CORNEL WEST

Interview with the iconic advocate of Love and Justice

Preview the magazine here:

FEATURES:

12 Faces of Protest 2021
compiled by Patrice T. Conwell / In vindication, or provocation, these voices charge on in our collective conscience.

11 Our Social Dilemma
by Gamal Alexander / We’ve become comfortable with maximum noise with minimal effort.

12 Prophetic Paideia
by Carmela Monk Crawford / Message interview with the iconic and ornery advocate of love and justice Cornel West.

16 Taking Justice into Our Own Hands
Bumpy Start; Strong Finish / by Brittany Winkfield / Russell “Buttons” Patterson bounced all the way back.

Troublemaker! / by Brittany Winkfield / DeLacy Davis seeks to rewrite the interaction between black men and police.

We Show Up for Justice / by Quine Cousins/ Why black pastors had to show up for Ahmaud Arbery.

20 Belief Systems
The Life, Death and Resurrection of Christ
by Omar Miranda / Jesus took our place and paid the full and complete cost for our sin.

22 Dragonspeak: Part 6
The Race Crisis in America
by Ivor Myers / Repairing the breach with the forgotten Sabbath.

26 Life lessons from ruth
by Ajibola Bello / Peruse the book of Ruth to find strength in sadness.

FAVORITES

4 ELEVATION
by Phillip McGuire Wesley / Media That Takes You Higher

5 EDITORIAL
by Carmela Monk Crawford / Three Time-Worn Relational Dynamics That Need to Change

6 Eye on the times
by Corinne Kuypers-Denlinger / Adventist Health Recognizes Lucy Byard

7 Black from the past
By Carl and Malachi McRoy / Marian Wright Edelman

8 Optimal health
by Donna Green Goodman / AND justice for all

11 Your total intimacy
by John and April Nixon / Intimacy is God’s Idea

24 Futurecast
by Debleaire Snell / why the gospel matters

28 Message Resources

29 Bless and Be Blessed

30 Message infusion
Sharing hope in Indianapolis, IA
and Smyrna, GA

Nowadays it seems as if “watching” is our favorite pastime. Most prefer to avoid the messiness of actual connection, instead retreating to our various platforms that allow us to just—watch. Rather than venture into the great unknown, we can like a picture, leave a comment or even retweet an idea we agree with. All without meeting anyone new, or worse, having to make small talk with them. That can seem safe on the surface, but those actions require very little engagement, and even less investment. At the end of the day it’s all supposed to be harmless fun, but I suspect that our favorite pastime has the potential to do us harm if we are not careful. 

Please don’t misunderstand me. Social media has done a lot of good. It doesn’t just provide a needed distraction from the stressful world in which we live, it can also help us communicate and even connect with each other in a way that was previously impossible. Despite what some naysayers may lead you to believe, social media isn’t all bad! As more than 3 billion people get online every day, social media has provided entertainment, helped us communicate and connect, and even provided a platform for protest and revolution to those who needed it. To some it has provided a source of income. It’s helped start relationships. We even have church on Facebook when we couldn’t meet in our sanctuaries! We’ve lived the benefits of social media. 

We’ve experienced the pitfalls as well. A 2018 Forbes article pointed out the negative effects social media can have on mental health. According to Forbes, plenty of studies find correlations between higher social media use and depression, anxiety, feelings of loneliness, lower self-esteem and isolation. Reducing the use of social media, some indicate, can actually make the user feel less lonely. Apparently the thing that seems to bring us together is the thing that serves to drive us apart. We can feel lonely and become disconnected from each other. And the lack of connection and engagement doesn’t stop there. 

In a 2021 article featured on ScienceSurvey.com the author makes the case that “Social media can have both positive and negative effects on voter turnout. On one hand, it can increase awareness of issues and inspire people to vote to elect politicians to solve them. On the other hand, social media can encourage young people to turn to apps like Facebook and Twitter for political news and forgo taking part in other forms of political participation. After using these platforms, young people can feel that their voice is heard because feedback is often instantaneous, which may lead to them feeling that voting is ineffective in comparison.” 

Did you catch that? The feedback online feels better than the delayed gratification that comes with being engaged in what is sometimes the long, arduous and messy process of change. There it is: The “post” versus the “process.” For many, the “post” is the preferred method of trying to make the world a better place. 

