In-Justice

When you hear the word injustice, what comes to mind? Maybe, it is one of two words: wrong or unfair. And to be honest that would be the correct view… Injustice applies to any act that involves unfairness to another or violation of one’s rights. It is unfair when an employee is mistreated at work, or when a child is being robbed of their youth. Injustice even shows up when a person is denied or withheld the right to change. You may be wondering why I put a dash between in-justice. The answer is this: as you learn to walk in justice you begin to bridge the gap between those who have been hurt and those who want to help the hurting. It has been said that hurt people, hurt people. But we have a choice to break that way of thinking if we choose to do so. I am currently speaking as an inmate in the “Department of Corrections: more like the “Department of Corruption”. Those who are in leadership positions need to be led in order to know how to lead. Prison is not supposed to be a place that they stack bodies, and call it being corrected: That is actually inhumane. We are supposed to be taught discipline and values of good citizenship. It is unfair to the taxpayer whose taxes are used to fund the housing of inmates. Being wasted, but also to the inmates who are being denied the help that they need. There is a fact of equality that everyone seems to forget about: everyone has a voice, and that fact needs to be recognized. When I came to prison I lost some rights, no doubt; bit I did not lose the right to become a better person or the right help others become better themselves… If we, as humanity, do not get on the same page a lot of people will suffer due to poor leadership. I have a question for you. Do you want to see the world and the people in it change? Then become a better person yourself. We need to stop being a part of the problem and become a solution to the problem.  Freedom is a state of mind. I am only bringing awareness that we all need change in our lives. If we really want to see change. The Department of Corrections creed is “We change lives”, The question is are they being changed for the better or the worse?

A LEADER MUST GIVE UP IN ORDER TO GO UP. ARE YOU GOING TO BE THAT LEADER?

WHAT MEN GO GHROUGH

I want you to think about what you have gone through as a man. Maybe it is abandonment, fear or some other feeling or emotion that you have picked up along the way. However, that is not the real you. Please, do not let the separation from your family be the cause of you becoming a product of your environment. Rise above the label and chains that have been placed on you and live free. Choosing to be different is your choice and it’s one that we all need to consider. Your experience has made you stronger.

Respect

The word respect is often used, but very rarely honored. What do I mean you may ask? The society we live in says, “Respect me and my wishes”, however, many times respect seems to be only a one way street.

That understanding, clearly, goes against the order in which we were created to follow. Becoming a person others want to respect brings the understanding that respect is earned and given. If you want others to respect you, then become a respectable person. I would like to ask a question, who should be respected more, the person who goes to work 8-5 every day, or the inmate who dedicates his time rehabilitating his life every day?

What if I told you that they both had struggles in life, would your view change? The problem is we want change, but we do not want to be part of that change. That is selfish and unfruitful. Remember if you’re not part of the solution, then you’re possibly part of the problem.

When a community comes together, they get stronger. When a Nation comes together, they become wiser. As John C. Maxwell says: “people naturally follow leaders stronger then themselves.” To lead requires a certain level of respect.

You will not get very far demanding something that you, yourself refuse to give. For once listen to the screams for justice… they are in the streets. They’re in the Governmental offices. They are even in the prison system. If you listen to the whispers, you will not have to listen to the screams. You do not have to remain silent, but if you choose to, then God will use somebody else.

THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS TO ANY PLACE WORTH GOING… BEVERLY SILLS

RISE UP…NOW IS THE TIME THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY NEED TO COME TOGETHER AND BE THE PERSON THAT WE ARE CREATED TO BE. WHEN YOU STAND IN SILENCE, YOU ARE NOT USING YOUR VOICE THAT COULD HELP CHANGE THE WORLD. ONE PERSON AT A TIME, ONE MOMENT AT A TIME, RIGHT? YOU KNOW WHAT IS BETTER THAN A VOICE? A BODY DEDICATED TO ACTION. YOU HAVE A CHOICE THAT NEEDS TO BE MADE, EITHER HELP CREATE CHANGE, OR GET OUT OF THE WAY AND LET OTHERS CREATE CHANGE. TO STAND BY AND WATCH WITHOUT DOING ANYTHING IS TOTALLY WRONG. BE A CHANGE AGENT TODAY.

“Opinion on the Trinity Doctrine & Reexamining The Great Commission”

By: Andrew D. Williams.

I want to start this opinion with Scripture so that all will see what Gods Word has revealed to those who truly seek Him.

