• Latest
  • Trending
Hands Up Prayer

Problems With the Black Church

June 20, 2019
Twitter user posted image of Jesus sitting next to Donald Trump in court

Trump Shares Fake Courtroom Sketch of Himself and White Jesus; Users Respond With ‘Fixed’ Versions of Satan, Black Jesus

October 3, 2023
iraq wedding fire

Wedding Fire That Killed More Than 100 in Iraqi Christian Community Prompts Letter From Pope

October 2, 2023
Pastor Albert Tate has been placed on a leave of absence by his church board for inappropriate text messages and questionable comments

Fellowship Monrovia Church Puts Pastor Albert Tate on Leave Over ‘Inappropriate’ Text Messages

October 2, 2023
Marla Frederick

Religion Scholar Marla Frederick Is First Black Woman to Lead Harvard Divinity School in 200 Years

September 30, 2023
faith leaders

‘God Will Work a Miracle’ — Thousands of Foreign-Born Faith Leaders Could Be Forced to Leave US

September 30, 2023
teacher classroom students

What Black Teachers Face Today Isn’t Much Different From What They Faced During Segregation

September 29, 2023
woman on mic

Professor Charrise Barron Talks Teaching Protest Music’s Evolution From Gospel to Hip-Hop

September 28, 2023
Julie Chen Moonves

‘Big Brother’ Host Julie Chen Moonves Tells How She ‘Found Jesus’

September 27, 2023
Asian Americans

Fear of Ridicule, Desire to Fit In Prompt Some Asian Americans to Partly Hide Heritage

September 27, 2023
laptop

Evangelical Organization Launches ‘Racial Justice Assessment’ Tool

September 27, 2023
megachurches

Are New Jersey’s Megachurches the Answer to the Crisis of Christianity?

September 27, 2023
Christian rapper Dee-1

Rapper Dee-1 Starts Artist/Scholar Residency at Tufts University After Nabbing Nasir Jones Fellowship at Harvard

September 26, 2023
Faithfully Magazine
  • Members
    • Log In
    • Member Home
    • See All Members
    • What’s New
    • Start or Join a Group
    • Your Freebies
Subscribe
No Result
View All Result
  • About
    • Advertise
    • Submit Content
    • Contact Us
    • Give Via PayPal
  • Exclusives
  • Q&As
  • Specials
  • NJ News
  • Listen & Watch
  • Shop
    • Faith Heroes Bookmarks
    • Clothing
    • eBooks
  • Events
    • Community Events
    • FM Live Q&As
  • Resources
    • Black Christian Content
  • Newsletter
Cart / $0.00

No products in the cart.

  • About
    • Advertise
    • Submit Content
    • Contact Us
    • Give Via PayPal
  • Exclusives
  • Q&As
  • Specials
  • NJ News
  • Listen & Watch
  • Shop
    • Faith Heroes Bookmarks
    • Clothing
    • eBooks
  • Events
    • Community Events
    • FM Live Q&As
  • Resources
    • Black Christian Content
  • Newsletter
No Result
View All Result
Faithfully Magazine
Home Faithfully Magazine

Problems With the Black Church

Jonathan Holmes by Jonathan Holmes
June 20, 2019
in Faithfully Magazine, Inspiration
Reading Time: 4 mins read
0
Hands Up Prayer

(Photo: Cristian Newman/Unsplash)

184
SHARES
ShareTweetPin It

Not all Christians think, pray, and worship the same. This is evident across cultures, regions, and denominations, from the High Church choirs in suburban America, to the charismatic worship in neighborhoods in major metropolitan cities. Many Christians celebrate different worship styles as recognition of the rich diversity in the kingdom of God. Others uphold their preferences in worship as most holy, while denouncing other styles as heretical.

One of the most notable cultural divides in American religion is found in the distinctions between the Black Church and the White church. Aside from historical practices that made racial segregation a social norm and that defined many churches, one of the most depicted distinctions between the Black Church and White church is the style and level of emphasis on worship. Stereotypically speaking, Black churches are known to be more lively in their praise and worship services and more conversational in preaching. White churches, on the other hand, are thought to be less charismatic in worship and more lecture-based in sermons. Of course, these distinctions are based on generalizations, as different denominations, Black or White, can be more or less charismatic and lively.

Yet, what society understands as distinctions between Black and White churches has mirrored understandings of blackness and whiteness overall, and reinforced power dynamics that demonize Black culture while upholding White culture as normal. Black churches, for all that they are celebrated for, are often demonized for being less sophisticated and theologically sound than White churches. Furthermore, Black churches are too often portrayed in the media as being entertainment centers rather than spiritual spaces.

In college, I got to know several African American students who were interested in going into ministry. In talking to them, many critiqued their Black Church upbringing, suggesting that it lacked real spiritual depth and that their styles of preaching and practice were good for entertainment, but bad for spiritual growth. Furthermore, many pointed out the spiritual and moral flaws of Black preachers as evidence of the failures of the Black Church. Aside from the obvious fallacy in equating personal moral failures as synonymous with Black churches, many of these critiques were based on a Eurocentric analysis of what makes church theology sound. In addition, the sentiments of many of these Black students expose some of the misconceptions of the Black Church that are perpetrated by the media.

