THE “God Said So” HUSTLE
My male friends say wars are started in the name of God. My feminist friends say women are oppressed in the name of God. My black and brown friends say slavery and colonialism is done in the name of God. My gay friends say homophobia is done in the name of God. My foreign friends talk about corruption and oppression in the name of God. Well guess what?
We’ve all been hustled.
When someone pulls the “God Said So” card in the name of war, politics, business, or whatever, chances are it’s the God Hustle. Want to kill some natives or commandeer land/natural resources? Call it “Manifest Destiny” (God’s will). Want slaves? Say God ordained these specific people to be beasts of burden for the rest of society. Want a republican president? Say God’s a conservative. Want to control someone’s art or music? Call it anti-god, aka "sinful". Whatever the cause, when in doubt: Invoke God.
Lookit, I don’t claim to speak for God, but here’s what I know in my heart: God ain’t broke. God don’t need your vote. God owns all the land and wants us to share it. God loves peace. God loves women. God loves ethnicity. God don’t care which team covers the spread. And God don’t like ugly. (For more, grab a Bible.)
And not to single-out any particular faith but we got way too many huge flossy cathedrals and churches with rich pastors preaching to poor congregations. Now, some of this is outreach; but some of this is hustle. If the church has a cover charge and/or the reverend spends more time with politicians and media than with the congregation, that’s The God Hustle. Quit selling what Christ gave away for free. (Can I get a witness? Please?)
"Ooh, Rev ain’t right! His church ain’t right! Deacon is pimp, you can tell by his ice!"
—Ghostface

















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