In Genesis 1:11:  It is written,

“In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth.” The name God is “Elohim”; it is a plural name; however, when used in reference to the one true God, it is constantly joined with verbs and adjectives in the singular (Deut 6:4; 32:39).

In many Old Testament passages Elohim is used with a plural verb or pronoun (Gen 1:26; 3:22; 11 : 7). I want to let Scripture speak for itself. Since it is God’s Word, He is very capable of defending Himself.

In John l : 1-3 it is written,

“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” When we speak of the attributes of God, we are referring to those qualities of God which constitute what He is.

They are the very characteristics of His nature. I am not referring here to the acts which He performs, such as creating, guiding, and preserving, nor to the corresponding roles He plays- Creator, Guide, Preserver. The attributes are qualities of the entire Godhead. They should not be confused with the properties, which, technically speaking, are the distinctive characteristics of the various persons of the Trinity.

Properties are functions (general), activities (more specific), or acts (most specific) of the individual members of the Godhead. Keep in mind the attributes are permanent qualities. They cannot be gained or lost. They are intrinsic.

While our understandings attributes are not our conceptions projected upon Him. They are objective characteristics of His nature.

I want to look at a few noncommunicable attributes.

• God is Spirit: He is the ultimate pure and perfect being, incorporeal, without material substance or physical parts, not having size or dimensions.
• God is One: He is the only and ultimate unified being, with each divine attribute perfectly united with all other attributes, yet each maintaining its own uniqueness, identity and function.
• God is a tri-unity: There is only one God, but in the unity of the Godhead there are three eternal and co-equal persons- the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit-the same in substance (who each person is), but distinct in subsistence (what each person does).

Now I want to point out two communicable attributes.

l) God is a person: He exists and is aware of His existence, having the power of self-determination and possessing all the attributes of personality.
2) God is True: This means His being and knowledge eternally conform to each other. Thus God, is true for He alone represents things as they actually are, for truth is reality revealed.

I believe that now since Scripture has spoken for itself we can have a better understanding of the “un” Baptismal formula that is recorded in Matthew 28:19. Jesus, Himself told Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to go and tell His disciples that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. (Matt 28:16-20),

We read this. . . “Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them.” It may sound a little weird that Jesus would give a baptismal formula on a mountain high up, that has no water. However, when you read Scripture it is not only a baptism formula, it is a Great Commission that Jesus was giving to His disciples and what better spot than a mountain that is above “see level.”

We as believers need not to get caught up on where it was given, but Who was giving it (Jesus). He commanded His disciples to go make disciples of all nations.

What does a disciple do after he has been taught the things of God? He then gets baptized. Jesus then says, “baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

And surely I [Jesus] am with you always, to the very end of this age.” I want to point out that God watches over His Word.

2 Timothy 3:16 says, All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”

If we say that what is recorded in Acts 2:38 is more important than what Jesus says in Matthew 28: 19 than we choose Peter’s words over the words of Jesus, if that is so with Jesus being God, we basically chose mans words over God.

Luke was describing the effect of Christian baptism the person baptized comes under the authority of Jesus. Keep in mind that this authority came from the Father. Luke was not giving standardized formula to be pronounced at baptism. In the name of meant “under the authority or influence of.” More important than the formula pronounced over the person being baptized is that person’s confession of faith in Jesus (Acts 22:16; Rom 10:10; Acts 2:38; 8:14-16; 10:48).

I also want to point out that at Jesus’ Baptism by John the Holy Spirit descended from heaven like a dove and remained upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Jesus tells us to obey His commandments and that is exactly what I aim to do.

I am also very familiar that Acts 4:12 says “Nor is there salvation in any other name under heaven given among men which we must be saved.” When dealing with the Godhead you cannot take one without the other.

The Word of God tells us that each teacher will be held accountable for who they lead astray, so Jesus will be held accountable if His Words in Matt 28: 19 are not correct. However, I want to say thank you for your time you took to read this.

Sincerely,

Andrew Williams

On May 16 2022 Interviews were made with several of the chapel orderlies at Dick Conner’s Correctional Center in Hominy OK. In addition to this we also recorded a round-table discussion with all the orderlies, and on the next day May 17th 2022 we recorded the evening service. Andrew participated in the sermon, and is one of the men The Park Church of Christ sponsors for a higher education in bible Studies. He recently completed his associates degree work and will soon be working towards his Bachelors degree.