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Pastor James Meeks of Chicago's poor Roseland neighborhood has rolled up his sleeves. Meeks's Salem Baptist Church runs a daycare facility, a counseling center for drug abusers, a soup kitchen, a financial management ministry, and a 500-student private school, Salem Christian Academy. Meeks, a state senator, is also fighting to close down all the liquor stores and bars in Roseland.

While interdependence is important, dependence (on God) is even more vital. Cosby says too few blacks are motivated to improve their lives, saying they "have no picture that is large enough to take you out of where you [are] going." Christianity provides that picture and is one of the greatest springboards to self-improvement known in world history. Faith in Christ is often just the first step in a process of transformation—spiritual, personal, and social. It's no accident that people rightly related to God vertically often improve their relationships with others horizontally. Evangelism and social uplift go hand in hand.

In the State of the Union message earlier this year, President Bush noted, "We know from long experience that if [ex-cons] can't find work, or a home, or help, they are much more likely to commit more crimes and return to prison." That's why projects such as Operation Starting Line are so promising. An initiative of hundreds of community ministries and thousands of local churches, OSL provides in-prison and post-release training in acquiring life skills, spiritual training, and mentoring to 500,000 inmates of all races.

While Bill Cosby's gospel of the bootstrap has a strong element of truth, Christians—of whatever race—must never forget the Lord's call to help "the least of these," and, in so doing, become the neighbors that black America so desperately needs.

Stan Guthrie is associate news editor of Christianity Today.

Copyright © 2004 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

CT's cover story on James Meeks discussed his work in the black community

Operation Starting Line has more information about its ministry.

News elsewhere on Bill Cosby's message to the black community includes:

Bill Cosby refrains from criticism in latest speech after controversy | Comedian Bill Cosby avoided his recent criticism of some segments of the black community, sticking instead to humour and praise for parents during a charity event for at-risk children. (Associated Press, July 19, 2004)

Bill Cosby Paying for Education of 2 | Bill Cosby Paying for Education of Two Mass. High School Graduates (Associated Press, July 8, 2004)

Bill Cosby's Controversial Comments | He lambasted their language, decried their decorum and panned their parenting. No wonder Bill's Cosby's remarks about African Americans have created a stir. Were his words a welcome wake-up call? Or a misguided attack? Bill Cosby joins NPR's Lynn Neary to discuss his controversial comments. (NPR, Talk of the Nation, July 7, 2004)

Bill Cosby has more harsh words for black community | Bill Cosby went off on another tirade against the black community Thursday, telling a room full of activists that black children are running around not knowing how to read or write and "going nowhere." (Associated Press, July 2, 2004)

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July (Web-only) 2004, Vol. 48