Comments on: The Gift and the Captivity of the Black Church http://www.efremsmith.com/category/blog/2011/09/the-gift-and-the-captivity-of-the-black-church/ Author, Leader, Preacher, Hip Hop Theologian Fri, 10 May 2013 16:54:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Arne Peterson http://www.efremsmith.com/category/blog/2011/09/the-gift-and-the-captivity-of-the-black-church/comment-page-1/#comment-550 Arne Peterson Fri, 17 Feb 2012 21:04:46 +0000 http://www.efremsmith.com/category/blog/?p=287#comment-550 Thank you my brother, Efrem! I really appreciate your thoughts and musings. My thinking has always been that the onus is on us (the white church in general), having been in a "power" position for so long (I am of Swedish background) to humble ourselves before God and especially the African American segment of the church and (native american church) here in America. However, the idea that a multiethnic post black church (without losing its uniqueness) become the instrument in God's hands to liberate the White western Church from its captivity is an incredibly exciting proposition. I fully endorse your "missional" thinking that: "The Post-Black Church can take the lead in kingdom advancement in the United States and beyond"! Furthermore, I believe that you are right that: "There is a need for a Post-Black, Post-White Church theology. This theology must include liberation and reconciliation theology. A true missional movement must be Christ-centered and multi-ethnic. If this isn’t the case, all the missional discussion is just a re-hashing and a recycling of the White Church." Keep talking to us brother Efrem. I really appreciate your Christ centered thinking! Thank you my brother, Efrem! I really appreciate your thoughts and musings. My thinking has always been that the onus is on us (the white church in general), having been in a “power” position for so long (I am of Swedish background) to humble ourselves before God and especially the African American segment of the church and (native american church) here in America. However, the idea that a multiethnic post black church (without losing its uniqueness) become the instrument in God’s hands to liberate the White western Church from its captivity is an incredibly exciting proposition. I fully endorse your “missional” thinking that: “The Post-Black Church can take the lead in kingdom advancement in the United States and beyond”!

Furthermore, I believe that you are right that: “There is a need for a Post-Black, Post-White Church theology. This theology must include liberation and reconciliation theology. A true missional movement must be Christ-centered and multi-ethnic. If this isn’t the case, all the missional discussion is just a re-hashing and a recycling of the White Church.”

Keep talking to us brother Efrem. I really appreciate your Christ centered thinking!

]]> By: Chris Brooks http://www.efremsmith.com/category/blog/2011/09/the-gift-and-the-captivity-of-the-black-church/comment-page-1/#comment-432 Chris Brooks Wed, 05 Oct 2011 12:14:33 +0000 http://www.efremsmith.com/category/blog/?p=287#comment-432 Ef, good word. Thabiti is saying the exact same thing: http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/thabitianyabwile/2011/10/01/collateral-damage-in-the-invitation-of-t-d-jakes-to-the-elephant-room/ Dwayne Polk and I have been wondering about a reformation within the black Church as well. Do you believe that such a reformation would begin internally, externally, or require a collaboration from both within and outside of the Black Church? CB. Ef, good word.

Thabiti is saying the exact same thing:

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/thabitianyabwile/2011/10/01/collateral-damage-in-the-invitation-of-t-d-jakes-to-the-elephant-room/

Dwayne Polk and I have been wondering about a reformation within the black Church as well. Do you believe that such a reformation would begin internally, externally, or require a collaboration from both within and outside of the Black Church?

CB.