That presents a problem. 

Social Dilemma 2.0

Social media can trick us into thinking that we have been engaged, even when the situation calls for hands-on sacrifice. The instant gratification that comes from firing off a comment that expresses displeasure pales in comparison to the effort required to pass new laws, vote new representatives, or change an organization from the inside. 

To be fair, there’s nothing inherently wrong with hitting the “like ” button on a post on which you happen to agree, or with participating in the latest social media protest. Changing your profile picture to an image of George Floyd or posting a status demanding the arrest of the police who killed Breonna Taylor may very well inspire those within your circle of influence to take action. Those are good things. 

The question is, however, when it comes to issues of justice, does your level of engagement reach beyond your phone? To put it another way: Have we gotten comfortable with a culture that allows us to make maximum noise while expending minimal effort? Are we still willing, in the effort to bring about meaningful change, to sacrifice? Are we willing to leave our houses and hit the streets, even experiencing discomfort and defeat for the sake of a cause? Have we allowed social media “engagement” to take the place of real life sacrifice? 

This is our “Social dilemma.” 

Long before the dangers of COVID-19 required social distancing, we struggled with the tug-of-war between keeping a safe distance, and really getting our hands dirty. After all, the issues faced by our world are messy. The truths we encounter are often ugly. The pain we face on a daily basis is very real. 

So ugly is the mess of this world that even Jesus asked for the cup of His duty to pass Him by. If there was a way that Jesus could have saved us without dealing with the messy reality of the cross, I believe He would have chosen that way. “Let this cup pass from me…” If He were alive in our day Jesus would have been tempted to post a YouTube video with instructions on how to have a relationship with God and leave it at that. Or maybe the temptation would have been to “go live” and rail against the evils of the day, while avoiding the nails in His hands. Of course I believe Jesus would have pushed the boundaries of technology in order to reach people. As our Savior, however, I am glad that Jesus never forgot His calling to actually reach out to people, get personally involved in their lives, and make a difference. 

For Jesus, the work of change demanded His time, His energy, and His attention. For Jesus, the effecting change was personal. 

•  Jesus sat with the woman at the well. 
•  Jesus touched a leper. 
•  Jesus ate dinner with Publicans and Sinners. 
•  He turned over the tables in the temple. 
•  He attended the synagogues on the Sabbath day. 
•  
  He engaged with his disciples and the Pharisees as well. 
• Jesus was very present. His engagement was very real. 

Jesus took connection much further than an online presence ever could. He made a practical, palpable difference in people’s everyday lives. He showed up in their houses. He walked with them from day to day. He attended weddings and funerals and connected with people when they needed Him the most. We must follow His example and do the same. 

•  The voting booth needs your voice. 
•  People of color must run for office to be represented in positions of influence and power. 
•  HBCUs need very real financial support. 
•  Black businesses need black dollars in order to thrive. 
•  Black scholarship must contribute to the overall conversation on the most critical issues facing our society today. 
•  Some of the most highly recruited black athletes must choose HBCUs in order to raise the profile of the athletic programs of those schools. 

We need more of the best and brightest black, Christian voices in every area of influence in our society. Men and women. We need more than just strong opinions on how things should be done. We need to actually get things done! The change must be personal. 

The world of social media is a powerful tool that can be used to bring people together. It has proven itself in the past to be a useful tool for change. However, sharing a post on the evils of homelessness should never replace volunteering at a shelter or donating to the cause.Tweeting your opinion about the candidates in a local election will never be as effective as organizing a campaign to get out the vote in your area. We should never retreat behind our profile pictures at the expense of making a difference in the world we will one day leave to our children. 

We have the ultimate answer in Jesus Christ and as such, we must share Him with the world. We must engage. We must connect. We must make our voices heard and our presence felt. While we are busy with our bubbles, we can’t forget the real world. We must do more than just watch. We’re commanded to not only be “hearers of the word” but also doers. We can do more than just show up online. We can show up in real life. 

Our world will be better because we did.  

…......……………………………………………………………………..

GAMAL ALEXANDER, passionate about presenting Jesus., is an author, speaker, and consultant who writes from Los Angeles, California.

This article is part of our 2022 January/February  Issue
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Seems like the holiday season was just here, Bryon* thought to himself. He was divorced,  and was not looking forward to another holiday season alone.

