Tradition

It is important that we recognize the incredible Church traditions that have been passed down to us and reflect on the impact of it in our culture today. In Romans 15, Paul writes:
4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
5 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus,
6 that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We are in our current place in the Church partly because of the teachings and traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation.  Unfortunately, in Jesus' day, religious traditions had departed from the Word of God. But, the trajectory of the Bible is to be careful to pass down solid and positive traditions of faith, so those who will come will know and observe the teachings of Scripture. Each of us can strive to build a legacy of faith.
 

+++++

In Deuteronomy 32, Moses is challenging the Israelites to reflect on their history and consider the faithfulness of God - we can read this:
(6) Is He not your Father, who bought you? Has He not made you and established you?
7 "Remember the days of old, Consider the years of many generations. Ask your father, and he will show you; Your elders, and they will tell you:

February is designated and celebrated annually as Black History Month, and there is a strong faith thread in the African-American community.  In fact, a new Barna survey which is part of its project called, State of the Black Church, shows that the perception of faith has actually grown stronger among African-Americans.

The survey summary states:

New Barna research, from the recently announced State of the Black Church project, show that four out of five Black U.S. adults who align with some type of faith group agree to some extent (41% “strongly,” 38% “somewhat”) that “To understand the African American experience, it is necessary to understand the role of religious faith in the lives of Black people.” This percentage has actually climbed by eight percentage points (from 71%) since 1996 when Barna last included it in a survey.

The survey indicates that among Black churchgoers, 88% agree that understanding the African-American experience is tied to understanding religious faith. 92% of churchgoers see their faith as a source of "emotional strength."

Regarding perceptions of the Black Church, the Barna report states:

Barna presented respondents with ranges of characteristics—both good and bad—and asked, when you hear “the Black Church,” which term is your immediate association? Perceptions lean toward the positive. “Safe” and “important” are among the top selections, as well as “reliable” and “healing.”

Around 4-in-10 Black churchgoers and about a quarter of Black adults see the Black Church as "safe" and "important."  But, about a third of both groups indicate they perceive the Black Church as "old-fashioned."  And, the survey notes, "The proportion of Black adults who say church involvement is overall “desirable” is on the decline, from 90 percent in 1996...to just 74 percent today."

There is also a high view of pastors within the African-American community, with just under 7-in-10 Black adults and just over three-quarters of Black churchgoers agreeing with this statement, "The pastors of African American churches are the most important leaders within the Black community."

The survey summary leads off with these statements: "When Black History Month is observed each year, faith is a thread throughout many of the stories and celebrations of the Black community in the U.S. In fact, according to Black Americans, it’s an essential part of the narrative."

Our faith traditions are important, and the practice of faith, especially the Christian faith, is an important building block not only for our communities, but our individual lives. And, we do not need to erase the impact of Christianity on our country.  What can be referred to as the overall Black experience carries a legacy of strength amidst struggle and a thread of defeating adversity through determination.  So, as we celebrate the incredible contributions of African-Americans in various fields of endeavor during Black History Month in February, we can consider the ministers and musicians who have been an integral part of history.