Black Christian communities are typically God-fearing and Gospel-driven areas that nourish its members into becoming the perfected versions of themselves. Unfortunately, there are still some that uphold misogyny, patriarchy, homophobia and the like all masked as "boldly professing and practicing Biblical principles." Of course, many groups of people have distorted scriptures to fit their agenda, and some churches are not the exception. Black churches have been and continue to be upholders of dangerous systems that marginalize women.

The bodies of Black women are policed since their youth. The Black Church has participated in this scrutiny, especially the developing features of adolescent girls and young adults. If their hips are too wide or their backsides too rounded, they’re lectured on “being careful”. Little Black girls are rarely allowed to simply be. There are always someone’s insecurities and sins being projected onto them. Of course, every event has appropriate attire. However, it becomes an issue when a woman is greeted with a lap cloth rather than a hug. While it is understandable that church service should be a distraction-free event, it is not the woman wearing the above-knee skirt that is the problem, but the attitudes of those that enforce such a dress code.

Contemporary Christian communities also make the mistake of solely placing the expectations of sexual purity on women. There are an immeasurable amount of conferences, sermons and devotionals geared towards young, adult women teaching on sexual purity. However, there is very little content that speaks the same to their counterparts. Little to no ministers stand in the pulpit and address the importance of boys and young men waiting until marriage before sharing themselves with the opposite sex. Statistics show that the average male loses his virginity slightly earlier and have more sexual partners than the average female. With this information, it would be more understandable that boys would receive just as much, if not more, messages targeting them.  

Women are shamed if they become a mother before becoming a wife; however, men do not share that condemnation. As the saying goes, “it takes two to tango.” Women do not have sex with and create babies by themselves. There is not the same level of effort placed into preparing boys for fatherhood and marriage as there is preparing girls for motherhood and matrimony. Women are preached to about how to please their husbands and how to sustain their marriage. No one recommends the man to be “husband material”. The woman is asked to stay and honor her vows even if honoring those vows dishonors herself -- even if honoring those vows result in dishonoring God. Even when on the receiving end of abuse, adultery and neglect, the woman may be faced with the counsel that advises her to stay.

Oftentimes, scriptures such as Ephesians 5:21-33 are used to further support the agenda of patriarchy. The Bible does not instruct a man to rule over a woman. Neither does it direct a wife to obey her husband. The New Testament urges wives to 'submit' to their husband. The Greek word for 'submit' is to defer to someone respectfully and does not imply superiority. Obey, on the other hand, has a different Greek meaning, which is to listen under. Ironically, only one verse addresses women while the other verses within the listed scriptures address men.

The Church profits off women while minimizing how vital they are to its continuation. When most Black people speak of their religious beliefs and communities, "praying grandmothers" are a staple. These are the women that petition God’s throne on the behalf of their descendants pleading that He protects and pours His blessings upon them. If you listen to some of your favorite music artists’ songs, many of them credit their success and “second chances” to their grandmothers that loved them enough to mention their names during their communication with God.

Women are granted the privilege to be ushers, treasurers and announcers. However, many are forbidden to to stand or take a seat in that same pulpit. Many with this belief reference 1 Timothy 2:11-12 to support their statement. Their belief is that women cannot be preachers or pastors. Upon reading, it is easy to believe that this scripture supports marginalizing women; however that is not within context. The writer of 1 Timothy, Apostle Paul was merely expressing his point of view, which was a preference shaped by his cultural circumstances. During his time, patriarchal culture was the norm. Some scholars even argue that the scripture was simply Paul addressing an issue that specifically affected the congregation that he wrote the letter to.

In Old Testament times, sexism was unfortunately a cultural norm in most civilizations. By the time the NT was occurring, women held a prominent presence in their communities. God chose a woman as a vehicle to bring Jesus into the world. It was a woman that was granted the honor of first seeing Christ risen. Black women are the backbone of black churches although they have historically been prohibited from operating in leadership roles of the very communities that they have tirelessly contributed to.

There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. - Galatians 3:28

American Christianity has always prioritized men at the expense of women. It has a history of manipulating Bible scripture to fit their narrative of patriarchy. As a result, many young adults are leaving The Church. The unchurched and dechurched are no longer complicit or tolerating oppressive behaviors of places that they rely on in their times of need. It is the duty of men to put an end to patriarchy and misogyny since they are the persons that benefit from those systems.

Patriarchy in The Church is counterproductive and will eventually be the cancer that consumes itself. The Kingdom functions best when men and women are equally granted the same permissions and when they work together as equal partners to advance the community that they contribute to.

Conscious and Christian,

Simultaneously.

Couch critics and churchgoing believers alike can be hypercritical of all things when it comes to transitions within the black community. It is easy to get caught up in what seems like destructive criticism -- or the finger pointing that involves no problem solving. A brief surf on the web will result in multiple pages worth of 'think pieces' that pinpoint the many causes for delay of Black liberation. However, the black church seems to be the bullseye as of late.

