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Over the years I've heard many Black men (especially in the inner-cities) express distrust for the Black church. Some feel as if the houses of worship (leadership) are simply hustling people to get money. Often, young Black men look at the spiritual leadership's homes, cars, or lifestyle and see material things that appear to be similar to other people that they view as hustlers in their communities. It seems like any story of a spiritual leaders fall from grace fuels these thoughts/ belief. How can we as a family get our younger brothers back into the churches, mosques, temples, etc..? The easy answer is to expect the young brothers to see the light and go on their own...but since that's not happening what else can be done?
Posted By: Dr. Ahmad Glover
Friday, August 1st 2008 at 3:56PM
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I have two thoughts on the issue. First, pastors, whether black or white, are in ministry and pimping the people of Christ is a big sin. Woe unto them that pimp Christ's sheep for their own lusts. But another thought that occurred to me is that people's minds have been pimped. Promises of riches on this earth beyond measure leads to false hope. The goodness of God doesn't not mean that you'll always receive material blessings. Sometimes the blessings are in the form of discipline, forgiveness, etc.
See, when our young brothers walk into a church and see the pastor blessed with material things, there is more than likely this promise, "What God has done for me He'll do for you." They don't add that God is not wasteful. If you're a poor steward over your finances then why should God add an abundance of loot to your wallet.
Secondly, I see nothing wrong with a pastor living well especially if he's in a FULL-TIME ministry, and is a wise steward. What I have a problem with is:
- The church buying the pastor a new car every year when more than half of the tithe paying members are catching the bus
- When the church pays for an airplane and the only people allowed to use it is the pastor
What has to happen is honesty in the church. God is a full of mercy and grace, but He's also a God of wrath. I'm tired of hearing preachers a huffin' and puffin' about the blessings of God when the other side of God is ignored. Like the sides of individual responsibility, chastisement, and being a Doer of the Word.
Friday, August 1st 2008 at 5:25PM
Caroline Wilson
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First off in speaking with younger black men, this issue is two fold, first many churches speak on WHAT GOD did and not WHAT IS HE DOING NOW. The second is a plain and simple fact, most younger black men today don't have real true life role models, either thier father wasn't around or never took the time to teach how a personal relationship is with God and Jesus is vital and important. Let's face it today most black children (MALES ESPECIALLY) feel they know everything! They don't. It's very hard to be real and open today because your efforts are mostly always overshadowed by sensational press. The plain fact is today's negative things are what is viewed as news worthy. Look at the Catholic church and the number of homos*xual ministers that have ruined young men by s*xual assaults! This is the very same church that has the power to dismiss certain books that DO belong in the bible! But enough of that. The cold fact that I have come to realize is you can't help anyone if they don't want help. Our main problem is today we seek quick gratification, why work 40 hours when you can make more money on a corner than you can doing it legally? Then we have the young brothers out there hating on any and everything! Killing people over tennis shoes and jewlry. At times I truly think this world is beyond our repair and only Jesus coming back can right the wrongs of so many years. People should just be more open and go to church for what they get, only if they open up and be a true reciever to God's messages and teachings. IMHO......
Friday, August 1st 2008 at 6:40PM
Russell Penman
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It's all a matter of finding the right church that you believe will always have your best interests in mind. This just relates to the simple fact that not everyone is good.
Saturday, August 2nd 2008 at 1:16PM
Kevin Cook
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The Bible tells us that our hearts is where our treaure lies... a lot of us have our hearts in our wallets, no two ways around it. Men, especially are bound to be a bit cynical when it comes to separating them from the money they worked hard for. If you're unsure of how a ministry spends its' money, then, the choice is clear, don't contribute to it!
Look for a ministry that is financially accoutable to its' members. How can you tell? Well, as in the case of one large ministry in California, they print out a financial report and send it to ALL the members. Other ministries sind members statements of contributios made for tax purposes. Why? because doantions made to your church are tax deductable. Amd a resposible ministry would want its' members to get their money back for making charitable contributions!
Saturday, August 2nd 2008 at 4:21PM
r.e jones
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First of all, these preachers & leaders are human, not super-human. The same flaws and short comings we have...they have. It is what I call the Messiah Complex, we have been taught to believe it takes one person to make a movement or lead us out of darkness. So we wait on that one person. Even Jesus had his support, because it takes a community.
Second of all, to a lot of people ... not just brothers ... church seems like a business or hustle at times with the way some institution carry themselves. To some preachers it is more important to lead souls to their pew, than to salvation and righteousness. If I put myself in a young man's place in the street, dealing with game all day long...it would sound like game to me too. There needs to be more importance on spiritual healing and less about when are you coming to my church young brother. If I am a cat in the street, what is coming to your church going to do for me? How many churches have services that do more than talk ideals? To me that is only part of the job.
Wednesday, August 6th 2008 at 12:10AM
Shanise B.
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My roots does not fall in the line of Christianity and this white jesus the black community has fallen in love with. I am Hebrew and only worship my god, YAHWEEH. It is easy understood why the young reject this false religion and it is a fact that young people can easily see the truth and lies of this society and then we try to physic and scare them into believing this false god. We are chasing this false material god that only leads us into destruction. Lood at all the black that have been label, mental ill, in prison, aids, dead etc. That's all I got to say about the subject matter. I am HEBREW, in the world but not off the world. peace and love.
Wednesday, August 6th 2008 at 8:15AM
phil marlow
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