Though successful in his work, and traveling extensively, this young man realized all of that failed to fill the emptiness in his life. Bryon decided to find a therapist to help him adjust to the “Holiday Blues.” He was feeling loneliness, confusion, hurt, and disappointment during this time.

Blue Christmas Without You

Byron also felt pain from the memories of his past because his wife would decorate the home so beautifully. They would do the family shopping together. 

Bryon always looked forward to his parents and siblings joining him every year for the holidays and experiencing the love of the festivities. He grew up with his parents and many siblings engaging with the gift sharing, singing and visiting his grandparents was so enjoyable. 

Impending Season of Joy

As the time approached year after year Byron would remain busy and focused on his work. When November approached his depression began to overwhelm him. Prior to his divorce, Julie, his ex-wife had moved out to an apartment 22 miles away. She never called, and never came back.

Thanksgiving would usually be the start of the blues, a time when it seems everyone cherished a thankful and forgiving spirit. Byron figured that if there was ever a time when Julie would reconsider and return home, it would be at the beginning of the holiday season. He thought that she would call, but she never did.

Emotionally it took Bryon a while to get past his pain. He could not wait for the holiday  season to pass. He would find himself staying away from the stores or office holiday gatherings. Often, he hid his pain as more of his coworkers and friends learned that he was divorced.

As a very kind man and private person, Byron reluctantly told his family that Julie left and filed for divorce. His parents wondered what happened to Julie was on several occasions, so he finally told them the truth. He told them that Julie left because she no longer loved him the way a wife should. She really just grabbed for straws, looking for a way to leave. 

Some Folks Like to Get Away

In many cases people experience the holiday blues due to the lack of finances, the loss of family members or friends,  divorce, relocation, loss of employment,  or just hardship. They watch while so many other people enjoy the luxury of shopping, eating out at nice restaurants, traveling, and leaving their cares behind. Holiday blues are a real stressors.

Reimagine and recast your holidays using these ideas: 

1. Acknowledge your feelings about your pain. 
2. Reach out to positive family and friends. 
3. Be realistic about your station in life.  
4. Set aside differences with those who have hurt you by forgiving them. 
5. Forgive yourself and pray 
6. Develop a budget and don’t deviate from it. 
7. Don’t run into any ones arms because you are lonely. 
8. Know your limitations 
9. The holidays are not a license to indulge in substance abuse.
10. Schedule a pre-holiday or holiday season counseling session. 

As Bryon continued his therapy we discussed how important it is to recognize things could be so much worse, so he decided to do his best to remain thankful. He also committed to remaining busy and seeking the company of positive and encouraging family and friends.

Find The Right Mix of People And Activities

During the therapeutic process it is vital to identify with people who have gone through similar experiences to help you mature by attending a support group. Despite what you are going through try to be a blessing to someone else by serving and visiting someone in the hospital, a homeless shelter or serve at soup kitchen.

Accept, believe, and embrace Roman’s 8:28: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God and are called to his purpose.” By grasping this concept when you are experiencing the holiday blues, you remember that God knows your pain and offers you comfort through your situation. 

With another holiday approaching Bryon is learning  to remain focused on others. He is  thankful, and allowing God’s will to be done while defining his new purpose in life by giving back to others. He is beginning a new chapter in his life not just getting through the holiday blues, but adjusting and accepting to a new life. Bryon now ends each session with these words: “God can make my latter days better than my former days.”

*The names have been changed to protect the innocent. 

Pull Yourself Out of Isolation

Reach Someone Who is Isolated

Many years ago, I was in the bathtub late one night with tears streaming down my cheeks.  A  strong, overwhelming urge came over me:  just slip further and end my life.

I was a wife, a mother of three small children whom I was homeschooling, and very active in my church. By all accounts, people would describe me as happy, bubbly, and positive. Yet at that point in my life, I never felt more alone and isolated. No one would understand the private pain in my heart, I thought.

Sermons or gentle reprimands about my lagging devotional life would be unhelpful. I wanted peace. My aching heart needed comfort. I wanted someone to care.

