these ridiculous claims they spent a good half hour gossiping about Kirk Franklin and, at one point in the show, shared a hearty laugh after Craige stated that GMA (Gospel Music Association) stands for “Gay Men With AIDS”. While his misconceptions and lies about the origins of hip-hop need to be and have been addressed, the primary focus is to expose him for his scandalous remarks. Put bluntly, this man has had it coming.

"Our problem is not with Craige’s addressing the violence in secular music or the secularisation of the Christian music industry but with the lies, name-calling and gossip that he speaks in the process. This man has publicly referred to certain Christian artists as “fags” and “cross-dressers”, having no clue as to their personal lives or what the Lord has delivered them from. His “sermons” are filled with enough gossip to make Joan Rivers blush!

The Scriptures are loud and clear on the issue of tale-bearing and gossip.

“‘Do not go about spreading slander among your people... “ Leviticus 19:16

“LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbour no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman” Psalm 15:1-3

“A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends” Proverbs 16:28

“Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down.” Proverbs 26:20

“Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-10

"The scriptures are clear that we must forgive our enemies and love those who despitefully use us. Many may interpret our response as unforgiving but Hazakim can say with a clear conscience that we love Craige Lewis and long for the day that he repents and puts a halt to this misled crusade of his.

"In addition to the command to forgive, the scriptures declare that it is unlawful to tolerate a false teacher or prophet (1 John 4:1). Every messenger, message, and method is to be tried according to the Word of God and exposed if it is proven to be false. Sadly, in our Western society, the church is often compelled to keep the peace and remain silent at the expense of truth and principle.

"The scriptures are replete with examples of how these loving men of God addressed dissenters and false teachers of their day. As a matter of fact, their harshest words were almost always reserved for those who operated in the name of God. Paul was forced to address and confront certain of his fellow Jewish believers who were spreading the false doctrine that gentile converts had to be circumcised in order to be accepted by God. Here was Paul’s response: “Brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!” Galatians 5:11-12

"In other words Paul, being filled with righteous anger, declares that he wishes that these agitators who were spreading false doctrine would not only cut off their foreskins but completely cut “it” off!! In our western minds these words may seem too strong but we must keep in mind that those who teach false doctrine, adding their personal hang-ups to God’s laws, shut up the Kingdom of heaven to lost souls. This is a serious offense! While we are not suggesting that our opponent practice self-mutilation, it is hard to miss the striking parallels between the logic of these misled believers of old and that of G Craige Lewis.

"In another passage we even find that Paul was forced to rebuke his fellow-laborer and apostle, Peter, for setting a bad example and mistreating other brothers.

“When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles… When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all.” Galatians 2:11-14

"Furthermore, we see that in cases where gossip was being spread about valid ministries, the apostles did not hesitate to expose the culprit and name names. In the following passage we find that, when defending his ministry:

“Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.” 2 Timothy 4:14-15

“I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will have nothing to do with us. So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, gossiping maliciously about us. Not satisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church. Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good.” 3 John 9:9-11

"At any rate we can see that exposing the error, rebuking the methods and naming the names of dissenters who slander and cause division in the Body of Messiah, is well within the boundaries of Scripture. We pray that G Craige Lewis repents of his grievous, self-righteous attitude and that he joins the true fellowship of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Until then, we encourage pastors, parents and all believers to boycott his efforts until he apologizes and repents. As the scriptures declare:

"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them" Romans. 16:17

You can listen to The Truth Behind Craige, a controversial response by holy hip hop duo Hazakim to the comments made by G Craige Lewis on The Truth Behind Hip Hop.

"One of the major problems with Craige’s argument is that its very foundation is built upon incorrect assumptions and historical inaccuracies. His contention is that “holy hip-hop” is an oxymoron because, according to him, hip-hop culture is a false religion that was spawned by Afrika Bambaataa and KRS One. This is patently absurd. Firstly, it is common knowledge that DJ Kool Herc is largely credited as the “father of hip-hop”. When asked by hip-hop historian Davey D what hip-hop is, Herc gave the following answer:

“Hip Hop... the whole chemistry of that came from Jamaica... I was born in Jamaica and I was listening to American music in Jamaica... My favourite artist was James Brown. That's who inspired me. A lot of the records I played was by James Brown. When I came over here I just put it in the American style and a perspective for them to dance to it… I'd find out where the break in the record was at and prolong it and people would love it... the rhyming came about because I liked playing lyrics that were saying something.”

"This answer, given by the man rightfully credited by old school heads as the “father of hip-hop”, does not mention religion a single time. The saddest part is that G Craige Lewis has been corrected regarding this, yet continues to willfully spread misinformation. I guess he is “in too deep” now to recant any inaccuracies he has already spoken.

"Craige claims that KRS is a founder of hip-hop. Hip-hop was “born” in 1973. KRS came on the scene in 1986 and dropped his first album, Criminal Minded, in 1987!!!! Furthermore, while Kool Herc was on the wheels of steel (creating this sub culture), KRS One was only 8 years old!!!! Are you telling me that, at 8 years old, KRS helped to found a religion called “hip-hop”, 14 years before he became a part of its music!?!? Big Daddy Kane came out around the same time as KRS, therefore, saying that KRS is a “founder” is like saying that Big Daddy Kane is a “founder”. This is absurd! While I respect KRS’s musical achievements, he is an eccentric personality who has switched his religious and social views more than once. He went from criminal minded to socially conscious to a metaphysical guru. So he created “The Temple of Hip-Hop” nearly a decade after his first album dropped. What does that mean to hip-hop? NOTHING. Craige, please answer how KRS is even relevant or qualifies as the “spokesman” any more than Schooly D or LL Cool J...

"What is hip-hop?? How can Craige go from stating that KRS is the “prophet/spokesman of hip-hop” and that Bambaataa is the father of hip-hop, and then use an example like the Ying Yang Twins or some gangster rapper to state that hip-hop is violent, despite the fact that KRS and Bambaataa would consider these guys an AFFRONT to hip-hop culture? As we speak, KRS One and the Zulu Nation are attempting to boycott MTV and BET until these media outlets stop glorifying violence and show a more balanced view of hip-hop. How can it be both ways?? Don’t get me wrong, I agree that the religious views of Bambaataa and KRS are nonsense doctrines, but their hip-hop is not the hip-hop of 50 Cent. If Bambaataa is truly the originator and KRS the “prophet”, as Craige claims, he must define hip-hop according to their terms. So, is hip-hop a socially conscious metaphysical religion of "black empowerment" or a dumbed-down “slave” culture of black on black violence? Craige tries to have it both ways for the sake of convenience.

"Lastly, would God give a man a "message" that is built upon false beliefs and historical inaccuracies? Surely God knows about the aforementioned facts. God would NOT give a message built on falsehood; therefore, we believe that God has not spoken to G Craige Lewis. Couple this with his comments on other valid ministries (conveniently before he drops his own “gospel rap” album), we assume that G Craige Lewis is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. A man who disguises his own hang-ups in holy garb. I post the following scripture: "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them" Romans 16:17. Shalom."
-Anthony of Hazakim, Contending for the Ministry