Kwanza begins today and it represents the failing of the black church in America.

What is Kwanza? From Wikipedia, it was “Maulana Karenga who created Kwanzaa in 1966 as the first specifically African-American holiday. Karenga said his goal was to “give Blacks an alternative to the existing holiday and give Blacks an opportunity to celebrate themselves and their history, rather than simply imitate the practice of the dominant society.”

What was the practice of the dominant society, especially among African Americans? The celebration of the coming of God to earth in the Savior Jesus Christ. Christmas is the celebration of God not men whether black or white.

Traditionally the Church has held a profound influence upon African Americans but its influence is ebbing like the Church in whole. Kwanza’s increasing popularity, now taught in the public schools where Jesus is denied, gives evidence of this decreasing influence. Likewise the dismal living situation in most of our urban centers further reflects the lack of impact by the black church.

Why is this happening? I suggest two reasons.

First, too many black pastors have made themselves demi-gods in the community; instead of serving the people he has elevated himself to be served by the people. While certainly not true of all African American urban church pastors it is true of many as so many of these men form their ‘posse’s’, drive the best cars among their people to their designated parking spots and proclaim a message of prosperity to their people only reflected by their opulent lifestyle. These pastors are a mockery of the One Who came not to be served but to serve and gave His life that all may be saved.

Second, much of the African Church has promoted government assistance rather than internal sacrifice and hard work. The Church recorded in the Scriptures did not look to Rome to supply its needs but to one another sacrificing for one another. Those who could work but wouldn’t work were to be shunned, rebuked and instructed to work with their own hands then to give generously to anyone who had needs. The Church and not the government are to take care of its own for the government seeks to make people dependent while the Church seeks to make a man independent from want.

Urban America desperately needs the black Church to arise in purity and holiness.

Urban America’s governments are corrupt beyond measure, its schools are failing nearly all of their constituents and their people are murdering one another daily.

The black Church, the godly African pastor, is so desperately needed in this hour who will speak Biblical truth in love then serve sacrificially his  people calling all those in his congregation to live and worship as Jesus did even as he models the way in humility.