Keeping It Real - Romans 3:7 (NIV)

Scripture of the Day

Romans 3:7 (NIV)

“Keeping It Real”

Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?”

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True story!  Several years ago during a class I was taking, me and this woman were talking.  Of course, the conversation about GOD came up and when she said that she was a Christian it took me by surprise!  Not because she had dreads, and always wore hip-hop T-shirts.  Nor was it the fact that her pants were always sagging!  But it took me by surprise because of the way she was always acting and her choice of words that she used in class.  She would always tell us that she was just keeping it real!  I immediately started to pray!  I have learned that if we pray over a situation, we are less likely to judge the situation!  I really wanted the conversation to end, but she asked me how old did I think she was, and I said mid-forties!  She was surprised, because most people give her a much younger age but I was correct.  I am still hoping that the conversation would end, but she kept talking.  Then she said, “You know I keep it real!” and my response was, “How are you keeping it real”  She said, I know all the latest music that the kids listen too, I dress like them, I talk like them, and this helps me connect with them and keep it real!”  I am still praying for GOD to give me the words to say.  So I asked her this question, “From Christian to Christian . . . is it better for us to keep it true or keep it real?”  At this point, she was no longer talking loud.  I went on to say that GOD calls us to be true and not to live in our own reality.  HE wants us to be true to HIM, be true to others, and be true to ourselves!  At this point, she was no speaking at all.  I explained that her reality of keeping it real was to bring herself (an adult) down to the level of a teenager, instead of bringing teenagers up to the level of adulthood.  As I was still praying and speaking I told her, “The truth is you are a forty year old wife and mother, not the guru of hip-hop”

The break was over and we had to go back into class.  Everyone was asking her why she was so quiet.  I was still praying for the situation, because I had no idea how it was going to turn out and we still had several weeks of class!  The next week, she told me that she shared our conversation with her husband, and to her surprise . . . he agreed with me and they had a conversation about it.  She still have dreads and loves her music, but she no longer tries to keep it real!  Now she is being true!  She could no longer be false in her ways and claim to be a Christian to glorify GOD!  I praised GOD for such a wonderful testimony . . . because her husband is pretty big!

Keeping it Real, has allowed satan to creep into leadership positions in the church!  And as long as the membership is growing, and the tithing is plenty, they don’t see anything be wrong with bending a little and keeping it real!  We want to keep it real for the youth, so now we allow hip-hop sounds and dances to come from the pulpit!  Don’t get me wrong, I love praise dance ministry, but there should be no “crazy-leg” or “dropping it like it hot”.  I appreciate gospel rap, but that does not mean we should be getting “Crunk” in the pulpit or the choir!  We cannot replace bible study with a domino tournaments and try to sneak a little Word in on them!  We are starting to use the term “Becoming Non-Traditional” to cover up replacing the things that GOD said is True.  Yes, most traditions are man-made, but the commandments of GOD are true!  Let’s be true to GOD, to each other, and to ourselves!