During the Democrat National Convention in Denver in 2008, I attended an Ecumenical Religious service where I heard Bishop Blake give one of the most stirring messages on the decimation of the Black Community by Abortion I have ever heard. It was riveting!
Many at first did not know how to respond to a message that was completely antithetical to the Democrats' platform, and certainly that of their nominee, Barack Obama. There was sporadic applause, and occasionally, a delegate would actually dare to stand to their feet. Truth was being proclaimed in the most duplicitous of places, the Democrat National Convention!
Just as I thought about how these seeds of truth would resonate deeply in the hearts of the attendees, Bishop Blake released the 'fowls of the air' himself by amending his insightful message with the age-old pro-abortion cliché:
"I could never vote for a Republican because they don't do anything for the child once they are here."
With that comment, there was an instantaneous applause to this oxymoronic comment which still never fails to flabbergast me. Coupled with the fact it was coming from the presiding Bishop of the largest Pentecostal Denomination in America, with a membership of over 6 million people, Saved, Sanctified, and filled with the Holy Ghost, it was somewhat disturbing. How could the leader of such a prestigious and historic denomination, give such a jaded reason for support of the party which promotes Planned Parenthood, and advocates for the most destructive device in the African American Community since our inception: Abortion! Abortion is a modern day holocaust directly responsible for over 16 million African American deaths since 1973!
To add insult to injury, Bishop Blake recently gave his support for the Health Care Bill, except for the portion that allows abortions to be paid for by your tax dollars. I have a question for you Bishop Blake: How can you support any bill, that in it, by your own admission, has a provision you recognize is against your conscience because it advocates the killing of babies in the womb? Shouldn't the proper response be: Until abortion advocacy, or reproductive health benefits are taken out of the bill, it cannot, nor ever will have your support? It is like saying to your friends, "I agree with, and support you, except for the part about you killing my family. Other than that, I support you whole heartedly!" How would your family feel about you supporting or associating with anyone who would be conspiring to kill your own children?
Having visited COGIC churches and having admired Bishop G. E. Patterson for years, I have always noted the large amount of Seniors in the COGIC Congregations. These are those who have laid the foundation and set the standard, and in these troublous times, are a refection of wisdom and counsel we should cherish. How can any affirmation at all be given to legislation that is a calloused perversion of your values and charge given you to protect the most vulnerable of your society? I would ask, Bishop Blake, why do you support a bill that will be a detriment to such a major portion of the COGIC Congregation. Did you read the entire bill, Bishop?
President Obama has already said in effect, "We spend too much money on Seniors" mirroring his party's erroneous ideology and perception within the Health Care Bill. As Shepherds, our responsibility is to protect and care for the Sheep. The bill you just sanctioned, Bishop Blake, would ration care, taking it from the Sheep and penalizing doctors who would give extended care to Seniors. The Democrats, Bishop Blake, who you vowed your allegiance and fealty to, voted down an amendment that would not penalize doctors for extended care to Seniors and would prevent the rationing of heath care to our aged warriors. Bishop Blake, do you support that? Can we, as Shepherds, stay silent, and in the worse case scenario, support any legislation or administration who would deny our Seniors and Veterans the best care we can give since they gave their best for us? Isn't COGIC, and all of America, benefiting from their labors? I would ask, Bishop, that you read the entire bill and rethink your support for the sake of the office you hold, the message you send to America, and the generations coming after us.
"There comes a time when one must take the position that is neither safe nor politic nor popular, but he must do it because conscience tells him it is right." -- Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King
Rev. Dr. Clenard H. Childress, Jr., is the senior pastor of The New Calvary Baptist Church in Montclair, NJ. He is the founder of the website Blackgenocide.org and president of Life Education And Resource Network, Northeast. LEARN is the largest African-American pro-life group in the US. Rev. Childress is a leader in social activism and partners with the Center For Bioethical Reform, taking the Genocide Awareness Projects to college campuses around the country. Rev. Childress and his wife Regina have 4 children: Clenard, Thomas, Tonya, and Tia.
Source: Renew America
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I agree with Rev. Dr. Childress, Jr. on this subject and I belong to a COGIC church. The leadership that God has placed over me is just the opposite of Bishop's Blake viewpoints. We can't compromise when it comes to God's Word & being about Kingdom business. We have to use that same Godly wisdom that Daniel & his friends used when they were captives in Babylon. We tend to forget that it's not about our personal agendas, but about God's agenda!
It is never popular or politically correct to wholly follow Jesus words in a secular society. Dr.Childress I want to applaud you for your stand and encourage you to continue to speak out from your lofty platform to the one's who could make a difference or least be in the arena to be heard 'and don't'.
Bishop Blake, take heed to yourself and to the flock (COGIC as a whole)over which the Holy Ghost has made you overseer to feed (in everyway) the flock which He hath purchased with His own blood.
This article is not altogether fair to the the bishop's thinking--it just dissects a couple of excerpts.
Health care reform is a heated debate, indeed. Both sides are a bit lost in rhetoric, and I think you can see that the stormiest campaigns are yet to be waged. As I understand it, the number of abortions would be unaffected by this legislation, if not possibly lowered because of two things. First, private insurers already cover "pregnancy termination," for a number of causes, but as the NY Times recently pointed out,
"The bill, written by the chairman of the Finance Committee, Senator Max Baucus, Democrat of Montana, says that no tax credits could be used to pay for abortions except as allowed in the latest appropriations for the Department of Health and Human Services — in case of rape or incest or if the life of a pregnant woman was in danger."
Second, reproductive health informative measures will be undertaken. We know that where (especially impoverished) women are educated, birth rates decrease, because they make better overall choices regarding their futures. This is an area where Catholic Church helps and hurts--it stands against abortion, but also against birth control, which perpetuates poverty (huge families, mostly among the underprivileged).
Rev. Childress you have shown that partnerships with wicked people --no matter what political affiliation-- is against the will of God. God's will and his word doesnt need the support or affirmation of Republicans or Democrats. It doesnt need logic or reason to explain it. It stands alone in power.
Bishop Blake would have done well to just state the truth about abortion and leave the hearers to be convicted in their hearts because of God's standards. Instead, it appears he became embarrassed by the truth he spoke, then redacted it.
This is no leader, this is a person severely conflicted about whether he is on the Lord's side or the side of popular opinion.
This article is laden with typical, tired Republican talking points and does not address the issue at hand: WE NEED HEALTH CARE REFORM. I can't stand simple-minded stupidity. I do NOT like politics in church, but I respect Bishop Blake and appreciate him taking a stand and supporting health care reform. It would do you well, sir, to make sure your assertions are backed up with FACT, and not repeated Republican cliches and talking points. I knew this article would basically be a page full of nothing when you referred to the DemocratIC National Convention as the "Democrat National Convention." TYPICAL REPUBLICAN PERJORATIVE. It's old. It's played. It's dumb.
I'm a white boy and the bottom line is that abortion is alive and well because of ignorant white folks who hate blacks and make sure 75% of abortion dollars, clinics, etc. go into the black neighborhoods to 'educate' black mothers on how to justify killing their black babies.
It's a scam and I thank God for this site. Hmmmm I wonder if the laws would be as easy on abortion if 2/3 of the white race were being eliminated by the white mothers due to 'education and justification of the killing of unwatned children'. Including the lie, 'you just can't afford a black baby."
It's a devilish scheme and it's good that some black pastors have the balls to call it what it is.