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Posted on 02/24/2004 10:06:43 PM PST by kattracks
(1st Add: Includes comments by Rev. Jesse Peterson, president of B.O.N.D.)
(CNSNews.com) - One day before it debuts in theaters, a black activist group is protesting the Mel Gibson-written, directed and produced "The Passion of the Christ" film, not because of the film's violent depiction of Jesus Christ's final hours. Instead, they say the film is historically inaccurate because Jesus is portrayed as a white man, not a black man.
"Strangely absent from the debate is one very basic inaccuracy which has been long promoted in order to bolster white supremacy and maintain a revisionist history that is beneficial to only people of European descent," said Malik Z. Shabazz, national chairman of the New Black Panther Party in a statement Tuesday.
"This purposely omitted fact is that Jesus was not a European white man. Jesus Christ was a black man - a dark skinned Hebrew Israelite from Northern Africa and even the only Biblical physical description confirms this (Rev. 13:20)," said Shabazz.
"Not only does this film wrongfully depict Christ as white but all the disciples and Israelites are people of European descent, which presents a historical and physical impossibility," he added.
The New Black Panther Party and other black activists plan to stage protests nationwide over the controversy. Not only does the group claim the movie is "false," but also "harmful and racist."
The Anti-Defamation League recently expressed to Gibson its concern that the film would drum up anti-Semetism. Shabazz said his group disagrees with the ADL's claims that the film is "anti-semetic" and challenged the ADL to "deny the historical accuracy of the Jews' attack on Christ."
But Shabazz says, the "true controversy" surrounding the film "lies in the maligned history of African people through the world and the continual inaccuracies presented in every Hollywood production to date of any Biblical story from the 10 Commandments to the Christmas Story."
"These false images presented are 'anti-black' and these false images and interpretations only seek to further the racist and white supremist idea that God and Jesus Christ 'The Messiah' or 'Savior' is European and white," he added.
"This is clearly one more example of how black people in this country are treated unfairly. Black/African history has and continues to be misrepresented, black people worldwide are subjected to the psychologically abusive images of white supremacy and have no collective voice to defend or promote a Black agenda," Shabazz concluded.
Movie 'not racist,' says black conservative
But Rev. Jesse Peterson, president of the black conservative group, B.O.N.D. (Brotherhood Organization of a New Destiny) said claims that Jesus is black takes away from the overall message.
Peterson said he saw the movie last weekend and "there's nothing in this movie that is racist at all."
"It was inspiring spiritually," he said. "I think that it's gonna reconfirm the faith in many Christians and it's gonna encourage those who had doubt about Christ. There will be many, I believe, that will believe in him. I knew that this thing would come out that 'he wasn't black' and that 'it's racist.' It's not."
Peterson explained that "the Bible clearly states that Christ was in Israel and that he was a Jew." The movie, he said "clearly points that out as well."
Peterson said to "cry racism is a non-issue. This is an attempt for attention. It's shameful to make that kind of assertion about this movie."
When asked specifically whether Shabazz's physical description of Jesus and his birthplace of Northern Africa was accurate, Peterson said, "I've heard that over and over again, and at one point when I resented white Americans, I believed that too."
But, he said, "in all honesty there is no, I think, perfect description of what Christ looked like anyway, and I think that each race…the white race at one point said that he looked white [with] blue eyes and blond hair. That wasn't true. The blacks are trying to claim him…Hispanics, everybody are trying to claim him as their own."
Peterson said that's why the Scripture clearly states "'do not create a graven image of him, because it will divide and cause confusion.'
"The most important thing is that he was a spirit. It's the spirit of the man, not necessarily what he looked like. And that's the focus that this movie brings out," Peterson said, adding that he thinks blacks and white are likely to focus on Jesus' "spirit rather than the color."
He said the Bible does point out that Jesus was "born in that area, but still he was a Jew, and at that time, maybe they didn't have the straight hair, but it doesn't mean he was…a black, African man."
Peterson said in the movie, Jesus is a dark-skinned man, not white with blue eyes, but a dark-skinned man. "He's not black, but he's not white either," he said.
Race not an issue
Peterson took the New Black Panther Party to task for making Jesus' race an issue.
"It's a shame that you have racist organizations like the New Black Panther Party that will come out and allow the devil or darkness to use them, because that's what's happening," he said. "It's a distraction. It's a trick of the devil to come out and call this movie racist…that he was black, he had nappy hair. That's a distraction."
Peterson believes the group is taking away from the spiritual message of the movie, a message, he said that can possibly help people that are hurting spiritually.
"I think that when people go to this movie, they need to look beyond the color. And I think most will, whether they want to or not…look at the spirit and the suffering that Christ went through," Peterson said.
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My bible on has 18 verses there as well.
I guess you've never heard of "Jesa Chrest" (I'm not making that up, either... you can Google it if you have a strong stomach)
God ain't prejudiced and neither am I.
II Chronicles 6:32-33 Moreover concerning the stranger, which is not of thy people Israel, but is come from a far country for thy great name's sake, and thy mighty hand, and thy stretched out arm; if they come and pray in this house; Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for; that ALL PEOPLE OF THE EARTH MAY KNOW THY NAME, AND FEAR THEE, AS DOTH THY PEOPLE ISRAEL...
