“It’s clear that the church is not operating on behalf of The Most High because as 501c (3) corporations (look it up) they have to follow IRS guidelines which dictate their nontaxable status. So the question is if the church cannot speak the truth in the pulpit, then what are they really teaching? Is the church loyal to God or the government? I don’t make emotional statements they are always based in reason and logic. Seems like the church is trying to serve two masters.” — that is a conflation of logic worthy of a volume all its own. It so happens I have recently had occasion to look up the requirements for a church to maintain its 501c3 status… Very little if anything in those requirements could be construed as preventing a church from carrying out its mandates relative to teaching the Word of God and equipping its members to live out that Word. Not even the IRS trumps the First Amendment just yet. Now, when the church gets money from government to work on different projects, that is when government control does cause restrictions — but that is by no means is the majority of churches in this country. The irony is that the choice you set up does not even apply in a fair amount of churches, for neither God nor the government are the first concern. The gist of what you are saying remains well-taken. But, specifically, the church vs. the pyramid. You are right; there is no comparison, but as historical uses go for the well-being and industry of Black people in the past several hundred years, it is not the church that loses by that comparison.

Meanwhile, I personally know deacons and other churchmen who in their daily life built family-saving wealth out of a background of deep poverty, men inspired and sustained by their connection with God through the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no gain saying of our people’s Christian heritage that will change that historical fact — the fact that you and I sit here with the opportunities we enjoy today likely has as much to do with hard-working Christian ancestors as it does with those more far more distant ancestors who built the pyramids. Had I time, I would discourse at great, great length at the uses of the church vs. those of the pyramid in terms of the welfare of Black people for the last 600 years even to this day… but you and I are both practical people with a knowledge of history, so I suffice myself with the same bit of encouragement to you: go refresh your knowledge of recent Black history before you go again on permanent record knocking the family, financial, and community leaders that have come out of the Black church! It may be fashionable to poo-pooh that vast body of history, but it is unwise!