CNN Asks: Black Preachers Who ‘Whoop’ – Minstrels or Ministers?
- Posted on October 25, 2010 at 7:21am by
Scott Baker
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Whooping is a celebratory style of black preaching that pastors typically use to close a sermon. Some church scholars compare it to opera; it’s that moment the sermon segues into song.
Whooping pastors use chanting, melody and call-and-response preaching to reach parishioners in a place where abstract preaching cannot penetrate, scholars say.
Whooping preachers aim “to wreck” a congregation by making people feel the sermon, not just hear it, says the Rev. Henry Mitchell, a scholar who identified the link between whooping and African oral traditions.
“The old folks used to say, ‘If you ain’t felt nothing, you ain’t got nothing,”’ Mitchell says.
Yet the black church has long been ambivalent about whooping. Some scholars say contemporary black churches are abandoning whooping because they think it’s crass. But more white preachers are discovering it through YouTube and by sharing the pulpit with black preachers.
The most persistent debate over whooping revolves around its legitimacy. Is it fair to call it an art form? What’s so hard about a preacher screaming and sweating in the pulpit?
Read the rest of the debate here.
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Comments (102)
BobtheMoronsp
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 10:36amIt’s a black thing that us crackers will never understand.
Report Post »TracyC
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 10:34amWhooping = Man being a showman, appearing really holy, but really doing nothing that will be effective in the Body of Christ. Improve has no room in the Body of Christ period. It is not in the bible, it’s a shame that people accept this. Why? Because the focus veers off God and gets placed on the man’s action of whooping. In the video, you hear more about whooping than about God. Open your ears people!
Report Post »biggreenboo
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 11:29amWait a minute…. “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord” I‘m pretty sure it’s in the Bible… it’s just not a joyful noise to you.
Report Post »HillBillySam1
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 10:27amSermons of this type does not appeal to most congrgations. If some are offended by it, so be it. I have attended churches that the people sit on their hands and I have attended churches where the people swing from the rafters. Personally, I love to swing from the rafters and rejoice in the presence of the Lord God Almighty! I am one of those wild-eyed Pentecostals and I love to worship. I am not disparaging those who attend the more reserved and quieter churches. I only encourage you to allow God to show you something new in your relationship with Him.
Report Post »Suzanne912
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 2:34pmThank you Hillbillysam1 ~ most of these comments remind me of the Pharasees~ really good at judging others on the Law but no real relationship with the Lord
Report Post »joysox
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 10:17amAdd your comments
Report Post »gramma b
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 10:16amI think it’s crass and irreverent, but it’s better than Jeremiah Wright, who made humping motions at the pulpit.
Report Post »eyestoseeearstohear
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 10:11amWhat a disgrace.
It SHOULD be called, “HOOPING AND HOLLOWERING”….that’s more closer to the description.
15 minutes of the WORD and 1 and 1/2 HOUR OF HOOPING & HOLLOWERING!
IN GOD’S WORD…IT IS WRONG TO “CHANT”….
as it speaks more to the FLESH and not the SOUL.
Here’s ANOTHER example of how the devil works HIS WAY into things and people SIMPLIFY & MISS the true relationship with God and meaning of Worshipping God -
If you’ve ever been to these kinds of Churchs…its hard to tell whether you are at Church or a ROCK CONCERT.
GOD HELP US…AND HELP US TO LEARN TO HAVE A TRUE RELATIONSHIP AND UNDERSTANDING OF YOUR WORD…..SO THAT WE CAN EACH KNOW YOUR PURPOSE FOR MAN.
Report Post »LdyAnn
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 6:35pmWho are you to say what is or is not pleasing to God?The Apostle Paul said has God not made foolish the wisdomm of the World?…It pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. (1 Cor 1:20,21 NKJV).
Report Post »The question to ask is.. is the word of God being preached? Are lives being changed? Are they teaching them to observe all the things that Jesus commanded? If they are the I have no business and no right saying how this should be done.
I do have to say when I was in bootcamp and went to church on Sunday’s we had a guest preacher
who we he preached made me feel like I was back in my home church.. (And he wasn’t even my denomination).
One final thought.. The Psalms says let every thing that has breath praise the Lord.. I have also found out that each person’s praise is their own personal praise. I am a dancer a shouter a crier and worshiper of God and I praise him in Spirit and in truth. Because there is a joy that I have that this world did not give me and this world can’t take it away.. So I pray on people.. Preach on Preachers..
OH I THINK I FEEL A WHOOP COMING ON!! I Just can’t stop praise His name..
I am proud to be an America.. God Bless America!!
