Penknife Press introduces another new author, Daniel Hardman. His debut book, Essays from Church, Volume I, is a collection of thoughtful musings reminiscent of some of the writings from the 1960s. The ISBN for the book is 0-9741949-6-4. Here is the introduction. Visit our website at http://www.penknifepress.com for more information.

Introduction

From September 1991 to February 1995, I was stationed at Sembach Air Base, Germany, while in the US Air Force. I was serving as lay minister in the Base Gospel Service. On February 28, 1993, I brought a message for the last Sunday of Black History Month.

I did not know it then, but that was to be the beginning of one of the greatest challenges of my life. Here in essay form are the actual sermonettes that followed that message, and made up the part of the church service called "Renewing Our Minds."

What prompted me to give such a message? No doubt that many of those listening were asking the same thing. As I said, it was February, but my message was probably more radical than even a black congregation was ready for. Yet, during Black History Month militant messages are tolerated better. As a result, I was asked by the senior minister to do similar messages each Sunday thereafter. Consequently, I had been exposing myself to other ways of thinking. I began exploring other religions, ideas and concepts to broaden my mind.

Although it's only spoken of behind closed doors, everyone knows that somewhere we, not just blacks but people in general, had taken a wrong turn. We needed to get back on the right path, but as I saw it most people were just not interested in making any changes. Change is too much trouble. Cool to talk about but that's all.

It just so happened that was the last Sunday of February, and I was the only black minister lucky enough to have the opportunity to bring a message during the entire month. The Air Force Chief of Chaplains was not concerned that a black congregation might have need of a black chaplain. Our out-going chaplain, one of only 88 African American active duty Air Force chaplains at that time, had met with the chief of chaplains twice to help ensure he was replaced by another black chaplain.

The Chief was not trying to hear that and in his infinite wisdom, appointed us a white chaplain. The Chief of Chaplains must have been really angry at Chaplain Cleveland, because he sent us the sorriest excuse for a chaplain he could possibly find. This guy was the Homer Simpson of chaplains. He was as much a chaplain as Snoop Doggy Dog is a Roman Catholic Priest. Needless to say this chaplain saw no need for us to participate in Black History Month, instead soliciting other white chaplains from other services to come in and speak during February.

As I proceeded with my weekly segments, he became increasingly angry, deliberately going out of his way to stop them. He went so far as to report me to the base head chaplain, labeling me a racist. My attempts to address social issues were met with what is seen by blacks as typical white power resistance.

He was successful at blocking me for about two weeks, during which time the base chaplain and I had a heart to heart talk about my supposed racism. After our session he said he could not, in good conscience, prevent me from continuing my weekly segments. He didn't necessarily agree with what I was saying, but he found no racist motivation and allowed me to continue.

The one that really got me in trouble was the sermonette, "In Search of the Real Historical Jesus," in which I state that Jesus was a dark-skinned man. The African American Heritage Bible contains a very detailed genealogical path leading up to the life of Jesus and shows without a doubt that Jesus was anything but white. For me to have the nerve to say such a thing, and in an Air Force chapel at that, was the ultimate slap in the face for a white-bread chaplain. It proved to be a slap in the face he would have to live with.

Before I left Germany, my young chaplain was in charge of the Easter program that included a sketch of the last supper. One Sunday, while in the sanctuary I walked up to him and asked if he had found anyone to play Jesus. It was immediately following church service, so you could say he was compelled to tell the truth. The fear of impending doom was all over his face, and I honestly can say that I had never done anything so insidious in all my life. So when he said he hadn't, I eagerly volunteered. You could hear his brain screaming, "Nooooooooo!" Yes, I was his Jesus. I wonder if I was grinning outwardly as much as I was inwardly. What could he do? Tell me no.

Say I wasn't qualified. Tell me he didn't think I was the right person for the job. Nope, he was stuck and he knew it. What's worse was he knew I knew he was stuck. The look in his eyes told me he would rather have pulled out his own rear molars than have me play that part. If anything, I am sure he thought I was the perfect Judas.

