The Black Church: A Commercialized Institution; Spiritually Deficient Socially Disconnected and Economically Powerless I am a post doctorial student, writing this Op-Ed piece from the epicenter of America’s Organized Religion, the Buckle of the South’s Bible Belt, Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas. I’m a Yankee academic transfer who completed my last years of a PhD program at Southern Methodist University (SMU) Law School. During my educational mission, I parked my mind for a time at Duke University Divinity School where I enrolled into Dr. J. Kameron Carter’s Theology and Black Church Studies. What I absorbed from the courses of study and research, greatly heighten and enhanced my spiritual sensibilities, enabling me to contrast the Eurocentric interpretations of Biblical history with Gayraud Stephen Wilmore’s Black Religion and Black Radicalism” and James Cone’s Black Theology & Black Power. While swirling around in structural racism’s vortexes of racial discrimination, economic deprivation, political disenfranchisement and institutional injustice, Black “Christians” on a weekly basis are subjected to spiritually and socially disconnected sermons; delivered by ministers and pastors that are Biblically, Spiritually and Intellectually disjointed and thus, discombobulated. Many of the Black ministers and pastors are skillful theatrical and drama persons with pre-scripted messages designed to captivate for a brief moment, the spiritual imaginations of their parishioners. At end of their performances, their congregations leave the sanctuary on emotional highs. However, they’re still lacking the infusion of spiritual subsistence and the awareness of the social cancers of self-destruction. Hiding behind the legal status of a 501-C (3) non-profit and tax exempt organization, in 2015, ”The Black Church” is now more than ever, a commercialized institution that is spiritually deficient, socially dysfunctional and economically, powerless. The 501-C (3) status has resulted in many Black minters and preachers being at odds with the Master Teacher of The Universe, Yeshuaa Ben Yosef: Jesus Christ. Jesus was deeply and broadly political. Jesus wasnt concern about the rules and laws that were established by Pilate and the Roman Government. Jesus was an activist teacher by way of demonstration. Jesus demonstrated activism placed him far beyond just praying, hymn readings and the quoting of the Word of God. Jesus demonstrated that his faith without his works would have counted for nothing in the eyes of God. Reverend T.D. Jakes of Potters House has become an extremely portly, rich and successful man via his brand of commercialized religion. Hustling religion through the mouthing of the Word of God is the best paying Gig throughout Black America. Black folk’s by the thousands are being bamboozled to believe that their salvation is depended upon being obedient solely to Gods ‘mortal messengers in the likes of Jakes, Osteen, Dollar, Long, etc. Yet, the horrific dehumanizing economic, social, institutional and political conditions of Black people have not changed significantly in Dallas, Texas and indeed throughout Black America since April, 1968. The Merchants of Religion, fly around the country in private jets, and on the road stay in five star presidential hotel suites, living in the most upscale neighborhoods in America, drive and own upscale vintage automobiles, wear tailored made suits and shoes and many have diamond and gold rings on every finger, as well as, having unlimited expense accounts. They are much more followers of Reverend Ike than Jesus Christ. The horrific plight of Black America 2015, cries out for Black ministers and preachers to shift from theatrical preaching to the teaching of critical analysis and thinking to their congregations. Black ministers and preachers must teach sermons with embedded theological plans on how to deal with white supremacy and its structural racism. How can the church claim they are following the teachings of Jesus, but refuse to take on oppressive, modern day Pharaohs? As 2015 begins, the horrific state of Black America boldly under scores the fact that Black America’s politicians, ministers and pastors are fearful of challenging America’s policies and practices of structural racism, because many are the recipients of financial crumbs provided by the same people that have the heels of their boots firmly planted on the necks of many Black Americans. I recommend that all Black ministers, preachers, teachers and yes, even politicans read S. G. F. Brandon’s book: Jesus and the Zealots: A Study of the Political Factor in Primitive Christianity J. H. Clark
Posted on: Mon, 05 Jan 2015 04:42:40 +0000
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