Ministry News

Not THE Black Church

Details: Friday, 28 August 2009 13:53

QUOTE: “My negative feelings about the term 'the black church' is not in response to the word black. Rather it is in response to the word the. Whenever someone waxes eloquent about 'the' black church I want to ask them which black church they mean. … Today we have all kinds of black churches. Many of these churches function within the holistic tradition of relevant, prophetic ministry. But many black churches shun their historical legacy and have pursued directions that not only deny their heritage but actually exhibit a disdain for it. These churches accept the benefits of the black religious tradition—such as higher rates of church attendance by black people than other ethnic groups—while abandoning the focus on uplifting black people not only spiritually but also educationally and economically. … The genius of the black experience is that our forebears were able to use the very tool that was the primary means of oppression—Christian religion—and use it as a primary means of liberation. There are many black churches that are faithful to that legacy and are addressing the temporal and eternal needs of their members and communities. But there are many others—some very prominently featured in various media—that have allowed their pastors to function much more like pimps than prophets and servants. So when you hear the term 'the black church,' please ask the question, 'Which black church do you mean?'" —DeForest B. Soaries Jr., senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens in Somerset, N.J. [thegrio.com, 8/19/09]

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Comments

+1 #12 Church Coach 2009-09-08 04:36

Pimps in the pulpit is not a new phenominon. If fact, there has always been a group of pastors who have victimized their congregations. We only have to look at local churches who are more concerned with how their pastor "stacks up" against other local pastors regarding the car he/she drives, house he/she lives in and the number of people in his/her church. Unfortunately, this happens across the racial spectrum. The author rightly states that the "Black CHurch", that is the local church that is attended by and cared for by a primarily African AMerican community.

Diversity is God made and ordained, DIVISION because of diversity is not. Let us not get caught up in black/white churches, let us simple recognized that not everybody is called to every people group.

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0 #11 Rickie Bradshaw 2009-09-01 16:20

Pimping the Church - Now thats a powerful description of the role of the pastor.

As a pastor and a church consultant in an association of 660 churches that are lead by pastors from over 30 different ethnic groups in a city where there are over 180 languages spoken and over 300 ethnic and languistic groups, I find it very difficult to see the church as one church, but in actuality, the Lord always see's us as One Church, His Church, In Houston He see's one Church, the Church of Houston, which is made up of many congregations. In fact there are 5000 congregations in Houston but only one church from God's view. The Lord values a diverse Church because He made it diverse or allowed it. The problem is that men do not value diversity so we now have many churches made up of many congregations. Am I making any sense to anybody.

Well back to pimping the church. I guess that makes the members of the church prosti... I can't say the word, but you know what I mean
Pastor b

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0 #10 d l talley 2009-08-30 06:34

"The genius of the black experience is that our forebears were able to use the very tool that was the primary means of oppression—Christian religion—and use it as a primary means of liberation." Troubling. The man called Christian religion "the very tool of oppression" and "a primary means of liberation." All man-made religion is oppressive (Col. 2). Christ Jesus painted a different picture, and His palette contains all colors while ascribing greatness to none.
"The genius" of any of man's ways? Let it not be said, especially to contend for hateful division.
"Let brotherly love continue." We are all brothers and sisters in Him and through Him.
"I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment."

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+1 #9 Howard Barrow 2009-08-29 18:44

name="Howard Barrow"]If everyone just take a look at what Pastor Parrish wrote, then we would all have a better understanding of the word CHURCH. The church is the bride of Christ, and all of the individual gatherings are congregations within the church. When we say Black, White or anything other than Christian, then we are referring to the place of worship. Thank you so much Pastor Parrish.

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0 #8 Howard Barrow 2009-08-29 05:47

If everyone just take a look at what Pastor Parrish wrote, then we would all have a better understanding of the word CHURCH. The church is the bride of Christ, and all of the individual gatherings are congregations within the church. When we say Black, White or anything other than Christian, then we are referring to the place of worship. Thank you so much Pastor Parrish.

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+1 #7 Carlos 2009-08-28 12:54

There is only one church. End of discussion.

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+3 #6 Rev. Raymond Walters 2009-08-28 10:36

I can respect others points of view regarding this article,but I must wholeheartedly agree with Pastor Soaries. I have observed and experienced the cliques[Black & White] that seek to keep the "staus quo" and contribute nothing to helping build/ educate the members who make up the local congregation.
As for there being only one church, that IS how it should be but rarely gets that way. I have noticed that scripture tends to be clear for those who seek to pay attention, yet the easiest things in the world are the most difficult for people to actually do!

The Reverend Raymond Walters
Raymond Walters Ministries
Bethany, West Virginia

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+1 #5 Pastor Joe 2009-08-28 09:34

Please pray for the perception of Pastor Soaries. His opinions of "the black church" is what happens when we foucs primarily on the church and not the Kingdom of God.

In addition, a church who continues to refer to themselves as a "black church", is usually a church that continues to identify themselves by their struggles rather than their freedom.

Hold on to the story but let go the pain. By God's grace, let freedom ring.

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+1 #4 Pastor Joe 2009-08-28 09:32

Please pray for the perception of Pastor Soaries. His opinions of "the black church" is what happens when we foucs primarily on the church and the Kingdom of God.

In addtion, a church who continues to refer to themselves as a "black church", is usually a church that continues to identify themselves by their struggles rather than their freedom.

Hold on to the story but let go the pain. By God's grace, let freedom ring.

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