Working on my final paper, for my first doctorate class, over the book of Amos. I can't help, but notice the Minor Prophets focused on similar topics society is facing today: syncretism, apostasy, warning the people of Israel to worship God, but don't become like the surrounding cultures and society, and losing their identity, culture and morals.
They warned the people of the dangers which would befall than, including turning away from God and embracing every thought, philosophy, and religious belief and melding into their own to the point, they essential were committing idolatry and behaving no different than the people around them.
An interesting thing to note was in times of trouble and answers, instead of turning to God for guidance, they turned to their government for help, and in the process, led them further away from what God was trying to guide them as a people.
The prophets eventual warned the people if they continue on their paths, they would face judgments in the form of invasion, loss of their identities, and their land.
History would show the people suffered not only invasion, but capture and conquest, and one of the books of the Bible shared one of the invaders upon invading, was repulsed by the immorality and self-destruction of the people.
Jeremy Biddle
This may have been the case just after the Civil War (note I say "may" because the author presents no evidence) but another simple explanation is that Black congregations exist because Black neighborhoods exist. Lutheran churches (and schools) used to be established geographically near to the people they served.
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Jeremy Biddle
Note, I am upset about the closing of Concordia University Selma, for many of the reasons the author discusses. I personally witnessed the start of the Concordia University system and the continual shift of focus away from training Lutheran pastors and teachers. I started college at "Concordia College" (whose legal name was still actually "Concordia Teacher's College" and graduated from "Concordia University Nebraska". When the university system started, I actually considered doing a semester at Concordia Selma (one of the perks of the system was that a student could do a semester at another Concordia and have the credits count the same as if you were at the home school), but they didn't have the courses I needed at the time. I wish now that I had done it anyway.
I firmly believe that we need more neighborhood schools and churches. We need to reach out to people where they are and address the issues and life experiences of those communities. However, I also have no problem with someone deciding their needs would be better served at another location.
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