As we were growing up within the gathering of the collective saints between the 1950s through 1980s, things clearly were very different than they are now. We were Black and Sanctified in America, and an often overlooked subculture of young people in America who were thrust into living in a world with a triple consciousness inextricably tied to race, religion and citizenship.
Our parents were not mainstream and very proud of it and taught us that being “sanctified” or “set apart” was indeed our badge of honor and boast. In the sanctified church, we were indoctrinated to bear the brand and endure the hardships associated with this triple consciousness as good soldiers. In particular, we had embraced a more spiritual view of water baptism and communion and placed them in that sacred realm of things connected only to the Holy Ghost. It was never the practice to say Holy Spirit. Such a reference perhaps was to refine so the term often used in sanctified circles was the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost evidenced more power when speaking it and hearing it, and yes under such teaching we remained strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. We had comfort among ourselves but indeed had to face the brunt of being those sanctified folks who were operating under the influence of “strange doctrine.”
This so-called “strange doctrine” was the spiritually created environment that would birth supernatural phenomenon, herald prophetic word, divine healings and the manifestation of things unseen. No hype, no false pretenses but true and unexplainable divine acts of God through holy men and women. Thus, we were reminded by what we saw and what we were taught that as sanctified people we were different because of the righteous call of God. We would be further reminded of 1 Peter 2:9 and that we had been beckoned to a special place and into a special relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Ghost as the chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation and a peculiar people. However, none of that meant anything outside of the church when we were in our neighborhoods, being bused to school, sitting in classrooms, or on playgrounds and subjected to not only insidious discrimination but the mean spirited and continuous taunts and labels of being sanctified by those who even looked like us.
To be branded “sanctified,” came with the heavy burden of being in the world but not of the world and forbidden to just be normal in the basic things of life. It was the social indictment that you were one of them. Those who spoke in tongues that would be described by some as delusion gibberish. Those who would be overcome with the Holy Ghost, close their eyes and run violently into each other, the pews and God forbid the walls of the sanctuary. For the men it meant: no sports, no neckties, no jewelry. For the ladies: no straightening of hair, no makeup, no jewelry, no showing of uncommon parts, no pants, strict adherence to wearing cotton stockings, going to the beach and getting in the ocean with skirts on. For all: the constant reminder to marry early and bear many children while at the same time often being discouraged by “some older saints” not to pursue higher education through doctoral degrees.
In 2021, we are no longer openly ridiculed and labeled as “sanctified,” “holy rollers” or “slain in the spirit.” We have distanced ourselves from such negative labels. Today, we are “anointed” and “gifted” as a part of some religious elite but yet entrenched in the subculture of protestant religion. In contrast, the sanctified folk of old were without false pretenses and religious swag but people who were humble, loving, wise, committed, loyal, industrious and true servant leaders of God. The saints would often ask for forgiveness even when making an unintentional mistake or error. They worked with hands as well as their words and their hearts to build the kingdom (i.e., the environments in which they live and not just a building for religious worship). The saints lived in sincerity and in truth for the glory of God, the love of family and the good of country.
It would be in this environment, which was uniquely embedded in the sanctified church, that glory and paradox would be revealed in the reality of triple consciousness. Only by the grace of God did some of have the loving support of family and friends to survive being sanctified without absolutely losing our minds. Thank you Jesus! There are many who did not survive and we are not sure where they have gone. However, some of whom we remain in contact with are no longer a part of organized religion and have no zeal for Christ. There are those who have completely abandoned the traditions of the elders and the cause of Christ.
It is completely understandable why many have forsaken the way and to be quite frank only by the grace of God have many of us been able to remain connected with the ekklesia today. We would often sing: “Won’t do Lawd. Won’t do. Ninety-nine and a half won’t do. Lawd I’m tryin. Tryin to make a hundred. Ninety-nine and a half won’t do.” There is probably no way to evaluate the negative impact that these verses had on us while growing up that in actuality stood in opposition to God’s Word that “we are saved by grace and through faith, and not of works lest any man should boast.” How can anyone judge or blame the real victims who have faded away? Tell us who could be expected to endure the childhood traumas of it all in a divided America along with the additional oppressive yoke of “Ninety-nine and a half won’t do?” We pray for our brothers and our sisters that a divine healing will take place to lead them back in relationship with Christ.
Even now our triple consciousness is forced upon us in the throes of a nation unequally divided to the advantage of others solely based on race, gender and class. How better things would have been if our forefathers and foremothers were extended the same government-sanctioned affirmative action enjoyed by many European immigrants to just receive free land and to provide without fear, intimidation and destruction a quality of life for themselves and the generations to come? But in 2021 we again find ourselves having to be chameleon to maintain our own sanity, to find some momentary acceptance, and frankly survive the multiple levels of pandemics that are the ever present vestiges of ungodly discrimination.
In the backdrop of the current social, religious and political hypocrisy as evidenced by those who claim the name of Christ, there is no ambiguity for us that many are turning a blind eye to the “rootism” of this world. All “isms” whether racism, sexism or classism are birth in the demonic spirit of rootism. The love of money is the root of all evil and therein lies the influence of why many have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof. For every circumstance of despair in this country, the source is rootism. Simply put, the answer to the question of why evil exists is rooted in the love of money. Now what’s the question?
To cope with this triple consciousness, sanctified folk have become “normalized” and have interestingly adopted many practices more deeply embedded in Roman Catholicism than American Protestantism. We have opted to conform to things mainstream by religious standards rather than to those things purely of Christ. There appears to be no value added in such compromise and it seems that in becoming mainstream we have only lost the stream of His Power. We have become a degenerate vine and no longer the fruitful environment in which miracles abound and joy abides. So many have sought escape through self-degradation, rebellion, stress sex, stress eating, substance abuse, denial, etc., just to cope with the yoke of trying to make a hundred. Who knows how deep the psychological wounds are having been rejected simply for being Black and Sanctified in America?
Accordingly, what is the conclusion of the whole matter? It simply starts with an acknowledgment that “hurt people, hurt people.” We have been hurt in this country for reasons no fault of our own and beyond our control. In our failing attempt to ease the burden and sooth the pain of triple consciousness, we opt for a pain killer rather than a joy operator. We have become more diminished in our efficacy as the ambassadors of Christ and increasingly more psychopathic in our religious purpose to indoctrinate. Yet, there is a Word of restoration, reconciliation and revival that now comes to remind us that we see and we seek a more excellent way to abide in the true reality that “if it ain’t God, it ain’t love.” God is Love and we love Him because He first loved us.
So, to the United Sanctified Saints of America, hold your heads up, lean forward, drive on and climb higher. Let us endeavor to love ourselves and one another even more with all of our might. It is by this men and women will know that we are more than just Black and Sanctified in America. By faith, we are being transformed from this triple consciousness by the renewing ofour minds and as new creations in Christ to love one another as He has loved us. All those who know the words of prayer continue to pray our strength and healing to overcome evil not with evil but with good and to overcome this bondage of triple consciousness.
PRAYER IS THE KEY TO GET FULL UNDERSTANDING.
AMEN. Elder A.D. McKnight
August 25, 2021