by Verdell Wright<\/a><\/span> <\/p>\n
R3 Contributor<\/span><\/p>\n
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<\/span><\/span><\/a>I\u2019m not opposed to using pop culture to discuss the gospel. Jesus did it in the form of parables. Being the primary way that he taught, Jesus used every day objects, ideas, and scenarios to convey deeper truths about the kingdom of God. Also, Paul drew from his surroundings in Acts 17: 22-23. When he arrived in Athens, he notices an altar to the \u201cunknown god,\u201d a shrine created by the Athenians, just in case there was a god out there whom they overlooked. The Pauline writer in Titus quotes a poem by Epimenides saying, \u201c\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>It was one of them, their very own prophet, who said, \u2018Cretans are always liars, vicious brutes, lazy gluttons.\u2019\u201d (Titus 1:12). Using common themes and tropes to convey the mind of God is as old as religion itself.<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/span>I decided to do just that. As the usage of phrase in question bothered me,I wanted to do my due diligence by hearing the whole sermon out. I know what it is to mount the sacred desk and present what I believe to be holy communication from God, to a group of people with demands on my performance that I\u2019ll never be able to fully satisfy. With that said, no one, not myself or Rev. Bryant, is exempt from public critique and examination when public comments run afoul. What follows is a critique from a budding theologian, future communications scholar, and homiletican-in-training.<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/span>I listened to all 38 minutes and 27 seconds of the sermon. In a way, Rev. Bryant is correct; in context the \u201choes\u201d quote isn\u2019t that bad. But acknowledging that does him or the sermon no favors. In fact, the reason why the song lyric is a minor note in this sermonic delivery is because he communicated and suggested far worse ideas before and after the quote in question. The unfortunate truth is that Rev. Bryant enclosed that infamous lyric in copious amounts of sexism, homophobia, questionable exegesis, and misdirection. Whether or not the \u201choes\u201d are loyal is almost rendered inconsequential when the entire sermon is taken in total.<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/span>He begins by discussing the tragic kidnapping of over 200 girls in Nigeria at the hands of fundamentalist Islamic group, Boko Haram. Rev. Bryant makes interesting, and frankly, telling rhetorical choices. He speaks of the social media campaign launched to raise awareness of the kidnapping, #bringbackourgirls, and makes more than a passing suggestion that demonic powers diverted concern from the boys that Boko Haram killed not long before the girls\u2019 kidnapping. To Bryant, the Nigerian boys\u2019 slaughter went unnoticed due to a lack of keenness \u201ct
\no pick up the enemy\u2019s pattern.\u201d According to this pattern, \u201cthe enemy,\u201d is to remove men from the equation so that the imaginations of women are stunted. Bryant isn\u2019t clear with who exactly \u201cthe enemy\u201d is. Given the situation, it is safe to assume that the enemy is the devil, but he also implicates White Supremacy in the harming of men. Since, women\u2019s imaginations are so important, and those imaginations may only reach their full potential in terms of their proximity to a man, he suggests the hashtag #bringbackourfathers and #bringbackoursons.<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/span>Bryant then discusses his thoughts on the emasculation of black men in the public sphere. He weaves together common stories about David Chappell walking away from his show and black men wearing dresses, and connects that to Michael Sam kissing his white boyfriend on national television. Somehow, this makes Sam less threatening and distracts from \u201cwho he really is.\u201d In Rev. Bryant\u2019s estimation, Michael Sam\u2019s gayness is directly related to his lack of a positive relationship with his father, a common train of thought amongst black people who oppose homosexuality. The enemy\u2019s plan is to render the black male powerless, and the devil does this by making them more like women.<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/span>Next, the preacher blames Western influence on the emasculation of the black man. He states that churches are filled with more women because Western civilization has feminized Christianity[2]<\/a>, causing church to cater to the women, given their natural leaning toward being emotional. For Bryant, rationality is a dominant male trait. This feminization also leads to \u201csissies\u201d in churches, and an increase in lesbians, since there is no proper male around to set the tone. Also, men are totally unable to meet their full potential until they find a wife, citing Proverbs 18:22. Until marriage, masculine success is the result of \u201cgrace.