Spookytruck
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 8:32pmLDYANN,
I’m with you. I have been in churches that were so dead that the only thing with some life at all, was the cut flowers on the alter. You go to some churches and they act like if you make you make some kind of noise, you may disturb God. He might wake up angry and send down floods and lightning. What kind of G-d do these people serve?
Psalm 100 says; “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God; he hath made us, not we ourselves; we are the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise;be thankful unto him, bless his name. For the Lord is good: his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”
Did you get that? Joyful noise? Praise? I have something to shout about. I have a Lord that has set me free from sin and death. If that’s not something to shout about, I don’t know what is. You can sit quietly in your dead ol’ churches like a wart on a pickle, looking like you have been baptised in vinegar if you want, but I have something to celebrate. My savior is risen from the dead! Halleluyah! PRAISE THE LORD!
Report Post »seethereal
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 9:54amActually, the purpose of a sermon should be to give understanding of the very presence of God(Love) within every person, encouraging all to begin to be aware of this Guiding Presence within.
Report Post »“God is not in the whirlwind- God is in the still, small Voice.”
BarryDead
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 9:54amI would like to see a Muslim Imam whooping it up……..
Report Post »biggreenboo
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 11:26amThey do “whoop” every time one of there folk blows something up.
Report Post »tess q
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 9:47ami am not a fan of the screaming ( same goes for hard rock). as long as the message is about love, freedom and responsibilty ( your responsible for getting your own self to the pearly gates, not me). i don’t have a problem with it.
Report Post »trolltrainer
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 9:43amI think the Bible clearly teaches that we are to reach out to our particular audiences. Look at the differences between Peter‘s and Paul’s preaching. If it is genuine and Spirit filled then there is nothing wrong with it. I really dig the comments that basically say, “my way of worshiping is the ONLY authentic way and all others are wrong.” These are the same people who feel that only their secondary theological beliefs can be correct and that everyone else is going to hell or that only the KJV is the inspired Word of God or that only gospel hymns can be sung during service or that only their denomination is correct. I feel very bad for these folks, while most of them may have been Christians their whole lives they are usually still babies on milk. They do not understand Scripture at all.
Are there charlatans and showmen out there? Yeah, way too many…But Jesus will sort the wheat from the tares. There is plenty of room in the Church for the whoopers and the pew sitters. I personally do not shout, “amen” after every sentence or raise my arms at the music, but I appreciate those that are moved enough to do so. If Jesus makes you want to flip and cartwheel down the isles like in the Blues Brothers movie then awesome! Jesus saves! Rejoice!
Report Post »SilverGoblin
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 9:33amAnyone see that gorilla standing in the middle of the room?… I don’t necessarily care when a minister does it, if that’s his way of getting the word out,… I wanna know they programmed the Teleprompter in Chief to whoop? That’s a little freaky for the Teleprompter of the Free world,… is it not?
libertyordeath87
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 9:24amGo back and watch a sermon by Billy Graham. No whooping or self centered acting. Just a man truly filled with the spirit of Christ preaching the message. I watched one the other night and was filled with the power of God, through the television. No grandstanding is necessary when the love of Christ is authentic, which I think isn’t the case with the “whooping” preachers.
Report Post »BoilitDown
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 9:17amMy grandfather was a preacher and he gave me stern warnigs about evengelicals who went around to churches and held tent meetings. This practice of “whooping” as it is now called, is something that he renounced as part of manipulating the congregation in a way that he never approved. This is akin to the “releasing of the doves” at the end of the service, which I have wittnessed. His main objection to these things was that they were performed just to increase the “take” in the collection plate. Also, this sort of behavior was used by insincere preachers to maintain a profitable following rather than to punctuate a meaningful sermon.
Report Post »With my history, I cannot look on this in a positive light. It‘s too much about exploiting people’s emotions and manipulation.
Star Spangled
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 9:17am” Judge not , lest ye be judged”
Report Post »ondrock
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 5:27pmYeah…we actually are supposed to judge or ‘test all things’ and hold fast to what stands the test. We are not to judge someones salvation. It’s cool to quote scripture but, it’s even better to know what it means. Ultimately, there is not enough info here to judge it….Can the congregation answer basic questions about the gospel?…..Does the church bear fruit? Without knowing these things all can say is “it’s curious.”
Report Post »Loyal9
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 9:14amAt this point in the American saga we need to look for the things that bind us instead of harping on those on which we disagree. If you believe our rights come from God and not government…I say Whoop on, Sir. Whoop on!
Report Post »Lion420
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 9:13amIf you’re preaching the righteous Gospel, and people feel good, why worry about it? It’s a wonderful communal feeling, singing the Hymns in my church.
