News-Record.com

" . . . whose messages include love and bitterness and bias that reflects the black experience."

Messages (i.e. preaching the Word of God) are NOT about anyone's experience: white, black or brown. It's about communicating the truth of God's holy and life-giving Word. Most of what I've heard these guys say is pure escuse-making and cover-up, in an effort to try to save Obama's candidacy.

"Those words, some in the clergy say, must be taken in context of the traditional black church as a social ministry, dealing materially and spiritually with issues people face every day, such as hunger and academic gaps"

I have heard truly evangelical Black preachers apply the Word to the social and personal issues of African-Americans in the inner city and elsewhere; and NEVER resort to anti-American, anti-White, neo-Marxist vitriole. The problem here is simply that the true beliefs and political position of the religious left have finally made their way to the ears of the American populace; most of whom do not know the difference between Justin Timberlake and Che Guevara. Hoping to have slipped into the Oval Office under the radar, they're now scrambling to spin like crazy to deceive loyal, Constitutional Americans - of all races.

There was a real Christian aura about King's activism - a humility and spiritual motive. (Though he was too far to the left on many issues for me). But the modern Marxist liberation-theology, Black nationalist types are full of bitterness and hatred. If a White candidate's spiritual mentor had spouted the "bitterness and bias" of Wright, et al., he would have been crucified in the major media and sent packing! But Obama is getting the traditional media pass because he's Black and liberal.

IMO it would be a disaster of the first magnitude if BHO, the stealth king, were to be elected to the Presidency. NOBODY with an IQ above 70 believes he's clean from the radicalism of Wright, Farakan, and the New Black Panther's. We would be inundated with it, night and day - and so would our domestic and foreign policies.

The cabinet would probably be re-named the Politburo, and New York Times would change it's name to The Pravda Times. And Mr. Preppie Candidate would wear fatigues to his first State of the Union. Just funnin' - but more truth than fiction.

Many, many years ago, I belonged to a very conservative church--a church that basically said unless you were a member of the church, you were going to Hell. The church had a wonderful outreach program and there were some caring people in that church, but I chose to leave. I was a young adult at the time and it was a very difficult and sad time--I was leaving friends and people I cared about. I was told by many people (church leaders included) that I was wrong in my beliefs--that the "word of God" was clear on these things.

In the end, I just simply could not be in a church that condemned other people. How can one learn compassion, love, and forgiveness from ministers and church leaders who condemn others? How does one grow and mature in the spirit in the midst of self-righteousness? How does one detach oneself from the anger and bitterness of the world under the yoke of contempt and intolerance?

All I know for sure after all these years is that God reveals and is revealed in love.

Sort of off this topic, but perhaps a little relevant. On NPR or Friday, I heard a detailed account of the events of the day MLK was shot. One item that rang a bell for me was the item that they mentioned (almost in passing) that on that day, King was working on his notes for a sermon to be delivered to his congregation on his return from his planned march on Washington. It was titled "Why America might go to Hell."

Imagine that -- another black preacher who found fault with his nation. And this one, we celebrate his birthday across the nation.

So here's some questions. Is it "patriotic" to support the status quo in your country? Or is "patriotism" a matter of participating in a conversation about the problems of your country, pointing out its weaknesses and encouraging others to work to solve its problems? Is praising your country, right or wrong, really a virtue to aspire to?

The one sound byte I have seen from Wright appeared to me to be saying that America is doing things that God condemned in the Bible. If that was the gist of his sermon, I'd consider him to be as "patriotic" as MLK.

I don't know the circumstances of your church situation, "Thoughts . . ." , but it could very well be that you were wrong and they were right. I simply do not know. It IS possilbe to be "judgmental" and not make "righteous judgment." But church leaders are required to "speak the truth in love" and to carry out disciplines when needed. This IS love - NT style.

According to the Word of God from cover to cover, God is all-Holy, just, and loving at the same time, for all eternity. He rewards the righteous and condemns the sinful and rebellious. I'm afraid your love-only God is not a fully accurate picture of the God presented in Scripture. The loving aspect of His perfect divine nature exhibited itself on the Cross by making full atonement for wretched and condemned sinners - like you and like me. We, in turn, are to be merciful and gracious to those who will receive His Gospel and forgiveness. To those who hate God, and seek to impugn His Word and oppose His kingdom, we are to resist with all wisdom and humility - but resist we must - as did Moses, the Prophets, Jesus and Paul.

King's sermon, whatever it may have contained, may or may not have been biblical and justified. Wright's most certainly was NOT; but was tainted with the vitriole and error of Marxist political theory and un-Christlike bitterness and hate. King was also noted for his leftist leanings and communist connections; but seemed to have chosen a more evangelical MO for his activism.

While it may be true that God is judging America, it is NOT limited to "Whitie;" but includes ALL who do not honor the name of Jesus the Messiah and live in accordance with his Word. I too believe that God is, and will, judge this nation: for sexual promiscuity, illegitimacy, perversion, baby killing, gangsta rap, taking down His Commandments, racial hated, and any number of sinful, corrupt beliefs and actions - which have been commited by ALL races. This is where Wright and Farakan are so far off. unbiblical and unChristian.

It is possilbe to love our American heritage of representative government, freedom and Christian underpinnings and still fully critque it's current policies and social conditions. There has been a unbiquitous theme in Marxism from its inception: that capitalism, private property and individual initiative, are anathema. The "answers" of Communism are statist (big government)solutions, collectivISM (welfare culture), and anti-Christian (biblical) atheism. Unfortunately, much of the Black movement in this country is permeated with Marxist thinking and policies.

If anyone who "sat under" Rev. Wright for 20 years, and thinks this way, gets into the highest office in the land, we can expect him to translate his thinking into policies. This is why the religious left and its cronies in congress and on the streets are so dangerous.

Perhaps the flap over Obama and Wright has opened many eyes to the fact that these folks are anti-Caucasian, left-wing ideologues who have little or NO respect for the principles that have made America great; but are committed to Marxist-Leninist philosophy; and feel more at home in Havana or Caracas.

We simply cannot afford to let him, and them, into the Oval Office. We should also work to keep them out of any American government positions. They are NOT biblical Christians, no matter how much they pretend, and are proposing "solutions" alien to the intent of the Constitution, personal responsibility, and the Christian roots of our great nation.

Nikos,
I prefer to be wrong. Thank you for your comments.

Above comment was mine.