"Gangsters" and "Hoods"

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selah
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"Gangsters" and "Hoods"

Post by selah » Tue Aug 31, 2010 8:22 am

Does anybody know how to turn the hearts of gangsters and hoods to Jesus Christ?
Jesus said, "I in them and you in Me, that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that you have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me." John 17:23

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TK
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Re: "Gangsters" and "Hoods"

Post by TK » Tue Aug 31, 2010 5:28 pm

is this a trick question?

TK

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selah
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Re: "Gangsters" and "Hoods"

Post by selah » Wed Sep 01, 2010 12:30 am

TK wrote:is this a trick question?

TK
TK,

No, it is a really serious question, although your question put a smile on my face because you surprised me.

Let me explain. Recently I was told that "gangster" is a synonymous term for "hood." I think these terms refer to members of gangs. I understand that young people join gangs to mimic family ? I believe they suffer at home because something is missing, and then they try to fill the emptiness by joining a gang. People in gangs take drugs, starting with pot and escalating to pills and then, to meth or heroin. They view porn and live in adulterous ways. They listen to Rapp music with lyrics about death and destruction. Perhaps the most challenging is that they stop trusting anyone who is not like them. How do "you" reach them for the kingdom of God?

I'm serious.

God bless you.
Jesus said, "I in them and you in Me, that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that you have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me." John 17:23

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TK
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Re: "Gangsters" and "Hoods"

Post by TK » Wed Sep 01, 2010 7:41 am

sorry, selah- my response sounded more flippant than I intended.

gangsters and hoods are reached like anybody else- by sharing the gospel. of course, I am sure there are certain strategies that are used to do this (for e.g., I myself would likely not walk into the Bronx and start preaching on a street corner)-- although that is indeed what David Wilkerson did back in the very early days of his Teen Challenge ministry.

If you haven't read "The Cross and the Switchblade" you would probably find it very interesting because it is an account of exactly what you are asking-- how he reached really violent street gangs in NYC.

TK

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selah
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Re: "Gangsters" and "Hoods"

Post by selah » Wed Sep 01, 2010 8:16 am

TK wrote:sorry, selah- my response sounded more flippant than I intended.

gangsters and hoods are reached like anybody else- by sharing the gospel. of course, I am sure there are certain strategies that are used to do this (for e.g., I myself would likely not walk into the Bronx and start preaching on a street corner)-- although that is indeed what David Wilkerson did back in the very early days of his Teen Challenge ministry.

If you haven't read "The Cross and the Switchblade" you would probably find it very interesting because it is an account of exactly what you are asking-- how he reached really violent street gangs in NYC.

TK
TK,

Thanks so much. I have heard of this book but have not read it and now that you mention it, I remember recently hearing that it was about Teen Challenge history. I've got to read it!

A young man in my town just murdered his parents yesterday. His parents were wonderful Christians (my daughter knew them well) and it has been said to me that the parents were trying to set boundaries with their son to keep him away from a very bad influence.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/art ... QD9HUON101

My daughter and son-in-law went to the same Calvery Chapel church with this family. The family lived in the country and the son played the drums on the worship team. Everyone who knew him believed he would someday be a youth minister because he loved the younger ones (and the Lord) so much.

About two months ago, he left the church and began relationships that his parents questioned. Yesterday, he murdered both of his parents.

Everyone is devastated. Young adults who knew the son and his parents spent hours in my home last night grieving the loss, and trying to make sense out of this.

We suspect drugs. We can't imagine this young man doing this crime without the transformation of illegal drugs.

These "strategies" that you mentioned are not only needed in the Bronx, as you pointed out, but also in the peace and quiet of country towns.

If anyone has read "The Cross and the Switchblade" and would be willing to comment about it, I would appreciate hearing your thoughts, or if you are in ministry to youth who get caught-up in gangs, then I'm sure your experiences and advice are invaluable. (It is not confirmed that this kid was in a gang, but he did have outside influences...) Please post your thoughts. Thank you so much. God bless!
Jesus said, "I in them and you in Me, that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that you have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me." John 17:23

steve7150
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Re: "Gangsters" and "Hoods"

Post by steve7150 » Thu Sep 02, 2010 7:54 pm

We suspect drugs. We can't imagine this young man doing this crime without the transformation of illegal drugs.






