RELIGIOUS_LIE: Some sins are greater than others.

RELIGIOUS_LIE: You must uphold the law to keep your salvation.

RELIGIOUS_LIE: You are not truly saved unless you go to church.

RELIGIOUS_LIE: You must never question your man of God.

RELIGIOUS_LIE: Storms, earthquakes, and floods are “acts of God”.

RELIGIOUS_LIE: If you don’t tithe, God will get the money from you in medical bills, repair costs, foreclosure, etc.

RELIGIOUS_LIE: Women shouldn’t be allowed to preach or pastor.

RELIGIOUS_LIE: Your purpose/gift/talent is revealed to your man of God before it is to you.

RELIGIOUS_LIE: You can pray someone into salvation.

RELIGIOUS_LIE: The devil is God’s henchman who does his dirty work.

RELIGIOUS_LIE: The devil is omniscient.

RELIGIOUS_LIE: That the God of the Christians and Jews is the same as the God of the Muslims.

RELIGIOUS_LIE: Your denomination is superior to all others.

RELIGIOUS_LIE: It’s not God’s will to heal everyone.

RELIGIOUS_LIE: Even though you’re saved, you’re still a sinner.

RELIGIOUS_LIE: Miracles ceased with the death of the Apostles.

RELIGIOUS_LIE: Poverty=piety.

RELIGIOUS_LIE: A pastor is more anointed than other believers.

RELIGIOUS_LIE: If you spend more time with your kids than in church, God will take them from you. ”

“And you shall KNOW the TRUTH, and the truth shall make you free” John 8:32

© 2012 – Derrick Day (www.derrickday.com) 

I find it amazing that folks like to use funerals as an excuse to be boorish, obnoxious, and just plain foolish.

What should be a time of mourning for family and friends and a time of sincerity and respect for everyone else frequently becomes a sad circus of role-players and bit-performers clamoring for the spotlight, and armchair commentators attempting their best “Siskel and Ebert” imitations – dissecting every element of what should be a solemn celebration.

All of this is true when it comes to the funerals of everyday folk; more so in the case of celebrity funerals. Folks who tend to put on a show for their own loved ones will give an Oscar-worthy performance for their beloved celebrities.

The family of Whitney Houston did the right thing, in my opinion, by celebrating her homegoing in their family church. And I’m sure they were attentive to every detail to make the service a celebration of life. They prayerfully selected who would speak and who would sing. And, in deference to her fans, they decided to stream video of the funeral to the world – and, sadly, most of the world didn’t deserve to observe it.

I’ve looked over a wide swath of comments in the various social media outlets and am aghast at some of what I’ve read. With the exception of some really thoughtful, heartfelt remarks, the vast majority of comments range from the cruel to the downright stupid.

What’s truly sad is that much of this commentary comes from so-called Christians. Folks who feign holiness but engage in banal banter and outright gossip. Jesus had a word for these kind of folks: hypocrites.

These folks need to grow up, spiritually and naturally.

All so-called saved folks criticizing the order of service and performances at Whitney Houston’s funeral ought to be ashamed of themselves. When a grieving family is gracious enough to share this time with you, respect the solemnity of the occasion, and stop being a critic!

If you can’t say “Amen,” say “Ouch!”

© 2012 – Derrick Day (www.derrickday.com)

I ASK YOU, in the Gospels, to whom did Jesus say, “I will not heal you because your sickness is perfecting you” and/or “I will not heal you because you aren’t saved” and/or “I will not heal you because My Father is getting glory through your sickness.” I’ll help you: NO ONE! So, if Jesus didn’t say any of these things, why do people say this today? Allow me to help you again: religious indoctrination. I will keep preaching this until you get this…whoever YOU are!

© 2012 – Derrick Day derrickday.com)

Whitney Houston died yesterday. Like many, I am saddened by her passing, as her music was part of the anthem of my early adulthood. Whitney had vocal power and range that belied her petite frame, catapulting her into legendary status early in her career. While barely out of her teens, she was spoken of in the same context as luminaries such as Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, and Diana Ross.

Now, she has had some ups and downs. Life problems. I will not recount them here; check out the tabloids for that. In the aftermath of her passing, there will be plenty of fingers of blame pointed in many directions. Rumor-mongers will be at full-throttle and in high-gear, churning out a range of product from idle speculation to damnable lies.

And the sad part about this is that many of these are so-called “Christians.”

I’m wondering how all the folks who wish to trash Whitney Houston would stand up to the scrutiny – in life AND death – that she’s had to and still maintain a modicum of dignity. As some folks spew their speculative negativity with virtual stones in your hands, Jesus is writing in the sands of time just as he did in John 8:6-8. And just like those folks scattered at the revelation of their own sin, so shall the folks that raise their voices, as they were, at Whitney Houston.

Whatever you THINK (because none of us KNOW) what happened to Whitney (or Zachery Tims or Michael Jackson, for that matter), you need to examine YOUR OWN life. This speculation and heresay is the fruit of a sin-conscious life and is proof that one hasn’t awakened to righteousness (1 Corinthians 15:34). If your soul is still operating in sin-consciousness, you will live your life either pointing out the sin in others or, even worse, using the sins of others as the yardstick for justifying why your life isn’t so bad.

I think that, instead of trying to assess the post-mortem of Whitney’s life, a little introspection is in order. Not to examine our own sin, but to understand why, as Christians, we haven’t grasped righteousness-consciousness (click here for supporting article). Only then will we get the idle-mindedness that leads to trading in rumors exchanged for mind of Christ. Understand this, rumor and speculation are not the hallmarks of Kingdom Citizenship.