Don’t Drink the Kool-Aid

            I believe that today, Halloween, is the most appropriate day for this blog. I am not a superstitious person. If I concerned myself with the repercussions of walking under a ladder, breaking a mirror, or stepping on a crack, I would worry myself sick. However, if you believe bad things will happen to you if something like a black cat walks in your path, I believe something bad will definitely happen. Be it unto you as you believe (Matt. 8:13. 9:29, Mark 11:23).

            Jim Jones was a charismatic preacher during the 1970’s. With his powerful preaching and astounding healing tactics, his congregation grew in massive numbers. They fully believed in his power. People gave large amounts of money to his church in order to be healed of a variety of illnesses. He would tell them, according to the illness, that he was going to perform “surgery” on them without anesthesia. He would put his hands in the area of the affliction, and miraculously he would be holding the illness in his hand. 

            Jones later purchased some land on the island of Guyana for himself and his followers. He named this area Jonestown. Shortly after arriving, he would have suicide drills because he was paranoid about the disloyalty of his followers. He required them to drink a red liquid that he said had poison in it. After 45 minutes he would tell everyone they would not die, and that they had passed a loyalty test. In 1978, after finding out Jonestown was being investigated, Jim Jones had over 900 people drink a punch that was laced with cyanide--276 were children. They all died. Jones reportedly either killed himself or was shot by someone who was still alive. Reports later showed that Jones used chicken livers and other animal parts to make people believe that he had removed diseases from their bodies. They also found that he pocketed the majority of the money that the church received from his believers.

            We have to be so mindful in what we choose to believe in. The mind is so powerful that we have the ability to create the things we believe. Many people have psychosomatic symptoms of an illness. Psychosomatic is when a physical illness of some condition is caused or aggravated by a mental factor such as conflict or stress. A person can believe that they have a condition so much, that they can manifest physical symptoms of this illness. Studies have shown that in these cases people can be given a placebo (usually a sugar pill), and the symptoms disappear. I have also seen where a person is diagnosed with an actual illness, but they believe so strongly in their healing that the illness goes away. Our thoughts have power!

            Matthew 7:18-20 tells us that, “a good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” It is important that when we are making important decisions, be it friends, a mate, or a church, we pay attention to the fruit they bear. This can mean waiting for a season or two to pass by in order to be sure what the best decision will be. Leaping into things because it looks and sounds good at the beginning can later cause tremendous strife.

            There are times when a person has the ability to consistently show that they are a very good person, so we go forward entering into a personal relationship with them. However, you later find out that they really are off of their rockers, but it seems like it is too late to get out. IT IS NEVER TOO LATE. The moment you see that they are not capable of bearing good fruit, but really good at frontin’, it is your opportunity to run! You do not have to be sentenced to a life of hell.

            Don’t drink the kool-aid. Don’t believe the hype. Don’t rush. Watch for fruit, and don’t fall for everything someone tells you. The thought of sitting on Santa’s lap, leaving out cookies and milk, and reindeer running across the roof filled us with anticipation and excitement until we found out Santa was not real. It is understandable that you want to connect with a person, a church, or a belief system. But take precautions to guard your mind and your heart so that you won’t fall for any and everything.

            This post continues to preach the notion of, “as a man thinketh so is he”. I do believe evil, the enemy, the devil, exists. But I choose to not dwell in the power it is supposed to have. This is coming from someone who has experienced multiple tragedies throughout her lifetime. Things do happen, but I choose not to linger in the pain and hurt of the incident. It’s a battle because the pain is so real (just like the joy of having a healer like Jim Jones was real).Yet, I’ve chosen to rejoice in the glory of God that will be shown through it all. The result is that I have been blessed to experience the miracles of God, and did not have to be manipulated to give money to see it happen. Believe strongly in the good, and you will most certainly see goodness.

Peace.

If you have any comments, questions, suggestions, or prayer requests, please feel free to email me at: faithfrfr2014@gmail.com.