RelatedArticles

Chris Broussard and Matthew Daniels

Responding With Restorative Justice

July 28, 2023
holding a globe

‘A Just Mission’ Is Only Dangerous When You Don’t Know How to Listen

April 4, 2023

What follows are two major misconceptions about Black churches.

Black preachers and churches lack morals

The media too often portrays Black preachers as being buffoons, sexually promiscuous, and money hustlers. One of the best examples of this is the show “Preachers of L.A.,” which aired from 2013-2014. The show was criticized for many things, including the negative and damning portrayal of Black preachers. At best, programs like “Preachers of L.A.” single out the exposure of the flaws of Black churches and at worst paint Black churches and preachers as completely morally bankrupt.

Like “mainstream” White churches, Black churches represent the communities they serve and speak to the pain and suffering of their congregation and the broader community. They represent the sins of the world as well as the strengths of God’s people. They are not any different from White churches in regards to the severity of their sins or the fatality of their flaws, but are unique as safe community places for members who have felt hopeless and rejected by society because of their blackness.

Black churches lack theological depth

Even without the severe sensational-ism of the media on the immorality of Black preachers, there is a perception that Black churches are not deep theologically and in-stead are useful merely for entertainment. Black Gospel music singers like Kirk Franklin consistently sell out albums, but Black preachers are rarely seen as true spiritual leaders. Gospel choirs turn out large crowds for entertainment purposes, but rarely are Black theologians taken seriously and studied for spiritual growth.

Similar to that of society overall, Black people are valued for their entertainment marketability, but not taken seriously intellectually or spiritually. When people list great spiritual theologians, they name White thinkers like Dietrich Bonhoeffer or C.S. Lewis, who both possessed brilliance and spiritual depth, but are not the full representatives of the great theologians of their time. One of the great Black theologians that gets constantly over-looked is Howard Thurman, whose writings have influenced social movements and understandings of spiritual disciplines.

These misconceptions are based on sweeping generalizations that mirror the narratives surrounding African Americans in our broader society including being uneducated, immoral, and mere entertainers. Furthermore, these viewpoints of Black church-es ignore the historical and contemporary richness that Black churches in America have exhibited.

In the book Oneness Embraced: Reconciliation, the Kingdom, and How We are Stronger Together, Pastor Tony Evans argues that the Black Church has offered one of the clearest examples of biblical Christianity in American religion because the history of racism and oppression forced the Black Church to deal with and find solace in and solidarity with Scripture. Persecution forces Christians to find a special understanding and connection with scriptures, which is why Christians in the Middle East have a unique understanding of, and connection with Christ.

The Black Church should be celebrated and recognized for its value in contributing to and impacting American Christianity and for being an institution that has energized and sustained Black communities for centuries. It has given communities hope and inspired trust in God when the apartheid state of America told them they were of little value, and raised up a generation of deeply committed followers of Christ. The Black Church has true value and we should recognize it as an integral and influential part of the Christian experience in America.

Leave your vote

-1 Points
Upvote

Browse and manage your votes from your Member Profile Page


Share This Post

Share via

Share This Post

  • Digg
  • Tumblr
  • Flipboard
  • SMS
More
  • Report
Advertisement
Ancestry US
184
SHARES
ShareTweetPin It
Jonathan Holmes

Jonathan Holmes

Jonathan Holmes is a contributor for Faithfully Magazine. He lives in Chicago with his wife and daughter and is actively engaged in urban ministry and community engagement.

More Articles

hate crime
Crime

More Than 100 Fed Agencies Fail to Report Hate Crimes to FBI Database

June 27, 2017
Machen and Wilson Princeton
Churches

J. Gresham Machen, Woodrow Wilson, and Attempts to Erase Black Presence at Princeton

November 3, 2018
Closed Doors, Fake Smiles and the Night I Cancelled My Wedding
Inspiration

Closed Doors, Fake Smiles and the Night I Cancelled My Wedding

May 15, 2017

Discussion about this post

Upcoming Events

Oct 5
1:00 pm - 6:00 pm EDT

Event: Black Religion and Critical Theory Colloquium

Oct 10
7:00 am - 11:30 pm EDT

Event: Free Virtual Church Mental Health Summit

View Calendar

Trending

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Tony Evans and Carla Crummie engaged to be married

Dr. Tony Evans Engaged to Former Pastor’s Wife and Widow Four Years After Lois Evans’ Death

September 12, 2023
Pastor Albert Tate has been placed on a leave of absence by his church board for inappropriate text messages and questionable comments

Fellowship Monrovia Church Puts Pastor Albert Tate on Leave Over ‘Inappropriate’ Text Messages

