Posted on 03/21/2008 7:53:24 AM PDT by kellynla
Having grown up in both the Pentecostal and Methodist faiths, Sunday worship was a staple of my weekly routine. Thus, when I relocated to Washington during the 80's finding a church home was very important to me. For almost 10 years I canvassed the nation's capitol seeking a church that would nourish my spirit and challenge my aspirations. As I tried out local churches, I began to notice a consistent theme: the sermons were highly political charged. Understandably, this being the nation’s capital, there is perhaps a heightened political awareness among the general populace. However I believed, perhaps naively, that Churches in a town mired in politics should generally steer clear of the muck and focus more closely on the personal and spiritual aspects of faith. Ministers are right to advocate for social justice as a moral imperative, but they lower the esteem of their office and do a disservice to their worshippers when the pulpit becomes host to political rallies and policy forums.
In 1995 my spirit found what it was seeking when I first visited First Baptist Church in DC, where the Rev. Frank Tucker presides. I will never forget meeting with the Pastor prior to joining and expressing my feelings about what I was looking for in a church. I made it clear that my interest was in the word of God, and not in having politics dominate the pulpit on Sunday. He shared my concerns, and promised that this wasn't the case at his church. I have now attended First Baptist for over 10 years and never been disappointed with the spirit-centered teachings. Through the years I've taken Whites, Muslims, Jews, and people of all walks of life to worship with me and they all have left feeling as if they were welcome members of the congregation.
But there are many churches across this nation, both black and white, whose pastors have taken a more radical political stance. After all, the black Church especially became home to the civil rights movement, as prominent preachers such as Martin Luther King and Ralph Abernathy began to teach a radical message of social change. The church was also one of the few places in the south where civil rights activists could gather to organize and strategize. They were places where ministers could help their congregation deal with their anger, frustration, and America’s ungodliness towards their brethren.
However, the protest politics of the civil rights era have to evolve to today’s reality of progress and opportunity. As what were once outsiders to the political process assume their rightful place as leaders in today’s society, they must be conscious of projecting an inclusive message. While freedom of speech, assembly, and the freedom of religion guarantee all Americans the choice of where to attend worship, a political candidate such as Barack Obama needs to be heedful that, should he assume leadership, he will be the leader of all of America and not just black America. He will represent the rich and the poor, the powerful and the disenfranchised alike. Thus, associating with a radical protest theology which some could construe as anti-American only serves to distance him from those he most needs to win over to his side.
Absent clear evidence to the contrary, one must assume that at least on some level Senator Barack Obama and his wife, having attended Rev. Wright's church for the past 20 years, have embraced his teachings and vision of America. I know that my minister has always had a profound impact on my outlook about life. Thus, I find it difficult to believe Senator Obama when he tells us that he was unaware of his Pastor's stance on issues of terrorism, racism and politics. Like many intellectual blacks, the Obamas and their ilk are highly aware of what they perceive as the continuous crippling effect of racism and slavery in America on their careers. The irony is that many of their children have embraced this country, finding success and prosperity, while their parents continue to allow their wounds to be nurtured in this hopeless mindset preached from the pulpit. Michelle Obama’s expression of how for the first time she was proud of America was indicative of the influence of her Pastor and this attitude among black elites in general.
Senator Obama should admit to the fact that since campaigning he’s seen a different America. He must show that he rejects and repudiates this school of negative thinking about the possibility for change in America. Furthermore he should stand above divisiveness and fractured politics and repudiate a theology which overly emphasizes the worst in our country, while ignoring the phenomenal progress we have made together. This past week was not an exemplary moment for the man who prided himself on integrity and honesty throughout this campaign. The fact is the Senator has no plausible excuse for why he remained a member of Rev. Jeremiah's church while seeking a role on the national stage. He and his family should have left the congregation for the embrace of a church that teaches the bible rather than the alienation and divisiveness.
It makes no sense for someone in search of America’s promise and potential to worship in a place where a doctrine of hatred and anti-Semitism is the central theme and members stand and applaud the pastor like a rock star. I was taught that church was a place of escape and rest, but I didn’t want to worship with someone who is supposed to be a religious leader feeding me poisonous propaganda. My reason for going to church has always been for a spiritual recharge, not more of the same. I deal with politics 24/6, and one day a week I get a chance to take a break from all that. I believe this to be healthy, and think it is sad that I had to try so hard for so long to find a church that was able to provide the rest or Sabbath, mentioned in the Bible. The day must come when churches (Black or otherwise) that preach hate speech return to the sanctity of the Word. No one should ever be forced to search for such a lengthy duration or give up and settle in a church that is unacceptable and potentially pay the price that Senator Obama is paying for imbedded cynicism.
Loud and raucous it was, but no hate anywhere.
But don't you dare stand there with your mouth shut while they're singing!
They all share the same basic belief that America is a retrograde force in the world, that national sovereignty needs to be done away with, that gay relationships should be celebrated, that there needs to be massive global wealth redistribution mediated by international political bodies, and that the gospel should be understood through the lens of progressive politics.
These beliefs are not always carried by churches on the local level, but at the highest levels the views must be acceptable to the National Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches, which are made up entirely of dedicated socialists.
