Emmanuel, God is with Us: Celebrating the Birth of Christ
Dean Jason Curry • Dec 22, 2017

       I count it a privilege and a joy to see individuals, couples and families celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ throughout the world during the month of December. As certain corporations unashamedly and aggressively emphasize the commercialization of Christmas by promoting products to enhance profits with no reference to the one people called the Messiah, as an increasingly secularized culture promotes reindeer and snowmen and mistletoe with little reference to the Light of the World (e.g., Jesus the Christ), as political discourse dominates the news and leaves us with an uncertainly about a challenging but hopeful tomorrow still influenced by God, it is a blessing to see many people embracing the true meaning of Christmas. Jesus is still the reason for the season. 

               Jesus’ birth was announced by the prophet Isaiah thousands of years before his arrival (see Isaiah 9:6). References to the birth of Christ are also mentioned in the first four books of the New Testament. In reference to the birth of Jesus in book of Matthew 1:23, we read: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Emmanuel, which means ‘God with us.’” We are indeed indebted to those who had the courage to talk about the arrival of Jesus at a time when one could be punished for mentioning his very name.

               One may rightful ask: “What does it mean that God is with us during a time in which there appears to be little evidence of or respect for God at all.” Immanuel means that those who are still willing to take a chance with God by accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior will be blessed with eternal life (see John 3:16). Immanuel means that the life of Jesus will always be our point of departure for helping people; therefore, we will diligently seek justice for the disempowered, the despised, the disenfranchised and the disrespected people of this world. Immanuel means that our hope in creating the beloved community, our faith in God and our love for God’s children called humanity will continue to occupy our life’s agenda (see 1 Corinthians 13:13).” Immanuel means that we serve a transcendent God who sits high and looks low, but we also serve an immanent God (Jesus the Christ) who will never leave us or forsake us (see Matthew 28:20). Emmanuel, which is another name for Jesus means “God is with us.” Indeed, the prayer embedded in the song titled “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” by Josh Wilson still stands true: “O come, Desire of nations, bind in one the hearts of all mankind; Bid thou our sad divisions cease, and be thyself our King of peace, Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel.”



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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