Church Value Pt. 1: What is A Pastor Worth?

At a time where many church boards and staffs are holding or have held their year end meetings, I thought it'd be interesting to take a look at what the value of a church is in the local and global community.  For the sake of the next few pieces, when I say church, I'm not referring to the Church as described in 1 Corinthians 12:27,  Colossians 1:18, and other places.  I'm referring to the business of church, which would include the sale of what's known as Christianity.  To guide this, I've identified four areas where we can look at various regulation and data to get solid opinions about the church; the value of a pastor, the value of the music department, and the value of the worker, and the value of the congregant or consumer.

With all that, knowing that the pastor is the CEO (and in many cases the owner) of a church business, let's just get right to it...is a pastor worth a six or seven figure salary?

Race Matters: How Christian Movies Create Non-Belief

When The Passion of Jesus Christ hit the theaters I thought Mel Gibson was going to save Christian Hollywood.  Just like most Christian art forms, works about about that time period...arguably the most significant era in the history of the planet, have done a huge disservice to the event and the message that's trying to be portrayed.  I've always thought those movies did more harm than good; but The Passion was supposed to be different.  Graphic depiction of Jesus' trial and crucifixion; check.  Aramaic language throughout the entire film; check.  Jesus' skin tone reflecting the skin tone of first century Jews; ch..., wait, Jesus still looks like an Italian model.  **Sigh**...so close, yet so far.

The Scandalous Relationship Between Politics and the Black Church

Donald Trump thinks that you are dumb.  Not just African-Americans or Hispanics, all of you.  Whoever is reading this right now, Donald Trump thinks you're absolutely stupid.  He believes you're easily controlled.  He feels that he knows all of your triggers and motivations; your desires and needs.  And if you can't be easily controlled then he believes you can be more easily discarded.  In his mind you're a fleeting number whether you vote for him (especially if you vote for him) or not.  And he knows that even if you know all of this you'll get furious...and he's not sure it really matters, because he believes in data.  And whether it's the data that's real or the kind he's imagined, he knows what all the tricks are.  And just when you thought Mr. Trump's ego finally got the best of his circus of a campaign, well, you thought wrong.  Because the reality is there is a slim chance your pastor was one of the dumb people Trump was counting on.

Why Boycotting Should Be a Lifestyle and Not an Event

I think I've got to take a small bit of pride that my personality, flaws and all, have prevented me from jumping on trends.  I didn't feel compelled to dump ice water on myself, I'm not latest-dance-craze guy, and rarely (only because I may have and it escapes my memory right now) get moved to hashtag an alleged tragedy or watercolor my profile pic.  Not attempting to be heartless or drive myself to be the odd one out, but when I spend a couple more minutes thinking about the various causes and the message my participation would send, I usually find out that it doesn't line up with my assigned purpose and that the "awareness" really isn't the answer.  Come to think about it, that's what it is...I'm obsessed with the answer, the solution, and not the struggle.  And while you spent the last 4 or 5 years standing in lines while battling a post-Thanksgiving food coma; praying that you don't have to punch someone or that someone doesn't punch you...over a blender...I've been getting outstanding sleep.  So, congratulations America for finally starting to catch up with me and leave the Black (Thursday) Friday fiasco alone.  Well, some of you.  At any rate, there's another level you should hope to achieve.

Eternal vs. Temporary: When Social Activism Becomes A Distraction

I used to hear a lot of people who were lovers of history or social justice or civil rights, and were not alive during the many movements of the 1960s, talk about how exciting those times must have been.  It's a valid thought; especially knowing that the term 'excitement' can go a few ways.  For example, when I consider the various readings depicting churches with standing room only crowds...squeezed in to hear the messages of liberation, citizenship, and humanity from fearless men of God..I can't help but wonder what that adrenaline surge would feel like.  Of course similar meetings are happening today, but I think the difference is those meetings in those times were the first.  Again, not to lessen today's movements, but there's really nothing like the initial push.  Truly invigorating.  But the other thing that I can't help thinking about is, "all these people in those churches, and that preacher's got everyone's heart in his hands, did anybody get Saved?"

Violence Love Affair: Looking Past Abuse in the NFL

As entertaining as it is to watch Cowboy fans nowadays (that's if you can see them; many of them disappeared...only hoping to return at the emergence of a healthy Tony Romo), part of the reason of their disastrous season so far has nothing to do with their 2-6 record.  Nor is it just a Cowboy problem; or an National Football League issue.  It's a football fan problem...which pretty much includes all of us.  The problem isn't new, we all know it, we all claim not to like it, but we all support it, feed it, and make it worse.  And unfortunately, after reading this, 99% of us won't work towards change one bit.