I have a dear friend who is a conservative Catholic. He’s married to a woman, a nice woman who does take pretty good care of him (he’s 77 - she’s about 60) who convinced him to move to Portland Oregon. He calls me on or about religious holidays. I do remember him telling me that he took his wife with him to Good Friday services. She was raised Jewish but is not religious and is pretty liberal. He said she was totally shocked at the Gospel, the Passion. After that she would never go back. Why? Because part of the narative is that the Jews crucified Jesus. I went to a pretty liberal parish to listen to Matthew’s Passion last Sunday. I checked and the Bishops had approved the translation and now it says “the whole people” instead of “the Jews.” I haven’t decided how I feel about that. But its an example of someone reacting to what she hears in Church. Sorry, I’m babbling.
There are extremely few blacks condemning this garbage.
The usual stalwarts we would expect to but as to the rest more moderate blacks (if there are any) silence.
Listen to conservative talk radio.....black callers in support of this stuff are on all day.
This is a problem far larger than just Obama’s racism.
And this is the first time I’ve seen it exposed to sunlight.
I have been living the ramifications of this hatred that I first became aware of since maybe 1980. Before that it was just a flicker at times.
There is no reason to give a pass for such ill behavior to folks simply based on their race.
I have a hard time understanding why anyone would expose their kids to that kind of hatefullness.
She's 60 and said she was shocked by this? What a maroon.
“I went to a pretty liberal parish to listen to Matthew’s Passion last Sunday. I checked and the Bishops had approved the translation and now it says “the whole people” instead of “the Jews.” I haven’t decided how I feel about that.”
I wouldn’t let PC keep you from continuing to practice our faith.
Happy Easter!
A “Cradle Catholic” LOL
Kelly
I agree that a large part of the black population believes in black separatism including many crazy conspiracy theories. The OJ trial was the awakening about attitudes among a large majority of blacks. BHO is reflecting the mainstream belief among blacks. At the heart of black separatism is a strong desire for racial preferences and reparations. If the rats gain firm control in 2009, reparations will be on the table. Racial preferences will become even more prominent.
“I have a hard time understanding why anyone would expose their kids to that kind of hatefullness.”
Because you’re not a racist and Obama is.
The anser is obvious. Obama does not leave the Trinity Church for one simple reason. Despite his new found disgust in "some" terminology Wright has employed, Obama has bought into and agreess with the theology that the church teaches. He is raising his kids in it.
Most of us feel the same about the christian churches we attend. If they depart from the theology that we accept in our hearts, we leave them and find a congregation and doctrine that we subscribe to and will make better men and women of us (through the atonement of Jesus Christ) and allow us to help others.
The Black Liberation theology subscribed to by Trinity is what Obama subscribes to. He's been going and donating to it for twenty yerars. That theology, is the admitted theology of Reverend Wright and the congregation. Wright admits that he preaches his brand of that theology based, in part, on the works of one James Cone...who describes that theology as follows:
""Black theology refuses to accept a God who is not identified totally with the goals of the black community. If God is not for us and against white people, then he is a murderer, and we had better kill him. The task of black theology is to kill Gods who do not belong to the black community ... Black theology will accept only the love of God which participates in the destruction of the white enemy. What we need is the divine love as expressed in Black Power, which is the power of black people to destroy their oppressors here and now by any means at their disposal. Unless God is participating in this holy activity, we must reject his love.""
Sounds like a form of Jihad to me.
That theology accepts a perverted and wrested interpretation of Jesus Christ because it describes him as a poor black man (or man of color) living under oppressive white European rule (the Romans) and that he was as much about social change as he was spiritual. He therefore meets their criteria for a God who supports their black power insurgency against what they describe as the ruling rich white men and women in America.
They have perverted the love, peace, forgiveness, and inner focus (spiritual focus) of Christ and His atonement which teaches us that we change within, and when we are healed spiritually, then the outter man follows... and they have turned turned him into a social radical, hell bent on political and social change at any cost who supports their hate and "revenge" to suit their needs.
This is the message about Obama and his "church" that needs to be spread. I do not believe it is at all subscribed to by most blacks, and certainly not by society at large. But it has been hidden and flying under the radar in these churches and for political correctness purposes has been heretofore untouchable. But now the cat is out of the bag.
It is shocking, is is disgusting...and it is dangerous.
This same type of liberation theology has been used for decades in Latin America to pervert Catholics and goad them into rising into Marxist rebellions in class warfare. That is what this is...and it is the version accepted and practised by black radicals in this country and it is intent on changing this country into a socio-marxist state where wealth, opportunity, and position opr not earned by individuals, but instead are handed out by the state...and in this case they simply want to be the ones redistributing it all.
Pastor Wright may be a practicing christian, (small c), but he ain't! Why? Because all his practicin' has been for nought, given his unforgiving behavior!
Someone had to do it! Imagine the effect it would have had on the prophesies of the Old Testament if Jesus had been welcomed with open arms by the Jewish leaders and population!
Same goes for Judas and his betrayal of Jesus. Sounds terrible in retrospect, 2,000 years later, but it was God's will and it fulfilled the prophecy of a thousand years before that.
Even if you don't believe in God or the Bible or the “Good News” of the Gospel, you still have to acknowledge it was the Jews who were responsible for Christ's death on the cross. Therapists make a living out of dealing with people who are bothered by facts.
mark
We had a rude awakening here in L.A with the 1992 riots after the Rodney King verdict.
I have no problem with the facts - just saying that we have choices in this society and Obama made the choice to stay and that to me means he wasn’t bothered by what Wright was saying.
Post of the day! Thank you.
Apart from that there's a reference to "the children of Israel" in 27.9.
Crucifixion was a Roman method of execution--Pilate, the Roman governor, had to give the order for it to be inflicted on Jesus.
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