Bessie W. Blake. Speak to the Mountain. Aequitas Book. 2006.

Speak to the Mountain tells the story Tommie Waites. She was born in the 1920s. This book traces her history from birth down to the current day. In doing so, we learn much about the history of Black America during this same time period.

Although I was glad when she became a Christian, I was totally dismayed at how “getting the Holy Ghost” became more important than knowing what the Bible teaches about salvation. We are told to “repent and be baptized”. There is so much controversy about “how” you are filled with the Holy Ghost. I do not believe that speaking in unknown tongues is the ONLY evidence. However, man likes something showy and speaking in tongues is surely showy.

Although I disagree with her doctrine, I am glad that winning souls for Jesus became her main goal in life. She also opened a Christian Counseling Center. This book surely shows that a person can rise above their circumstances to accomplish great things in life.

Michele Andrea Bowen. Holy Ghost Corner . Walk Worthy Press. 2006

Holy Ghost Corner tells the story of the goings on in one Black church. Frankly, it made me feel sick to think that this book might represent the truth about what happens within the walls of a church – any church – whether the congregation be white, black, Hispanic, or any other ethnic group.

If you believe this book represents the “black” church, then it makes me sad. I really hate to think that preachers’ wives are more concerned with having the fanciest “Sunday Hat” than knowing the truth of what the Bible teaches. I also dislike thinking that many of the people within the church walls are simply using service time to check out the opposite sex, or worse yet, sleeping with the deacon or preacher!

Recommendation

These books have done a serious disservice to the church today. They are emphasizing the very things that should be condemned within the church. The churches described do not comply with the New Testament church as described in the Bible.

Personal Journey

Since I belong to a mixed ethnic church that believes that the Bible is the Word of God, it truly saddens me to see fiction books coming out illustrating the very church that Christ says he will spew out of his mouth at judgment – a church that is lukewarm and tolerating sin within its walls.

These books also help to explain why it is so difficult in the United States, to teach the truth about Christianity. People simply don’t want to know “thus saith the Lord” anymore. It’s far too easy to spend sermon time looking for your next date or even a husband or wife than it is to hear God speak the truth. Unfortunately, the Bible writers knew the day would come when people wanted the preacher to “tickle their ears” instead of speaking the truth.

In reading these books, I also had to remember that the Black ethnic group basically came from Africa--a matriarchal society. It was always difficult for black men to find good jobs. Unfortunately, this meant that women often became the primary breadwinner for the family. For some reason not understood by me, this nation apparently accepted black women in high positions long before it would accept black men in those positions. Although things are better today, black women tend to be leaders in their families. This is a pattern that needs to be broken both in families and in the church. Yes, you're hearing a modern women say that it is time for women to learn their God-given place in the family and in the church.

Copyrighted by Diana Pederson, 2005-2009