Pure Church

Thabiti,

Thanks you for this post. This has been an issue I have thought a lot about but have had problems articulating.

TaNeesha

Is it a problem that is particular to African-Americans, or is it a problem with our society in general? People used to say "and that's the gospel truth" when they were lying to you, but now we're far too Biblically illiterate to use such expressions.

I have lived in several predominantly African-American/multi-ethnic urban neighborhoods in my life (I am Caucasian). The odd thing is that it seemed totally acceptable to many, if not most, of my African-American neighbors to listen to filthy secular rap and R&B music all week, but then to break out the McClurkin/Franklin/Adams 'gospel' music on Sunday. I once performed an interesting experiment with some Kirk Franklin footage from a news program I had taped. When the segment showed Franklin's audience dancing, I muted the sound so even the shallow 'gospel' lyrics were silenced, then I watched my wife's reaction as she saw men and women in the crowd gyrating in so many sensual ways. When I told her this was supposedly a 'Christian' concert, she nearly laughed out loud. She couldn't laugh all the way; it was too sad. Neither can I; it's depressing to see what passes for 'gospel' these days, when some of Jonathan Edwards' most devoted congregants were African-American.

I read through your post with interest but not a little bemusement. So this comment is in some ways written as a kind of defence of 'gospel music'.

Nearly every piece of African American gospel music I have heard is clearly grounded in biblical messages, and certainly uses biblical reference in its lyrics, just the same as other forms of devotional hymn. Indeed, except for the arrangement, they have often been one and the same, old Wesleyan or CofE hymns, the only other difference being the colour of the participants. Generally speaking, the themes are likely to include: the power of Jesus Christ as Our Saviour; relation of the struggles of our lives to those of Jesus, and requests to Him for the strength to endure; references to the various captivities and trials of the Israelites. So we have Old Testament and New Testament themes clearly represented. Where is the music of black churches lacking?

Outside of Christian Metal, something I doubt you approve of, I seriously doubt that many worshippers want to sing ever more brutal descriptions of Christ on the Cross as part of their regular worship. When people come together for worship, they come to thank the Lord for his gift. What else can be asked? A song is not the entire Bible, and noone should expect it to be.

I was concerned by your allusions to the Judgement Day, and your opinion of the likely fate of worshippers who head or produce 'black gospel' branded materials. None may know their fate. However, in defence of such people, surely they are not deliberately leading people away from God, even if some may think there is not enough Good News in their work? May good Christians produce absolutely no devotional work during their lifetimes, but simply live their Good Life. To produce movies showing somebody who was lost now learning from a person who sets a good example by actively living a good life, practicing virtues demonstrated by the disciples, may not be works of art, but surely is a positive thing?

Lastly, why are there black churches and African-American congregations, 'gospel music' classified as black, and 'Christian' music classified as ... not-black? I contend that the distinction has very little to do with concerns about religious content, but is grounded in the more ugly human failings of racism. Back in the early C20th, black artists were either going to sing and record 'gospel', or they were going to make a 'race record'. The concept of 'gospel music' had a very real element of here-and-now transcendence, defying contemporary problems of colour, wrapped within its meaning. I cannot see how this harms the spiritual message.

In conclusion, unless one is convinced that faith concerns only Salvation, and that the Gospel has nothing to offer our daily lives on this earth, I suggest that expressions of faith should tackle and grapple with our trials and struggles. A 'pure church' cannot divorce itself from considering human life as it is, however distasteful, and the methods of spreading the Word should include the seeker more than exclude the sinner if it is to be spread to all who need it.

Sorry for such a long post, I rambled on a bit! It certainly gave me a lot to think about, even if we disagree perhaps on certain points!

Yours,

Rob Whatman

Rob,
Thanks for your comments. Thoughtful reflections here. Perhaps the quickest way for me to respond is to say I think you viewed my critique with a wider lense than intended. The post was about the "peculiar" use of the term "Gospel," not about the general biblical themes of "Gospel music" or the ways in which that music functions in the experience of African Americans. I would certainly agree that in traditional gospel music you find rich biblical allusions and often clever messages regarding suffering, resistance, freedom, and hope. But those themes are NOT the gospel. That's the point of the post. Lots of smoke... almost no fire. And yes, I think there will be an accounting before God for how we steward the Gospel and steward our gifts in service to the Gospel. Whether we serve the Gospel or another "gospel" will be revealed on that day. And yes, I tremble at the thought that many who have been moral, good people, will find that they have never actually trusted in the finished work of Jesus Christ. And I shudder at the thought that many will hear those dreadful words of our Lord, "Depart from me, for I never knew you." And many will hear those words though they spent hours upon hours listening to, singing, and watching "gospel" music and plays and movies. The term "gospel" is not a generic synonym for any "biblical theme or allusion" we may find in our entertainment. That's the point of the post, and on that score, I think the music is seriously lacking. And what is lacking is understanding.