Note: This guide was first published in January 2019. It has been updated to reflect our current Movement and accomplishments. Greetings Beloved, Let me begin this lesson with an understanding of Conscious Conservatism, a term I coined after launching The Fifteen 20 Rise content. Conscious Conservatism is based on the belief that spiritual laws and principles guide our human behavior and interaction. As humans, we conserve these truths and implement these values in culture, society, and politics. Each time you see the phrase, “Conscious Conservatism,” I want you to equate this concept with spiritual laws.
As I teach repeatedly in Twitter Class, spiritual laws govern our human behavior and interactions. And because we seek peace and harmony among others, we work to preserve these principles so they bring health, wholeness, and prosperity in our lives. In this next section, I want to teach you about the 10 pillars or principles that guide our Conscious Conservative Movement. I will continue using Black Americans as the prime example for this teaching; but understand such laws are applicable to any ethnic group. Spiritual laws do not discriminate. Instead, they empower groups to conquer earthly obstacles, no matter the trials. As we dive into this lesson, consider how each law applies to you, your family, and your community. Then think about how you can use these principles to engage with people who vote differently than you. The Law of Love Every action we take comes from our desire to please someone. This desire is best understood as deep love or admiration. When we visit the Scriptures, we learn YahWeh is Love, and He demonstrated this love by sending us His Son (John 3:16). Love is the bedrock of our faith. It is the driving force that keeps us from doing harm to others. Love is the greatest law (I Corinthians 13:13). Quite often, when working with Conservatives on Twitter, I teach them that referring to Black Americans as “slaves on a plantation” is not a demonstration of love for fellow citizens. It is dehumanizing. It is racist. Such terminology is only used against the descendants of American slavery because this voting bloc chooses to vote Democrat. Our Conservative platform boasts of being “Christian.” Yet, it preaches an abusive, oppressive message meant to paint an inferior picture of Black citizens. For years, I battled that one simple statement on my platform. I told the people, “You will not attract folks using racist rhetoric that will get you slapped in the streets.” Imagine Conservatives calling Jews “Concentration Camp Dwellers” for showing allegiance to the Democratic Party. We would never conceive such a thought because that would be considered “hate speech.” Yet, we find it tolerable and admirable to refer to Black Americans as “slaves,” despite their growing excellence and resilience. Such actions and words do not come from a place of love but one of hate. And as you will discover later in this lesson, the Law of Sowing and Reaping is always in effect. When discussing conservatism — whether politically, financially, or socially — we must come back to this Law of Love. We must ask ourselves, “Do the words I speak come from Love? Am I displaying actions that prove I love fellow Black Americans?” If the answer is no, step back and consider a different approach. This teaching is both applicable to Black Conservatives and White Conservatives. As Conscious Ones, we make it a point to do everything from this place of love. The Law of Mercy and Grace The 2nd pillar of Conscious Conservatism is the Law of Mercy and Grace. Mercy is more than “undeserved favor.” It is compassion. Compassion is more than feeling sorry for someone else. It involves connecting your passion with another person’s soul. When I connect my heart to other people, I empathize with their sufferings. I can feel their hurt and pain. I am in tune with their struggles. When in this place, I am least likely to misjudge them or condemn them, for I know if I were going through their struggle, I would want them to show me mercy. Let me give an example to illustrate this point. If you take a look at Conservatives’ recent attitude towards Black Americans suffering from “Stop and Frisk” policies, you will see something disturbing. Not an ounce of sympathy or compassion for American citizens who were having their rights violated daily. When Conscious Black Conservative voices said, “Defend fellow Americans,” the Conservative camp responded, “Those policies are for their own good and will stop the violence in their neighborhoods.” When we shared stories of young Black men who were afraid to leave their homes because of “Stop and Frisk,” this did not matter to Conservatives. They pushed “homicide stats” and justified their full support of the police state with a social media movement (#BackTheBlue). The Conservative camp exercised zero compassion and mercy for fellow Americans who were