I also want to mention that the devil is very real and really does oppress people and deceive them into making ungodly choices. When Jesus started his minstry he said he came to free those oppressed by the devil among other things.
IMHO if we are in Christ we have authority over the devil and i command the devil to be impotent around my family members in Christ's name almost every day.
But if you prefer you can pray to God to protect folks from the devil's oppression and deception, but when someone does things that are almost unexplainable remember what Paul said in Eph 6 and that Peter said about the devil seeking to devour people. Satan is real and he likes to fly below the radar.

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selah
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Re: "Gangsters" and "Hoods"

Post by selah » Thu Sep 02, 2010 9:33 pm

steve7150 wrote:We suspect drugs. We can't imagine this young man doing this crime without the transformation of illegal drugs.






I also want to mention that the devil is very real and really does oppress people and deceive them into making ungodly choices. When Jesus started his minstry he said he came to free those oppressed by the devil among other things.
IMHO if we are in Christ we have authority over the devil and i command the devil to be impotent around my family members in Christ's name almost every day.
But if you prefer you can pray to God to protect folks from the devil's oppression and deception, but when someone does things that are almost unexplainable remember what Paul said in Eph 6 and that Peter said about the devil seeking to devour people. Satan is real and he likes to fly below the radar.
I agree. Where are the verses that say we have the authority over the devil to command him impotent around our family members in Christ's name?

Thank you,
Selah*
Jesus said, "I in them and you in Me, that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that you have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me." John 17:23

steve7150
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Re: "Gangsters" and "Hoods"

Post by steve7150 » Thu Sep 02, 2010 10:33 pm

I agree. Where are the verses that say we have the authority over the devil to command him impotent around our family members in Christ's name?





I'm deducing it from Eph 6 "put on the full armor of God" or "stronger is he that is in you then he who is in the world" or the kingdom grows by violence and the violent take it" (spiritual combat) or when Jesus sent out the 70 with power over demons. There no doubt in my mind that if we are in Christ (who defeated the devil , John 12.31) we have authority over the devil, but if you would rather pray to God to protect these people from the devil's influence then go that way , but my point was to not forget there is a real adversary.

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TK
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Re: "Gangsters" and "Hoods"

Post by TK » Fri Sep 03, 2010 7:22 am

Selah wrote:
Where are the verses that say we have the authority over the devil to command him impotent around our family members in Christ's name?
James 4:7 says: "Resist the devil and he will flee from you."

Jesus said: Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. Mt. 16:23

I think a case can be made that "resisting" the devil can include commanding him to back off. That appears to be what Jesus did. I don't think it is wrong to voice our disdain for what he is doing or attempting to do. He is an adversary, but he is a defeated adversary and I believe, to a large extent, can only operate to the extent that we gve him leave to do so.

TK

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selah
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Re: "Gangsters" and "Hoods"

Post by selah » Fri Sep 03, 2010 9:18 am

TK wrote:I think a case can be made that "resisting" the devil can include commanding him to back off. That appears to be what Jesus did. I don't think it is wrong to voice our disdain for what he is doing or attempting to do. He is an adversary, but he is a defeated adversary and I believe, to a large extent, can only operate to the extent that we gve him leave to do so. TK
I agree with you in principle, but then why do gangs and gang-related behavior continue? I just finished reading a book about a Christian who was in a Chinese prison for 20 years. His torturers caused him tremendous suffering over the years.

Is there a difference in our authority then? I mean, would you say that we have spiritual authority over our personal choices ? (like when we ask for deliverance from our own failures), or that we have authority over our children (or those God has put under our charge?)

Do we have less authority to stop the sinful circumstances of our world? For example, God didn't stop Daniel from being thrown into the lion's den, but he did shut their mouths. Another: God didn't set Mary and Joseph up in a big house on a hill where the government respected them, but He did protect them as they fled through the night. Another example is the Chinese prisoner I just read about. He didn't get out of being tortured, but he claims that God gave him the grace and strength to endure--and He also healed his body miraculously, etc. I could think of other examples...

So when we today pray for individual people, maybe God is more likely to help them in their situation, rather than remove the situation? I hope that I am writing this clearly.
TK wrote:He is an adversary, but he is a defeated adversary and I believe, to a large extent, can only operate to the extent that we gve him leave to do so. TK
Do you believe that we Christians, as a group, are giving satan "leave to do" as he pleases with our nation's group-of-lost-youth? Maybe to see gangs dismantled, Christians need to pray as groups in "corporate" prayer? Which is more impressive to God, corporate prayer for world systems, or individual prayer for individuals?

thanks....
Jesus said, "I in them and you in Me, that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that you have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me." John 17:23

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