Love.

If I had to start someplace, and I guess I do, the most egregious problem with today’s black church is its lack of love. The lack of love is the first and most obvious sign that a person does not know Jesus Christ. And I don't care if that person’s title is “bishop” or “apostle” or the new, really stupid one, “Pastor Apostle.” Paul said, “...but [without] love, I am nothing...” [I Cor 13:2]. Without love, we are powerless. Without love, we are defeated. Without love, we are in bondage. Pettiness is bondage. Childishness is bondage. Impatience, beloved, is bondage.

Just as Peter’s mission was to preach to the Good News to the Jews— God’s people—God has purposed us to preach not only to the unsaved but also to God’s people—Church Folk. To call to their notice that we have gone astray of the purpose of the church as modeled in God’s word, That we have allowed tradition to become our stumbling block, an inoperable tumor on the beating heart of the Body of Christ. That our legalism, materialism, pettiness, and lack of love robs us of both our dignity and Christian privilege. That our leaders have epically failed us and their failure has become part of our cultural DNA.

The church, if it is to call itself a church, should look like Jesus. Should be palaces of peace, a refuge from a cruel and dying world.

The purpose of this ministry is to examine who we are and what we do and contrast that behavior with what should be our common frame of reference—God’s Holy Word. We pray something here, in this online community, will help open our eyes to the truth. And, having seen that truth, to share it in our churches, in our homes, on our jobs, in our schools. That we might become free from the hateful perversion of legalism and religion, and finally embrace our liberty and strength in Christ Jesus.

Christopher J. Priest, Editor

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