Alone in the Crowd

From the beginning, God recognized that we should not be alone. Human to human interaction is important for our well-being (Genesis 2:18). But being lonely is quite different from being alone. Even while surrounded by people, we can still feel lonely. Loneliness is “perceived social isolation, or the discrepancy between what you want from your social relationships and your perception of those relationships.” See the work of John Cacioppo, University of Chicago’s Center for Cognitive and Social Neuroscience (Fortune, June 6, 2016).

Loneliness can be emotional, such as when we lose the close companionship of someone we desire to be with such as a spouse, sibling, or friend; as well as social, such as when we are lacking a broad social network or group of friends. It can also be self-feeding. A 2010 AARP survey of people 45 years old and older found that respondents who indicated that they were lonely “were less likely to be involved in activities that build social networks,” and this includes attending church, as well as participating in volunteer or community-based activities with other people.

Dangers of Opting Out

Each week, many people opt for digital worship where they tune in to a weekly livestreamed church service as a means of receiving the Word. Jude Boyer-Patrick, medical director for two mental health facilities, Thrive Behavioral Health and BTST, learned from personal experience.  While there are benefits to being able to watch a church service online (as in staying home due to illness), there is definitely a different vibe worshiping on a screen versus being there in the flesh.

“I felt distant, as if viewing from afar,” Boyer-Patrick says. “I found my mind wandering instead of being a real part of the service.” Attending church brings a certain “warmth” to the service that a digital format lacks.

“It’s like taking a coal from the fire and setting it apart—it grows cold.” She also points out that attending church regularly is not an antidote for loneliness, but the loneliness can be more pronounced if you are just attending and not taking an active part in the fellowship

Social Media Blues

Others attempt to reach outside of their loneliness via social media, but some studies have pointed to social media adding to feelings of loneliness. Katherine Hobson of NPR reported (March 3, 2017) that as researchers look more closely at this possibility, they are finding that the connection may be tied to what we actually do on social media, versus social media itself being a culprit.

Browsing through profiles and comments, while not interacting or engaging, can bring about a temporary satisfaction to loneliness because while surfing, you can forget about your own loneliness.  That feeling soon fades, and feelings of loneliness can increase, however.

Another potential downside with social media (and in interpersonal interactions as well) is the temptation to compare your life to those on social media. The constant display of someone else’s happy selfies, personal achievement, and stories of a vibrant social life can, by comparison, make us feel that our lives are boring and insignificant.

Lonely Headaches

Loneliness can also impact our physical health. The Harvard Study of Adult Development found that loneliness in men is deadly, pointing out the connection between isolation and lack of happiness in people and its effects on brain function and physical health. Additional research shows that lacking social connections affects our heart health, blood pressure, and increases our chance of coronary heart disease, stroke, and death in much the same way as smoking 15 cigarettes a day would.

How Jesus Responded to People Forced into Lonelieness

The woman with the issue of blood as mentioned in Luke 8:43-48 was quarantined from her community of believers and treated as an outcast in society because of her medical condition.

I wonder if her prognosis was exacerbated by her forced isolation. In spite of that, she gathered her courage and was healed by reaching out and touching the hem of Jesus’ garment. Interestingly, the Bible records more instances where Jesus Himself reached out and touched others in the act of healing them (see Matthew 8:2-3; 14-15; 9:25, 29-30; Mark 6:4-6; 7:32-35; 8:22-25; Luke 13:11-13; 22:50-51).

Jesus can relate to our loneliness. “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3), and He is our High Priest who understands our weakness (Hebrews 4:15).

Give–and Receive–a Healing Touch

There is much to be said about a gentle touch, or a hug from someone—without judgment, condemnation, or scorn—just love, and genuine concern. But it first took me to step out in an act of faith, and go after my healing. I called upon some prayer warriors from my church to pray with me. No questions—just prayer. I sobbed as I lay prostrate in the darkness on my living room floor, with the phone next to my ear; listening to my sisters intercede on my behalf. As a flood of relief washed over me, I knew that I was not alone, and Someone did care.

Later that same night, one of the women who had prayed for me came to my home and sat up all night with me; softly reading from the book of Psalms and rubbing my back until I fell asleep. I don’t know when she left, and she never mentioned it when she saw me in church.

When loneliness knocks at my heart, I remember that it can be a temporary feeling—it doesn’t have to stay. I remember that there is power in prayer; power in God’s Word; and power in the fellowship of godly believers.

“Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you,” James 4:7,8.