By Brad R. Braxton

In a 1999 essay titled "A Good Time or a Good Life? The Black Church in the Twenty-First Century," I attempted to chart the opportunities and obstacles facing black churches on the eve of the new millennium. An extensive quotation from the essay revealed my concern for the lack of social justice engagement in many churches:

"In urban and suburban America, the up-and-coming trend is the 'mega' black church with state-of-the-art classrooms, administrative offices, banquet facilities, and gymnasiums. Many of these 'mega' churches have enough members to populate a small city. ... Many factors contribute to this groundswell of membership ... but, most of all, it is the resurgence of a more charismatic style of worship in the black church that has motivated much of this interest. It is the vibrant, exciting worship of the African-American tradition that is drawing people. ... Yet I am concerned that congregations cultivate spiritual lives, and not simply provide energizing worship. People are coming to church, but what are we doing in church?

...Has our style of worship become more important than the substance of worship? Has having a 'good time' in church become more important than living a good, disciplined, and empowered life before God? Has the phenomenon of stirring up feelings in church become more important than encouraging faithfulness once we are outside of the church? In the midst of all of our excitement, are we really making a difference in the world? Or just making a lot of noise?" (Spiritual Manifestos: Visions for Renewed Religious Life in America from Young Spiritual Leaders of Many Faiths, pp. 139-140).

More than a decade after raising those questions, it troubles me that many churches still are simply making noise but not making a difference. Over the clamor of our Sunday morning merry-making, God continues speaking through the prophet Amos: "I hate, I despise your festivals, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. ... Take away from me the noise of your songs; I will not listen to the melody of your harps. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream" (Amos 5:21, 23-24). This Amos text reveals a divine impatience, even intolerance, for exuberant worship unconcerned with social empowerment and communal wellbeing.