“Things fall apart; the center cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, the blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere. The ceremony of innocence is drowned; the best, lack all conviction, while the worst, are full of passionate intensity.” (Excerpt: W. B. Yeats’ Poem: Second Coming)
We gather at convention time hoping we can garner social, economic and political leverage, but we have overlooked our own spiritual crisis. There is a spiritual crisis in our country. Things have indeed fallen apart. We have neglected our responsibility as global citizens to address the cognitive dissonance created by the clamor of corruption, anxiety, fear, anger, bitterness, mistrust, and schizoid politics (Rollo May).
The Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes (pictured, right) explains that there is an absence of accountability between politicians and the spiritual community. A discourse fueled with contempt, and it is up to the spiritual community to restore hope. Why is it the responsibility of the spiritual community to restore hope, one might ask? The answer is this: It is pervasive in our families, communities and we are everywhere impacted. We must face ourselves in-the-mirror to face our own schizoid nature.
Many religious groups have already chosen sides in the campaigns. Questions of a candidate’s beliefs and spiritual qualifications to be president have been dogging the hopefuls for more than a year. We are being called to a higher level of accountability at this time, to seek healing from “spiritual depression”. One might ask why? The answer is obvious.
The result of this spiritual malaise has caused a national crisis of “spiritual depression” and the symptoms arise from the obvious disconnection from God, others, family and community.
The answer is this; we must recover our moral and spiritual connectors. On the eve of the Republican National Convention the Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes will preach; “Hope In The Time of Spiritual Depression” to illuminate the issue of spiritual depression and crisis across our nation.
What is our path back to togetherness? Our Congress can’t come together as depression fills their halls. We must renew the center and create a consciousness of hope and conviction. We must sound out the political idols of our day and raise political awareness in our spiritual contexts. We must commit to a higher level of accountability between spiritual and political communities. The Christian community must come together. It is our responsibility.
Well, three of our local pastors have joined together to get this message to the people of our community. The message will be presented by Dr. James A. Forbes, retired Sr. Pastor of the famed Riverside Church, New York City, New York, on Sunday, Aug 26. Service times are listed below, and the entire city is invited.
8am: St. John Prog. Bapt. Church 10am: Bible-Based Fellowship
Rev. Bart Banks, Sr. Pastor Rev. Arthur T. Jones, Sr. Pastor
2504-Chipco Ave. 4811-Ehrlich Road
Tampa, FL 33605 Tampa, FL 33647
12 noon: College Hill C.O.G.I.C.
Elder Charles Davis, Sr. Pastor
6410- N 30th St.
Tampa, FL 33610