suffering in today’s America. They did not feel their struggle or pain, mostly because they had not mastered the first Law of Conscious Conservatism. And because of that, their actions enlarged the racial barrier. This ought not be so among the camp that preaches Christianity. Only Kingdom-minded, higher conscious people can execute the Law of Mercy effectively. It requires crucifying our narcissism and embracing YahWeh’s form of redemption. The Law of Mercy prevents us from executing unrighteous judgment against fellow Americans. In the case of “Stop and Frisk,” had Conservatives put themselves in Black Americans’ shoes, they would have never defended such reckless lawlessness. Black Americans are not second-class citizens; yet that is what Conservatives defended vehemently, even if they won't admit it. They did not take time to discover the true intent and purpose for Black people’s protests, even when they had voices ready to teach them how. This is what happens when the Law of Mercy is not executed effectively. The only solution is full repentance. Once this occurs, Mercy makes ways for compassion and redemption. The Law of Mercy rejects prejudice and compels us to show love towards those who aren’t like us. We must ask ourselves, “Do we only show mercy towards those whose ideological beliefs align with our own? Do we only feel compassion towards those who look like us or think like us? Do we have enough compassion to fight for people who are being mistreated, even if we cannot fully understand the oppression?” As Conscious Conservatives, we don’t have to like everything that comes from certain ethnic groups. We don’t have to adopt their agendas. But the Law of Mercy compels us to show grace when it is most needed. The Law of Reconciliation The 3rd pillar of Conscious Conservatism is the Law of Reconciliation. This Law compels us to see people through the eyes of the Spirit (2 Corinthians 5:11-21). Every person has a story, and some stories are dark and controversial. Some stories are bleak and wretched. Some stories are traumatic and unnerving. But for those of us who have been redeemed, we learn to see other people as YahWeh sees them. This is how the world is reconciled back to the Father. When we treat people according to what man says about them, especially if it's negative, we diminish their impact in our society. We stifle their influence and the work God gave them to accomplish all because we think of ourselves more highly than we ought. In this self-righteous mindset, we violate a core spiritual law, which will inevitably breed severe consequences for us unless we pivot. For example, for nearly 10 years, I kept silent about my scandalous story. I allowed people to think whatever they wanted about me, even as I launched my virtual ministry. I did so because the Holy Spirit and I were looking to see who could receive His message and gifts, which emerged from a “controversial” vessel. I knew if people could receive me, they could receive the other voices who would emerge, voices who have worse stories than mine. It wasn’t until January 2020 when I finally released my memoir chronicling my assault and ultimate victory. And by that time, enough people had “passed the test,” proving they could receive from just about anyone who has a message of empowerment. In truth, these followers learned to see me through the eyes of the Spirit. And this is what must be done for all people. The Law of Reconciliation forces us to remember our own past. It forces us to consider the grace we received when we did not deserve such favor. When we contemplate this, it is easier for us to live harmoniously with other people, because we’ve learned not to misjudge folks. On the contrary, when we choose to see people based on what media say, for example, we strip ourselves of opportunities to build community. We easily become enemies to people who do not look like us. We see people in ways YahWeh never intended. And when we do so, we invite the Law of Sowing and Reaping to judge us according to the measure we issued. The Law of Truth and Justice The 4th pillar involves Truth and Justice. This Law compels us to stand firmly on what agrees with YahWeh’s standards. Truth, for many people, is subjective. But to Conscious Conservatives, Truth is based solely on what YahWeh says concerning a matter. It is a great evil to see the wicked go unpunished. When an injustice occurs, such actions typically violate basic spiritual laws. For example, almost two years ago, the entire Conservative Camp experienced another uproar as a Black man — Ahmaud Arbery — was murdered by two white men. The entire scene was recorded; and when the video was released, public outcry ensued. To the camp, the vast majority vilified the victim. They searched for “evidence” to support why Ahmaud was not “just a jogger” who happened to get murdered. They pulled up his criminal past as if his record warranted an