Contact: Rev. Dr. Clenard H. Childress, Jr., L.E.A.R.N., 201-704-9325

OPINION, June 4, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- The following is submitted by Rev. Dr. Clenard H. Childress, Jr. of L.E.A.R.N.:

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, in these recent years, has been everything but for the advancement of Colored People. Its either numb, or just naive constituency, continues to give blind allegiance to illusions of its stellar past despite the denial of due process by the organization promising to defend their rights to it. You would think the Joint Board would have the common decency, and respect for its body, to allow them to be a part of the process of determining core beliefs and endorsements of a radically deviant social order. For never before in history has there been a president who would indorse a union that would completely redefine the fundamental building block of all societies -- marriage between one man and one woman -- and by so doing, repudiate every Bible believing Preacher and Christian in America and the world -- violating both Natural and Revealed Law, and millennia of societal order from which all kindreds, tribes, tongues and nations were formed. Moreover, never before in the history of the NAACP have they assumed a position so publicly and blatantly antithetical to the tenets of the Church, its core beliefs, and never has there been a divide so wide within their own rank and file and members. The rupture is now far and wide between faith and policy, conscience and commitment, allegiance and truth. Let me explain.

All policy should reflect the faith and conscience of its citizens and constituents, such that there should be no schism between belief and understanding of the laws and dictates governing them. This is clearly seen in the Constitution of the United States and the Declaration of Independence. The faith of the Founders is plainly evident throughout these documents and did not infringe upon faith of others but worked in conjunction with their faith. Though these men of conscience may have been flawed individuals, the faith and the documents remained pure, and stand as a mute testament they were wrought by God through the hearts of men. It is conscience that allows me, without guilt, to embrace my commitment to God, Country, Family and the NAACP. The gift of conscience intuitively and divinely implores me to remain faithful to our bond, covenant, or contract. I am ensured internally my allegiance with you does not offend the Creator which would stymie my faith and relationship with Him; that is, until and if you violate my conscience, for as Dr. Martin Luther King said,

"On some positions, cowardice asks the question, is it expedient? And then expedience comes along and asks the question, is it politic? Vanity asks the question, is it popular? Conscience asks the question, is it right?"

Now, in point of fact, truth demands allegiance, and in order to follow, I must first believe you or it to be the truth. No one wants to follow a lie. Jesus, who is the Author and Finisher of our Faith came and beckoned mankind to follow Him because Truth indeed demands allegiance. There are many truths and issims and schisms in the world but Jesus gave His invitation the priority, preeminence, and divine imprimatur when he said, "I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life..." Jesus was and is The Truth, was the only One who ever said, "I Am the Truth," and all other truth (and certainly lies) are not to have our allegiance, nor are we to follow those espousing them when and if they violate our conscience, which is an individual's first rule of law.

We now see what the NAACP is made of and: 'Who's Report Will They Believe,' for the report from, Mr. Jealous and the Joint Board, says the Church is in error... has communicated a lie... needs to deviate from Scripture to follow the ever 'evolving' president and his revelation on marriage.... Tom Jealous, and company, say the Church has to rethink its history and position on this issue... The Church must ignore Dr. Martin Luther King's counsel to a young man in a homosexual lifestyle that he was not born that way and admitting he had a problem was the first step in the healing process. The NAACP has slapped the African-American Church in the face, laid down the gauntlet and said,

'You are irrelevant... In error... And your moral stance on the social issues is dispensable... We, the Joint Board of the NAACP, have become the sole arbiters of life and faith... We will decide the direction of African-Americans without you...!'

They seem to forget, the African-American Church is the bedrock upon which the edifice of the NAACP was originally constructed, line upon line, precept upon precept, dollar by hard earned dollar, and to change this is an untenable premise. And in light of the above indisputable facts, when the NAACP took a pro-choice position on Abortion, they retracted their position and now claim they take no position even though they are very friendly with the Planned Parent Hoods. Once again they have come "out the closet" and let's see if their constituency is willing to give up their individual Faith, individual Conscience, subscription to Truth, and undeniable History to follow an abrogation of truth by endorsing ideologies that corrupt Natural Order, Natural Law, Revealed Law and undermine the faith and commitment of the many African-American individuals, who in good faith, built the National Association for the Advancement for Colored People.

Dr. Martin Luther said in his article "Black Power Defined,"

"And so we shall have to create leaders who embody virtues we can respect, who have moral and ethical principles we can applaud with an enthusiasm that enables us to rally support for them based on confidence and trust. We will have to demand high standards and give consistent loyal support to those who merit it. We will have to be reliable constituency for those who prove themselves to be committed political warriors in our behalf. When our movement has partisan political personalities whose unity with their people is unshakeable and whose independence is genuine they will be treated in white political councils with the respect those who embody such power deserve."

I would say, the NAACP has long, long way to go.