Words in deeds

Black history month: Foundations of faith

Next week: What's ahead for African-American churches?

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Pastors aim to make black theology more practical than academic

By Laura Johnston ~ Southeast Missourian

Whether large or small, the African-American churches of Cape Girardeau are making connections with the black community -- calling people to leadership roles and activism in their neighborhoods.

Sermons that speak of gang violence, child abuse and neglect and admonitions to obey God and seek his blessing ring from the pulpits. These pastors aren't just speaking from the Bible, they're encouraging congregations to begin living what Scripture teaches.

"God will hold you accountable for what you do and what you don't do for him," said the Rev. Johnny Thomas, pastor of New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church.

The Rev. Dr. William Bird, pastor of Greater Dimension Church, has said the church is good at teaching judgment but talks little about the pardoning God can do.

Pastors and teachers need to place more emphasis on God and his Holy Spirit as they apply to daily life, Bird said.

That's in part because black theology is more practical than academic.

No excuses

Thomas doesn't accept excuses or crutches from his church members. He wants to teach youngsters responsibility, particularly young black men.

When he stands at the pulpit to preach on a Sunday morning, he admits he's not sugar-coating anything.

"I do say some rough things but I do it out of love," he said. "I'm speaking the truth."

And he's been doing that for more than 20 years at New Bethel. He believes the lessons he teaches are important and could be the only time someone hears them.

He tells the church it has to reach the surrounding neighborhood to be effective -- even if that neighborhood is where some hang out and sell drugs.

This year Thomas wants to target young black men and bring them back into the church.

"We have to teach them responsibility," he said.

And the church has to know it's responsible for reaching a new generation with the gospel message. "We have to quit using the church as though it's a club and we're all members," Thomas said.

He tells a story about how he used to work in the fields as a child and then came home to eat a noontime meal before returning to work for the afternoon.

"You can't just come to church for a few hours on Sunday and claim that as working," he said. "You have to leave home. The church is where you come to eat and learn."

And Thomas has plenty of lessons to teach. This month it's about black history and the Bible.

At Greater Dimension Church there is less focus on black history and more emphasis on gender equality. "We're dealing with men's and women's issues and bringing a balance between genders," Bird said.

A new men's fellowship group meets at 8 a.m. Sunday mornings and has been dealing with finding manhood and a search for significance. A men's conference is planned for March.

"They've just lost their identity," Bird said. "They are fatherless men and it's hard for them to relate to reality."

Bird knows that history has been hard for blacks, but the time has come to quit looking for excuses. He spoke about that during a Martin Luther King Jr. service in January. The battle is spiritual and it's time for the black church to take on leadership roles, he said.

He likens the task to a scriptural story about a blind man who sought healing from the pool at Bethesda. Each time the waters stirred, they were thought to offer healing powers. But the man couldn't see to enter the waters and needed help to get there. When Jesus asked the man about getting well, he offered excuses for why he couldn't get into the pool. Jesus told the man to pick up his mat and he was cured.

"Jesus isn't looking for excuses or someone to blame," Bird said. The church needs to quit seeking to blame but should seek out ways to cooperate. "We need to get in position for the next opportunity," Bird said.

ljohnston@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126