Pimpin' the Pulpit
by Ambra Nykol
Not too long ago, the pulpit was thought of as a most holy, sacred, and revered location. It was a place from which tremendous leaders of centuries past gave instruction from the Bible, and great messages of hope and empowerment were preached to the masses. In the black community especially, the pulpit has long been considered one of the most time-honored places of influence - except during presidential elections.
Every four years, the pulpit gets pimped.
However misappropriated the word "pimped" is, in the case of both modern and latter-day vernacular, the word is entirely appropriate for the cause of the pulpit.
When a presidential election year rolls around, groups that may or may not have been important during those last three years, suddenly become the object of the vultures' affection. This year, the head vulture is John Kerry.
Like clockwork, the political vultures, local ones included, come out dressed in navy blue suits, with carefully chosen power ties (pearls for the ladies), playing religious games for the sake of earning more votes.
The "black church" specifically, has become a ho. It's abused, mis-treated, used, and then tossed to the side until the next election.
There has been much talk about the importance of "faith" in this election. In the 2000 election, a survey of voters showed that 63% of those who attended church more than once a week voted for Bush, compared to 37% who voted for Al Gore.
This year, polls are showing that the "black vote" has slipped significantly for Kerry. Whereas Gore captured 90% of black voters, reportedly, Kerry may only have around 73%. Make no mistake about it, given the socially conservative nature of the black community, "black churches" especially tend to be opposed to abortion rights and same-sex marriage, which are among a few hot issues in this year's election.
This reality has made it clear to the Kerry campaign that they may have to work a little harder to secure what has traditionally been the guaranteed black vote.
Even before his official presidential nomination, Senator John Kerry wasted no time getting his fair share of face time in predominately black churches, quoting scripture and acting deep whenever possible and permissible.
Most recently, Kerry appeared at Mt. Olivet Baptist Church in Columbus, Ohio, quoting the book of James (again), the lyrics to Amazing Grace (again), and criticizing the President on social security and lack of jobs (again).
Last week, alongside our resident "Irreverent Reverends," Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, Kerry appeared at Florida's Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, lifting scripture out of context from the Book of Jeremiah and calling the opposition those "who are reminded they have eyes but do not see; they have ears, but do not hear."
Kerry also declared, "We have an unfinished march in this nation," and alluded to the same-sex marriage issue as a distraction and encouraged blacks not to give Bush their vote over issues that "won't affect their quality of life."
Same-sex marriage is one of the same issues that have many socially conservative blacks questioning the leadership of Kerry. It is also one of the issues that has been opposed from the same pulpit Kerry is abusing.
Just because the ho isn't getting money, doesn't make the transaction any less suspicious.
With the decline in black votes, the Kerry campaign brought on the ever-credible Jesse Jackson to operate as a strategist. Jackson himself is an extortionist who has made a career out of manipulating corporations into giving him money, and convincing the "black church" he is well within his rights to do so. There is no better person to advise Kerry in such matters, as another fellow pulpit pimp.
Kerry's not the only one to attempt to gain influence from the pulpit.
President Bush's aims to reach out to "black churches" have been less apparent and less frequent. If anything, the Bush campaign has played it safe in a charged political climate that would rather see Bush pass a kidney stone than speak in a "black church."
Back in July, in an attempt to leverage Pennsylvania as a key swing-state, GOP campaign officials sent out e-mails, hoping to identify 1,600 "friendly congregations" in which to rally Bush support. Immediately, the critics began complaining that the GOP was crossing the line of church and state relations. What a likely story.
When director of the Christian Defense Coalition, Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney wanted to launch a two-week prayer tour in support of President Bush, the Americans United for Separation of Church and State were there in the wings, reminding everyone that churches that support or oppose a candidate may face fines, an IRS audit and loss of tax-exempt status.
The all too frequent reminder of tax-exempt status doesn't seem to come up when Kerry is painfully mis-interpreting scripture across the country at whatever "black church" will have him. It's selective regulation and it's glaringly obvious.
When Florida pastor Gaston E. Smith declared before his congregation that God had chosen John Kerry to "bring our country out of despair, discouragement, despondency, and disgust," there wasn't much heard from the church and state separatist peanut gallery.
We can make this into an issue about 501(c)(3) regulations or the morality of using the church to further a political cause. However, first and foremost, there is a blatant double standard being exercised and it needs to be addressed.
Thankfully, some churches are standing up and exposing the true hearts of politicians. Recently, the pastor of Apostolic Life Cathedral, Rev. E.S. Harper, decided against allowing Kerry to use their church as a political platform. Kerry cancelled his visit soon after.
Coincidence? Let's not play dumb.
Politicians show their faces in churches once every four years and it is entirely self-serving. Many people know this yet casually sit back and allow the pulpit, once a place of reverence, to become a partisan place of manipulation of power.
As with all abusive relationships, intervention is necessary. The pimping must stop.
Ambra Nykol is freelance writer, Seattle native, and member of the "rebellious" generation. Visit her website at www.nykola.com.
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