It would be extremely naive to believe that the ongoing battles in our communities are solely the result of dysfunctional families, lack of quality schools, systemic racial injustices, and low-paying jobs. These are all factors that contribute to a variety of societal issues, but we as a people have neglected to hold the church responsible for the role it plays, or fails to play, in Black society.

At one point, the Black church experienced a downward trend where it was observed that men no longer attended services, and the only men in attendance were deacons, bishops, elders, and pastoral staff. Later, there was another time period when it seemed that no one was attending services. But overall attendance has picked up in recent years, and other problems have emerged.

The church has always been an influential stronghold in the Black community and has long been the soul of many families. As the children of church-going mothers, most of us had no choice in whether or not we wanted to get up early Sunday mornings and attend services. We had to.

We sat quietly on hard pews while ushers passed out programs and wooden-handle fans. We listened to a harmonious choir's rendition of "Leaning On The Everlasting Arms", as the preacher's booming voice echoed throughout the building.

 But whether we were forced to attend church or not, the church family helped contribute to our overall development as people. It provided us with the Biblical principles needed for prayer and guidance. It also spawned a style of gospel music and inspiration unlike any other spiritual institution. As we matured over the years, the gifts from our churches became more visible in the way we lived our lives. Still today -- our history with the Black church keeps us grounded in our spiritual upbringing.

It is difficult to say the same for today's churches and their impact in the community. Our future, as a society in need of change -- will be strongly influenced by our faith and the ability to overcome obstacles both inside and outside of the church. Eventually, we need to ask ourselves: "Is the Black church helping or hindering progress?"

The church, at its fundamental core, is a microcosm of our own society. Both positive and negative elements that lurk within the community, also reside in the church. There are bad business-people in the corporate world, and there are churches often being led by those who have no business running a business.

Similarly, other community issues such as infidelity, greed, elitism, hypocrisy, gossiping, rumoring, selfishness, and lack of education -- find their way into our churches. So much so, in fact, that we are being overly exposed to drama and entertainment -- rather than being washed in spiritual leadership and worshipping as God intends. Too often, the size of ones pocketbook, or their status in the community gathers attention, while true character goes unnoticed. We cannot continue to use the word church to "dress up" those things that do not belong in God's house.

In a perfect world, our churches would offer us a place of worship where we collected valuable information and the spiritual guidance needed to live in accordance with the Word. The church would be a shelter where egos and attitudes took a backseat to God-given wisdom. It would be a place where our youth could reach out to elder members and receive constructive mentoring on a variety of topics.
Of course we know the world isn't perfect, and neither is the church. When we visit a church, all in attendance should be treated equally without regard to background or image. Our youth need to be given the education and information necessary to sustain their spiritual growth for decades to come -- and right now, this isn't happening in many Black churches.

A part of the problem in some church organizations can be seen in how followers handle adversity within the church. Too many of us allow a church, or its leaders, to escape the same ridicules we openly distribute to other institutions. In actuality, we should hold churches and their leadership to the same Biblical standards and not allow one to cancel out the other. This "practice what you preach" mentality has been sorely lacking in many churches.

Some of our churches need to be rebuilt internally. Others seek positive recognition for their contributions to the community. The overall focus of the church, at times, seems poorly targeted. But we cannot continue to observe church attendance as a parade of stylish clothes and expensive cars - when we preach the opposite to our children. Our attendance should center around learning and worship -- keeping in mind that we should reach out to others once the Word has been properly received.

We are in the days of the megachurch -- with flamboyant pastors, multimillion dollar buildings, and unprecedented numbers in attendance. Now, more than ever, the church plays a critical role in deciding how it will effectively influence our communities. With so many people filling the congregations -- our churches possess the power and hold the obligation to present a certain image to its people -- God's image.