Dear Oasis Miami Friends & Family,

Why am I emotionally, prayerfully and promotionally supporting some of the "sincere" protesters and occupiers in Miami and throughout the world? 

Firstly, the movement is mixed up with sincere and insincere people. Sort of the same way our churches are (i.e. wheat & tares). So, logically you don't throw out the baby with the bath water because some are taking advantage and using it as an opportunity to promote their anarchist views, selfish agendas or laziness. There is a lot more sincere then false people who in a bipartisan manner are upset over the multi-layered greed that got us.

Secondly, 1 Timothy 6:17 commands Pastors & Christians to tell wealthy Christians to not be greedy, but share their wealth with working poor people in need or the marginalized who cannot work like: orphans, widows, handicapped, elderly, abandon mothers, mentally ill, etc. Many of the corporate leaders claim to be Christians by name or Jews who believe in Moses & Prophets. Yet look at how the Jewish prophet Malachi rebuked his contemporaries in the name of Yahweh in Malachi 3:5:

5 “So I will come to put you on trial. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive the foreigners among you of justice, but do not fear me,” says the LORD Almighty.

Thirdly, James the Apostle rebuked greedy wealthy people who were not Christians because they failed to pay laborers a living wage. A living wage is an amount a person needs to live with "essential resources" in their economicsocial context. Read James 5:1-6:

1 Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. 4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.[a] 6 You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.

I have many more reasons, but chew on these simple scriptures and ask yourself are you working against God or for God when you oppose the sincere protesters of the occupy movement or any other civil or human rights movements that try to bring "awareness".

Many Anglo and Black Christians opposed Martin Luther King during civil rights movements. They said it wasn't the churches role to get involved. They said the movement promoted "disorder" and "instability". They argued that the church should only teach the Bible and disciple Christians. They argued that Jesus would not engage so aggressively against "injustice" and "evil" (John 2:15)

James being the half-brother of Jesus understood the heart of Jesus when it came to the "greedy rich" versus the "generous rich". Especially how the "greedy rich" abuse their power and exploit poor people. Don't believe me that James thought this way? Read:

1. James 1:10
   But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower.
   James 1:9-11 (in Context) James 1 (Whole Chapter)
2. James 1:11
   For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.
   James 1:10-12 (in Context) James 1 (Whole Chapter)
3. James 2:5
   Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?
   James 2:4-6 (in Context) James 2 (Whole Chapter)
4. James 2:6
   But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?
   James 2:5-7 (in Context) James 2 (Whole Chapter)
5. James 5:1
   [ Warning to Rich Oppressors ] Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you.

QUESTION: How do you avoid doing the right thing with the right motives, despite the fact that others do the wrong thing, with "only God knows" motives?

• Read all the Bible Verses with word "POOR" (NIV)
• Read all the Bible  Verses with the word "NEEDY" (NIV)
• Read all the Bible Verses with the word "RICH" (NIV)
• Read all the Bible  Verses with the word "WEALTHY" (NIV)
• Read all the Bible  Verses with the word "WEALTH" (NIV)
• Read all the Bible  Verses with the word "WIDOW" (NIV)
• Read all the Bible  Verses with the word "ORPHAN" (NIV)
• Read all the Bible  Verses with the word "LAZY" (NIV)

Now synthesize your thoughts based on your reading. Your now doing systematic theology!!! What issue is more important to God? The laziness and entitlement spirit of the poor? Or the responsibility of the wealthy to repent and empower tho poor and weak of society with their extra resources?

Do you think Jesus was playing around in this story? Well read this:

Mark 10

Story of Rich Young Ruler...................21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is[e] to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

Consider this premise below and ask yourself is it true or false?

1st premise: Based on the frequency of scripture Jesus and the Apostles talked more about people with power and resources empowering the working poormiddle class and marginalized (orphans, widows, handicapped) then they did about the poormiddle class being lazy

Conclusion: Preachers who preach the Word of God based on the tradition of Jesus and the Apostles should talk more to the wealthy about empowering the working poormiddle class and marginalized (orphans, widows, handicapped) then they do about the poormiddle class being lazy.

Wake up and stop acting like spiritual babies. By now some of you should be eating steak and teaching the Word of God to others as it relates to salvation, kingdom ethics, social justice and biblical interpretation (Matthew 5-7, Hebrews 5:12).

Be a multi-dimensional Bible reader. A Systematic Theologian. Go beyond a Sunday School understanding of doctrine and Christian activism and practice. Live for God and stop living a double life at home or around your unchurched friends. Stop listening to preachers who oppose the scriptures when it comes to the issue because they want to make the rich in their church feel comfortable with giving occasional offerings or use the ministry to get rich themselves. So, they disregard volumes of scriptures like the ones written above.

1 Timothy 6:8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

To get more involved with a local Miami organization that is trying to assemble people please see: http://www.facebook.com/oneMiaminow

Remember you don't have to agree with every point your church, school or job holds to. You have to agree on the issues that are of mutual concern in that context. Like playing basketball with people on a team who all have different religions. The purpose of basketball is to shoot balls into the hoop, not worship GOD! Many confuse being true to their faith to every sector of life therefore are ineffective in really enjoying life and making friends with people who are not in their church. Are you one of those people?

If you isolate yourself and only work with people who agree with you on every issue 100%, you will be a hermit and a self righteous isolationist. Don't be that way. Have balance!

Always be discerning in light of scripture when participating in a church or with an organization and understand where you stand philosophically and how you will be a blessing in that partnership to others.

God bless you and keep living GREAT by the SPIRIT! Send me your comments and feedback. The times are urgent, we need to keep praying for each other!