Survey Results - Black Church Life: The Altar
This month, my morning studies are coming from the book of 1 Samuel. Of course, this is the Old Testament, and the consistent theme of “the altar” continues to show itself as very significant in the lives of the people of Yahweh and in other none-Yahwistic people groups as well.
The altar is that sacred space were sacrifices are made even if just the sacrifice of praise. The altar is that separated space where one meets God with the petitions of the heart. The altar seemingly is a necessary construct for the human psychic in connecting with God, making meaning of life and of our feeble attempts to influencing God on our behalf.
MissioSpark, LLC deployed a study last month on this social phenomenon with a specific emphasis on the Black American Baptist Church, traditional. It must be noted that this survey was deployed the same week that the COVID-19 pandemic was being ushered in on the scene inherently changing the nature of the institutional church probably forever. Nevertheless, the altar has been a forever-place in human societies in one form or another.
In this study, fifty-four respondents of all age ranges except for those between the ages of 25 – 34 participated in the survey. That age group is not represented. When asked if one anticipated Sunday morning altar prayer, pastoral prayer or morning prayer as it can be known in different churches, 29 of the 54 respondents said that they always anticipate the prayer time while 13 said usually and 10 sometimes and 2 said rarely.
On this latter matter, it is interesting that 2 respondents when asked what their thoughts after the prayer were declared, “the prayer was too long” and the other “I’m glad it’s over.” Overall, 90% of respondents upon leaving the altar agreed that they felt much better. Only 1 of 54 said that they felt the same when they came to the altar.
Some of the testimony of “thinking” after prayer are captured in the following phrases in Table 1.1.
Table 1.1
Although there were other responses, this seems to suggest that in terms of life’s issues and struggles people are healed even if temporarily from the “burden” they carry. This is further supported by this surveys data on the top 3 concerns that one brings to the altar prayer. The dominant concerns from the highest number of respondents to the lower are listed below.
The first 5 issues noted by a (*) in the first column were overwhelmingly mentioned and are statistically significant. Beginning with “the world” only 1 – 3 respondents referenced the issue with 1 respondent referencing most of them. As required by the question, each respondent listed at least 3 concerns that they bring to the altar making a list of 162 concerns.
What does this research suggest?
That African Americans bring their burdens to the Lord and that the highest concerns are related to being healed, the family, getting closer to God, finances and protection. This should not be surprising given the historical trauma for our community and the daily struggles of life.
That the daily context of the community is so laden with debilitating issues that coming to the altar to think about praying for the world or the lost is seemingly not a priority. For is appears as though “the world” or “my world” is a reality that weighs down on the soul. It is interesting in analyzing comparative responses to COVID-19: the black to the white and the upper socio-economic classes to the lower socio-economic classes in terms of attitude, coping and fear levels there seems to be some differences based on social location. (This is not a discussion for this project but we know that research spawns new research questions).
That there is no boundary or a limited boundary between those in the church and “those out there” as we are them and they are us. This is very indicative historically of black communal life rooted in African thought and practice.
That African-American Baptist folk strive for a closer walk with the Lord despite it all. This was probably the most shocking finding to me. The statements were powerful in reference to wanting to do better, live more holy, learn more about Jesus and be stronger in the faith. Overwhelmingly no matter the lament at the altar the people of God yet ask for a personal and a closer walk with the Lord.
That the altar has a direct correlation to lived trauma. As respondents made family issues: marriage, children, addiction—deeply stressing and disturbing experiences, the primary prayer request suggests that trauma is negotiated at the altar during prayer and healing is the primary petition.