As traditional black leaders try to upend, this November, the highjacking of America by the Republican Party, they find themselves facing a formidable opponent unlike no other they’ve faced before—themselves in the mirror. The most vocal mouthpieces for what Black America wants (or needs)—one self-anointed, Rev. Al Sharpton, and one self-appointed (but long since embraced), Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr. find themselves between a rock and a hard place in trying mobilize voters through venues that have now become the focal point of the Republican outreach agenda, black “Mega” churches. Both Sharpton and Jackson have seen the need to “call out” the “new” black church and their purpose in the never-ending struggle to achieve equality and self sufficiency. This has made one of my favorite topics, the “preacher wars,” fodder for social critique. I’ve been writing about the hypocrisies of the black church since 1993. When I write about black churches, it makes some of my publishers as “nervous as a whore in church.” Of course, we know the pews are not the only places sinners sit in church. The pulpit is full of ‘em too. This four-decade “where’s Black America’s moral campus since King” discourse that Sharpton and Jackson has sought to launch is really timely. The church hasn’t been the moral voice in recent years. Many, of course, don’t think these two are exactly the ones that should be leading the conversation, but somebody has to lead it—so he without sin…

The discussion, however, is about whether the mega-church movement is so focused on capitalistic ventures that they have forgotten their role in the social justice movement. Jackson and Sharpton, standing in Connecticut last week with first victor of what Sharpton says will be many “Lieberman nights” (former vice presidential candidate, Joe Lieberman becoming the first casualty of the Democratic Party’s support/silence on the war) in this mid-term “anti-war” election, are trying to register millions of voters and see the mega-churches as an appropriate place to start. Of course, the Republican Party’s relationship with these churches is the focal point, as most of them have been “large” in their pursuits of “faith based initiatives,” the GOP’s carrot that brought church and state in the black community a whole lot closer than its been in the past.

The black church’s favorite invitation is, “The doors of the church are open, won’t you come?” Well, the Republicans came, money (disguised as programs) in hand, and “Rev”—not one to miss an “offering”—handed them the plate. Sharpton and Jackson, who have had a corner on the “black misery market” for decades, neither of which have been known to step over a dollar, find themselves in the position of having to question other preachers’ mission and motives—as others once questioned (and still are questioning) theirs. Meanwhile, Republicans have broken the Democrats’ sanctity over a key constituency base and are now in the church-house, courting black social conservatives on issues like abortion, gay marriage and personal responsibility—and helping black churches’ entrepreneurial efforts. Religion has now replaced liquor as the largest “growth industry” in the black community. Many communities have a moratorium on liquor stores but new churches are opening up every day. There’s one of two reasons for that; either black people are becoming more religious, or more desperate in their desire to change their lives (I think it’s the latter). Either way, “opportunity” has created churches so large that even the Republican Party (who traditionally looked past black voters) couldn’t miss it. The mega-church preacher has become the “new black leader” as far as the GOP is concerned (They also know the Democrats had a headlock on the old black leaders). Most of the “new black leader” preachers were unknown beyond their regions until they got invitations to the White House. Their flashlights became spotlights. Their parting hands became tin cups and the question in black leadership went from, “Who are they? to Why is President Bush meeting with them instead of us?

Tavis Smiley put the first spotlight on it last year at his “State of the Black Union” weekend at Eddie Long’s church. Then T.D. Jakes found himself defending his relationship with the White House at the National Association of Black Journalist Convention in Atlanta last August. Now, Sharpton has made mega-preachers the topic of his National Action Network Conference, and Jackson—a proven voter registration machine—has been “jabbin’ ‘em”, as he proclaims the upcoming November elections to be a battle for the “soul of America.” It’s been entertaining watchin’ black preachers try to outpimp each other. But some of these mega-preachers have an edge since some of them were pimps in their street lives (before they got saved [sic]). Some of ‘em still dress like pimps, as “prosperity” is their spiritual message—their large congregations are guilted (or jilted) into giving until they can’t give anymore—and if these poor souls’ lives don’t change—it’s because they’re short on faith, not money, causing Sharpton to claim that black ministry is short on ministers but long on preachers. Meanwhile, mega-preachers do quite well—living in mansions and driving Bentleys, and the churches become conglomerates unconcerned with ministering to lost souls’ needs. Now, some preacher’s aspiration is not to just serve God—but to become a mega-preacher. Jesus has been co-opted as preachers pursue riches, and there’s no end in sight on this. You can only expect the preacher wars to get more vicious as “who’s holier than thou” is shouted through church doors open to business and politics. What would Jesus do if he were to show up at church, and get a 15 minute “drive through” sermon with a parade of politicians and business folk taking up the prayer time? He’d be turnin’ over tables like he did the last time. Vendor tables…voter registration tables…you know, all the stuff you see in church lobbies and walkways every Sunday. You run outta money in a mega-church, there’s an ATM in the lobby, just for your “spiritual convenience.” Jesus would be hard pressed to run the “money-changers” out of the mega-church. Them ATM machines tend to be pretty hard to lift by yourself. But then we’re talkin’ about Jesus here, so nothing’s impossible…The point is, the Mega Church is now big business in our community and the GOP’s right there, Praise the Lord. Aaamen.

Who’ll win the battle for the soul of the mega-church, business or politics? Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and the Democratic Party or Eddie Long, T.D. Jakes and the Republican Party?

“The door of the church is open…won’t you come?” Let the preacher wars begin.

Anthony Asadullah Samad is a national columnist, managing director of the Urban Issues Forum and author of 50 Years After Brown: The State of Black Equality In America. He can be reached at AnthonySamad.com.

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