Report Post »usualsuspect
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 8:52amI enjoyed this Jesus knows what is in our hearts. If this is the way the Preacher choose to express his Love for our Savior God Bless Him it is not for me to judge if you do not get the message please find your own way home as their are many. As A musician I have a appreciation for this as these notes ring loud and clear to me. and yet I also understand there are other methods of sharing the Gospel and I also respect them and appreciate those methods also
Report Post »Bermuda Onion
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 8:51amYou know, I say whatever gets the message across. If that’s what it takes then do it. I don’t think God would want a pastor to stand there and bore his flock to sleep, who would get the message?
Report Post »lovejoy71
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 9:07amWho gets the message here? I have been to churches like this and for the most part they are more concerned about outward appearances and putting on a good show and a lot of these people you could not tell went to church unless you have seen them there. At one church I could not understand one word of the sermon through all the yelling. Glad I go to a church where it is about the message and not he messenger.
Report Post »marshalljohns
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 8:45amone more “CNN’s Black in America” article.
Report Post »338lapua
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 8:43amContent is all that matters. My feelings about something I have not experienced,and isn’t practiced in my church, should matter to nobody. As long as the message is from the bible, your worship is your worship. Why is this news? CNN is really trying to change the subject with this story.
Report Post »Flashover
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 8:39amI hear conviction in both these men. Listen to Martha Simmon,s audio. Listen to the message. That is a great parable. Do you have ears to hear?
Report Post »adifftake
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 8:37amSOmehow no matter how hard I try, I just can’t seem to see Jesus on the mount giving a sermon in such a fashion as whooping.
Report Post »HillCountryPatriot
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 8:17amI love it when it’s authentic … The Holy Spirit working through these pastors to bring parishioners closer to Christ. Who cares how loud and boisterous anyone gets when celebrating Our Lord? More power to ‘em.
Report Post »Dirty Harry
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 8:22amIt’s not a basketball game, it’s church. Show a little reverence, a little self-restraint and respect.
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 8:25amReminds me of the song “Gimme that ol’ time religion”. I love to see the swaying and true love of God.
Report Post »Ga. Tea Party
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 6:17pmi care as the word of God does not sanction such. This is what Moses heard when he decinded the mount and thought it was war. It turned out to be false religion. God speaks to his people not in the storm but in a still small voice. Get quiet and you may hear his voice. If you are inclined to need such loud and unbiblical performances you need to resist the error and seek just to know the will of God. God I need help too. God I love America!
Report Post »Dirty Harry
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 8:16amWhooping = goofy.
Report Post »Dirty Harry
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 8:21amWhat would Jesus do? He darn sure wouldn’t be hooping hollaring and making a spectacle of themselves.
These ministers, which includes that moron Pfleger, are an embarassment to Christianity. It’s all about them! It’s showmanship and self-centered.
Report Post »Dirty Harry
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 8:26amAw Lawdy, I can’t watch more than 20 seconds of that irritating video. Strange indeed.
Report Post »artqueen
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 9:05amI am uncomfortable with the idea that we have the right to criticise another in their form of worship. I do believe that Jesus preached the change of heart. You nor I know another person’s heart. If we approached our worship with the same enthusiasm as a basketball game then we may be a little more active in our worship/devotion to God.
Report Post »joysox
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 10:13amI think church can be a snooze so go ahead and celebrate. I‘m sure god is rockin’ right along!!
Report Post »Dirty Harry
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 10:25amArtqueen wrote: “I am uncomfortable with the idea that we have the right to criticise another in their form of worship.”
You cannot be serious?????
Report Post »Retired1
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 10:32amAs much as it pains me to admit it, Father Pleger is a Catholic Priest. We seem to have a bunch of activist priests in my religion who step out of bounds and are not removed from the priesthood. The Moron faith did not produce Father Pleger.
Report Post »sawman
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 10:53amWhooping may seem goofy to you. It is, however, an integral part of their joyful worship. Everybody looked pretty happy. I could just as easily say Islam=Goofy, or Catholicism=Goofy. That would raise a lot of eyebrows, and label me as a bigot.
Report Post »OBAMAWORSHIOER
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 11:50amART, you’re admonishing the wrong group. Waste of your time. The Blaze is just a tabloid with tabloid people who fail to be able to think.
Report Post »OBAMAWORSHIOER
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 11:52amSawman, this is a sane post but you’re talking to insane people. The Blaze is just a tabloid with tabloid thinking type people. IF you stay here long, you will see it. ALL TALK AND THAT IS VILE.
