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Can A Gang Member Be A Christian -YOUR FLAG FOR HIS BANNER
"My young friend, God did not create you to run the streets unrestrained...You either choose to hold onto your past and your flag, or you make the choice to let your flag go and you pick up the Lord’s bloodstained banner and let the world KNOW that you are on the Lord’s side." Bro Mike A Gangster's Testimony by Artie Sesma Once again, it’s Bro Mike coming at you from the Gangstyle.com Night Desk on a very real subject: Can a person involved in the Street Gang life become a Christian, drop his/her flag for good and leave the banger/street life behind? The short answer is yes, IF they are serious. More is coming…so, let’s get out the popcorn, and I’ll settle in my Lazy Boy and tell you a story. In the early 1990s, back when I was young, dashing, and packing a tape recorder as a political reporter, I had first heard of "The Gangbanger Funeral" while on assignment in Kansas City, Missouri.Total cost at the time: Between five to ten thousand dollars, paid in cash. Few Funeral homes turned down the cash or the preparations requested. Here’s the plan. First, the parent or parents said next to nothing; they had little control over what the gang did for their child, since the gang paid the funeral expenses (and a little more to help the family). Second, the deceased had their hands formed in a last tribute sign to their 'homies' in their crew. The casket also was a tribute to the deceased’s membership. The inside was often either blue, or red; trinkets such as liquor or playing cards were placed with money, dice, jewelry and other assorted bling. The crowning touch, a crisp new bandanna in the color of his crew. Next, living members would file by the corpse; the lid was closed and was taken out of the church or funeral home and transported to the cemetery. A few final words were said, the casket was lowered into the ground, and the services were officially over. However…and this is a noteworthy 'however'. I heard of no U-Hauls following the procession to the graveyard. Also, the deceased could not rise up and express his thanks to his homies or 'holla back' to those who were in attendance. He/She was dead, and in their box. What a waste of a young life! A young person who could have been a college graduate; an older teen who could have opened a car dealership, or a bakery, or even a nightclub--gone! Usually in a hail of bullets in an argument over which was better--his gang or another one; or as the result of a drug deal gone bad, or because someone didn’t show them 'love' or 'respect' in a way that someone 'should' have. Again…what a waste of a young life! Now, to continue my story, here is my short list of how a gang will hurt the average teen over the long haul:
My young friend, God did not create you to run the streets unrestrained. He issued his OWN probation rules known as the Bible. In that book, HE states that the way of transgressors is HARD! This means that those who are against the Lord and His institutions and His teachings are doomed to a hard life with NO backup from His kingdom until they repent and TRULY come to know and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Some might say that God is being 'mean'. Trust me, He will get a lot worse for those who don't change their ways. Let me provide a few other things for your consideration. God created Marriage and the Home as the first institutions in order to have a proper atmosphere for the raising of children IN wedlock. God was serious when He stated that the Mother and Father should be honored. God created government and empowered it to maintain the peace and catch and prosecute those bad guys who are against the good folk of society. God also provided his rules, known as the Ten Commandments to establish FIRM boundaries for all of His creation, whether animal, vegetable, or mineral. Lastly, God sent His son, Jesus Christ in order to show men and women, boys and girls the right way to have a relationship with Him. What did mankind do to show its appreciation for all that God has done? Tell God: "No thanks…I want to do it Myyyyyyy Way!" This is why, in my view, Jesus wept! You see, to be a gang member is to be in a religious body, whether you want to admit it or not. To be a Christian is to be in a relationship body with God. In a gang, you have to 'prove' that you have the right to wear your colors. You have to 'represent'. To be a Christian, the 'jumping in' has already been provided by God through His son, Jesus Christ. To 'represent' Christ means that you have to believe IN who He is, WHAT He has done, and CHANGE your life--day by day--to conform to HIS standards, as outlined IN the Bible. BEING a Christian means that you have change, are changing, and will continue to change for the better--NOT for the worse. It also means that you have mercy for your brothers and sisters IN Christ who are also on the Lord's side, but who may/may not have matured in the faith as fast as the Lord has blessed you. No one said that being a Christian was easy. Yes, there are some who 'claim' to be Christians, but are not living the life. I’m not talking about them. I’m talking about Y-O-U! You can't just 'talk' a good game, you have to 'be about' being a Christian. God is not about 'what ifs' or 'what abouts' or 'that person ain’t living the right way'. God is about four very specific things:
There are ONLY TWO groups of people in this world--those who have accepted Christ, and those who have NOT! That’s the bottom line of your soul! Forget all of the religions, churches, sects, and what have you. You are on God’s side through Christ, or you are not. You either choose to hold onto your past and your flag, or you make the choice to let your flag go and you pick up the Lord’s bloodstained banner and let the world KNOW that you are on the Lord’s side. You have to be trained in a whole new way of walking and talking. I’ve been a Christian a number of years and don’t have all of it 'down' yet. However, when I remember where I was going when I had my own 'flag', and where I am going because I have changed my flag for His Banner, I've come out better! Sure, folk--some of them who claim to love me--can and will remind me of my past failures. Sure, the devil and his crew can tempt me to cross the line into their playing field and cheat my way through life. Sure, I can take the 'easy' way out and wish to 'go back' to some of the sins and hangouts I have given up. I have made up my mind to move forward…there is nothing back there now. Nothing but excuses and lies. Now that I have tasted the truth, it makes you want to BE truthful, and LIVE truthful. Any other life is a shallow reflection of a dim view of what could be a beautiful life EVEN in the midst of the worse ghetto or the best high rise. Everyone MUST make the decision as to how they are going to deal with God. My story is finished, but your choices are only beginning. That’s what the Gangstyle.com crew is here for; to help you make the right choices and pass those right choices on to your friends and crews by living out God’s example in front of them, day by day! This is Bro Mike at the Night Desk, signing off !If you would like to invite Jesus Christ into your life click here... |
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