Make a real house of righteousness

By Starla Muhammad -Staff Writer- | Last updated: Jul 31, 2013 - 1:40:50 PM

Minister Farrakhan urges clergy to do works of Jesus

CHICAGO (Finalcall.com) - Religious leaders, clergy and laypeople representing various faith communities and denominations gathered here recently for a morning of fellowship and spiritual renewal.

The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan

For the capacity audience that packed the upstairs grand ballroom of the Salaam Restaurant on the city’s Southside, they also received a poignant but forthright message from the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan.

The 80-year-old Muslim leader challenged religious leaders to emulate Jesus in character and works during an address as the guest speaker during the July 23 Pastors’ Prayer Breakfast at the monthly meeting of the American Clergy Leadership Conference.

Archbishop G.A. Stallings, Jr., Chairman of ACLC and founder of Imani Temple based in Washington, D.C. introduced Min. Farrakhan calling him an “iconic figure, who is the refulgent manifestation and example of the best that is in our God, Allah.”

He is one that has stood for truth, even in the most difficult of times said Archbishop Stallings.

The event took place during Ramadan, the Islamic Holy Month of prayer, fasting, discipline, spiritual growth and reflection.

Min. Farrakhan explained to the ecumenical gathering, the importance of fasting and that Jesus also fasted.

“I thank Allah for all the Muslims, all over the world who are observing this fast, but Jesus also fasted. He fasted for 40 days in the wilderness. He never asked us to fast 40 days but some of us have tried, I’ve one who has tried that, was successful at doing that, by his grace,” said the Minister.

He explained how fasting is good for health benefits, including purification of the blood from toxins from food.

The Minister explained Jesus the prophet and Jesus the Messiah and the responsibility and mission of clergy to deliver the undiluted and truthful word to their congregants and be “Christ” like in their work.

“I want to say to us as religious teachers. The enemy does not want you to really know Jesus, the Messiah because if we really knew Jesus, we would have power to begin to end Satan’s domination over the lives of the people who claim to believe in God,” said Min. Farrakhan.

The audience bore witness, clapped and shouted as the Minister taught and the environment took on the similar look and feel of a church revival as he warned the clergy that according to scripture, “Satan deceived the whole world.”

“Do you live in the world?” he asked rhetorically.

Religious leaders and clergy enthusiastically responded to Min. Farrakhan’s message at the ACLC July meeting at Salaam Restaurant. Photo: Marc D. Muhammad/The Final Call

The Minister said clergy was in a dangerous position as shepherds of God’s flock, especially if it is done improperly. The power that should be in the word to transform human life is absent from most preaching he added.

The people come to the church as fornicators, adulterers, liars, thieves, homosexuals and leave the same way!” the Minister said to thunderous applause.

The people are waiting for the power of Jesus but some that deliver the word are compromising the word he continued. Leadership must clean up as many have delved into unrighteous conduct and behavior.

“How can a degenerate clean up degenerates?” said Min. Farrakhan. How can God change our condition unless we change he pointed out.

The Minister spoke of his love for Christian pastors and stressed his desire to see them embody the work of Jesus to transform their communities.

“I want you to listen, I may never see you again or you may never want to ever see me again. But you’ll never forget what you hear today and I hope you’ll take it and let’s make a real Christian house, a real Muslim house, a real house of righteousness,” said Min. Farrakhan.

Though the Minister spoke for just a little over an hour, it capped a full program featuring various faith leaders.

The emcee was Dr. Willie Weston, Sr., and the program included unity prayers, musical selections and included special welcome by Leonard F. Muhammad, acting General Manager of Salaam.

Participants, guests and attendees included Rev. T.L. Barrett, pastor of The Life Center Church of God In Christ, Rev. Kazuo Takami, co-chairman, ACLC Midwest, Student Min. Ishmael R. Muhammad, National Assistant to Min. Farrakhan and Rev. Dr. Webb Evans, founder of the United American Progress Association who will be 100 years old in November.

Though the message was delivered by a Muslim, it was well received by the predominately Christian audience.

“His (Min. Farrakhan’s) message was very challenging,” said Syleste Williams of Bethany Baptist Church where she serves as an usher.

“I feel that if we heed some of the words that he presented to us from the Bible then we would be better able to serve the people within our communities and to change attitudes and positions,” she added.

Dr. A.P. Randall, pastor of Twelve Gates Missionary Baptist Church said the Minister’s words really went to his heart. “I’ve been a follower of the Minister for years,” said Dr. Randall, a preacher for 15 years.

“He spoke specifically to the church to give direction of ministers really returning home as the prodigal son did and speak the truth and stand on the truth because we’re in such a time that the people of God want pastors to really feed the sheep and that was just resonating for me; To be a spokesman for God’s people and I was just blessed by that,” said Apostle Melvin Brown of Rockford, Ill.

Rev. Vergia Haynes is a member of Unity Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church and teaches at Atonement Covenant Church. She said the message was powerful and clergy need to understand the word of God in order to teach the people a “better word.”

“First the leadership has to be empowered to give that hurting flock that’s out there, to feed them what they need so we have to be examples and God has empowered us. What I’ve gotten from Minister Farrakhan is that now we’ve really got to do what we’re called to do and live up to our calling,” said Rev. Haynes.

Min. Omari Aton, co-founder of the Temple of Mercy Association agreed and said the prevailing theme of truth and responsibility on clergy stood out to him most during the Minister’s message.

I believe if we want to be proper servants of our people, that is what Minister Farrakhan was trying to get over to all of us as pastors, that we should make sure that we are preaching properly to the flock. Because we are the ones that will be held accountable for that,” said Min. Aton.

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