The Root of All Evil
1 Timothy 6:9-10
But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
This is a very misunderstood verse. Most misquote it by omitting the words,” for the love of”, which completely miscommunicates what God is saying to us via this verse. But the reason I am including this verse is to make the point. According to this verse all evil has its origin in avarices (extreme greed for money, power and control, willing to, fraud, cheat, scam, injure, oppress, and enslave others) thinking and actions that produce wicked schemes for economic control and fiscal suppression of others, cruel dominance, and dictatorial power. Being wealthy and having an abundance of money is not evil in itself. According to Psalms 66:12, our salvation is designed to bring us out of poverty and into wealth.
12 Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place. – Psalm 66:12
Our Nation’s Greatest Evil
The greatest evil in the history of America and arguably of all time has been the enslavement and dehumanizing of Africans in the United states and the continued systemic economic oppression of their descendants. Based on the truth of 1 Timothy 6:10, the origin of this evil was and is the insatiable greed for wealth and power by white Europeans, that would eventually become white America.
The enslavement of Africans was strictly an economic issue! Roughly, two and a half centuries of wage less slave labor (which is stealing) gave the beneficiaries unjust economic dominance, absolute control of the resources and assets of the new known world. Slaves were made to rigorously work the fields that yielded a variety of goods and produce, the products that would be the foundation for building America’s original economy. That original economy, which was built by forced labor capital of slaves, made it possible for early white America to thrive economically and for the current white American economy to enable the U.S. to become today’s wealthiest country and world superpower.
At this point it would be appropriate for me to go into the history of the enslavement experience. At this time, I will not include a comprehensive historical review of the evils of slavery, not because it is not relevant or important, but for the sake of redeeming the times and quick consumption of this content. Also, my concern is that my limited knowledge would not do the subject justice. Over the past 25 years, my forensic study skills have been applied to ascertaining the wisdom of the word of God and a clear understanding of how to work out the great Salvation, which is comprised in these five wells, wealth creation, health maintenance, deliverance, protection, and wholeness.
For a comprehensive historical review of slavery, I refer you to Dr. Claud Anderson’s book collection. Dr. Anderson is arguably the greatest mind ever on this subject matter. I implore you to get all his books. It will enlighten you like you have never been enlightened before.
My intent for this book is strictly to give us what the will of God is for the descendants of the slaves brought to America, and Black America at this present time.
My purpose for this specific chapter is to clarify the force that animated the evil of slavery and it’s:
• capital theft
• economic injustice
• lust that produced the overt actions of legalized slavery
• slavery’s transition into the malevolent actions of Jim Crow segregation, which is an extension of slavery,
• Jim Crow’s continuation into the stealthy systemic racial structures that prevails to this very moment.
All facets of the institutions of slavery derive from the same root system. The ungodly greed for wealth and power, and the evil spirit of pride that produced a supremacist mindset in white Europeans that is still embedded in today’s white American culture.
Africans then and Black Americans today are the recipients of this evil racism and have been robbed of the wealth and power God has ordained for them to have as a nation. Many people are confused or unaware of the true entity behind the orchestration of the slavery business. God gives us clarity to why white Europeans back in 1619 and why white America in 2020 still reap the abundant benefits of a systemic racist construct designed for white America to live their American dream. That dream was founded on labor less wealth accumulation, monopolizing control over the country’s assets and resources, as well as culminating in the liberties and privileges that come with being the ruling class. The love of money, which is really a perverted sensation for what economic dominance yields, is power to robustly rule over the poor, the ability to respond with answers that satisfies personal pleasures, and having the resources to implement one’s solutions to problems whether those solutions are righteous or unrighteous. God is not pleased with those that are seduced by the power that comes by avarice actions. His word reveals that there will eventually be sorrows upon sorrows in the path of the avarice. Like with all misses of the mark, God will give us an opportunity to repent and atone for our actions. Even the avarice actions of yesterday’s and today’s systemic racial structures and those that enforce and oversee their outcomes cannot escape God’s longsuffering love. There will be more critical insight shared regarding God’s long-suffering love in a later chapter. But for now, we are clear on “the why “of slavery— free slave labor, economic dominance and the maldistribution of the land’s wealth creating assets and resources.
Demeris Johnson is a former professional athlete (wide receiver for Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills). He is best known for catching, coaching, and discipling souls. This husband, father, and man of faith also serves as Senior Pastor of the Worship Center, Center Services Director got the Community Action Organization of WNY and CEO of Demeris Johnson Ministries, Inc. Through this ministry, Demeris directs three unique brands: Salvation Solutions, Building Wealth God’s Way, and We Value Black. Demeris is uniquely gifted and has perfected the art of prophetic instruction. For the past twenty-five years, he has passionately and forensically studied the word of God and has mastered communicating his understanding yo others in a practical manner.
