Black Liberation Churches?

[5Knowledge1913]

Originally Posted by TonyB06

Welcome back, Cushite,

I think the primary purpose of the black church is the preaching of the Gospel and the saving of souls. Secondarily, it’s about how to live more abundant lives while we remain here – more abundant spiritually, socially, economically, politically, which is where the “liberation” part comes in.

I found the “accomodationist” and “entertainment” working definitions too rigid. Cannot an “entertaining” church also urge its members to vote, to work for better community schools, and reinvest in its own community? While these “styles” may take root in some places, I think it’s more the fact that people come from varying walks of life, so, if they’re doing anything besides a drive-by on Sunday morning, then their resultant work in the church will reflect that. What draws people to a church varies with the people themselves. For some it’s “the family church” for others maybe it was a ministry that met a need at a critical point in life. Who knows?

Because I don’t think the black church is any more monolithic than the black community itself, I don’t know how much credence can be given to the claim of a direct attack on the black church. Mainstream media has yet to accurately gauge and reflect black culture. It is perpetually a beat slow, yet always claiming to lead the band. (nothing new there.)

Whether the preaching style is fiery and confrontational or professorial and analytical, if you’re about yours (II Tim 2:15), then the preaching style is just a matter of what you like. I’m the grandson of a Baptist preacher/Pastor and have seen many styles. The key is not the delivery, but the message. And how that message, properly interpreted, delivered, and received in the pews, inspires people to live, and work, after the benediction.

I totally agree. The church that I belong to now as well as the church that I grew up in has always challenged its members to be involved in the community and to say what you mean and mean what you say.

If a messanger from God were to curtail his message because of fear of what others may say about them, then they would not be doing their job or living up to their call from God. I mean, people thought that Jesus was crazy and didn't agree with what he said and he is the Son of God.

I really don't see this "black liberation theology" as something new. Of course, people take notice to things when you give them a fancy title, but within my community, the church has been the biggest advocate of the community and expressing what it is to be black in America.

[Little32]

Originally Posted by 5Knowledge1913

I really don't see this "black liberation theology" as something new. Of course, people take notice to things when you give them a fancy title, but within my community, the church has been the biggest advocate of the community and expressing what it is to be black in America.

I don't think that it is anything new either, but rather something that has had it's roots in the earliest experiences of African descended people in America. What is new, or at least in a new cycle is white America's most recent collective exposure to it. In a few years, when this comes up, again, people will pretend like they have never heard of it and don't understand it, again. You know this country loves its amnesia.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by Little32

I don't think that it is anything new either, but rather something that has had it's roots in the earliest experiences of African descended people in America. What is new, or at least in a new cycle is white America's most recent collective exposure to it. In a few years, when this comes up, again, people will pretend like they have never heard of it and don't understand it, again. You know this country loves its amnesia.

Indeed.

This reminds me of how the Irish conveniently forget the history behind how hard they worked to be considered "white" and used the Catholic church, in addition to labor unions and the Democratic Party, to do so. Churches have always been used for purposes beyond religion, especially for minority groups (which includes the Irish when they were considered "white Negroes" before they assimilated into "whiteness") who needed a safe outlet and network source where none were available.

However, I feel that The Church's role in the Black Community has shifted as other outlets are available to us. It still has an important role but it's not as central to every aspect of our lives as it used to be. The role of the institution changed even if the role of spirituality hasn't. I have never attended a church that has beaten the congregation over the head with social issues and politics. The church I was raised in had some of the most influential blacks in the congregation, including politicians. We were told to vote and to serve the community. We had discussions of health issues and so forth. Never lectures on social issues like sexual orientation or speeches about politics beyond saying stuff like "pray for our country and for our President." The pastor assumed that an educated congregation with opportunities and access to information doesn't need the same guidance and resources that blacks have needed from The Church in the past.