Does the A.M.E. Church have enough Bible in its diet?

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2004

Answers

A visit to my AME Church will provide you an answer in the affirmative. QED

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2004

Praise the Lord!! What kind of ways does your congregation include the Scriptures? I'm looking for ideas on making the Bible a larger part of our Church Life.

In His Service,

Thanks,

Ron.

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2004

Brother Harris,

I am not sure of what you are asking, but at my church we certainly have enough of the Word in our diet. For example, it can be found in the Call to Worship, the Scripture Lessons (Old Testament, Responsive Lesson and the Gospel) as well as the text used in the sermon. We are also given Daily Bible Readings for the month as well as the Lectionary Text so that we are well versed on Sunday on the text to be used in the sermon.

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2004

Sister Mary,

Do you and your congregation find that sufficient? Do you find yourself emersed in the Scripture?

In Christ,

Ron.

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2004

Ron -

My local AME church offers Bible Study classes (twice weekly), Church School (where I serve as Superintendent), numerous Christian Education programs geared at spiritual development and Bible-focused sermonic texts provided by our pastor and Sr. Minister, J.F. Green. You are welcomed to visit any time if you are in my city but be prepared because I have a reputation for giving unnaounced Bible quizzes to see who is staying on their toes in matters pertaining to the Holy Writ. QED

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2004

To my fellow A.M.E. Brothers and Sisters on this board,

Be not confused, deceived or disheartened by such posts as this.We have seen the likes of it before. Remember the Words of Jesus when He said:

“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you”.

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore BY THEIR FRUITS YE SHALL KNOW THEM”.

No further defense than this need ever be made. Jesus has spoken and spoken well.

-- Anonymous, February 05, 2004

Brother Dickens,

Thank you for your response and your invitation. Yours is model I'd like to emulate with the youth of our Church. Though we have a wonderful fellowship, and our pastor is truly child of God, we could certainly use more of the Word to help all us in our walks.

Thanks again,

In His Service,

Ron.

-- Anonymous, February 05, 2004

Ron, Please tell us how the Bible is used in your church. I would love to know more about your church. Is it a denominational church or independent? What part of the country are you located? Have you ever been to an AME Church? Thanks.

-- Anonymous, February 05, 2004

Greetings Sister Mary,

Thank you for your inquiry. I am a 5th generation A.M.E., having been baptised and raised as a youth in Bethel A.M.E. church in Detroit Michigan, a child of two of the founding families of that great edifice. Having traveled extensively throughout the country, I have remained faithful to the A.M.E. community and now reside and worship with the saints of First A.M.E. Church in Manassas Virginia, which I call home.

As is true with the many A.M.E. congregations I have been blessed to visit, First A.M.E is a warm and loving family, filled with the Spirit, and served by a kind and righteous pastor in the persons of the Reverand Ronald Boykins, and his gracious wife. Together with fine, supportive ministerial and lay leadership, First A.M.E. is serving and growing. Though a young Church, First has a mighty Spirit and humbly serves the Lord, providing solice and sanctuary to all who call upon the name of the Lord, while persistently reaching out the lost.

Naturally, we use the Scripture in much the same way as most A.M.E. congregations. We have Primary Bible study, young adult Bible study, adult Bible study and Church School. We are provided with read ahead chapters and verses for the Sunday message and of course do all that is contained in the Order of Service, i.e. Doxology, Call to Worship, Hymns, Responsive Reading, etc...

As one who loves and cherishes the Word of God however, I pray for a fuller, richer experience with the Word for our members. Not just for First A.M.E., but rather for all of the A.M.E. church. Critisism, in love or not, is often not well received, yet, Christ stregthens me to endure the burden of critisism's wrath, as I insist in the Lord for a raising up of His Word in our Church.

A.M.Es are often known more for their ritualism than their Spirit; for their 'airs' than their doctrine; for their politics than their emersion in the Word. As one called to love by Love and for Love's sake, I believe that through the Word Love is revealed and realized. And so my question - Does the A.M.E. Church have enough Bible in its diet? If yes, then I will hold my peace. If no, then I will strain every muscle to make it so.

Thank you again Sister for your query. Grace and Peace to you from God our Savior.

Sincerely, In Love, In Christ, Yours Truly, --- Ron.

-- Anonymous, February 05, 2004

Maybe the question is not whether the AME Church has enough Bible in its diet. Perhaps, the question is do the members adequately dine at the feast prepared?

For example, my church has two Sunday School services. The first Sunday School is available from babes to seniors. During service children under 12 can go for additional school. On Tuesdays we have Bible Study and the Tuesday preceding the first Sunday there is a Love Feast as well. On Wednesday afternoons there are the Manna services. Members are provided with daily scriptures to read at the first of the month. In addition, a full month's lectionary is provided.

