WEDNESDAY’S WORD – MONOLITHIC – Sadell Bradley – New Life Covenant Cincinnati

Sadell Bradley

Sadell Bradley

A MONOLITH is a large single upright block of stone, especially one shaped into or serving as a monument or pillar. Figuratively, it is a large and impersonal political, corporate or social structure regarded as intractably indivisible and uniform. Webster defines MONOLITHIC as: constituting a massive undifferentiated and often rigid whole <a monolithic society; exhibiting or characterized by often rigidly fixed uniformity<monolithic party unity. In holding racial reconciliation conversations, I have made it a point to state that:

The African-American community is
NOT a monolith. I nor anyone can speak on behalf of ALL Black people. No one

asks a Caucasian person, “What do all white people think about…” There are too many individuals, unique feelings, experiences and thoughts. This freedom of personal expression is one of the things we’ve fought for. It has taken many voices to get there: Dubois AND Washington; MLK AND Malcolm X; Carson AND Sharpton; Condoleeza AND Oprah, etc. Surely Jackie Robinson, Angela Davis, the Black Panthers, Ali, Beyonce and Spike Lee have all moved the needle. Racism as an issue is so dire that leaders on platforms, legal officers, freedom riders, boycotters, analysts, artists, martyrs and quiet dissenters are all needed to expel its injustice. 

 
Walter Lippman, an American writer, reporter and political commentator, coined the word ‘stereotype’ a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person.

 

Sweeping generalizations of people often disagree with God’s truth. In Acts 10, the Apostle Peter had been indoctrinated that certain foods and all Gentile people were unclean and to be avoided. He felt justified in his stance until it was challenged by the Lord,

“Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” (vs. 15) Peter had to be told 3 times that his conditioning was not God’s truth. He then had to come into community with the very people he was devoted to shunning, “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean.” (vs. 28)  It wasn’t just Peter, all the Jews believed this. Christ’s cause to make One New Humanity, (Eph. 2) was higher than Peter’s ideologies and self-interest. Peter had to accept and unify with Cornelius and the other Gentiles who were vastly different in background and upbringing than he. UNITY is not the same as UNIFORMITY. If I have to lose the core of who I am to join with you, to be relevant and heard, that’s not unity or harmony.   
 

This monolithic concept is also an issue with class, gender and even Christianity.  All poor, middle class or wealthy people don’t think the same, nor do all women or all Christian leaders. In fact, we address issues of injustice and disenfranchisement very differently, and often do not agree on methods or statements. However, Christ followers have the opportunity/responsibility to agree on Jesus Christ as the Answer to all the ‘ism’s’ root cause – SIN and evil. He is the Way to reconcile with God and heal divisions. (2 Cor 5)

According to Wikipedia,

 a monolithic church or a rock -hewn church is a church made from a single block of stone. Because freestanding rocks of sufficient size are rare, such churches are usually hewn or cut into the ground or into the side of a mountain. Reminds me of Isaiah’s admonition, Listen to me, all who hope for deliverance–all who seek the LORD! Consider the rock from which you were cut, the quarry from which you were mined.”  (Isa. 51:1) The uniform New Testament revelation we all DO have is… that ROCK is JESUS!

 

THANKS! to ALL our Sponsors, Vendors, Acts, Volunteers, Donors and Guests for HopeFest 2016!!
It was an AMAZING day! 
 
 

SUNDAY WORSHIP 11:00 AM
The Great Room
SUNDAY CLASSES 9:30 AM
Youth Room

225 Wyoming Ave

      Cincinnati OH 45215

(Presbyterian Church of Wyoming)
513-212-1131

 

 

Like this article?

Share on facebook
Share on Facebook
Share on twitter
Share on Twitter
Share on linkedin
Share on Linkdin
Share on pinterest
Share on Pinterest

Leave a comment

ABOUT SADELL BRADLEY

ABOUT SADELL BRADLEY

Sadell Bradley, Pastor of The Warehouse Church OTR, is a dynamic teacher and worship leader, with over 30 years in ministry in various contexts including: as a conference speaker and trainer, music, worship and arts pastor, providing background vocals for various artists; as a campus missionary, and as a ministry development director.
Sadell’s main desire is to see people saved, healed, delivered and set free by the ministry of Jesus, the Word of God, and presence of the Holy Spirit. (Luke 4:18)

More Reading

Related Posts

WEDNESDAY’S WORD – MODERATION – 7/26/2023

“To many, total abstinence is easier than perfect moderation.” – Saint Augustine “I’m one extreme or the other. I’m not good at doing moderation,” said actress Margot Robbie who plays the protagonist