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VOL IV  NO. 11  NOVEMBER 2003

REV. ROBERT KELLEY

 


The Black Man's Religions- Part I 

 

Rev. Robert Kelley is the founder and president of Open Door Communication Ministries, Inc. and pastored the St. Mark Baptist Church of Portland, Oregon at the time this was published.

 

What’s The Deal With Religions?
Webster’s II Dictionary defines religion primarily as “Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power accepted as the creator and governor of the universe; a specific unified system of this expression.” This primary definition is the way most people understood the term “religion” for millennia. Webster’s secondary, and broader definition is “A belief, activity, or cause pursued with fervor and devotion.”  

 

Strongly implied in both definitions is the fact that the beliefs, systems, practices and/or activities of whatever religion being discussed typically originate from the human mind and heart. This is what makes Webster’s secondary definition especially appealing to the world culture today because it prefers to think of religion as personal, suited to one’s own preferences and not to be imposed on anyone else. There are thousands of historic and contemporary religions in the world.

 

Why do men come up with religions? Philosophers, psychologists and sociologists might offer among other reasons that men invent religions out of their ignorance and fear of the unknown. They also do it to irresponsibly escape from the chaos and disorder in their world the way one might use drugs to do the same. As well, humans beings are social creatures and religion affords an opportunity for the individual to bond with others in a shared community. Finally, as a social enterprise, religion has power and is powerful; individuals who feel powerless seek this power.

 

Whatever the reasons men might offer, the Almighty God in wrath, the One who reveals Himself to humanity generally in His creation and specifically through His Word contained in the Bible and “made flesh” in the Person of His Son, Jesus Christ, has declared men invent religions out of rebellion against Him (Romans 1:18-32). In the first place, what can be known of God is evident in man himself. King David reflected on the intricacies of his being and declared, “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well,” (Psalm 139:14, NKJV). 

 

Beyond man, the detail, complexity and beauty of the heavens above and nature on the earth below also declare the reality and power of God his Creator (Psalm 19:1-6, 148:1-10)! Why then, would any perfectly rational man proudly boast he is descended from apes rather than believe the testimony that God has made us in His own image and likeness? And why would he worship the creation and things made with his own hands rather than the living Creator? Only hearts darkened and exalted in sin would do this; persons so wholly given over to rebellion they reject God’s design for male/female sexual expression in marriage, instead burning in perverted lust and expressing themselves in same sex relations.

 

Black Religions
Our West African ancestors along with their descendents here in America have created or adopted their share of religions with all other peoples of the earth. With great emotion and devotion, there are West African tribes to this day that worship a wide assortment of tribal gods, ancestors and the objects of the heavens, nature as well as those created by their own hands in what the Bible commonly calls idolatry. These also engage in universal occult practices including sorcery.1

 

The American approach to slavery forbid the mostly West African slaves to practice any of the customs (religious or otherwise) from the tribes of their nativity. Even so, some of their occult driven religions such as Voodoo have survived and are practiced today especially in the South. Also, since slavery, many corrupt doctrines and practices that became traditions were instituted and sinful living accepted to such an extent, biblical Christianity has been supplanted by a cultural religion in a number of black churches and denominations.

 

Other expressions of black religion include the various fraternal orders (which blacks adopted from whites) that in their doctrines and rituals are rivals to biblical Christianity and yet boast church leaders and members among their staunchest adherents. Then there are the African heritage movements that seek to re-capture everything African from our past and in such celebrations as Kwanzaa for example, endorse a “whatever god you serve” spirituality the Bible condemns.

 

Finally, along with other cults, there is that uniquely African American version of Islam (adapted from the Arabs), The Nation Of Islam. It is a home grown religion which for over 60 years through its message of self-sufficiency and militancy has offered a counter, works based salvation to blacks embittered against white racism and frustrated by a Christianity which seems impotent to affect the black condition for the better. Consistent with the observation of human thinkers, in the case of Black Muslims and most black religions in America, their main pursuit is indeed, power.
 
To Be Continued Next Issue

 

 

1 John Hope Franklin, From Slavery To Freedom, (New York: Fourth Edition, Alfred A. Knopf, 1974), P. 21-23.

 

 

©2003 Open Door Communication Ministries, Inc