The World is Yours: Ambition, Priorities and Jesus Christ
Dean Jason Curry • August 11, 2017

“Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours, And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's (1 Corinthians 3:22-23).”

               To be sure, there are at least two “wills” in this world: God’s will (Romans 12:2) and our will. King David reminds us that “the steps of a good person are ordered by God (Psalm 37:23).” Also, Jesus’ first commandment states that we should love “God with all our heart and with all our soul and with our entire mind (Matthew 22:37).” Therefore, it is safe to conclude that, for the Christian, God’s will for our lives should supersede or “come before” our individual will. I am reminded of a popular Christian billboard that I saw hanging above an interstate which read: “I am second.” It is understood that “God is first.”

               As we follow God’s will for our lives (e.g., feeding those who are hungry), we have the ability to make individual choices and still remain in accord with God’s will. For example, we can choose to wear black socks or green socks to bible study. I don’t think that God cares about the color of our socks as we study God’s word! As we make our individual choices, God provides us with a unique opportunity to ambitious. For example, we may become influential leaders in our churches, schools and families. Our businesses may have customers in the city, the nation and throughout the world. Our talents (e.g., singing, dancing, drawing, speaking and playing sports) may encourage the young and the elderly, the affluent and the impoverished, Americans and people of other countries. Both Jesus and Paul confirm that there is room for the ambition Christian in this world. In 1 Corinthians 3:23, Paul tells the congregants of the churches in Corinth that the “the world…is yours….” However, Paul also says that “you are Christ’s and Christ belongs to God.”

               King David tells us in Psalms 37:3: “Trust in the Lord and do good….” The world needs ambitions Christians who want to influence it for the good. As we strive to influence our families, our fraternities and sororities, our churches, our business partners and customers, our city, our nation and our world, let’s us work diligently to ensure that our will remains in accord with God’s will. The stories we tell, the actions we perform, the tasks we accomplish should always be a reflection of God presence and influence in our lives. Our success, in God’s eyes, hinges upon our ability to maintain our priorities: God is first we are second. The world is indeed ours, but, we are Christ’s and Christ belongs to God.



The Grumblings Associated with Effective Leadership: Staying the Course

By Dean Jason Curry • February 26, 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 • July 23, 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)?