Two silly questions surrounding the Rev. Wright furor

March 25, 2008 at 12:20 am | In politics, reflections | 6 Comments
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I’ve been annoyed enough at the talking heads to address two questions that keep popping up with two answers that never make the networks. Here’s my quick takes:

If Obama knew of Wright’s controversial nature, why didn’t he leave the church?

This question reveals a pretty sad understanding of church: an organization one joins or leaves solely because of one preacher (or one sermon). The church is not a social club to boycott if the Word raises hackles. The church is a community of believers–the body of Christ–called together by God and seeking to worship and serve.

Membership in a particular congregation should be about that congregation as a whole–the relationships with other members, service in the community, opportunities for spiritual growth and discipleship, proclamation of the gospel in word and deeds–and overall, focused on worship and serving the Triune God.

It’s always good for ministers to remember that the particular church in which they serve was there before a certain minister arrived, and will be there following.

How could Wight say, “God damn America”?

News flash: Christianity isn’t politically correct, or even politically sensitive. I wish God would damn America’s sins–of homelessness and poverty, of unjustified war and privileging the rich. Turns out the gospel does not equal America. Of course, as a policy we’d be better seeking ways to further God’s kingdom rather than dole out God’s damnings. In a Wright-re-done Lincoln’s famous quote, “Sir, my concern is not whether God is damning America; my greatest concern is that I might be damning only what God would damn.”

Of course, the more positive and more helpful way to put Wright’s phrase “not God bless America but God damn America” is David LaMotte’s “God bless the people of every nation.” But that’s for another sermon.

Update: Check out Jim’s post today here.  Similar stuff, but another perspective.

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  1. [...] 3.) Here’s more commentary on the Obama/Wright flap. Here is a poignant cartoon and a blog post with some good observations. [...]

    Pingback by Wednesday Roundup | the church geek — March 26, 2008 #

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  2. Unfortunately in your effort to not be politically correct you’ve applied your political bias to the gospel and tried to expand gospel definition of sin to fit your view of social justice. Homelessness and poverty are not sins. I’d submit to you that “what you’ve done to the least” was not preached to the roman government, but to the church. If you are trying to say that a lack of compassion towards the homeless and poor are sins I’d agree, but they are not sins of the government, but of the church. And it’s there that you’ve let your political bias color your theology instead of the reverse. Christ could have settled all your political arguments for you by revolutionizing governments and establishing social programs for the poor, but he did none of that. He established His kingdom and the church.

    Comment by Kyle — March 28, 2008 #

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  3. Thanks for your comments, Kyle. Distinctions between church and government are always tricky, and I’ve far from worked them out.

    I’m a bit confused by some of your statements, but I think I’d agree with most of them. I think you’re saying that the problem isn’t America, but the church–the problem isn’t government, but that Christians are sinning too much and allowing government to not care for the least of these??

    I guess I’m cool with that, except that I do want God–and believe God will–damn all that separates us from God in every aspect of society. It’s not that God’s domain to damn sin somehow stops at government.

    Sure, Christ established his kingdom and the church, but if one day every tree will clap its hands, and the mountains will leap for joy, I don’t want to be drawing any lines of what’s outside the kingdom.

    Shoot back at me if I’m way off–I probably am.

    Comment by adamjcopeland — March 28, 2008 #

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  4. I’m just saying as a Christian I can point to no good theological footing whereby it is the responsibility of the government to take care of the poor. If America has failed in this, the church should look to ourselves because we were charged with taking care of the poor, weak and broken hearted. I agree with you that our prayer would be for our government to also walk in God’s will, but I would caution you to be careful not to couple that with your specific political implementation. As you said, sometimes it’s a delicate line.

    What disturbs me more about the reverends words is his damning of America. I find it a measure of great pride that any pastor/reverand would ask/prophecy for God’s wrath/damning or rejoice in God’s wrath against any person or country. We should be crying out for mercy, be praying for our country and thankful for the grace and mercy God has already shown to us. It’s ironic that the reverend using the same breath that is allowed to him by the grace of God would ask God to remove his grace from others. By what righteousness is he able to enter with that request? I would never ask for the damning of any sinner much less the damning of an entire nation, if God is going to damn sinners then I’m first in line. But by the grace of God he washes our sin.

    Despite my strong opposition to the reverend’s words, and how biblically incorrect I think they are, I pray that he encounters the cross and that he is humbled, not that God would damn him.

    I appreciate the dialogue and pray it’s fruitful.

    Comment by Kyle — March 29, 2008 #

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  5. Thank you for an insightful article. Another question to ask is why so much focus has been on Wright and little or none on Hagee and even less on Palin and her association with an African “minister” who exorcises demons/witches, the discourse has been narrowed and not widened. Seriously!

    I was raised in the Catholic Church and was outraged at Hagee’s comments and even more outraged that his statements were glossed over. That Palin’s African “minister” initiated a witchhunt and drove someone out of his town should have sent her running for the hills, but she didn’t. She got another “blessing” from him. The hypocrisy of all of this is not only mind numbing but diverts us from having those tough discussions that seem to elude our best efforts, especially when we “cherry pick” the facts.

    There are many preachers in many churches and houses of workship whose words can be taken out of context when we listen to excerpts. What many fail to acknowledge is that Wright was quoting a former ambassador – a white man at that. That these words continue to be bandied about as Wright’s is sloppy journalism at best and bias at worse. When the public discourse is so narrowly curated, it’s difficult for us to have a forward moving discussion that addresses race, yep and class.

    By the way, I’ve been to Wright’s church many times and never ONCE heard such a sermon. I’m not a member but in addition to Sunday services, I’ve attended funerals, weddings, Lenten and Kwanzaa celebrations there…again…never heard such a sermon.

    Comment by T. Herbert — October 29, 2008 #

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  6. I have a pretty big disagreement with your theory here. Obama joined this church because of Rev. Wright’s presence. Rev. Wright is the pastor of this church and has been for over 20 years. In churches that regularly cycle leaders in and out, it may be true that people stay or leave because of the community of the church. However, Rev. Wright’s church is based on his particular interpretation of Christianity, not of a guided interpretation from any hierarchy. Just like Joel Osteen’s church, or others that are started and held together by the personality of the pastor, Rev. Wright’s church is about him and his message. If you read the history of his Church, it only had 90 regular attendees when he started as pastor – in the 20 years he was pastor it grew exponentially. This is not the community he inherited, and it will be interesting to see how long it lasts with him gone.

    Protestants that do not belong to an organized Church regularly change churches due to the personality of the pastor. This is one major reason why the Catholic Church regularly shuffle their pastors through parishes, to avoid a “cult of personality”. In his own book, Obama talks about the fact that he only starting going to church to increase his PR and reputation in the neighborhood. He shopped for churches, and found what he was looking for in an angry, unapologetic racist.

    In addition, I find it highly unlikely that the only time that Wright was inflammatory was the one time that there was a video camera present. This kind of anger and hatred does not crop up in one sermon over 20 years. The man lives in a mansion and dares to preach about how America holds him back.

    Christ told the rich to give to the poor. He did not tell the rich to give to Caeser so he could give to the poor.

    Comment by Andy — October 29, 2008 #

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