Dr Paul Allen

George Pratt, a 2023 history and religion graduate and co-valedictorian at Morehouse College, recently told congregants at Antioch AME Church in Stonecrest, Georgia, that Jesus isn’t the only name they can call on when they need spiritual help from God.  Still, they can call on the names of their ancestors, too, because, like Jesus, their ancestors are also manifestations of God. Like Australian Aboriginal animistic worship of nature, their ancestors are now found in nature and ceremonies. Pratt is preaching another demonic-inspired warped version of Japanese ancestor worship. “We know that God as Spirit also presents themselves in other manifestations. Specifically through Jesus Christ, our elder brother, as an intermediary, and the Holy Spirit, our comforter,” said Pratt, who describes himself as a sixth-generation son of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and a liberationist. “God also blesses us with our ancestors as intermediaries who can work on our behalf in the traditio...

English: Ananias restoring the sight of Saint Paul (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Romans 15:14–16 and Acts 20:17–38, explain that the Apostle Paul considered the ministry of admonition, or confrontation of sin , to be a vital one in the lives of believers and in the health of the church. Having seen the value and worth with which the Apostle esteems the ministry of rebuke , let's look at (1) the necessity of giving rebuke, (2) the necessity of receiving rebuke, and (3) the benefit of even desiring and inviting rebuke. Next week, we’ll look finally at (4) the reason—or motivation—for rebuke. Giving Rebuke When it comes to lovingly coming along side our brothers and making them aware of some sin that we’ve perceived in them, we can tend to be timid and hesitant. Some of us just don’t want to be perceived as arrogant, like we’ve got everything together when there’s a plank in our own eye. Some fear, despite our good intentions, that our brother or sister will take our correction th...