Famous People and Christianity
 

Greetings ladies!!

I saw/heard 2 things recently that I wanted to share with the group...

While traveling to an offsite work location, I was listening to a local R & B station's morning show on Monday. The morning DJ interviewed "the rapper formerly known as Mase", who has, as I understand it, given up rapping, gotten saved, and is ministering throughout the US. Mase spoke very passionately about having the drugs, money, women, fame, cars, jew-ry (yeah I had to go there. I know that was bad!! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif) etc. but how he was still empty inside. He realized that this emptiness was the lack of Jesus in his life. He now lives in Atlanta, attends what he called a small church in East Point, GA and ministers to young folks. He said that if folks were looking up to him when he was "Harlem World" (I hope I got that right---y'all know I'm old! he he) then he hopes he can influence someone onto the right track.

Earlier that same day I was watching C-SPAN while getting dressed. There was a WONDERFUL syposium (sp?) sponsored by Tavis Smiley on A-A issues and the political process (evidently it's been repeated a couple of times--if you can catch it please do.) Y'all , it was the BOMB!! Maxine Waters, Mr. Ervin "Magic" Johnson (you'll have to see the tape to understand that reference), Rev. Al Sharpton, Michael Eric Dyson, Danny Glover and Julianne Malveaux (I'm sure I mispelled her name) were on the panel. They spent several hours discussing various issues facing African Americans and possible solutions, but the piece de resistance was Dr. Jauanza Kunjufu's closing statement. He said "We have heard about a lot of the problems we are facing as African American (blah..blah..blah)...but there is one name that I have not heard since I have been here...that's the name above all other names!! (at this point I dropped the curling iron and ran in the bedroom) And his name is JESUS! We need to get Jesus in our lives...." I missed the rest of his statement because the audience was wildly aplauding and my husband and I were praising the Lord!!

It was quite wonderful seeing 2 very famous men praising and lifting up the name of the Lord in very public and secular settings. This especially hit home to me, as we have been studying evangelism in Bible Study.

Lesson for the week: Romans 1: 16(a) For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;

Be blessed!!

[This message has been edited by Eclipse (edited August 24, 2000).]

Amen. That is so true.

What's up Sophisticated Ladies of AKA. I too saw that forum that was put together by my frat brother. It was very well put together and very enlightening. I was so proud to be a brother that day.

But anyway on the topic of celebrities and Christianity. I do think that it's great that he has gotten his life together. I'm not the most devout Christian but God plays a very important role in everything I do. However, it's time that we realize that celebrities are still ordinary people like us. They still have problems with spiritual issues in their life just like we do. On a closing note, what do you guys think of televangelist and the TBN network?

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SPR 97
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Eclipse, that was deep. I didn't see the show, but I feel like shouting after reading your post!! There's just something about that name JESUS. I could go on, but I better stop right here.

I am a princess because my Father is the King.

Nupe4life,
I agree w/ ya that celebs are just ordinary people who, at times, struggle with spiritual issues, but in this day of political correctness and not wanting to offend, you see very few high profile people saying the name JESUS. They may say God, talk about their spiritual source/higher power (a la Iyanya Vanzant & Oprah), meditate, etc. but, so they won't offend the public that supports them, they refrain letting people know exactly where they stand. That's why I applaud Mase and Brother Jauanza. Most folks --even those that go to church on a regular basis and profess to believe in Jesus Christ--would have tried to rationalize their faith and their career so that could keep making those benjamins (in Mase's case) or said that the forum (in Juanaza's case) was not religious so it was not proper.

Now, regarding TBN and televangelists I will say this....just cause you are on TV does not make you right, nor does it make you wrong. I occasionally watch some of the shows on TBN, but they are a little too heavy in the word of faith movement for me. I can't see where some of the things they say are truly scriptural. Plus, as hard as I try, it's a little hard to take some one seriously that has pink hair! I'm working on that flesh issue though!! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif

Eclipse, thanks for posting that positive piece! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

I remember a couple of months ago when a radio show reported the story with Mase and him being saved. The DJ said something to the effect of "it's probably a move to sell more albums". But I haven't heard about Mase for a long time and since you saw this recently, I'm so happy that he changed for Christ. Many youngsters look up to that lifestyle of money, drugs, and sex and believe that is "living". It's enlightening (sp?) to see that a rap icon is being positive for children. And of course no one is perfect (especially though the media eye), but through Christ all things are possible!

Peace and blessings.

May I brag on Bro. Kunjufu a bit? He's a member of my church here in Chicago, and runs a black bookstore, African American Images.

When I first came to my church, I was very excited to learn that not only was he Christian, but that he was active in a body of Christ (church). I had learned of him by reading some of his books in college and hearing him speaking at a conference at my school. I was amazed to learn he was Christian, since many black intellectuals either feel they have no use for the Gospel because organized religion is merely a social construct to them, or they have taken other spiritual paths (e.g., Islam, Buddhism, New Age, etc.) and do not believe that Jesus is Lord.

I was feeling the same way, Discogoddess, which is why I just HAD to share with you ladies!! I always thought he was one of those "intellectually Islamic" (i.e. non-practicing) folks who took that path in the 60s cause they believe the line that Christianity was the white man's religion and Islam was the true religion for African people. Thanks for sharing even more of his story. ((making a note to myself to go pick up a copy of "Conspiracy to destroy Black Boys..")) http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

Maria, ('cause I can't spell the other part of your name http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif )

Mase said a lot of people felt that way so for a while he just 'dropped out' and did some studying on his own. He was also a student at Clark Atlanta for a semester or a year (can't remember), but people did not want to believe that he had really made a change and were always trying to get him involved with suff he no longer wanted to be involved in (the strip clubs, drinking, partying, women, etc). He also stated that Puffy was behind him and let him cancel his contract with him. It was quite an interesting interview and I really feel the Lord had me listening to that station for a reason. Normally I am at work by that time and I NEVER listen to that station.



[This message has been edited by Eclipse (edited August 24, 2000).]

I also have great faith and want to be like JESUS - - yes, I F A L L short but never give up. Afer reading the post, I'm ready to get my praise on . . .

My Brothers and Sisters - To God Be the Glory!!!!!!