Take it Down a Notch

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Before my current writing life, there was The Hilltop, Howard University’s and the Nation’s Oldest Black Collegiate Newspaper, where many of the questions and themes I still explore first found their voice. What follows are my early published works, preserved in their original form.


From The Hilltop Archives

Originally published in The Hilltop, Howard University — March 5th, 2004

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Take it Down a Notch

Alright, everybody just calm down for a minute, take a deep breath and relax.

 

Woo-Saa...

 

You feel better? Because y'all are starting to piss me off. 

 

This criticism about The Passion of The Christ is getting out of hand. I saw the movie; as a matter of fact, once I come across another 9 dollars and an quarter, I am going to see it again. But what I won't do is turn this column into a Biblical debate. For one, this is the sports section and two, I am a little ashamed because I haven't gotten that far in the Bible to argue any point effectively. 

 

So, this is how it's going to be done. Jesus wasn't crucified at the hands of the Jews; he was crucified for our sins. If you haven't realized it yet, the devil is a liar and comes in many forms. He doesn't discriminate, a sin is a sin. He doesn't have time to pick and choose who will do his bidding. 

 

Y'all remember at recess playing tag? Well it's like that except the devil is always it. He wants to get the fastest people, those who are the farthest from his reach. Instead of doing it himself, he settles for the ones who are closest to him in hopes that they will finish his bidding. 

 

Let me put it another way:

 

Take the movie Fallen with Denzel Washington. For clarity's sake, let's assume Detective John Hobbes (Denzel's character), is Jesus and the spirit of Jonesy (John Goodman) is the devil. 

 

Jonesy couldn't get to Hobbes, so he touched others in hopes of reaching him. The only difference: once the Jonesy touched you he's so infective that he stays within you. The devil's grasp is a mighty one, but the only one that can save you is Jesus Christ. 

 

You don't have to believe me, but Morpheus said it best, "My beliefs don't require you do so." Discover him for yourselves.

 

Or are you a fair-weather fan? Do you lose sight of the truth when it's all good, but quick to jump on the bandwagon and pray when it hits the fan?

 

Gatorade said it a while ago, "Life is a sport," and please believe I am playing hard. This ain't no typical game because there's only one winner: Jesus. He's always been winning. The only problem is we as spectators are so distracted by other things that we lose sight of the game. 

 

We paid good money for this game and we're missing it. Drowning it out are the cheerleaders (lust), the vendors and the concession stand (gluttony), steroids and substance abuse (pride) and the fashion show in the stands (envy). And those are just four of the seven deadly sins. I am trying to see what's happening on the field, nothing else.

It's GAMETYME, are you ready to get in?

Location: 2400 6th St NW, Washington, DC 20059, USA

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