I don't know about you, but I usually listen pretty closely to what my pastor says, and almost always try to live my life the way my pastor recommends.
There are some areas in the Bible that are not absolutely clear cut, and my pastor is human, too, so I don't follow him like I would follow Jesus if he were in the pulpit speaking to me, but he usually gets it right. If my pastor were preaching things that were clearly contrary to the Bible and contrary to what I observed in the world around me, I'd either speak to him about that or go find another church.
So it is that I have to wonder what Barack Obama is taking away from church services at his church, Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago.
According to an ABC News article, here's the kind of theology the Reverend Jeremiah Wright preaches:
"The government gives them the drugs, builds bigger prisons, passes a three-strike law and then wants us to sing 'God Bless America.' No, no, no, God damn America, that's in the Bible for killing innocent people," he said in a 2003 sermon. "God damn America for treating our citizens as less than human. God damn America for as long as she acts like she is God and she is supreme."
In addition to damning America, he told his congregation on the Sunday after Sept. 11, 2001 that the United States had brought on al Qaeda's attacks because of its own terrorism.
"We bombed Hiroshima, we bombed Nagasaki, and we nuked far more than the thousands in New York and the Pentagon, and we never batted an eye," Rev. Wright said in a sermon on Sept. 16, 2001.
"We have supported state terrorism against the Palestinians and black South Africans, and now we are indignant because the stuff we have done overseas is now brought right back to our own front yards. America's chickens are coming home to roost," he told his congregation.
Need I point out that crimes must be punished, for the sake of justice if not to protect the community? Need I point out that while America does not live up to its ideals perfectly, it is the most free and affluent nation in the world? Need I point out that the Japanese refused to surrender, and that the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki undoubtedly saved far more lives than an invasion of Japan would have cost--even more Japanese lives? Need I point out that it is Palestinian terrorists who are blowing up innocent civilians, while the Israeli Defense Force is trying to stop these bloodthirsty militants practicing deadly subterfuge in civilian clothes?
So is Barack Obama taking anything away from his church that's having an impact in his life? One of his fellow church members thinks so. From the ABC News article:
"He has impacted the life of Barack Obama so much so that he wants to portray that feeling he got from Rev. Wright onto the country because we all need something positive," said another member of the congregation.
The article also says
Obama has praised at least one aspect of Rev. Wright's approach, referring to his "social gospel" and his focus on Africa, "and I agree with him on that."
Sen. Obama declined to comment on Rev. Wright's denunciations of the United States, but a campaign religious adviser, Shaun Casey, appearing on "Good Morning America" Thursday, said Obama "had repudiated" those comments.
If he's truly repudiated all those America-hating sentiments, I'd like to see that denunciation. Though I would leave a church that voiced these sentiments, a clear denunciation would do much to redeem Obama (at least in this regard) in my mind.
But is Obama's church a place where worship of God and following His commands (even if they interpret that in terms of the "social gospel") are paramount? Or is it an institution fixated on race and grudge-bearing?
Before the hate mail starts, I'd like to point out that I believe that skin color is irrelevant, both to God and to anything that matters. We are all children of God, regardless of skin color. My skin is white, and my best man at my wedding was a black man, and my children's closest playmates are black children. So I don't think any rational person could accuse me of being a racist.
Having gotten that out of the way, consider the "About Us" page of the church's website says
We are a congregation which is Unashamedly Black and Unapologetically Christian... Our roots in the Black religious experience and tradition are deep, lasting and permanent. We are an African people, and remain "true to our native land," the mother continent, the cradle of civilization. God has superintended our pilgrimage through the days of slavery, the days of segregation, and the long night of racism. It is God who gives us the strength and courage to continuously address injustice as a people, and as a congregation. We constantly affirm our trust in God through cultural expression of a Black worship service and ministries which address the Black Community.
What about the "Christian" experience? What about a "Christian" worship service? What about addressing the "Christian" community, or the community at large?
The page lists point #4 of a 10-point vision as "A congregation with a non-negotiable COMMITMENT TO AFRICA." How about a "non-negotiable commitment to Christ?" Or at least a non-negotiable commitment to the country in which they reside--one that offers tremendously more prosperity and freedom than they will find anywhere in Africa?
Can you imagine a church that said something like this on it's "About Us" page:
We are a congregation which is Unashamedly White and Unapologetically Christian... Our roots in the White religious experience and tradition are deep, lasting and permanent. We are a European people, and remain "true to our native land," the mother continent, the cradle of civilization. God has superintended our pilgrimage ... It is God who gives us the strength and courage to continuously address injustice as a people, and as a congregation. We constantly affirm our trust in God through cultural expression of a White worship service and ministries which address the White Community.
The church is also committed to what it calls "The Black Value System" as found on their website. It, too, is a document that, if you substitute "white" for "black" would sound racist.
From a sermon posted on the church's website, Rev. Wright talks about a Marvin Gaye song:
I use his words today on the third Sunday of a New Year to keep before you the painful truth of who we are and where it is we are in this racist United States of America! What’s goin’ on?
We have lost over 3,000 boys and girls in an illegal and unjust war, and the media is on a feeding frenzy about Barack Obama’s church. Where is the outrage about the 3,000 dead dead Iraqi civilians who are dead for no reason other than greed and ego?What’s goin’ on? American military personnel and the 600,000 dead Iraqi civilians who are dead for no reason other than greed and ego? What’s goin’ on?