unjustly death. This has been the ongoing nature of the Conservative camp for a while, especially when it comes to race relations. Had it not been for the Principled Black Republicans and Conscious Black Conservative Voices, the camp would have continued their hostile remarks. Over time, as more evidence emerged, we learned Ahmaud was, in fact, a victim. He committed no crime warranting his death. His murderers walked away FREELY for months; and had the video not leaked to the public, the men would still be free. In this case, we see why Truth and Justice are necessary. We must always fight for what is right. We must always stand for those who have been harmed or oppressed. In doing so, we save the lives of others. We prevent other people from becoming victims, because we set the standard. And when we do this for the “least of these,” we inevitably give Yah permission to defend us during our time of need. The Law of Faith and Power The 5th pillar consists of Faith and Power. When combined with the previous Laws, Faith releases Power that causes us to do the impossible. Faith is more than a belief system. Faith is a mindset. It encompasses vision. What we see is what we manifest in the natural. When I first received the vision for the Conscious Conservative Movement, I could see the rising social, political, and economic empires emerging across the nation. I could see thriving Black Communities in various states. I could see Black families prospering in ways we have yet to see. I could see our economics becoming so vast, we never looked to government or any entity — except our own — to thrive. My faith — or vision — stirred the power to write and preach the message. I took to Twitter, constructed the books, and connected with fellow Influencers who had a heart for Black Americans. I put power behind my faith; and now we see the message reaching millions. When it comes to changing our communities, we must remember, nothing will be accomplished unless faith is at the forefront. We must have faith in each other, faith in our visions, faith in our abilities, and faith that Yah will perform what He said He will do. When we remain in this mindset, all power is given to us to prosper. The Law of Attraction The 6th pillar within Conscious Conservatism is the Law of Attraction. This Law compels us to speak what we envision and to give thanks that we have received what we ask. If I speak in the atmosphere, “Black Americans are a thriving people, capable of doing extraordinary things,” I attract positive responses from Black Americans who see themselves as successful and prosperous. To the contrary, if I put negative statements regarding Black Americans in the sphere, I attract disdain from the people I claim to be reaching. This is what we often see happening in the Conservative camp. The mainstream pundits push disgusting rhetoric from their platforms regarding Black people. And when they do this, especially because they are 99% WHITE, they appear racist. In fact, this is why the Conservative Party is considered the racist party among minorities. Therefore, if the Conservative camp wishes to attract Black Americans to their platform, the answer is simple: Become attractive to the ones you wish to reach. The Law of Action The 7th pillar within Conscious Conservatism is the Law of Action. Without action, we cannot expect to manifest anything in the natural. The Law of Action coincides with Faith. Based on what we see, we receive plans that help us put action behind our vision. Many people talk the talk, but they won’t walk the walk. They speak evil of Black Americans, but they won’t put in the work to help improve certain communities. This is what we see often within the mainstream Black Conservative Movement. In fact, this tension has resulted in the modern “Civil War” within our space. On one hand, you have Black Conservatives who lie about Black Americans, demean them, dehumanize them, and do everything in their power to appeal to White racists in the camp. They know the power of their words. They know they are causing more division. But they do it anyway. Then you have the other group who love Black Americans, who seek to empower, who desire to enrich, and who have the power to elevate. Yet, each time we preach conservatism, we are instantly misjudged as the caricatures in our camp, who receive mainstream media attention. As I shared with my Twitter Beloveds: "I wouldn’t have so much fire to throw at the Mainstream Black Conservatives if they would simply stop lying about Black Americans. I wouldn’t care if they had all the attention. But when they push these lies, it makes it IMPOSSIBLE to effectively evangelize conservatism in our communities. Therefore, the Establishment Black Conservatives receive my fire. When we learn how best to put action behind our faith, we will see our communities thrive." The Law of Thanksgiving The 8th pillar is that of Thanksgiving. In