"The black theologian must reject any conception of God which stifles black self-determination by picturing God as a God of all peoples. Either God is identified with the oppressed to the point that their experience becomes God's experience, or God is a God of racism," writes Cone in his defining book, "Black Theology of Liberation."
Unpacking this: According to Cone,
(A) all conceptions of God that include peoples from "every nation and all tribes and peoples and tounges" (Rev. 7:9)
ARE
(B) stifling of black self-determination.
Let's analyze this further by testing it with hypotheticals:
(A) some (all-race inclusive) conceptions of God.
ARE
(B) stifling of black self-determination.
Drawing on our experience, we know this one to be true. However:
(A) not all (all-inclusive) conceptions of God
ARE
(B) stifling of black self-determination.
If this is true, then his statement is false, since ALL A are B and NOT ALL A are B cannot both be valid. Moving from syllogism to paradigm, can we think of any churches where blacks and whites worship together in harmony?
No, what this gentlemen and those like him have is an inferiority complex which they've come to counter by setting up themselves, by reason of their "victimhood", as a "master race." While is very true that God cares for the oppressed, the widow, the orphan, it is also true that a broken and contrite heart He will not despise. What these folks have is not contrition for their sin, or humility, but its opposite: pride. In short, they are emulating Adam's original sin: wanting to be like God.
They will continue in their unhappiness (and even their poverty, excepting Rev. Wright who profits handsomely from such teaching) as long as they wallow in their victimhood and "poor me"-ism rather than rendering thankful gratitude to a mighty but merciful Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. The latter would almost certainly bring material blessing as well.
bump for later read
I'm rooted in the Christian tradition. I believe that there are many paths to the same place, and that is a belief that there is a higher power, a belief that we are connected as a people.
Christ:
"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).
Either A) Obama is ignorant of Christ's words;
B) Obama is a liar, and not really rooted in the Christian Tradition;
C) Obama is truthful about his faith, knows the words of Christ, yet rejects them believing His Christ to be a liar;
D) Obama is a follower of a different Gospel than then one found in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.