]]> By: Maryann Robinson http://www.efremsmith.com/category/blog/2011/09/the-gift-and-the-captivity-of-the-black-church/comment-page-1/#comment-423 Maryann Robinson Sun, 18 Sep 2011 20:38:21 +0000 http://www.efremsmith.com/category/blog/?p=287#comment-423 I had to really think about this I did not grow up in what is called the black church but I appreciate the black church and need the black church, and like all churches it does need to be a place where people can heal. But, I don’t feel as if the black church should deny the historical injustices against African’s, African American’s and that these injustices plague our society today. Recently I read a paper written by a Barbra Jensen, a European woman she spoke on the working class culture and the middle class culture, wow I can see how come we are so angry in the work place; there are some issues that have to be dealt with. The denying of one’s culture to be accepted in a group is something I am not down with. But others have, and do and we do not see that this behavior is authentically neither African nor Indian, that most of the patterns for our daily living are patterned after this dominant group. We are required to accept those who come in a spirit of reconciliation from those who admit these sins have been committed by the groups they represent and us as a people not placing blame but accepting reconciliation because God has reconciled himself to us. Maybe one comes not in that spirit but in an indifferent sprit, can his heart be changed in the reconciling ministry? Not many in the black church have herd John Perkins or Brenda Salter McNeal, Tom Skinner and all of what Jeremiah Wright stands for, they have joined the noise makers mostly those who feel as if what he had to say was unjust in some way. I maybe way of track here that is ok maybe this is a question, or a discussion that needs to be had so that we become critical thinkers and move the church as a whole from being stagnant in the twenty first century. I had to really think about this I did not grow up in what is called the black church but I appreciate the black church and need the black church, and like all churches it does need to be a place where people can heal. But, I don’t feel as if the black church should deny the historical injustices against African’s, African American’s and that these injustices plague our society today. Recently I read a paper written by a Barbra Jensen, a European woman she spoke on the working class culture and the middle class culture, wow I can see how come we are so angry in the work place; there are some issues that have to be dealt with. The denying of one’s culture to be accepted in a group is something I am not down with. But others have, and do and we do not see that this behavior is authentically neither African nor Indian, that most of the patterns for our daily living are patterned after this dominant group. We are required to accept those who come in a spirit of reconciliation from those who admit these sins have been committed by the groups they represent and us as a people not placing blame but accepting reconciliation because God has reconciled himself to us. Maybe one comes not in that spirit but in an indifferent sprit, can his heart be changed in the reconciling ministry? Not many in the black church have herd John Perkins or Brenda Salter McNeal, Tom Skinner and all of what Jeremiah Wright stands for, they have joined the noise makers mostly those who feel as if what he had to say was unjust in some way. I maybe way of track here that is ok maybe this is a question, or a discussion that needs to be had so that we become critical thinkers and move the church as a whole from being stagnant in the twenty first century.

]]> By: Harriette Andeerson http://www.efremsmith.com/category/blog/2011/09/the-gift-and-the-captivity-of-the-black-church/comment-page-1/#comment-421 Harriette Andeerson Wed, 14 Sep 2011 21:22:34 +0000 http://www.efremsmith.com/category/blog/?p=287#comment-421 I believe you are on the right track in your religious philosophy. For too long, the black church has been consumed with unjustices of the past but we can only grow when we put those pains aside and work for a black church that is e nculcated with truth and love. Love cures all things and only justice can survive in love, if we are truly living in Christ. I do have one question for you. In your list of ministers, you include the Reverend Jeremiah Wright. I know there are two Jeremiah Wrights and I pray that you are not using the minister who almost sabotaged our President. Although, he has some great ideas, he is chained to the past in his anger. This is what many black churches must release and replace with love for all men (and women). May God guide you in your ministry and continue your inclusive message. God Bless, Harriette M. Anderson Cfhristian in Training@75 yrs, I believe you are on the right track in your religious philosophy. For too long, the black church has been consumed with unjustices of the past but we can only grow when we put those pains aside and work for a black church that is e nculcated with truth and love. Love cures all things and only justice can survive in love, if we are truly living in Christ.

I do have one question for you. In your list of ministers, you include the Reverend Jeremiah Wright. I know there are two Jeremiah Wrights and I pray that you are not using the minister who almost sabotaged our President. Although, he has some great ideas, he is chained to the past in his anger. This is what many black churches must release and replace with love for all men (and women).

May God guide you in your ministry and continue your inclusive message.

God Bless,

Harriette M. Anderson
Cfhristian in Training@75 yrs,

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