Government Agenda: What Secret KKK Members Being Exposed Means

 In the mid-2000s I got into a verbal altercation with an Henrico County police officer; which led to him assaulting me and me getting booked.  During the ride to the jail, the cop and I figured out we had close mutual friends, even partied together, and we were both in error.  He continued this attitude even in front of the magistrate, where he advocated on my behalf as much as he could.  I was released hours later, feeling better than a person would after fighting with the cops about his upcoming court date.  When that day came, the officer was dressed in plain clothes and in great spirits.  We dapped each other up and met with the commonwealth attorney to discuss the case.  She, however, was trying to burn me; wanted to give me years for supposedly assaulting a police officer.  The officer himself tried to talk her out of that, and she wouldn't relent until she received further advice against it from her team.  At the time I couldn't help to think was there a secret plan to take me down, orchestrated by a secret organization.  I wasn't anywhere near the "voice my consciousness" person I am now, so I figured it was all in my head.  Today, a possibility of my assumption has been verified.

How Godliness Exposes Insecurity

Every now and then I'm confronted with reminders of a past lifestyle.  None of it is flattering, none of it makes me reminisce about 'the good 'ol days', none of it is anything to brag or even talk about (which is why I won't here); all of it is pretty embarrassing, foolish, and sad.  I could go all cliche' and say it made me the man that I am today, but the truth is that it didn't...not in a positive way.  I actually could've been the positive man I am today much earlier by listening to the people...both positive and negative...I was surrounded by.  But like every adolescent and young adult...and these days not-so-young adult, I had to do me.  Doing me hurt people, though.  Doing me was dumb.  So when I see young men going about things the way I didn't; much better, much smarter, much more respectful....I feel wonderful.

Million Man Anniversary: When Blaming Media Coverage Goes Wrong

The demands laid out by Minister Louis Farrakhan and the #JusticOrElse team for the 20th Anniversary of the Million Man March I believe were well thought out, clear, and impactful...well at least to them...and maybe to some others.  We won't really know until the 30 year anniversary.  That would be the only fair mark to when their can be assessment.  And it's also the only time when it will be in my mind significant news.

Gun Control: The Latest American Issue That's Always Been an American Issue

Another high-profile [alleged] shooting...another bipartisan picket about gun control.  I think we're close to seeing around one shooting per quarter now; and if the consistent news coverage about violent crime isn't enough, hearing about lethal violence in public, or on the job, or in the classroom ensures a presence of fear.  And I'm not sure if there will ever be a numbness to these occurrences like there is to other crimes, because as long as people can buy guns the sensationalism of gun control will forever be thrust upon us.

Are Political and Religious Identities the Same?

There's noble, brave, unwavering, and solid.  And then there's dishonorable, unsteady, compromising, and flighty.  To many conservative Christians, county clerk Kim Davis would embody all of the former traits with her stance against issuing marriage licenses to same-sex partners. From this act she's apparently earned the reputation to have the real character of an American follower of Jesus.  She's got that grit and determination to not move an inch from her beliefs.  She's the image of standing on the Word of God.  It's political drama at it's most mediocre.

Feed the Fire

In an era where kids in the safest suburbs on the planet are determined to emulate the lives of small-time drug dealers and petty thieves, Tony Lewis, Jr. is shelving the kingpin nature he was born with in an effort to save a city.  His father, Tony, Sr., and Rayful Edmond III were the guys in Washington D.C. that by many accounts are responsible for funneling tons of cocaine into the District during the 1980s.  This brought Junior into the world in the lap of luxury, but it gave his hometown the murderous and cold reputation that has stuck with D.C. ever since then.  Tony, Jr. would soon come to discover the truth behind the perception; as immediately after his father received a life without parole sentence in 1989 he and his mother were thrust into poverty and prey.  However, unlike so many that have experienced this transition, he didn't simply assimilate into his environment.  With assistance and determination, Lewis walked the path of humility and service and now is deeply engaged in community activism.  That's pretty impressive for someone who was submerged into smugglers' culture at birth; and it's another example of a person's beginnings are only as important as that person makes them out to be.

World Police Indeed

Years ago a friend of mine was seeking refuge.  He had gotten into a very heated argument with his live-in girlfriend and was taking what he believed (and we did too) the proper steps to avoid anything physical.  She had already gotten physical; and when he arrived to where we were he played the message of her saying she would do it again with her male family members...classic stuff.  Anyway he was ready to leave her and needed to get some of his things for work the next day.  He knew however, that stepping in that apartment without police presence would cause another exchange that he couldn't trust himself handling well.  So we went to the police operations station who did receive us.  But when he told the story, the officer shrugged it off and told us to beat it.  He further expressed the need have an escort, which the officer replied to saying "if something violent happens, call us."

Railroaded

What's totally unpopular to say about the Napa Valley Wine Train incident is "yeah, I can see at least one of those women being too loud."  But I think the truth is many of us have been on public transportation or a group trip or something....with the loud black woman a couple rows behind us.  Some of us might have even been the loud black woman.  And when I read the articles and I look at the interviews...say what you wanna say, but I think we have somewhat of an idea what probably went down before the women were asked to leave.  Now whether putting them off the train was the best solution is not for me to decide.  More than likely I wouldn't have done it.  I can't imagine my mother or grandmother being kicked off and forced to stand in the middle of nowhere.  But then again, I can't imagine my mother or grandmother being that disruptive either.

