By Vincent L. Hall
It may be a tad bit early, and I don’t want to violate Black culture, rudimentary norms, or traditions, especially CP Time…But! I think it’s time y’all start making your way back to Church.
As grandmother would say, “if it don’t rain and the creek don’t rise, we got work to do.”
Let me suggest you revisit that one resolution you made on January 1. You promised the Lawd and the demons who fight him that you were going to visit, join, or attend Church regularly. We are at mid-year, and based on all the mayhem and misery we are witnessing, we all need a spiritual headquarters.
Start going to Church or go to Church regularly. “Work out your soul salvation,” as the old Preacher would admonish new members. Go to your Synagogues, Mosques, or wherever your spirit leads you; Just go!
My Pastor, Dr. Freddy Haynes, says, “If it’s right to be in church, it’s wrong to be out.” IJS
It’s not just me. There are hundreds of millions of dollars being spent to transmit this same message. If you watch television, even randomly, you see ads from Jesus.Cares.com. Their ads feature people who are frustrated with life and see no good ending. The Jesus.Cares.com website has a church locator and several ports of encouragement.
This website even offers a “chat line.”
“Even at this moment, Jesus cares. Chat Now with someone who cares! That’s a helluva offering for a culture that openly says it doesn’t give a damn about you or your opinion. Most of us need a couch, a counselor, and a character-building session more than we are willing to admit.
At one time, a site called “Rethink.Church.com” signaled the United Methodist Church’s attempt to bring church attendance back. They offer “church” as a combatant against depression, social maladies, and estrangement from God and organized Christianity.
The UMC is known for being socially progressive. It was not perfect, but it was equally determined by the Catholic Church to form melting pot memberships and missions. Both denominations work to desegregate what Dr. King called the most segregated hour in America: Sunday at 11 a.m.
Meanwhile, the Southern Baptists are fighting the notion and naming of women as Pastors. The Constitutional ban that would have locked estrogen out of the testosterone-dominated pulpits of primarily white evangelical churches failed, but not by much. Between that kind of misogyny and their elevation of Trumpism, they need Jesus!
Spiritually, especially for Black folks, the Church is an enriching and engaging enterprise. Socially, the Church has historically been our sole refuge. The first plats and plantings of property we ever corporately owned were our churches. Every victory we won, and every consolation prize we value bears the mark of the Black Church.
One of the greatest pastors of this nation and this city, the late Dr. Manuel Scott Sr., explained what Church means to our struggle in one of the rare YouTube videos bearing his image.
“White folks… not all of them, but many of our oppressors made a big mistake. They kept us out of school and worked us in the fields. They kept us out of political office and out of good jobs.
But they made a tactical mis- take. They let us go to Church!!!
They let us meet Jesus. They let us read this Bible. And it looked like we as a people should have been out of business. But Jesus gave us survival strength. From Monday to Saturday, they would put a heavy load on us. But on Sunday morning we sang” I’m so glad that trouble don’t last always!” It’s not my place or my point to force Christianity or religion on anyone, but faith as a weapon and vehicle works for us. So, find a church and get involved.
Don’t get caught up in all those false equivalencies about jive-ass preachers and judgmental parishioners.
Don’t let all the local rumors of “fallen men” blind you from your sin. God will take care of the wicked, which includes me and you. Don’t look for perfection. Just get in where you fit in!!
Black people identified their talents and spiritual gifts at Church. Our people learned business, politics, oratory skills, and musical prowess and established schools at Church. Our people learned how to “Watch, fight, and pray” at Church.
Quit procrastinating, go to Church!
A long-time Texas Metro News columnist, Dallas native Vincent L. Hall is an author, writer, award-winning writer, and a lifelong Drapetomaniac.
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