Rising Above Mediocrity, Accessing the Abundant Life:: Taking Christian Practices to the Next Level

By Xavier Trone Carter Sr. EdD

In addition to In His Own Image: Understanding and Enjoying the Full Complement of Salvation, Dr. Carter has also written and is in the process of publishing Rising above Mediocrity, Accessing the Abundant Life: Taking Christian Practices to the Next Level.

In Rising above Mediocrity, Accessing the Abundant Life, Dr. Carter endeavors to delineate a not-to-well-known procedural process that leads to significant spiritual growth and development. As a friend and colleague, I too believe that its insights will be profitable for those who have an ear to hear what the Spirit is saying to the organized Church. Dr. Carter is correct when he says, People would do better if they knew better, even if they dont agree with him. However, as one who is in total agreement, I believe he has done a masterful job of describing and delineating a verbal portrait of the person, the presence, and the power of the all-knowing, all-powerful, all-seeing, and ever-present God of creation. These publications reflect the experiences and exposure of this author while on the road to repentance and regeneration.

Reverend D. D. Alexander, pastor of Holy Tabernacle of God Baptist Church, Los Angeles, California

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Mar 28, 2012
• ISBN: 9781449741600

Xavier Trone Carter Sr. EdD

Xavier Trone Carter Sr. is an ordained twenty-first-century prophetic voice to the nations, a pastor and teacher to the Church-of-God-in-Christ, and a prolific writer. Dr. Carter is a graduate of CSU–Dominguez Hills in Carson, California; Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California; and Pepperdine University in Malibu, California.

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Rising Above Mediocrity,

Accessing the Abundant Life

Taking Christian practices to the next level

Xavier Trone Carter, Sr., Ed.D.

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Copyright © 2012 by Xavier Trone Carter, Sr., Ed.D.

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ISBN: 978-1-4497-4161-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4497-4162-4 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4497-4160-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012903347

WestBow Press rev. date: 03/23/2012

Contents

Semantics

Acknowledgements

Foreword

Introduction

The First Stop

An Introduction To The Divine

Order Of Authority In This World

Chapter One

The Doa Enumerated

Chapter Two

The Bible: The Spoken And

Written Word Of God

Chapter Three

The Bible And Other Religions

Chapter Four

An Introduction To The Old

And New Testaments

The Second Stop

An Introduction To The Blessed Trinity

Chapter Five

The Introduction

Chapter Six

The Person, The Presence And

The Power Of God The Son

Chapter Seven

The Person, The Presence And

The Power Of God, The Holy Spirit

Chapter Eight

The Kingdom Of God

The Third Stop

An In-Depth Analysis Of Sin And

God’s Plan Of Salvation

Chapter Nine

An Analysis Of The Problem Of Sin

Chapter Ten

Salvation: The Cost And Benefit

Chapter Eleven

The Procedural Process Leading To The

Full Complement Of Salvation

The Fourth Stop

A Preview Of God’s Plan Of Salvation With An Overview Of Rising Is The Objective At This Fourth Stop.

Chapter Twelve

A Preview Of The Plan Of Salvation

Chapter Thirteen

An Overview Of Rising And A Template

Chapter Fourteen

From The Beginning:

Revisiting The Design-Phase

Chapter Fifteen

Heaven On Earth, Is It Faith Or Folly?

Chapter Sixteen

Salvation: How And By Whom?

Chapter Seventeen

Systematic Christian Education

The Fifth And Final Stop

This Is My Story

Chapter Eighteen

Preparing The Soil For The Seed

Chapter Nineteen

My Journey Begins

Chapter Twenty

The Journey Continues

Chapter Twenty-One

The Epilogue

Notes

A Glossary Of Frequently Used Biblical And Religious Terms And Key Concepts

Semantics

Because I am a firm believer that history cannot be fully understood unless and until it is lived, I am abandoning the traditional rule of writing in the third person in favor of using the first person. However, to avoid the appearance of redundancy, in some cases the traditional third-person is used. For the most part, "Rising above mediocrity, accessing the abundant life: Taking Christianity to the next level" (hereinafter called Rising), is my story. It is intensely personal because it’s my story. It chronicles both, my pain and the predicament which gave rise to the pain; and it culminates with my progress thus far: and all three with equal regularity.

For clarity and conciseness, all concerns, comments, conclusions and directives are addressed primarily to the man, unless they are clearly feminine. Therefore, the hero in this book is designated as he, but without prejudice since the same situation, unless otherwise indicated, could just as easily be outlined with she, mutatis mutandis. However, if on occasion the woman’s role differs significantly from the man’s, it is treated separately. The preacher, similarly without prejudice, is designated as he. The vocabulary and viewpoints are primarily oriented toward the pastor/preacher as the primary teacher, but the contents are directed primarily to laity, regardless of his or her station in life, and he or she will find this book equally as interesting, challenging, useful and user-friendly. Finally, there is an old axiom which says that repetition is the mother of retention; and it is on that basis that several pivotal scriptures and statements are repeated numerous times, to promote retention.