The "black church" is a term used in reference to churches that have predominately Black congregations and clergy. It is common for people to speak of the Black church as one, single entity. However, it is the collection of churches that serve the Black community. Unfortunately, it has been and continues to be credited as one of the major wedges separating Black people from their true freedom. When one thinks of church, they imagine it as simply a place of worship. However, the black church has always been more than just that. It has been a rehabilitation center in more ways than just spiritual.

Although spiritual growth and development is a central focus of most places of worship, they are not the only priorities. The church has emphasized community organizing and anti-poverty efforts since its establishment. Black churches have done and continue to do a multitude of good deeds for their communities. Although they go unpublicized, they do not go unnoticed. It was Black churches that published newspapers, fundraised for schools and founded companies to counter poverty in their respective neighborhoods. It was also Black churches that provided safe spaces for orphanages and formed prison ministries. During times of confinement, the church provided financial support for bail. During a time of homelessness, the church was a refuge. Since the beginning of the fight, the Black church has not only been at the forefront but also a pillar of its community. In fact, Black preachers and Clergy women were the most identified with the Civil Rights Movement.

As who many consider the face of the Civil Rights Movement, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the most prominent ministers that also wore the hat of an activist. Not only did he deliver profound speeches, he also led boycotts, staged sit-ins and organized marches to make a difference. King co-founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, a nonprofit organization linked to the Civil Rights Movement, alongside Ralph Abernathy and others. Like King, Abernathy was an influential minister and activist that allowed his faith to be the fuel that ignited his fight for progression. They were also accompanied by Fred Shuttlesworth, who was also a minister that fought against racial bigotry and discrimination. Social issues were majorly a matter of segregation and other forms of racism, and the church stepped up to tackle those issues head first.

Today, churches are utilizing strategic methods to demolish each barrier that separates Black people from continuous progression. Those approaches include providing financial and spiritual support to members affected by an illness -- second only to biological family. They are hosting seminars focused on financial literacy. The church continues to bring awareness to health and wellness education. The church provides scholarships to college students in need. While Black mega churches receive much disapproval for their income, many of these churches build homes, recreation centers and numerous other community services. Many of these contributions have gone without a viral post and have been overshadowed by the less fortunate media coverage of Christians.

Perhaps the climate has changed drastically and the credibility of the church in the black community is becoming less significant. However, it is wrong to overlook the progress the church has contributed to. It is an inaccuracy to paint the Black Church to be a villain seeking to deceive and profit off of its community when history shows otherwise. Historically, the black church has been the most influential institution in the African American community and the two have mutually benefited from one another. The Black Church is certainly not without transgression; however, it is undeniably instrumental in the progression of the Black community.

Conscious and Christian,
Simultaneously.

• Dead Sea Scrolls - One of the greatest archaeological finds of the twentieth century is the Dead Sea Scrolls, which are ancient manuscripts that make up the Hebrew Bible. They are significant because they are one of the longest-lasting surviving manuscripts of the Bible. The scrolls were discovered in 1947 as over 800 documents and fragments. Although there are some fragments, the complete book of Isaiah was found in tact. The differences between the Old Testament and Dead Sea Scrolls were minor punctuation and spelling errors. 

• Crucified Man at Givat Hamivtar - A crucified man may not seem to prove very much. However, it does when there have been many arguements that the crucifixion of Christ was untrue. The reasoning behind that claim is because crucifixion was not believed to be a form of capital punishment during Christ's time of execution. Just outside of Jerusalem, the remains of a man's full skeleton crucified in the first century were found. In the foot region, there contained a bent nail leading to the conclusion that crucifixion was indeed a method of judgement during that time.

• Tel Dan Inscription - Uncovered in 1993 and dating back to the 9th century, a stone tablet is found that makes reference to a military battle and victory. It mirrors the biblical account that is found in 2 Chronicles 22 of the Bible. The insciption on the tablet translates to "House of David" and gives us a precise dating to the Davidic dynasty therefore confirming its existence.

• Moabite Stone - In 1868,  a missionary in Jerusalem found a stone tablet that appeared to be from earlier times. It is now also known as Mesha Stele. It was broken with the intentions of selling more pieces and therefore making more money. The text written on the tablet is created by King Mesha dates back to the ninth century BC. The content of the tablet reads of military achievements. In the Old Testament, the same occurence is recorded in 2 Kings 3. A copy of the tablet was created before its breaking and is in currently in the Louvre.

• Hezekiah's Tunnel - The Bible narrates that before the Assyrian invasion of Judah, King Hezekiah built a tunnel. That tunnel was built to bring the waters of the Gihon Spring into the city of David. In 1867, Sir Charles Warren discovered said tunnel. 2 Chronicles 32 gives the account of the tunnel. About 20 ft from the exit of the tunnel, there is also the Siloam inscription that also mentions King Hezekiah. It has since been removed to Turkey.

Scriptures in its entirety is God's Word revealed to and written by chosen authors. Because it is inspired by God, the Bible is infallible and inerrant. It is completely true with or without any secular evidence. However, it is comforting to have external, supporting proof of the collection of sacred text that we refer to as the Bible.

Conscious and Christian,
Simultaneously.