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(Editor´s note: This is part two of an article calling for heartfelt repentance from religion and true revival in the Lord´s churches!)
A true revival of hearts will cause black church leadership to repent from the bunker mentality formed in slavery and nurtured during the days of demoralizing segregation we still cling to. In those days, the church served socially outcast black Americans in offering shelter from an oppressive, hate-filled white society and opportunities for social interaction. That was then, this is now!
We are now over three generations out of slavery and off the plantation; one generation from segregation severe enough to hinder our participation in most any activity in America. God may have winked at king and queen contests and the like in times past, but no more (Acts 17:30). We have serious self-inflicted wounds the "old time religion" and its traditions cannot heal, but that the true power and fellowship of the Gospel can (Acts 2:40-47)!
"Behold, the Lord´s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear," (Isaiah 59:1-2, NKJV). God Most High, the Judge of all men says it is our sins that are killing us as a first priority, not anything the government or our white neighbors are doing! He has the power all by Himself to save our people, but sin rampant and unrestrained in and outside of the churches stays His hand!
Instead of repentance in all brokenness that seeks the Lord for forgiveness in true revival, pastors corrupted by sin tolerate all manner of sinful living and evil practices in the churches. In accord with the Lord Jesus´ indictment of pharisaic Judaism, manmade religion loosely based on Christianity that denies God´s power in rank unbelief is the chief sin committed in our churches (Matthew 15:10-20, 23:1-26). How pervasive is this unbelief? Did you cringe in disbelief at my obvious idealistic, unrealistic and naive state of mind as you read my statement above, "He has the power all by Himself to save our people? "That´s how pervasive it is (Psalm 146; Hebrews 3:5-19)!
Religion kills because it causes men to rely upon, trust and be confident in themselves rather than God! How many times did the Lord Jesus rebuke His disciples for their lack of faith (see for example, Matthew 8:23-27)? Have we forgotten, "Without faith it is impossible to please Him," (Hebrews 11:6a, NKJV)? It is not enough to believe there is a God. "Even the demons believe, and tremble," (James 2:19b, NKJV)! But those who are saved "believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him," (Hebrews 11:6b, NKJV).
Religion spawned unbelief has led to the shame of churches that have pastors, deacons, other leaders and members living in open sin, shacking, gambling, drinking, drugging etc. Pastors of these churches attempt to manage them by so-called "negroology" (force of personality, strongarm tactics, manipulation, deception and compromise). They also delude themselves into believing our people can do no better! Is not this the same attitude displayed by those in the past who once enslaved us and among the many in education today that place our children in special education classes?
While no pastor can control the behavior of church members, we are not supposed to have any that are not born again to begin with! Religion and the prideful ambition to pack pews dupes us into believing sinners can be made saints by becoming members of and having a title in the church. No wonder there is open sin and constant turmoil to the point folks bring guns to church! Some who actually experience the new birth, remain weak from preaching and teaching that only stirs emotions rather than life change in the Spirit and often drift back into the streets with no one searching for them.
The net result of our churches blinded by the darkness of religion is that they are hardly in a position to preach the Gospel of repentance and salvation into a community that knows all too well the deeds of those preaching! "The hypocrites in the church" is not just an accusation to be dismissed as the excuse of sinners unwilling to attend, but a very true assessment of reality upheld by God Himself to our disgrace (Romans 2:17-24).
Hiding behind the facade of outward religiosity and safe in our isolated bunkers filled with the now frivolous traditions of generations past, many preachers pretend to advocate for the community in front of the media whenever there is a racial crisis. Afterward, they meet behind closed doors with secular power brokers to negotiate deals to help the community (and themselves). Some have made quite a name and gained much income for themselves as defenders of the black community.
However, they accept no responsibility for helping to facilitate the crisis of self-destruction in the community by not preaching the true Gospel or living and teaching those who are saved how to live God´s way in the Spirit (Romans 8:1-17, 13:1-14; Galatians 5:16-25). Truly, few of these freedom fighting champions of victimization are known also for their defense of the "faith which was once for all delivered to the saints," (Jude 3, NKJV). The Lord is not pleased (Ezekiel 34:1-10; Matthew 23:27-36).
To Be Continued Next Issue
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