Acknowledgements

I owe a debt of gratitude to many of the sages of the ages, three of whom—albeit unknowingly—served as mentors during the last three decades; and I would be remiss if I did not pay homage to them in a particular way

To Dr. Charles G. Adams, Senior Pastor of the Hartford Memorial Baptist Church of Detroit, Michigan who established himself as an ongoing source of encouragement in the development of my personal theology. From the day he delivered the Commencement Address to the graduating class of 1981, at Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California: speaking from a message entitled All Things Are Yours to the day of this writing, I have hung on to all of his words. Collectively they were primary in the breaking down of traditionally self-induced walls which, for years, had blocked my spiritual view.

To Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., Pastor Emeritus of the Trinity United Church of Christ of Chicago, Illinois. It was Dr. Wright’s contribution which provided me with wise counsel in sermon preparation with an historical emphasis, and which enabled me to effectively turn theological precepts into sound thinking, and subsequent spiritual growth and development.

To Dr. H. Beecher Hicks Jr., Senior Pastor of the Metropolitan Baptist Church of Washington D.C., and author of Preaching Through a Storm, who also provided me with ongoing enlightenment, enhancement and encouragement as I preached through several storms in my life.

And finally, special recognition goes out to my pastor, the Rev. D. D. Alexander—Senior Pastor of the Holy Tabernacle of God Baptist Church of Los Angeles, CA. I believe there is general agreement that every pastor needs a pastor and I am no exception to the rule. Rev. Alexander, for more than twenty-five years, has gone far beyond the call of duty as a colleague and yoke-brother in the gospel ministry. He and his ministerial staff served me and my congregation as teacher, mentor and brother-beloved.

There were others to be sure, but I don’t have the presence of mind to name them. Nevertheless, all of them contributed to the context and the content of the sermons I have delivered in the more than three decades that I have been practicing preaching. Suffice it to say, if in this work I infringe upon any of them in any way, I offer both, my most humble apology and my deepest appreciation.

Foreword

The word of God informs us in Acts 10:34, (NKJV) that God shows no partiality." Among other things, that verse declares that In the eyes of God There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female: for all are the same in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28). In Rising, Dr. Carter has pulled together scriptural support for a much—needed occurrence: the coming together of all mankind with a oneness of purpose. That oneness is To be reconciled to God so that He can get the glory out of their lives. That having been said, with brilliant yet uncommonly objective scholarship, Dr. Carter suggests that it is time for all of God’s people to transcend traditional Christian faith and practice; and without fear of contradiction or condemnation, embrace and accept every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God without exception.

In Rising, Carter expands on views that are generally understood in the organized Church, suggesting that in the words of Jesus in Mark 1:15, "The time is fulfilled, that the Kingdom of God is at hand," and that it’s time to take traditional Christian practices to the next level. With uncanny insight, he pre-supposes and postulates that what Jesus said to His disciples and those Jews who believed on him, was not limited to them. Instead, those words were timeless and limitless. Rising challenges the traditional approach to Christianity, and takes it to a whole new level. This work will no doubt create a controversy among those whom John Henrik Clarke (1970) calls Overnight authorities on scripture, who will discover—as did he—that they are really not up to date on (1) the depths of Christianity, (2) the purpose and plan of God, or (3) the role that God continues to play in the annals of human history. (1)

In a panoramic view from creation to the present, Rising offers insight and inspiration to anyone who is willing to transcend tradition, develop a mental-state-of-readiness that’s proportionate to his desires, embrace the Divine Order of Authority (DOA) in this world and go forward in the Kingdom of God. It is only in that way that he will achieve all that God has in store for him. For example, to be told that he can do all things through Christ which strengthens him (Philippians 4:13) is a glowing testimony to the goodness of God, and the potential of all mankind. However, to be able to actually do it is a phenomenon well worth striving for and achieving. Carter believes, as do I, that Scripture actually testifies to the benefits of believing. And when one embraces the tenets of believing, all of God’s promises become self-evident. Rising above mediocrity and being made able to access the abundant life, is just one of those benefits. Having served as his Pastor and teacher for more than two decades, I can now join him as both, teacher and learner.

