A New Year: Moving forward with a Future-making God
Dean Jason Curry • Jan 01, 2018

When we consider the Old and New Testament scriptures which discuss the attributes of God (e.g., a God who is loving, forgiving and merciful), we quickly arrive at the conclusion that God is not simply past-oriented. God is also future-making. The idea that God cares about our past and future relationships is succinctly summarized in a passage of scripture which concerns, God, Isaiah and the people of Israel. In Isaiah 43:16-17, God, through the prophet Isaiah, describes God’s faithfulness to the nation of Israel by retelling a portion of the Exodus story. Through God’s love, the people of Israel were freed from the grips of a horrific slavery, and the army of Pharaoh, which was in pursuit of them, drowned in the sea. In short, God was reminding the people of God’s love for them in the past. We too ought to take the time to remember how a providential God has provided for us in the past.

               However, in an abrupt change of course, God tells the people through the prophet Isaiah: “Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert (Isaiah 43:18-19).” In this particular passage, God is telling the people of Israel that God’s enduring love for them is not limited to their past. It is necessarily concerned with their future. The idea that God still loves them and remains concerned about them in spite of their imperfections is a profound statement about God’s character. It is also inspiriting to know that the God of yesterday, today and tomorrow is intimately concerned about our future. As this New Year begins, we should look forward to seeing God’s presence and influence, helping and healing, as our future unfolds with God.

               As Isaiah brings the good news about God’s abiding presence in the future, he also encourages the people of Israel to have a holistic relationship with God. For example, in Isaiah 43:23-24, God says: …you have burdened me with your sins and wearied me with your offenses. , even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.”

 Indeed, a forgiving God wants a holistic relationship with us in the New Year. God doesn’t simply want to know about our problems in New Year, God also wants to know about our joys, our thankfulness and our plans for the future. Thank God that we serve a God who is not only concerned with our past, but also concerned about the blessed future that awaits us.

The Grumblings Associated with Effective Leadership: Staying the Course

By Dean Jason Curry • 26 Feb, 2020
I was blessed to have had the opportunity to be raised by someone who participated in the Civil Rights Movement. My uncle, Mr. Bob Gore, who is much like a father to me, marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and many others during the 1960’s. I continue to be amazed by the heroic and unprecedented sacrifices made by both the leaders and the participants of the Civil Rights Movement. To my surprise, Mr. uncle informed me that many African-Americans and white Americans did not participate in “The Movement.” Some people were resistant to Dr. King’s leadership because they were concerned about their employment or their physical well-being (e.g., it was possible to become injured or killed while marching). Like the Hebrews in Moses’ day, people “grumbled” against Dr. King (see Exodus 16:2). Nevertheless, Dr. King, additional leaders of the Movement and many followers stayed the course. The criticisms of white clergy (see Dr. King’s “Letter from the Birmingham Jail”) , the threats and acts of violence, the loss of income and the ostracization by family members or friends did not dissuade them from their mission. The leaders often heard the “grumblings” of the people; however, they held on to their purpose. My uncle’s commitment to assisting African-Americans in the process of attaining our Civil Rights would prove to be instrumental in my character development and sense of political consciousness. I am eternally grateful for his involvement in my life. Leadership is a challenging phenomenon. Undoubtedly, leaders are essential for the cohesion of society. People need leaders, and in the absence of ethical and visionary leadership, the historical record throughout the world has proven that people will following myopic, ineffective, unethical and seemingly incompetent leaders. Moses and his brother Aaron were competent, ethical, divinely-inspired and visionary leaders; however, the people often “grumbled” against them. At one point, the Hebrews criticized Moses, and wished that he had not freed from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 13:3). Moses listened, but depersonalized their grumblings. Essentially, he said: “You are not grumbling against me, but against the Lord (Exodus 16:8).” Moses loved the people and cared for the people in spite of their grumblings. Moses prayed to the Lord during his challenging, leadership experiences, and the Lord provided the people with manna, which is bread from heaven (Exodus 16:15).” If God has appointed you as a leader at you job, in your home, at your church or in your civic or social organization, I want to encourage you to continue to be an ethical, visionary, competent and divinely inspired leader. Stay the course, even when you hear the grumblings of the people, and watch the Lord provide resources (also known as manna) for you.

When Silence Means Agreement: Supporting four Congresswomen of Color

By Dean Jason Curry • 23 Jul, 2019
As an African-American, I celebrate the recent election of four Congresswomen of color: Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Representative Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Representative Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts. Even though there were Congresswomen of color leading the nation on Capitol Hill prior to their arrival, their election to the most powerful and prestigious legislative body in the world should be celebrated given the racist and sexist history and extant racist and sexist climate of this country. As a Christian minster, I do not embrace each and every political position championed by these courageous, four women; however, I celebrate their achievements, support their vision for a more inclusive society and support their Constitutional right to dissent and challenge the status quo. Lost in this mainstream discussion about their views which are in opposition to the President, conservative America and racist America is the fact that they are Black people (i.e., people of African descent) whose brilliance, tenacity, vision and diligence earned them a place in history. Their very presence should be cause of celebration for America. I know many people who are affiliated with the Black Church celebrate their historic achievements and/or their current political position(s). I understand that some white, evangelicals cannot or will not celebrate black excellence. However, the caustic, racist, xenophobic political climate that they refuse to denounce poses a threat to both Black life and the Christian message. Much of the rhetoric which appears in national headlines is anti-Christian. For example, the popular chant “Send Her Back” is in direct contradiction to the Christian mandate to love one’s neighbor (Matthew 22:39) and to welcome the stranger (Matthew 25:35). The silence of the church as it concerns the racist, sexist, xenophobic, divisive and dangerous national narrative, means that church is in agreement with it. This silence cripples community, cheapens Christianity, causes faith to falter, truncates the truth, promotes a nihilistic threat to Black life as it dissuades a generation of people from wanting to embrace Christ. If it is not careful, the evangelical church that supports this caustic narrative will be on the wrong side of both human and salvation history. Jesus encouraged humanity to love God and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves (see Matthew 22:34-40). As members of the church universal, we have a Christian mandate to support a narrative which affirms the humanity and dignity of people wherever and however they may be found. As Christian leaders and laity, we must denounce any narrative which seeks to devaluate and dehumanize people. Indeed, we are the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13). However, if the salt has lost its saltiness, what is it good for (Matthew 5:13)?
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