October 2, 2023
faith leaders

‘God Will Work a Miracle’ — Thousands of Foreign-Born Faith Leaders Could Be Forced to Leave US

September 30, 2023
Jemar Tisby Color of Compromise

‘Color of Compromise’ Author Jemar Tisby Comments on Quitting Kendi’s Antiracism Center Amid Probe

September 23, 2023
Marla Frederick

Religion Scholar Marla Frederick Is First Black Woman to Lead Harvard Divinity School in 200 Years

September 30, 2023
Christian Cultural Center

5 Largest Churches in New York City

May 29, 2018
Twitter user posted image of Jesus sitting next to Donald Trump in court

Trump Shares Fake Courtroom Sketch of Him and White Jesus; Users Respond With ‘Fixed’ Versions of Satan, Black Jesus

October 3, 2023
iraq wedding fire

Wedding Fire That Killed More Than 100 in Iraqi Christian Community Prompts Letter From Pope

October 2, 2023
Pastor Albert Tate has been placed on a leave of absence by his church board for inappropriate text messages and questionable comments

Fellowship Monrovia Church Puts Pastor Albert Tate on Leave Over ‘Inappropriate’ Text Messages

October 2, 2023
Marla Frederick

Religion Scholar Marla Frederick Is First Black Woman to Lead Harvard Divinity School in 200 Years

September 30, 2023
faith leaders

‘God Will Work a Miracle’ — Thousands of Foreign-Born Faith Leaders Could Be Forced to Leave US

September 30, 2023
teacher classroom students

What Black Teachers Face Today Isn’t Much Different From What They Faced During Segregation

September 29, 2023

Most Shared Articles

  • Can Money-Making Microgrids Empower Black Churches to Close the Clean Energy Gap?...
  • Dr. Tony Evans Engaged to Former Pastor’s Wife and Widow Four Years After Lois Evans’ Death...
  • Kirk Franklin Finally Finds His Birth Father After 53 Years...
  • Christians Plea for Prayer, Help Amid Haiti’s Surging Gang Violence...
  • ‘Color of Compromise’ Author Jemar Tisby Comments on Quitting Kendi’s Antiracism C...
  • New and Upcoming Books: ‘Sacred Self-Care,’ ‘Unwind,’ ‘Damaged But Not...

From The Archive

Evangelical pastor Paula White and several other Christian leaders pray for President-elect Donald Trump in this screengrab from a Sept. 2015 YouTube video
Uncategorized

Pro-Trump Pastor: Porn Star Affair ‘Totally Irrelevant’

by FM Editors
March 10, 2018
Pastor Jean Pierre Ferrer Michel.
Clippings

This American Pastor Was Abducted in Haiti Weeks Ago, But No One’s Really Talking About It

by FM Editors
October 24, 2021
Dana Chanel and husband Prince Donnell
Clippings

Sprinkle of Jesus Founder Dana Chanel Accused of Scamming Black Business Owners

by FM Editors
November 5, 2021
community
Health

How Living in Community With Others Can Improve Our Health

by Shawn McClendon
July 27, 2019
phone call
Clippings

Pastor Who Spoke With ‘Facebook Killer’ Vows to Keep Conversation Private

by FM Editors
April 19, 2017

Who’s Online

There are no users currently online
Facebook Twitter Youtube Instagram
Faithfully Magazine

Faithfully Magazine is a news and culture publication centered on Christian communities of color.

Recent News

  • Trump Shares Fake Courtroom Sketch of Himself and White Jesus; Users Respond With ‘Fixed’ Versions of Satan, Black Jesus

Category

© 2023 Faithfully Media, LLC (Owner and Operator)

  • From The Magazine
  • Inspiration
  • News
  • Opinion & Analysis
  • Profiled
  • Q&As
  • Remember
  • Specials
  • New Jersey
  • Listen & Watch
  • Web Exclusives
  • Shop
    • Clothing
    • Faith Heroes Bookmarks
    • eBooks
  • Events
    • FM Live Events
    • Community Events
  • Resources
    • Black Christian Content
  • About Us
    • Advertise With Us
    • Submit Content
    • Give Via PayPal
  • Members
    • Log In
    • Your Freebies
  • Subscribe to Faithfully Magazine
  • Newsletter
No Result
View All Result

© 2023 Faithfully Media, LLC (Owner and Operator)

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms bellow to register

*By registering on our website, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
Share via

Share This Post

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Reddit
  • Email
  • WhatsApp
  • Copy Link
  • Tumblr
  • Digg
  • Flipboard
  • SMS

Add New Playlist

Log In

Sign In

Login with Facebook
Login with Twitter
Forgot password?

Don't have an account? Register

Forgot password?

Enter your account data and we will send you a link to reset your password.

Back to Login

Your password reset link appears to be invalid or expired.

Log in

Privacy Policy

Accept

Add to Collection

  • Public collection title

  • Private collection title

No Collections

Here you'll find all collections you've created before.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?
Send this to a friend