everything, we must give thanks. This act helps us receive more of what we need to thrive. Thanksgiving is one of the most underutilized Laws, yet it contains so much power. It’s easy to complain about our situations. We see this behavior among Black Conservatives who constantly complain about Black Americans. They provide no solutions to our communities. They simply tell them, “Stop voting Democrat,” as if Republicans are the true political saviors. Because of their constant disdain, they attract discontent. Because of their constant complaints, they open the door to hostility. YahWeh had a way of handling complainers. We need only study how He dealt with the Children of Israel as they complained in the wilderness. Their complaints demonstrated their lack of faith. But when Thanksgiving enters the picture, we position ourselves to receive more blessings from Heaven. Being grateful for the success of one Black American leads to the success of another. You often see this behavior happening within the Conscious Black Conservative circle. We readily promote the health and wellness of Black Americans who are thriving in business, family, and culture. We love to see it. We embrace it. And we give thanks for it. Such appreciation causes other people to desire success and excellence. Again, this is how the Law works. And as we continue exercising it, we will see tremendous results in our Movement. The Law of Forgiveness The 9th pillar within Conscious Conservatism is the Law of Forgiveness. For many people, forgiveness means ignoring an offender of his wrongdoings and pretending it never happened. But that is not the full scope of forgiveness. Forgiveness produces internal healing for us, even if the offender does not seek it from us. Forgiveness gives YahWeh permission to forgive our own shortcomings. Of the Laws, this one is most challenging for me. I spent more than a decade dealing with offenders and seeing them walk free. I have dealt with social media smears for no other reason than for standing by the conservative principles that require us to do right by Black Americans. And for me, I developed a fire that allows me to consume my enemies. I’ve had to learn to contain this fire, using it only to demolish godless ideologies and not people. Sometimes, I master this Law. Other times, I fail it and must repent. Nevertheless, I am reminded that when I issue forgiveness to my enemy, I stand in position to receive YahWeh’s forgiveness. This grants me an open door into His presence. When I’m in His presence, I can ask for anything I need and desire, and He grants it to me. But if my heart is full of unforgiveness, I can’t expect anything from Him. If we do not forgive those who trespass against us, we hinder our own growth. For this reason, the Law of Forgiveness remains a pillar in our Movement. The Law of Sowing and Reaping The final pillar within the Conscious Conservative Movement is the Law of Sowing and Reaping. While each Law is important, this Law carries greater weight because of its power to propel or suppress our work. The Law of Sowing and Reaping is simple: What I do to you will be done to me. What I sow into the atmosphere, I will reap a harvest of that seed. If I sow hatred of Black Americans to the Conservative camp, I reap hatred from Black Americans. If I sow faith and empowerment, I receive encouragement and support from the same group. When we celebrate the violation of rights for Black Americans, we can expect our rights to be violated next. Those of us in Twitter Class observed this in 2020 as the government shut down our businesses and banned us from socializing because of the plague. When Black Americans complained about a similar local policy that did this to them, Conservatives said, “It’s for their own good.” But the second such regulations hit Conservatives' doorsteps, suddenly they became the new victims of government oppression on a more massive scale. This is how the Law of Sowing and Reaping works. The results never come back as a small thing. The harvest manifests in multiplication. While Black Americans voiced their frustrations at the LOCAL level, Conservatives who celebrated their oppression received a NATIONAL version of “Stop and Frisk.” Again, these are only examples. Therefore, if we wish to see our Movement expand, we must remember to sow good seed so we generate a good harvest. We Must Master These Spiritual Laws to See Great Results Spiritual laws remain at the forefront of the Conscious Conservative Movement. We won’t do anything to violate these laws, because we don’t want to receive the consequences that come from it. As you seek to empower your own republic, remember to apply the principles that lead to your social, political, and economic success. If we learn to master these laws, we will see tremendous results in our families, homes, communities, and nation.
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