All this is given to us for our edification, but how many actually take part? The only thing I can say is dine at the Lord's feast and eat all that is put on your plate so that you may grow strong in the Word so that the Lord can use you to do His work.

-- Anonymous, February 05, 2004

Amen, and Well said Sister Mary.

Indeed the feast is prepared, but getting folks to the table is the challenge. I've seen this scenario time and again in many A.M.E. Churches and has been the subject of many a prayer and solicitation of those wiser than myself. How to motivate and inspire the people to eat!? Any ideas?

Thank you for your thoughtful reply and insight Sister Mary. Grace be with you.

Sincerely, In Love, In Christ, Yours Truly --- Ron.

-- Anonymous, February 05, 2004

Ron raises an important point (Bible Diet) which requires thoughtful and prayerful responses. Jesus rebuked Satan in the wilderness on one occassion by emphasizing that, "Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word which proceedeth out of the mouth of God". This statement by our Lord & Saviour clearly signals that Bible Study (private and congregational) should be a top priority for AME members.

Yet, despite the Biblical mandate to study God's Word many of our members appear content being spiritually and theologically malnourished. Too many of us race to the fellowship hall to have breakfast after the early morning service as opposed to joining the Church School which is already in session. When the AME Church School was studying the Book of Job last month I encouraged all of our members to read this great book in its entirety (42 chapters). One member, whose membership spans nearly 40 years, complimented me and commented that she hadn't read the Book of Job in almost 50 years. I have lamented on this BB over the past few years about the probem of Biblical illiteracy within our lay membership. Too much of our priorities appear directed at working on church programs and special events, reciting creeds and engaging in church politics. We are astute at planning for anniversaries, Founder's Day, Children's Day and other such important programs. However, if you were to ask the typical church program planner why the Books of Zepahniah or Zechariah are important for Christian growth or the Book of Hebrews you will get a less-tan enthusisastic response. As one AME preacher I know once said "for too long we have emphasized to our members how to be a good AME as opposed to being a good Christian". That paradigm, needless to say, must change.

Now I would be the first to acknowledge that many of our churches do offer creative and informative BIble study programs to help raise our Biblical IQs. The discouraging reality is that many of our members choose not to take advantage of these opportunities. Church School and Bible study attendance in many of our AME churches are less than 20% of the church membership. I speak from experience not speculation. Many of our young adult members (22-35) move their membership to other non-AME churches and base their decision to move on a lack of spiritual development and a perceived de-emphasis of teaching in our AME churches. But, is the young adult critique of the AMEC valid? I would say no simply because while many were AME members they chose to be sideline observers as oppossed to becoming directly involved in the Christian Ed programs that many AME churches sponsor. Our churches are not perfect. There is ample room for improvement. However, when I was an undergrad I taught Sunday School for young boys and continued teaching that same class all the way through my graduate program. Just because I was a "college student" I did not use this as a reason for not maintaining my Sunday School duties. If our churches and members desire stable long-term growth objectives we must make studying the Word of God a top priority! No ifs, ands and buts will suffice. QED

-- Anonymous, February 06, 2004

For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:21)

Amen - Amen - and Amen Brother Dickens. You have articulated my heart, encouraged my Spirit and raised my voice in praise to the Lord.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (Rev 2:11)

-- Anonymous, February 06, 2004

Brother Bill Dickens is good for speaking a word of truth like it is and does an excellent job of not only affirming others but clarifying what others are trying to say, the tenents of a good professor. There's no need to post because he took the words right out of my mouth (SMILE). Well spoken, Rev. Dickens (SMILE) and an excellent post, Brother Ron.

-- Anonymous, February 09, 2004

Gosh, AJ just made me blush :-) I hope my econ students feel the same way when the semester ends and they have to complete the dreaded faculty evaluation forms (LOL). My next comment is OT but did anybody catch Beyonce` on the Grammy Awards Show? That pink lingerie, err....dress, was to put it lightly, "tight". Why do beautiful women have to wear scantily-clad dresses? My wife only let me look from a distance :-) QED

-- Anonymous, February 10, 2004

Beautiful, talented women do not have to dress the way Beyonce did last evening, Bro. Dickens. They just "do" to keep up with the competition (Brittany Spears, Jay-Lo, Madonna, Janet Jackson, etc., etc.). Also, most of their marketing/PR directors make them dress that way, for publicity purposes. I don't want to sound like a "player-hater", but Beyonce really doesn't have to dress as cladly as she does. She'd still be beautiful and talented fully clothed. I wish there was some way that that message can get to her and her marketing/wardrobe crew. She would come-off much-more classier. Just call me old fashioned. I know this has nothing to do with the AME Church and it's Biblical diet, but be blessed anyway! AJ

-- Anonymous, February 10, 2004