Black American Idols

The next few posts will be hard to write, and for some (including myself) hard to read.  I have often compared the Black experience in America with Israel.  Both were enslaved people who were freed and inhabited a land that rejected them.  I believe both peoples are deeply spiritual and passionate about God.  However, it seems that Black folks have never truly made it out of the mindset of slavery; and it is something we struggle with to this day.  I will submit to you that a very large part of our collective lack of success has to with our dependence on, and uplifting of idols.  Idol worshipping is not something God loves.

i·dol  (dl)

n.

1.

a. An image used as an object of worship.

b. A false god.

2. One that is adored, often blindly or excessively.

3. Something visible but without substance.

It surprises me that a people whose roots are in the church exhibit such a limited understanding of such a huge biblical principle.  The Old Testament is literally filled with passages about God's hatred of idols.  Yet, we seem to have an ungodly tolerance to idols in our Black churches.  Don't misunderstand, I'm sure White churches also have their idols, but I cannot comment on that because I have not been a member of a predominately White church.  God wants us to love what he loves and hate what he hates.  Why then, do we tolerate, and, even celebrate idols and idolatry?  Is our love of worldly idols blocking God from establishing His will in our churches and in our lives?

What was that?  Yes, thank you.  The man in the back asked what are some specific examples of idols?  I'm glad you asked that sir.  I'm sure everyone in the room would like to know that.  Let's start with the obvious.  clothes.  People, there is nothing wrong with putting on your best when you come to church.  Personally, I love seeing a church full of well-dressed people.  But when you spend more time shopping for your Sunday outfit than you do in the word of God--YOUR CLOTHING IS AN IDOL.  Why?  Because idols receive the worship that should only belong to God.  Idols receive the energy, money, and thought that belongs to the creator, the redeemer, our Lord and Savior. 

I think our addiction to externals runs deep in the black subconscious.  We were never accepted for our beauty in this country.  Therefore we sought to make our appearance more palatable to the majority so we could blend into society easier.  But that cost us something.  It cost us our understanding of the biblical principle that we too were created in the image of God.  So we decided to help God finish what He started by putting all manner of time and effort into making ourselves lovely by standards other than His.  Since we have never really been accepted as equally beautiful, we have continued this foolish pursuit of looking good.

I'm equally guilty with reinforcing this idol.  I tell people in church how nice they look; but I don't inquire about the state of their Christian walk.  I compliment shoes, but I wont dare ask my brother if I can pray for him or with him.  Wow!  What am I communicating to folks?  What am I saying every time about what is really important to me? 

Ok, that last one hurt.  So I'll just make one more point about clothing and cosmetics in general.  I'm not fully convinced that when we invest resources into our exterior selves that we are worshipping the things we put on.  In fact, I want to revise that statement now.  When we are more focused on how we look than we are on what God has to say to us--we are not worshipping the clothes, jewelry, or make up. We are worshipping ourselves. 

Give God some glory today and everyday.  Let us all decrease, so He may increase.