Jesus is for everybody--whether Jewish, Black, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, Indian, Aborigine, Eskimo, Tibetan or White--I do not mean to leave anyone out. Jesus is for the old, young, fat, skinny, not-so-cute, cute, poor, rich, diseased, healthy, etc. Your externals do not make one tiny bit of difference--just repent, believe, and follow. When Jesus walked this earth, it was the outcasts of society that heard Him gladly--the prostitutes, the publicans, the sinners.
If any one has a remote means to boast about their heritage, it is the Jewish Christian, for Jesus came to him! Nevertheless, the scripture hath concluded (1) all under sin so no one can boast and (2) that God is the God of both the Jew and the Gentile (a Gentile is anyone that is not a Jew).
Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also. (Romans 3:29)
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28)
What is exceeding interesting is that it is not the Jewish Christian that boasts, it is a segment of the White Gentile "Christian" community--as if they have whereof to boast. To my face, I have been told that spiritually there are differences between Black folks and others. Mmm. Many racists write e-mails here saying, "Great site!" and then add on something racist--when I reveal that I am Black, they don't write back. Sickening.
I've met racists in church...At the King James Bible Conference in June of 1998, author Bill Grady degraded Black people from the pulpit for 15 minutes before me and my husband walked out while he was talking. Many folks followed suit as he stood up there babbling. I know he must have felt like a fool. There were only four Black people in the audience--including me and my husband. I was very hurt but the Lord Jesus used it for His glory. I had been wanting to meet Gail Riplinger and she was one of the people who came outside to comfort me. I also got to meet a lot of other wonderful people I wouldn't have met otherwise. By week's end, I had interviewed every conference speaker that I wanted to (we have a local access tv show). It was a sober, but blessed week.
Me and the Lord Jesus are tight so I can deal with racism, but my concern is for the new Christian whose tender faith might be wounded by a marauding lion like Peter Ruckman who says that Black people should still be slaves (see his foolish book, "Integration or Segregation" where he wrongly divides the scriptures). A few members of Ruckman's cult have told me that I'm not a Bible believer because I reject Ruckman's nonsense (they write saying that this is one of their favorite websites--then when they find out I'm Black, things change.)--but in actuality my beliefs are based only on my King James Bible. Glory to God for That Book! Satan and misled folks can't kick your hind parts all up and down the street if you will read the Bible and obey it. Let's take a look at the scriptures and figure this race thing out--
The scriptures make it VERY clear that God is no respecter of persons:
Romans 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
Ephesians 6:9 ... your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.
Colossians 3:25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
James 2:1-3, 9 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
1 Peter 1:17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
Throughout the Old Testament we see that God told the Jewish people to love the stranger and not mistreat him.
Deuteronomy 10:19 Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
In the New Testament, we see that Gentiles worshipped the God of Israel and that God wanted them evangelized. A good example is the Ethiopian eunuch--
Acts 8:27-29 ...behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
God has always welcomed the stranger who would worship Him.
Ezekiel 47:22 ...ye shall divide it by lot for an inheritance unto you, AND to the strangers that sojourn among you, which shall beget children among you: and they shall be unto you as born in the country among the children of Israel; they shall have inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel.
Leviticus 19:34 But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
Isaiah 56:3 Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. 56:6 Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, EVERY ONE that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; 56:7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: THEIR BURNT OFFERINGS AND THEIR SACRIFICES SHALL BE ACCEPTED UPON MINE ALTAR; FOR MINE HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED AN HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL PEOPLE.
The believing stranger was to be treated like the Israelite.
Numbers 15:15-16 One ordinance shall be both for you of the congregation, and also for the stranger that sojourneth with you, an ordinance for ever in your generations: as ye are, so shall the stranger be before the LORD. One law and one manner shall be for you, and for the stranger that sojourneth with you.
Exodus 12:49 One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.
Joshua 8:33 And all Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their judges...as well the stranger, as he that was born among them;
Ezekiel 47:23 And it shall come to pass, that in what tribe the stranger sojourneth, there shall ye give him his inheritance, saith the Lord GOD.
Isaiah 14:1 ...the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob.
God wanted His people to avoid the HEATHEN stranger that was worshipping false gods. It was not about race:
Deuteronmy 31:16 ...this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them.
Racists often appeal to Old Testament scripture to prove that God is against interracial marriage when in actuality He was against marrying the heathen who would turn His people away towards other gods. Two of the peoples that Israelites were warned against intermarrying were the Ammonites and the Moabites--who were of the SAME racial line as the Jewish people--they were Shemites! The Ammonites and Moabites served other gods--THAT was the problem. Both the Ammonites and the Moabites came from the incestuous relationships between Lot and his two daughters.
Genesis 19:36-38 Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father. And the first born bare a son, and called HIS NAME MOAB: THE SAME IS THE FATHER OF THE MOABITES UNTO THIS DAY. And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name BENAMMI: THE SAME IS THE FATHER OF THE CHILDREN OF AMMON UNTO THIS DAY.