Amanda Carpenter's column today points out a video available on YouTube of a Rev. Wright sermon which seems more concerned about race that about Christ:
We saw recently how little Barack Obama's wife Michelle thinks of America:
What we've learned over this year is that hope is making a comeback. It is making a comeback, and let me tell you something, for the first time in my adult lifetime, I'm really proud of my country, and not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change.
When Obama's wife has such disregard for our country, when Obama's pastor and church hold such disdain (dare I say hatred?) for America, I have to wonder how Barack Obama really feels about America. Should someone who loathes America lead America?
And if he shares even half the disgust for America held by his wife, pastor and church, can America risk having a man like this in the White House?
5 comments:
From article:
"So I don't think any rational person could accuse me of being a racist."
Remember, when the politically correct use the term racist, they simply mean white Gentiles who discriminate.
It is a racial slur directed only seriously at White Gentiles. Racist = honky, or honky-ish.
So, the translation of the quote would be: "So I don't think any rational person could accuse me of being a honky."
How much of what the pastor says can be blamed on Obama?
http://OsiSpeaks.com
Me, I don't blame anything the pastor said against Obama.
But as I said, I wouldn't attend a church where the preacher talked like that (whether you substitute "black" for "white" or "polka-dotted"). And I wouldn't attend a church with that kind of language in their church documents (whether you substitute "black" for "white" or "polka-dotted").
If he continues to attend there, that tells me something about his agreement, his acquiescence, his "tolerance," or his density.
What does it tell you?
I have to agree that this pastor is way out of line in the way he uses his pulpit and manner of which he speaks about race, and how interprets what the Bible says. I, in my 52 years have attended 9 different churches: Catholic, Southern Baptist, Methodist, Assembly of God, and non-denominational Charismatic. In none of these churches was race ever mentioned in a negative way. They each taught agape love, the kind of love that Christ has for us) for all people .... All people!
This man is preaching hate toward anyone who is not black, or didn't come from Africa. I am truly appalled that he can call himself a man of God, when nothing but racism spews from his mouth. In the new testament, Christ was asked what He thought the greatest commandment was. He repied, "... to love the Lord our God, with our whole heart and mind." He, then, added that the second greatest commandment was to love one another as He loves us. If we do these two things, we have covered all ten commandments of the old testament. They wrap all ten into 2 basic commandments. This man, and obviously, his congregation do not believe in the second commandment. And he insults the white European race because when one of black congregants pointed out that he should remember that the congregation also had white members, he refused to listen or respond, going on with his far out interpretation of the Bible.
The sermon I viewed on YouTube, was berating every white person ever born. From what Bible is he reading? From what Bible does he find these teachings. He never quoted a book of the Bible, a chapter, or verse. If this is the way he feels, he should not be a Christian pastor because he contradicts everything that Christ taught. His church that is noted for its such powerful worshipping, but there was no worshipping in what I saw. They clapped and cheered in agreement with these un-Christian comments. He will not help in healing our land with sermons such as this. He, and others like him or who follow him, will be the downfall of this country. Hate festers and grows, until one gets past what was and moves on to what can be. I believe that Obama calls that "change". This is not what his pastor calls for. He bears grudges from long ago, and also the present. The only changes I heard from his ranting sermon were those of for more hatred toward the white race.
By the way, I am the first generation born American from a family of "white Europeans" called Sicilians, hailing from an island that is ruled by Italy. When my dad and his family came over, they were so poor, they lived on the same streets as some of the poorest of black people in Beaumont, TX. As my dad and his brothers and sisters walked to the same schools where the blacks were educated, they had tomatoes and other rotten fruit and vegetables thrown at them for a long time. Yes, the same race that decries the evils of racism discriminated against my family, in word and deed, because they were different. After many years, my grandparents saved all the money they could as they raised 6 children, and they bought some land, opening a mom and pop grocery store. They refused no one service, nor did they criticize race or creed. My family, through their adherence to God's REAL words, finally became loved and respected by their black neighbors when they realized the my family accepted them, and helped them when they fell on hard times, knowing they may or may not ever be repaid. That's Christ's love. That's granting forgiveness and ridding themselves of hatred or bigotry.
So, if this pastor, his congregation subscribes to such ungodly beliefs, Christ's light does not shine in them. They are lamps without light, because they are fueled with false Christian teaching and bigotry. I say, concentrate on the now and future and make the church's ministry reach out to more than the "Black" experience. God has the whole world in his hands, not just a select few.
"Father, forgive them for they know not what they do!"
Very well said, teacher! Your comments and testimony are encouraging to many of your brothers and sisters in Christ.
"Obama has praised at least one aspect of Rev. Wright's approach, referring to his 'social gospel' and his focus on Africa, 'and I agree with him on that.'"
What is a "social gospel," exactly? I have heard Hillary, Obama and other politico-Christians espouse this, but the context usually makes me think that it means whatever one wants to believe and then portray it as a Scriptural precept.
There are four Gospels. God reveals in these His nature, His will and his plan for our salvation. A preacher that fails to declare and elucidate the message of the Gospels is a poor shepherd and allows his flock to stray and fall into the hands of evil ones. That is what Jeremiah Wright seems to be about.
I attend an inner city, mostly black church that I helped found a few years ago. I am white, as is our pastor. We are frequently told by guests that we are one of the most loving and accepting congregations that they have encountered. And it is true. We account for this by the fact that we love all our brothers and sisters as Jesus taught us and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in our services, outreach, and missions. It saddens me that men such as Wright can so corrupt the thinking of their followers that the defining element of their "worship" seems to be hate. I pray that he and all that have been misled will come to know the real, liberating Gospel of Jesus.
Post a Comment