Report Post »ondrock
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 5:13pmI agree it appears goofy to me, I prefer not to be yelled at in church. But ultimately, there is not enough info here to judge it….Can the congregation answer basic questions about the gospel?…..Does the church bear fruit? Without knowing these things all can say is “it’s curious.”
Report Post »RBuck
Posted on October 27, 2010 at 11:55amThis is not unbiblical, this is not wrong it is just a different way to worship our Lord. He do instruct us to make a joyful noise. Well this is how they choose to do such. We all have enough splinters in our own eyes that we have to worry about. This is not one of them.
You may not like what they are doing but that is ok. We live in America. We have the right to worship as we see fit. We have different denominations because we can’t all agree on how we should worship our Creator. When I go to my predominatly white church I don’t worry about my pastor not whooping. And when I go to my family‘s black church I don’t worry about the pastor whooping. They both have love of God and that is evident in what they are preaching.
We can judge all we want, say whatever about how they aren’t authentic, but only God knows what is in their heart. So as Christians why don’t we try to see that like our Lord Savior does.
Report Post »reconmarine
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 8:16amI’m assuming that CNN has already cleared this story with the NAACP, Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson.
Report Post »snowleopard3200
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 8:29amOn this particular story from the Communist News Network I say – All the history and greatness of the black churches and THIS is all you could ask about? Recon Marine is right, it must have been cleared with the NAACP.
http://www.artinphoenix.com/gallery/grimm (mix art)
Report Post »ClockKing
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 9:53amMust have been cleared. You KNOW Fox could never have asked the question let alone make a program on it.
Report Post »LadyLiberty
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 11:23ambwahaha.. indeed… and I thought Eddie Murphy was over the top in his portrayal of a ‘reverend’ in Coming to America. This guy is a cartoon.
Report Post »OBAMAWORSHIOER
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 11:49amProbably. It is good to have moderators to keep crazy race haters from posting freely like on the Blaze. You guys are just another tabloid.
Report Post »thepatriotdave
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 12:11pmOBAMAWORSHIOER,
Please point out one ‘race hating’ comment in this thread.
PatriotShops.com
Report Post »Ga. Tea Party
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 1:01pmThis kind of ignorance is offensive to the thinking person. The word of God says that God teaches in Quietude and a still small voice. This is ignorance and I won’t listen to it. Most of the people I talk to that attends this kind of service usually run out of arguments after the first question or challenge to their beliefs. Thay have become enslaved to their carnal (flesh) side. God, I love America!
Report Post »cruisemates
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 3:38pmObamawhorshioer (whatever your name is…)
I am not racist, but I certainly know enough about the history of blues and jazz to make an arguement that this derivative gospel church practice is based on African rhythms and musical intervals they learned as tribesmen. Read this… http://frank.mtsu.edu/~baustin/blues.html
“When African and European music first began to merge to create what eventually became the blues, the slaves sang songs filled with words telling of their extreme suffering and privation. (Tanner 36) One of the many responses to their oppressive environment resulted in the field holler. The field holler gave rise to the spiritual, and the blues”
Personally, I love it. As a recording engineer in Dallas I had the privilege of recording many black church choirs who would “sing his praise” for hours while my tape rolled. It is one of the most magical things a Christian can experience, even if it is not they way I may worship.
But let’s be honest about what CNN is doing here. It’s a story they probably think will appeal to their Atlanta-based audience while you probably think right wing bigots are looking on with disdain. Well, we aren‘t because we don’t see race, we see individual freedoms.
What they don’t realize is that they are embarassing Black people the same you would be embarrassing a white person if you showed Perry Como singing “Jesus loves me” and saying “This is how white people worship.” This shows liberals can be as bigoted as anyone.
It is wrong to stereotype any kind of religious practice, including that of “neocons”. It is bigotry. I would like to know what the NAACP would say if FOX ran this story. It just goes to show the double standard that liberals are allowed to promote stereotyping in race, where if a conservative even mentions race it is denounced as a fascist crime.
Report Post »OBAMAWORSHIOER
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 4:25pmAll lets talk about this for days. OK? Our payoff to the Blaze Editor and staff is working out better than I expected. You folks are being led to spend time talking about issues that will have NO effect on the results of the Nov 2nd election. The Editors deserve a raise especially since we are now only a week from voting. Great job You sure have folled Glenn Beck. hen you’re done making this blog a tabloid, a job paying real well awaits you.
Report Post »BlazingPatriot
Posted on October 26, 2010 at 12:57amSho nuf has been cleared wit da Rev. Jesse and Brova Al. YEESSSSSS!!!! WOOOOOOOOO!!!!
Report Post »Y‘all know dey can’t whoop like dis dude!!!