I am not a famous person; I do not have access to millions of people with the message God has given me. But I have to say that I disagree with some of Charles Barkley’s comments regarding the riots in Ferguson. He stated, “Those aren’t black people, those are scumbags“.

     I agree that they do not represent all of us; however they do represent a portion of us. We can’t ignore their behavior and place all the blame on the police; we must take responsibility and do something about it. What I am seeing, for the most part, are young kids with total disrespect for authority.

     I am irritated by this new generation of civil right leaders, who walk around with ecumenical titles, but totally ignore Scripture. They are part of the problem; and by the way, Charles Barkley, they are also black. Romans 13:1-2 tells us,

“13 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.” (NKJ)

    By disrespecting the police and people in authority in general, we are bringing judgment on ourselves. Are we teaching our kids how to get killed by the police? “Burn this mother F.. down…” is not the way we fight and win this fight. “Burn this mother F.. down…” coming out of the mouth of a grown man with his pants hanging off his butt is not the face of justice to me.

     Our greatest problem is not the police; our greatest problem is each other. I am black and I am Puertorrican. Puertorricans are killing Puertorricans in Puerto Rico and blacks are killing blacks right here in America. WE ARE OUR GREATEST ENEMY, not the police.

     How can we be so passionate about dealing with a less-than-one-percent issue (Police killing us for acting like fools most of the time) and totally ignore the 99% percent of the problem? We are the problem; the way we raise our kids and our total disrespect for authority; that’s the real issue! We are bringing judgment on ourselves!!!!!!! I did not say this, God did; is HE a racist to?

     During the days of Martin Luther King, the whole world saw on TV the brutality of the police as Dr. King and his follower peacefully marched. That brought about change; the greatest change in the history of the civil rights movements. But what did we see on TV coming out of Ferguson? Not only the “Burn this mother F.. down…”, but the actual destruction of many local business who were actually burned to the ground.

     I am not waiting for the government; especially for this particular government, I am not. Our President is part of the problem. By the way, Charles Barkley, he is also black. We are too busy blaming others and waiting for others to fix what is ours to fix. I can only do my part and you can only do yours.

     In my small karate class yesterday, I had young kids, a couple of teens and some adults. I felt very strongly about taking the time, at the end of my class, to teach these kids respect for the police. I was teaching them how to properly answer the police and how to properly react when interacting with them. I told them, if you are speeding and an officer stops you, cut the engine off, especially at night, place both hands on the steering wheel and respond by saying sir or madam. I told my kids, responding with respect and courtesy does not make you a punk, it makes you a mature person. I just felt an unbelievable sense of responsibility and fear for these kids. Not that their parents are not teachings them these things; but I wanted to reinforce their teachings.

     I trust that my Karate students will not get shot by the police over foolishness. My confidence is not based on our ungodly government or based on our new generation of so call, civil right leaders, but I have confidence in God’s Word as our absolute guide and on my student’s parents.

     We have too many ungodly voices with personal agendas out there; some of those ungodly voices are also coming out of our pulpits. They need to be quite, in the name of Jesus!

     We will make sure our children act like they have some sense when interacting, not only with the police, but with any person in authority and amongst ourselves. Let me also add that God placed our President and all of our leaders in their positions. Some leaders are there as an instrument of blessing, others for judgment and yet others as a reflection of society. We should not disrespect them either. Nevertheless, the Word of God is above them. The Bible also says,

“But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” Luke 12:48 (KJV)

     At the end of the day we are all accountable to God; some already know that, some will realize that later, some will realize the power of this truth as they burn in hell for resisting Christ. But make no mistake about it, “It is written: “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’” Romans 14:11 (NIV)