The View of an Overcomer

For years I struggled with the substance of my Christianity; similar to how many African-American kids growing up in the suburbs would struggle with the substance of their blackness.  Looking back, I can see this came from being around and in a culture that celebrated struggle while inadvertently shunning success.  The norm was to honor the grueling test more than the victorious testimony; the ol' "coming up the rough side of the mountain" syndrome.  It took a while to realize the notions aren't valid, and that a relationship with Jesus has more to do with what He did and is less about what we've done or been through...good or bad.  Still, in many circles when winning or overcoming is mentioned, the tendency is to look at things other than...winning or overcoming.  In my mind, this is so common that many people inaccurately are leading others to falsehoods about what success entails.  Then there are others, like I was, who are looking for that devastating event or series of events that they believe will validate them.  And still there are others more who believe they have overcome...when they are actually still in the same position of bondage.

Pimpin' Ain't Dead...It Just Moved to the Web

In 2007, the late Chad "Pimp C" Butler, a member of the legendary Port Arthur, Texas rap duo Underground Kings said...

"pimpin' ain't dead it just moved to the web, the [expletive] ain't gotta hit the track...ain't got to give no trick no head...ain't gotta give no trick no[expletive], just cameras and screens, easiest money you can make it's the American Dream."

Political Popularity Smokescreen

I gotta give it to President Obama for motivating me to go against my why vote philosophy.  Actually, it was a combination of his 2004 campaign, my grandmother being a sharecropper, my parents growing up in the Civil Rights Era, and me even experiencing a relative form of bigotry that lead me to ignorantly (meaning not researching all of the information) vote for him.  But a part of me realizes I shouldn't have gone about it like that.  Looking back, I know I got caught up.  I mean, the events, the rappers, the Rock the Vote, the clothing, the history.  We're talking growing up in the capital of the Confederacy and possibly seeing a black president here.  And it was infectious and fun.  It was exciting and inspiring.  It was free-spirited but passionate all at once.  But the reality is the party ended quickly (as a small business administrator at the time, I have a not so happy experience with the Affordable Health Care Act).  And I should've just...paid more attention.

The Cool Christian Phenomenon

I got deleted twice on Facebook last week...earning all the awards I think are available on the Delete-A-Friend checklist.  Let's see, leading off Friday with the Outdated Award, I also earned the Denying People Love Certificate, the Hater Medal, and the coveted Who Are We to Judge Trophy.  I cleaned up; but when you collect all that hardware that usually equals four or five deletions.  But I only got two, so not all was victorious...but I'll get there someday.  I'm positive more effort towards truth will position me to obtain the ultimate title of Super Spiritual...which some think I've gotten already, but the data shows I still have too many slightly spiritual social media friends to be graced with such an honor...I digress.  What a life.

The Black Confederate Down the Street

It's a strange feeling when I'm just heading out for the morning and that dude's out there mowing his lawn with his rebel flag bandanna around his mouth.  And he always turns around to watch me come down the street, too.  He never really waved and he doesn't at all now; that might be because I used to  wave but he rarely waved back...so I stopped.   I don't know if he's of Confederate soldiers' ancestry, but it's quite possible he is.  The area in and around our neighborhood was once a very large plantation.  Some slaves in the area took up their arms with their masters during the Civil War, and when it was over they built communities on the abandoned farms.  But who knows.  I just know he reps....hard.  I've never talked to him and don't plan to...well, maybe.  No beef...it's  just strange.

Prophets vs. Profits

The time is right around the corner when churches and other religion-based business  are going to have to pay taxes.  It's just too much money for the U.S. government to let go by; particularly with the public scrutiny Christian ministries have been getting since the '80s, something is gonna get done.  You can save all the loopholes and technicalities that prevent this from happening; and it's not necessarily a matter of national endorsement for any type of faith.  The Feds will start looking at churches for what they really are...businesses.  And though a lot of people tend to have some challenging emotions when churches are referred to in this matter, the reality is that 1. the American Church industry is one of the most profitable "non-profit" sectors anywhere and 2. churches paying taxes is biblical (see Luke 20:21-25).  I say all this to say that I believe it would be healthy if we stop looking a church organizations as some fantasy group of good-willing hippies and see it for the money making machine that it is.

The Sword is Pretty Mighty

Back in my...let's say distorted reality days...my friend and I were doing our usual riding around the region being aimless, uninspired, and lazy.  We were coming out the a Wal-Mart parking lot...riding slow as the uninspired does...and this guy comes flying by us and cuts me off; blowing hard on his horn and appearing to let out some curse words.  He was stopped in the turning lane by a car in front of him who was awaiting the passing of the oncoming traffic, and now he was directly in front of us.  Unfortunately for him, he was unaware of the type of young men he had honked and cursed at.  Before I could come to a complete stop and started banging on his window.  At that time, a young black man in his early twenties wearing a dingy white T-shirt and his hair half cornrowed in itself was a little scary for some people.  But then to have this type of person screaming at you "honk that horn now" in complete rage was and still is the definition of fear.  From my position still in the car you could tell the Caucasian gentlemen was deathly startled...and thank God this wasn't when people were recording everything.  In the end, nothing happened; except that maybe that guy learned that when acting in a manner that suggests you're ready for action...be ready for action.