8 Things the Black Church Can Do to Be More Relevant

I am a Christian so don't go there. I’m just going to provide a simple list because these are things we’ve been begging the church to recognize for years. It’s like everyone knows how powerful the Black Church is except the Black Church. Churches that are relevant have larger male and young adult congregants, the two major groups that are hardest to attract. Black clergy please open your eyes and take some of these hints.

1. Recognize where we are as a people and give a damn.

2. Recognize the power that you have to change it and wield it.

3. Don't compromise the Word. There is nothing more beautiful than rich Word being served and a spiritually mature congregation to go with it. Sometimes unbelievers can smell false interpretations better than believers can.

4. Have honest conversations about sex and singleness. Some of you(r) female parishioners need to get real and consider dating and marrying non-black men. Internet dating is not the devil. Everyone loves sex and everyone wants to do it. Therefore my next point is key as the Word is clear about the only time sex is permissible.

5. Encourage marriage creation and sustainability.

6. Merge decaying churches and use the excess buildings, parking lots, and properties for businesses. There is nothing sinful about being upwardly mobile. We do not serve a broke God.

7. Take a trip into the 21rst century. People don’t care about the optics (fancy drapes and table linens). They care about the substance.

8. Practice a social gospel like a pretty popular minister we all know and love, Dr. King.