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/span>Instead of \u201cside-chicks,\u201d men need to appreciate good women, because \u201cthese hoes ain\u2019t loyal.\u201d Bryant wraps up his sermon with fervent, emotional pleas.<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/span>Homosexuality is the result of feminization, which is makes his usage of Michael Sam as an example puzzling. Michael Sam doesn\u2019t present himself in ways that are stereotypical of black gay men. In all cases, the thing that is to be avoided is unchecked femininity. Femininity is only useful to God\u2019s kingdom if it is properly placed underneath a man, and wayward if it operates freely from masculine control or presents in a perceived male body.<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/span>This same patriarchal imagination and male gaze also filters the understanding of homosexuality, to the point of warping facts into fables and folk tales. Regardless of one\u2019s biblical stance on homosexuality, there are some stark realities that we as black clergy must face if we are to properly tend God\u2019s flock. Black people in general, and the black church in particular, always had and benefited from the lives of the LGBTQ community. With that said, people in this demographic also suffer. Homeless rates for LGBTQ youth are incredibly high, given that they often run away or are kicked out their homes. In 2013,\u00a073% of anti-gay murders were against people of color.<\/a>However, these realities are ne
\nver discussed. And they don\u2019t have to be mentioned at the expense of what is going on in places like Chicago, as Rev. Byrant\u2019s dualistic approach suggests. There room for all of these issues, just as there is room for all at Christ\u2019s table.<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/span>With all of this said, people familiar with Bryant\u2019s teaching are not surprised by his words. What\u2019s more concerning is that the congregation was visibly moved by the sexist and homophobic rhetoric. Women make up bulk of the congregation. While it is easy to state these folks are only there because they are being hoodwinked by religion, that stance would negate their ability to choose. In the midst of the problematic theology that Bryant espouses, where proper masculinity is lifted up by throwing unchaste women and gays to the wayside, people are finding a balm. One message often creates different effects in different people. The origin of the message is responsible for the positive effects it creates along with the negative ones, especially when those effects only serve to strengthen pain and torment in others\u2019 lives.<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/span>Although his constant judgment of other people\u2019s perceived sexual shortcomings make it tempting, personal attacks on Rev. Bryant and his known personal failings will produce no fruit. In fact, it would be countering one ungodly action with another. And the sad reality is that this type of sermon is preached in numerous places, white and black, every Sunday. The effort that deserves the most strategic attention is the creation of Christian worship spaces where this sort of rhetoric isn\u2019t the norm.<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/span>This can be accomplished in two ways. First, there is an urgent need for black clergy, men and women alike, to speak out against the viewpoints that Bryant and many others promote. We need bravery from those who are further ahead in ministry, who rank as Bryant\u2019s peers, to voice their disapproval. While the opinion of someone like me is important, I don\u2019t have the ear of preachers like Rev. Bryant. Numerous clergy have communicated their disapproval, but the most visible of them are women. Where are the black male clergy who are rebuking sexism and homophobia, from within and without Bryant\u2019s own denomination? We need them.\u00a0<\/span>
<\/span>Second, young seminarians, theologians, and preachers must thoroughly devote themselves to creating Christian worship spaces where rhetoric such as Bryant\u2019s is anathema. An ethnic of true love and embrace of all humanity needs to undergird our ministry activities. At some point, we will be the leaders. What will we lead God\u2019s people into? It is our responsibly, as clergy-in-training to notice the patterns of the enemy. In this, Bryant is correct. However, it is up to us to take full advantage of our seminary training and denounce the enemies of homophobia, misogyny, and sexism. The Spirit of God rails and wars against these other issues that steal, kill, and destroy humanity. Our spirits must do the same. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. Thanks be to God, who is always loyal to loving everyone.<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/span><\/span>Follow Verdell on Twitter\u00a0<\/span>@mr_wrightaway<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n