The National Reformed Church
The Council of Reforming Churches exist to bring reform to the black church. That statement has at least two assumptions. The first is that reform is needed in what we commonly know as the black church. The second is that we will continue to have a black church that needs reform.
While some would certainly argue against the former, I believe few (especially the majority of African-American believers) would question the continuing need for the latter. While that is an important issue it’s one I’ve begun to explore on my own blog.
Suffice it to say that at least for the next two decades we will have a recognizable black church. That is a church not only populated by African-Americans, but one that is firmly rooted in the distinctives of the historic black church. This brings us back to my first assumption, namely that the black church needs reform. But what shape should that reform take? Does the mere suggestion of reforming the black church along the lines of reformational theology smack of paternalistic passive racism? Are we mandating that the black church reverse course, jettison our blackness and embrace wholesale changes that would make us look more and more like our white reformed counterparts? I suppose that depends on what our course is and how we are presently defining ‘blackness’.
It is my firm conviction (and I invite your thoughts) that we must proceed with biblical reform as long as we have a black church. My next several posts will suggest some of the contours of that reform which will more or less be aligned with the kind of reform began by Luther and Calvin. Having covered some of the basic tenets of reformed theology (CRC Pt. 3 and CRC Pt. 4) I’ll move to some of the main traits or features I hope to see in a new crop of biblically driven reformed churches.
Commencing with worship (mind has well step into the hornet’s nest) I believe it is crucial to cultivate and embrace biblically directed worship. This will call for us to view worship primarily as our God given privilege to approach, praise, adore, extol, reflect on hear from and exult the triune God and not as that time of the week to immerse ourselves in blackness. While it’s been said before it is worth saying again that worship is all about Him, not about us. Does that mean we straighten up, fly right, be quiet and act like white folks? No, but why is it when we begin to even question what black folks do in worship some immediately accuse us of wanting to ‘act white’? But that’s another discussion for another day.
The issue isn’t are we acting black or white, but does our worship and the elements within our worship serve the purpose of worship which is to highlight the character, nature, ways and actions of the Covenant Lord as expressed in the Person and work of Jesus Christ? If not, then our worship may indeed be truly and authentically black, but not in anyway biblical.
To Him Who Loves Us…
Pastor Lance