DoggyStyle82-
Bruh, it's all about the dialogue, not anything else!We do have much to do in our communities;but before that we have to allow God to work on us, in a deep way. We need to take the focus off the "Other" first and let God clean us up so that we're humble enough for God to use us. As Jesus said: we need to take the log out of our own eye so that we CAN take the bean out of our brother's eye. Sometimes I feel that we get so caught up in our "religious" ghettos we forget, usually because of fear, who God in Christ is. We so easily succumb to self-serving agendas. In our families and communities there is so much "stuff" that is kept secret and hidden which is a breeding ground for all manner of soul and body sicknesses. The kind of "secrets" that noone talks about but everyone knows about, in families, churches, communities,etc. In this darkness Satan keeps people in bondage out of fear and shame through lies of condemnation. This climate of unforgiveness,fear, shame, hatred, etc. is what impedes the Holy Spirit from moving as God would have done to effect healing. The greatest Christian ("biblical") act I know of that has been done as an public policy-related event in recent history was the "Truth and Reconciliation" Committee and its work in South Africa. All the problems that that country does have could have been worse--there could have been a civil war. To have people, from all sides to come forward and confess their acts of criminal brutality and amnesty given was a healing act on a national level.It was very brutal also: one only had to see Archbishop Tutu collapsing on the table in the proceedings and sobbing uncontrollably when someone "confessed" their crimes to see the depth of pain and human suffering. One one level, the HIV/AIDS crisis is a symptom of some other deep seated issues in our communities. In my own family, my only aunt told me a "family secret"yesterday of a younger male cousin who is HIV positive. There is so much to this sad story, even some "generational curse" issues, I believe. I need to stop now....
You can tell my real passion! God is bigger than all our "issues." Be blessed, my brother!
-Wolfman