Racists often use Ezra 9:1 to show that interracial marriage is a sin. Well, it has just backfired--the Israelites were forbidden to marry nations of their own race (the Ammonites and Moabites who were Shemites) because those people were heathens--
Ezra 9:1 Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, HAVE NOT SEPARATED THEMSELVES from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, THE AMMONITES, THE MOABITES, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
Ruth was a Moabitess, yet there is a book in the Bible about her. Ruth is also in the lineage of Jesus Christ (Matt. 1:5). Why wasn't her marriage to an Israelite cursed? Because she decided that she wanted the God of Israel! It ain't about race or nationality. It is about whether or not you serve the Lord!
When Moses married a Black woman, his sister and brother murmured against him for it. What did God do? He smote Moses' sister Miriam with leprosy. We saw earlier in this discussion that when the stranger came in, he was to be treated as the Israelite.
God has ALWAYS been kind to the stranger that wanted to do right by Him. You can see it throughout Deuteronomy and other books of the Pentateuch.
Psalms 146:9 The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.
Racist Peter Ruckman wants to oppress Black people who are apparently strangers to him. He says that we should still be unwilling slaves by virtue of our skin color.
Ezekiel 22:29 The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully.
22:7 In thee have they set light by father and mother: in the midst of thee have they dealt by oppression with the stranger: in thee have they vexed the fatherless and the widow.
22:29 The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully.
Peter Ruckman is cursed because he seeks to pervert the judgement of the Black man (not to mention that he is an adulterer with three wives--he's twice divorced and shackin' with his third).
Deuteronmy 27:19 Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen.
God will judge him:
Deuteronomy 10:17-18 For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward: He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.
Ruckman and his followers say Black people should still be slaves. Well, stealing a man, which is what American slavery was, is punishable by death in the Bible.
Exodus 21:16 And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.
Concerning the race of Ham being cursed, I've found something interesting. The Bible doesn't say "the race of Ham" would be cursed. It said Canaan, HIS SON would be cursed--
Genesis 9:22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.
9:25 And he said, CURSED BE CANAAN; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.
This is a curse on a son ONLY! It says nothing about it being a curse on Ham and his descendants. Many people WREST with the scriptures to make them say what they want them too.
Some racists (thinking that I am White) want me to publish their "works" on this website. It'll never happen. There is no provision for racism in the Christian faith--NONE WHATSOEVER. If you meet a "racist Christian" (oxymoron though it be) don't think that their wickedness is indicative of what the Bible says because it is NOT. They take a number of scriptures out of context and wrest with them to their own destruction.
I want to make one more note. Real Christians love the Jewish people. It is the wicked Catholic religion that has killed them, mistreated them, and called them "Christ-killers" for centuries on end. Hitler was a "good" Catholic and the Vatican supported him. Hitler WAS NEVER EXCOMMUNICATED from the Catholic religion because they approved of what he did. The Vatican's little phony apologies ain't fooling nobody...I killed Jesus and so did every man, woman, boy and girl. It is my sin that He went to the cross for. His people gave Him over to the Romans who did the dirty work--both Jew and Gentile killed Jesus. Real Christians know this. Jesus was Jewish! We need to be rejoicing everytime we see a saved Jewish person and we need to evangelize those that are not saved.
In conclusion, all sincere, Christian people are loved and welcomed here. Your color makes absolutely NO difference to me.
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<![endif]>The following is from my e-mail response to a reader who wanted more information. Many racists say Ham was black and cursed. For that reason, say they, black people are cursed unto the current day and should still be slaves (Ruckman-type nonsense)--
Concerning the race of Ham being cursed, I've found something interesting. The Bible doesn't say "the race of Ham" would be cursed. It said Canaan, HIS SON would be cursed--
Genesis 9:22, 25 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without. And he said, CURSED BE CANAAN; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.
This is a curse on a son ONLY! It says nothing about it being a curse on Ham and his descendants. Many people WREST with the scriptures to make them say what they want them too.
To show another example of a curse being passed on to a son we have the curse to King Solomon being placed on Rehoboam his son. We know Solomon went a whoring after the gods of his wives. In the following passage Jeroboam is told that God would rend the kingdom our of the hand of Solomon and give ten tribes to him. But notice verses 34 and 35 where it says for David's sake, he wouldn't take it from Solomon but from his son. His SON Rehoboam was cursed (not all his generations)--
1 Kings 11:31- And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee:
11:32 (But he shall have one tribe for my servant David's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel:)
11:33 Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father.
11:34 Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand: but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David my servant's sake, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments and my statutes:
11:35 But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand, and will give it unto thee, even ten tribes.
11:36 And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there.
11:37 And I will take thee, and thou shalt reign according to all that thy soul desireth, and shalt be king over Israel.
11:38 And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee.
11:39 And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not for ever.
11:40 Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. And Jeroboam arose, and fled into Egypt, unto Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.
They were all zombies?!?!?!
That's creepy.
How do you know that?
Did Jesus have DNA?
His mother, Mary, provided half of the chromosomes. Who provided the other half? Was he conceived as you and I were, with the union of egg and sperm cell?
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