That's about it for my episode with the chaplain from hell. "Essays from Church" was compiled to share my unique experiences with you. It is a critical look at how social issues are handled or mishandled by the church, and gives a peek into the politics of religion. Black churches and their inhabitants have always been extremely sensitive to these forces.

Historically, it has been the church that has served as a refuge to the Afro soul, but time has transformed it into a self-absorbed, capitalistic, anti-social machine. Church, rather than be the storehouse for the needy, has become a business venture that consumes participants like your local mega-store. My experiences with the chaplain from hell coupled with a delving into new philosophical territories brought me to a realization that I was on the wrong path. I needed to take my own advice. So I began what could best be described as a life reexamination.

I was born into a very Christian home. My mother was the daughter of a preacher and saintly mother. Two of her brothers were ministers. My father has been a bible teacher for years and all of my brothers, sisters and I spent at least the first 18 or so years of our lives in church. I was a minister for seven years.

My brother Herbert, one year older than me has been a minister for about ten years. Many of my ancestors on both sides of my family have been ministers and religious leaders centuries back. This was not going to be easy.

In 1989, while stationed at Carswell Air Force Base in Fort Worth, Texas, I met a young man named Joseph Madden. This is one person I will never forget. He told me about things that I initially thought were beyond ludicrous, yet I must admit I was fascinated and deeply intrigued by the things he said. Ben had been a minister once himself and knew just how to reach me. He told me things like Jesus having been born in a cave in Africa instead of in a manger in Bethlehem.

Things like Jesus having a wife and children; having written at least one book and quite possibly more. He asked me questions that I could not even begin to answer, like who did Cain marry after he murdered Abel; Why did Israel and Judah war amongst themselves so much and whose side was God on since they were both supposed to be his chosen people?

I was stopped dead in my tracks. I didn't know what to believe. All these questions he raised did one thing: they made me think, really think for myself for the first time in my life. I began to wonder if I had been misled, not intentionally, but simply because the people who had taught me just didn't know the truth themselves. It was at that point I realized I wanted to do better. I didn't want to be one who misled others simply because I didn't know. The reality is it's easy to not know. It's so easy that I believe many people do it willingly.

"To whom much is given, much is required." Sound familiar? It should since it's one of the most quoted verses of the Bible. It's easier, oftentimes preferred, to feign ignorance because the truth seems so complicated. It has been complicated through layer upon layer of superstition, myth, and fable piled on over the centuries. It's mind-boggling and the average person becomes so frustrated at trying to get to the truth that they finally give up, and usually at a very early age.

Haven't you noticed that young people don't care much about religion? It's shrouded in mystery like a thick fog covering the road. People can't see which way to go. It seems the closer you are to revealing something critical to your beliefs the farther you are from any realistic point of reference. People trade in reasonable understanding for faith in intangibles such as faith, prayer, and heaven. After much disappointment, the normal vices of money, sex, and material wealth take hold. People long for something concrete. Ironically, for most Christians, even those who say they are not driven by such symbols of success use these very symbols as their proof that they are the children of God.

When I stepped back and looked at all this I knew I had to renew my mind, and somehow try to convince others that they needed to do the same. Since many people respect any implication of religious authority it's very important that those who imply such authority be aware of the overwhelming temptation it's misuse. Far too common is the manipulation of this authority for personal gain in the form of sexual favors, prestige, reverence, and exorbitant wealth to name a few.

The mind control that pervades so many of today's modern religions is astounding. However, if the only thing ministers, teachers, gurus, and others like them can find to use this power for is personal satisfaction, I say do away with all religions. Maybe the answer is that there should be so many religions that it becomes impossible to tell them apart. That so many exist, so many choices, until it becomes just like having no choices. Then the question of the purpose of religion becomes so valid and weighty that no one can set themselves up as the chosen ones, or the elect, or the saints.

Continued >>>

Brother Dan Hardman will be keeping the Black community informed on issues concerning the church and righteous living. Visit regularly for new information that could help you overcome and make the best of your everyday experiences.

To subscribe to Hardman's column join the Afromerica email list to receive new information as it is updated. Or E-mail D Hardman at: essaysfromchurch@edincorporated.com

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