Does Wright Represent Black Church-Goers?
Two leading experts share their diverging views
Reader Comments
No
Does Wright Represent Black Church-Goers? No, just the people who went to see him like Barack Obama.
obama and wright
i believe that obama socializes with whoever is convenient at the time to acheive his aspirations. i also believe that he shares lots of these views but not in public just like every other politician. have to be politically correct. if a white man had the baggage that he has they would have been forced out of the race immediately. white guilt which i don't understand is the free pass. tiptoeing and pacifying blacks because of 200 yr old history is very unproductive. do we do it for the native american. NO! we will never breach the divide of racism because of both sides. extremist on both sides do not want harmony. that would lesson their cause and take away all of the excuses. it is time to start calling a duck what it looks and sounds like white or black. one is just as bad as the other.
Obama
I think Obama should drop out of the race already. I seriously do not understand how Americans are ignoring this fact that Obama has this Black Liberation Ideology infused in his brain by 20 years of following Wright. This is Anti-American for us to ignore this fact that Extreme CHANGE means Extremely giving up our country to this in experienced person
Timing
I find it strange that he average American can't understand what took Obama so long to truly distance himself from Wright.
More than likely he stayed in the church for 20 years, because it was not all bad, it has done a lot of good, he had built many relationships, not just the one with Wright over the years. More importantly is the 20 years of sermons does not equate to 20 years. Sunday comes once a week. You spend six other days making up your own mind.
I go to a church I love, been there four years. I am active and involved. I don't go every Sunday, and the pastor and I differ on several views, especially political ones, yet I still go because spiritually he usually ministers or encourages me, I have lots of other good relationships and I love ministering to other. A pastor isn't the only member in a church, which is a community of believers, and although he may be influential, it is up to each individual member how much and in what way they are influenced. I wouldn't change my pastor, I only pray he grows closer to God, because he is a man with hurts and a past like any other. I don't mind hearing his differing views, because in a way I learn to strengthen my own convictions and beliefs, even if they are not the same.
Obama's experience was not typically Atrican-American. He grew up overseas and in the mainland, with white grandparents and a single mother and an Indonesian stepfather. Unlike Obama, I am not half-white, but I can relate to the experience. I imagine sitting in Wright's church he became acquainted with the pain of the generation before him, the unforgiveness, bitterness and resentment of a broken past. It was probably in that pew he met his resolve to bridge the gap between the people he loves and relates to so much, white and black, because they both make up who he is. Listening to angry sermons, he learned of the point of blacks and the source of their hurt. Listening to his grandma he learned the source of her fear and resentment. Listening to both he figured out they had more in common than they had in war and working together they could accomplsh much more than fighting against each other.
America does not leave a comfortable place for the races to coexist, for a mixed race person to be fully accepted by both sides. Which would explain why Obama want to unite the country so badly, to create that place; to fulfill King's dream, which went way beyond racial equality to racial harmony and racial acceptance and peace. We are not there, but I believe we can get there.
Regardless of how we feel about Rev. Wright, we have to admit that focusing on, disagreeing with or defending him does not change the fact that other than attending his church, Obama's public service and private life does not reflect or align itself with the worst of Wright's views. But his life does agree with what Obama has said his view are: "We are more than what our politics would suggest."
Choices/Actions
If all people, black, white, yellow etc would take responsibility for their own actions instead of trying to blame "the system, government, church" for their own downfall and pitfalls we would all be a better united nation. As long as "all people" whom find themselves in a bad situation, that they are responsible for, continue to "blame" someone other than themselves, we can NEVER move forward with any reconcilation. Jesus did not go about preaching hate and irresponsibilty for your actions. But most people today find it easier to find an excuse instead of telling the truth about what really goes on in society. Live as Jesus would have you live and you will prosper. You may not have a mansion or drive the finest car, but with Jesus as your savior and guide you will have a "better life"!
One of the main things I do not understand concerning Mr. Obama is after 20 years of sermons under Rev. Wright, why wait until it affects your Presidenital nomimation before you decide to disagree with what you have listened to. As a christian, stand against wrong in the beginning. Don't wait until you are in a popularity contest to do so. Right is right and wrong is wrong.
Three things . . .
1. I LOVE the Booker T. Washington quote (above).
2. People, of ALL races, need to READ THE BIBLE FOR THEMSELVES. Anyone who reads that book seriously from cover to cover would have a hard time giving wings to these "offshoot gospels" like the liberation theologies, prosperity gospels, etc. Any ministry that focuses narrowly on movements like these are taking portions of the Bible out of context. All portions of the Bible must be read while keeping in mind all other portions of the Bible. This creates balance in your understanding of God's word. If you're not reading the Bible for yourself, you have no way of knowing whether you're getting an "offshoot gospel" or even outright heresy. I, personally, want to know God's point of view, not some minister's!
3. I do find it curious, however, the timing of Jeremiah Wright's emergence onto the scene. No one found him newsworthy until he was connected to a powerful presidential candidate. Its hard to ignore the possibility of a conspiracy on this one!!
Don't be fooled
The social gospel is alive and well in the black church in America. We have all heard it from time to time. This social gospel will continue to be preached until there is a sense of satisfaction in the black church. I am keeping my expectations and realities in check, but others still have hard time with this, and this is where the bitterness comes from.
The problem I have is that we don't address the real issue, and that is one of racial reconciliation. We are still divided. One group refuses to let things die, and the other refuses to keep them alive, and both are wrong. If Christ gave us the Ministry of reconciliation, then what is the problem...we all need to come back to the table and, and keep coming back with loving dialog (seventy time seven) until we reconcile. Matthew 8:15-19 Luke 17:1-10
Who Represents the Black Church in the US?
Are we forgetting the Black Church gave us the Rev. Martin Luther King? I doubt very much there is nothing left of his legacy in the church today.
Race
Well I have to say that no race color or creed is perfect, however I will say this whenever an African_ American makes success or fails ,1 is represented as a whole bit pro & con. However no other races are judged like that accept of Muslims. I would love to preach & say that Rev. Wright comments were not true & over the top but I will say this, If your race not matter what color black,white,brown yellow etc.. Was at the top of the list of every disease that is a #1 killer it would make you think 2x. However you have to be careful on how you word things. That being said, Does the KKK represent on how every white person thinks NO. Does the blank Panters rep ever black person's thinking no. Do every German represent Adolf Hitlers views NO. We all are indivuals with our opinions,( although some people will always be a Bandwagon Jumper). I represent the me through my actions, not by the actions of others.
Boring
This MSM special interest group created hysteria is getting really boring.
The big news is Barbara Walters having sex with a married black Senator. "you are the blackest man I have ever been with", she said, according to the Washington Post. She bullied him into getting a divorce and then went on to fool around with Alan Greenspan and John Warner!
This woman really knew how to dig out the stories. It's funny how there's not major headlines!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/01/AR2008050104045.html