The Reverend Dextral D. Alexander, Pastor,

The Holy Tabernacle of God Baptist Church

Los Angeles, California

Introduction

Rising above mediocrity: accessing the abundant life is the sequel to In His Own Image: Understanding and Enjoying the Full Complement of Salvation. In His Own Image is a must for the serious believer / learner. The mere fact that you have been drawn to Rising pre-supposes that you have been born-again of the water and of the Spirit (John 3:5) and that you have begun to pay the high cost of God’s free gift. If not, it is highly recommended that you acquire In His Own Image and begin with step number one in the procedural process that leads to the full complement of salvation. Once those steps have been completed, you will find that rising above mediocrity is merely natural progression.

Let me remind you that you are the master of your fate and the captain of your soul. That said, your success in rising above mediocrity will not be obliterated; it will only be hampered by the spirit of disbelief and your lack of discernment should you decide not to take this suggestion to heart and act on it. It goes without saying that the choice is yours.

Defining Moments

These are defining moments in the life of every Christian. Metaphorically speaking today is the only money you can spend. Yesterday is a cancelled check, and there is nothing you can do with it but file in the round file. Tomorrow is a promissory note, and there is no guarantee that you will be around to negotiate it. Therefore, the decision you make today will ultimately decide the direction your life will take, and your decision will also define the quality of your life; choose wisely (Deuteronomy 30:19).

Since the beginning of the 17th century, the people of God in America have been actively searching for religious freedom and a higher standard of living. Beginning with the exodus from Europe to the Western Hemisphere, the subsequent Revolutionary War, and culminating with the signing of the Declaration of Independence, religious freedom was priority number one.

What do you believe?

From the outset, the people of America were by and large a Christian people. History informs us that the individuals who settled in each of the Thirteen Original Colonies were like-minded, and held beliefs and traditions in common. Notwithstanding any and all doctrinal and denominational differences, the Bible, as they understood it, was viewed as the rule and guide to their faith and their practice, and each colony was resistant to change. The thesis of Rising is that a deeper understanding of what the Bible means by what it says will benefit everyone, more especially the organized Church in America: include everyone and exclude no one.

Although the premise of this study is that a deeper understanding of what the Bible means by what it says would be extremely beneficial, the author stipulates at the outset that there can sometimes be too much of a good thing too soon; and resistance to a deeper understanding of biblical truths will naturally follow. Therefore, a deeper understanding may not be desirable when it inhibits the relationship between parents and children or intrudes on the independence of a participant such that it trespasses on his or her free-will. Therefore, emphasis is not placed on merely deepening the persons’ understanding per se, but rather it’s placed on examining the context and the content of the persons’ belief system, and having that system challenged and changed from within, as necessity dictates. All readers who become active participants in the procedural-process that’s embedded in God’s plan of Salvation will grow wiser as stipulated by the word (Ephesians 4:13). Recognizing that there will always be barriers to change, in Rising we will begin our inquiry by examining the barriers to positive collaboration and spiritual growth and development, and set forth ways in which those barriers can be overcome.

As we approach the starting point let us consider that there are numerous pivotal scriptures in the Bible which are traditionally used to determine direction or achieve a desired effect. They include, but are not limited to, Matthew 4:4; St. John 8:31-32, and 10:10 (NKJV). In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus said to Satan, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Again, in St. John 8:31-32, Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, If you abide in My word, you are my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. And finally, still in John’s gospel (10:10) Jesus said, The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill and to destroy. I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

The life that Jesus is offering is exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us (Ephesians 3:20). That life is eternal—having no beginning or end—and little do most people know it’s available right now. Eternal life is a gift (1 John 5:11-12), and that gift is free; but there is a high cost to that free gift. The total cost is submission and surrender, and there are not many who have a mental-state-of-readiness that’s equal to their desire to either pay the cost or to have that life. Without adding anything to or modifying either of these scriptures, Rising will provide a deeper understanding of what the Bible means by what it says. And in so doing, it will provide the assistance needed to help the reader make the journey from earth’s sorrow to heaven’s joy while he yet lives.

Somewhere I read that the mark of intelligence in scholarship is to say what you mean and mean what you say. And if what you have said needs to be explained, the scholarly thing to do is write the explanation and omit all else. Therefore, to avoid the appearance of verbosity and conjecture, I will strive to do three things. First I am going to tell you what I am going to tell you. Secondly I’m going to take my time and tell you. And finally, I will tell you what I have told you, summarize and conclude the presentation.

