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Pastor Jamal Bryant is a brilliant Black man, who grew a sizable congregation in Baltimore, before moving on to a new home at New Birth, a megachurch in Atlanta.
His preaching and elements of his life, from personal struggles to going from a GED recipient to a student at Morehouse College, a master’s degree and doctoral work are inspiring. He has a lot that he can teach people based on his knowledge, experience and spiritual gifts that he has been blessed with.
The pastor, however, recently spoke about the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan in ways that were unflattering and ultimately and most importantly ways that were untrue.
›And it is the lack of truth, the lack of understanding or the lack of appreciation for Min. Farrakhan and his ongoing 65 year body of work and service to Black people that cannot go unaddressed.
A recent YouTube video featured Rev. Bryant engaged in a discussion with Dharius Daniels of the Princeton Theological Seminary, which touched on important topics like ministering across generations, moving from a congregation where members needed services and help to a new congregation which has the power to give. He spoke of the need for discernment and the proper words to deliver at a particular moment. He spoke of the challenge servicing an online community of parishioners, support for Bennett College suffering through a financial crisis and the need for Black pastors to be prepared and educated.
Yet, the pastor made some serious mistakes, starting with the claim to have spoken at the Million Man March, which was in 1995 and obviously a mistake. The pastor meant he spoke at the 20th anniversary of the Million Man March in 2015. How did he get there? He got there because the vision and mission that Min. Farrakhan has for the Black community and even the world is not limited to nor divided by denomination.
Pastor Bryant was one of many young leaders recruited by the Minister to expand the breadth of the Justice Or Else! gathering, to empower young people, to push the drive for freedom forward, and to bridge any gaps over religion in our community. All of our people need justice and if we love ourselves, we will unite to get the justice we seek.
We don’t suffer primarily because of what we call ourselves, we suffer primarily because we are Black people in America and have existed in the furnace of affliction, enduring over 400 years of chattel slavery and “free” slavery.
During the videotaped discussion, Pastor Bryant mistakenly referred to himself as the only “Christian” to speak. Wrong again. Other Believers in Christ spoke on the program and Minister Farrakhan has never limited nor diminished anyone because of their professed faith.
Unfortunately, Pastor Bryant seems to have forgotten this and said in the video: “Min. Farrakhan ain’t never brought a preacher to the mosque.”
Wrong. Numerous preachers have spoken at Mosque Maryam, the headquarters of the Nation of Islam, and regularly participate in Nation of Islam gatherings. There is no religious gangbanging over here.
“He ain’t gonna bring me into Mosque Maryam because he knows most of those Muslims were once Christians. And if he gives me that stage, he knows they coming with me,” declared Pastor Bryant.
Poor pastor. Please don’t limit nor confine the Minister to your level of misunderstanding and level of ego. Most members of the Nation of Islam were in church. It didn’t suit us for different reasons. We know church. We often still go to church to visit with friends, family and loved ones. And if some Muslims heard you speaking from a platform created by Minister Farrakhan and returned to church that’s their personal choice. We accept truth wherever we find it and truth kisses and embraces truth. The Minister has no fear of losing followers to you dear pastor. Your contention almost sounds like the braying of an ass and is truly unworthy of a spiritual teacher. The mission of the spiritual teacher is to open blind eyes, open deaf ears and raise the dead to a productive level of living because they are infused with the wisdom, spirit and the knowledge of God.
It’s not a scorekeeping contest. But truthfully, if we were keeping score, despite your talents, you would be far behind a man who has taught several generations of people, toured the world and who called for one million men and nearly two million showed up–despite opposition from Whites and some misguided and envious Blacks.
Humility is a sign of a true servant of God because the servant knows he is called to a mission and the ultimate power behind the call and the reason for any success is God Himself.
With our people suffering from racial murder from without and fratricidal murder from within, does it make sense for us to choose sides in a non-existent religious war? The war is for the survival of our people and any spiritual teacher who can bring enlightened thought and reform our behavior should be applauded.
The Minister’s mission and his role, from Nation of Islam patriarch Elijah Muhammad, is to “think for the whole.” So his ministry, his words, his work and his vision are not limited to the interior of a mosque or traditional Muslim prayer service. His mission and commitment are to the millions of Black people in America who struggle daily in some way to survive and keep their sanity. That need is not limited to religious denominations or “sets,” it goes deep into the suffering and salvation of a people who God has chosen for Himself.
It’s a shame Pastor Bryant that after having the great opportunity to engage with and learn from Min. Farrakhan that your view appears to be so twisted. We won’t comment on your heart, nor your motives as we cannot read either. We will say ingratitude is condemned by God and envy is a despicable quality. We humbly suggest you search your heart to see what is there.