If there is anything different about this book, it is the fact that this text was first lived; then it was taught and is now being written by a Christian under construction, who functions as a Pastor in preparation. For more than three decades, I have labored using the combined gifts of pastor and teacher, but not in the traditional sense of preaching situations as defined and delineated by some, but in the all-encompassing sense of translating experience and exposure into salvation. On the one hand, preaching the word (2 Timothy 4:2)—i.e. preaching the gospel of Salvation typically ends with what Jesus did on the Cross of Calvary. On the other hand, preaching sermons from the word—based on situations and extraneous circumstances that plague our daily lives—typically end with a word of encouragement concerning faith. In Rising we will consider both in turn, placing number-one priority on the preaching of Jesus, Him Crucified and Risen. It is my contention that the full complement of Salvation has been overlooked making it of paramount necessity to preach Jesus as a priority to prevent sin, before resorting to the preaching of sermons. Preaching and teaching so that the people of God can listen and learn, and then live by what they have learned, requires an in-depth inquiry into the spoken and written word; and a clear understanding of what the Bible means by what it says.

When properly defined, the preaching of Jesus—Him crucified and Risen—is The manifestation of the Incarnate Word by the spoken word from the written word; and it is revelatory. By contrast, the preaching of sermons" which deal with problem-solving is situational. I have always felt that my task was to get the Word of God into the lives of the men and women, boys and girls with whom I worked and interacted; and that I have endeavored to do, both inside and outside of the church. However, when it comes to preaching, the latter should not be done at the expense of the former. On that note, and because I believe people would do better if they knew better, Rising will confine itself to sharing two things: (1) The procedural process that leads to the full complement of salvation, and (2) a personal presentation of how to have life and have it more abundantly.

From the Beginning

My journey did not begin as a preacher or pastor. After a stint in military service I began my adult working years doing odd jobs in the market place, finally landing a permanent position with Sears Roebuck and Company in Chicago in 1961. I switched to self-employment after twelve years with Sears and successfully operated my own business for an additional thirteen years. After working fifteen to eighteen hours a day to insure success in the business and to support my family, circumstances dictated that I make a career change, so I became a Social Science teacher in one of the local high schools. That was the end of the first beginning and the beginning of the second end.

It all started on the Sunday following Christmas of 1973. That was when I verbally accepted Jesus as Lord of this life and Savior in the world to come, and subsequently became a Christian-under—construction, working in my local church. A few years later I sold my business and became a full-time teacher in the public school system. In the fall of 1977 I felt the Spirit of God was calling me into a covenant relationship with a higher level of commitment—which I believed to be that of preaching the gospel. I liken that calling to the commitment to adopt a child. Becoming an adoptive parent requires decisive-decision making. Once the decision to adopt is made and you bring the child into your home, you cannot look back, turn back or change your mind. You are in it for the long-haul.

When I chose to accept that call to the gospel ministry, I took to heart the words of Jesus in Luke 9:62: "No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." I confessed my conviction and that calling first to my pastor, and subsequently to my church family at large, in accordance with Church tradition. Within a few weeks I was given the opportunity to preach my initial / trial sermon. At the risk of sounding like a braggart, I fulfilled my calling with precision and power. I selected the proverb of Solomon, Chapter 22, verse 1, as my scripture-text and used for a subject: I am concerned about my reputation.

Having an innate desire to know Jesus and the power of His resurrection, I entered seminary to sharpen the tools with which I believed I had been divinely entrusted. Three years later, having met the requirements for graduation, I received a Master of Arts degree in religious education with emphasis on Christian Formations and Discipleship. As attested to by my faculty adviser, I was a called preacher who had elected to become an emerging preacher. Little did I know but the purposeful will of God was being played out in my life.

To support myself and my family, I labored in the school system for a total of twenty years, while simultaneously completing the requirements for an additional graduate degree in Education Administration, followed by a post-graduate degree in educational leadership administration and policy. Stated succinctly, I had climbed to the top rung of the academic ladder; a move that would prove to be enlightening and enhancive in more ways than one. At the time I was serving as an associate minister in our church.

Two years later and under the unction of the Holy Spirit, I was invited to serve as the senior pastor of a run-away AME Church. After the newness had worn off, I attempted to lead this family back into African Methodism which was their roots. That did not work. Most of them were fed up with the higher order practices of the AME Church. They wanted the pastor to be the decision-maker, and to have no one over him but God. My research revealed that the only denomination that fulfilled their desires were Baptists. As such, we became Baptist in name, but I led them in accordance with African Methodism, without the Episcopal constraint. I served that congregation for twenty-four years.

After a combined total of forty-five years in the market place, I retired from the public school system, merged our congregation in with the congregation of my pastor and relocated to the place of my birth in Birmingham, Alabama. I fully expected to live out the rest of my productive years working as an Adjunct Professor at one of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities, (HBCU’s), in the Birmingham area. The idea of assisting a local pastor with his work would have been acceptable, but not on a full-time basis.