One of the biggest problems in modern American Christianity is the "church-hopping" phenomenon. People stay in churches for a certain period of time, get bored, find someplace new and repeat.
I am a perfect example of this problem. I've been part of a wonderful church for the past five years. But due to babies and health and inertia and occasional frustration with the church, Kim and I have been there rarely. We've both talked about the things that annoy us - we wish for more of this and more of that and so on and so forth.
We've had this discussion with two of our dear friends who are also part of the church. They understand the issues but they have taken a different approach. They have jumped into the middle of the church. This church, they've said, is their home. And the Bible, they say, calls them to be vibrant, vital parts of their church home, not people hovering on the outside.
They are right. Our church isn't perfect. No church is. But it is our spiritual home and we are blessed by it and we understand our job isn't to take and take and take from it but to give and give and give.
Barack Obama understands this approach. That is why he didn't just rip the church wily nilly. Lots of American Christians should use his faithfulness to his church as an example in their own lives.
He didn't forego his spiritual home for political convenience. Whether or not that is good politics is yet to be seen. That is is good spiritually should be applauded.
The distinction between the two - the distinction between the spiritual and the political here is a distinction we miss at our peril. It is a distinction we are at risk of missing because of the unseemly mingling of faith and politics this campaign season. That mix isn't just a problem on the right, it is a problem on the left as well. And just as the right threatens the name of Jesus by coopting him for their political purposes so too the left does the same thing here.
Some have said Obama needs to give a Checkers Speech. He doesn't. He has done nothing wrong. His pastor holds extreme views. He has clarified and distinguished his views from his pastor's. Done. The speech he should give is a speech about the nature of faith and politics - a speech that reminds us all about the dangers of confusing the political and the spiritual. We need that speech.
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To all concerned I have one thing to say and I wish more and more people would shout it from the rooftops:
Separation of Church and State
(those who did not listen during the explanation of the United States Constitution during American History or are unfortunately less educated can refer to Jefferson's "wall of separation between church and state" letter back in 1802.)
As a woman who comes from a very diverse family: catholic, Presbyterian, Atheist, and Methodist; I have been exposed to quite many beliefs. While I personally do not choose to attend church regularly as an adult, as a child I attended mass one week, regular church service the next. I was baptised and confirmed. I do not agree with the extreme beliefs of the Catholic church, nor do I lack any spirituality or faith. I do not believe that in order to be a good christian I have to follow the Bible to the letter, and I do not hang on every word of the Priest, Pastor, Father of any of these faiths during their sermons.
Yet, I feel fullfilled that I had the oportunity to learn the stories, learn how to treat others (with the assistance of my parents), and feel a sense of peace.
Just because Obama and his family feel spiritually fullfilled by this church, it does not mean he HAS to suppoprt EVERYTHING that falls out of this Pastors mouth. If he was Catholic, and attended one of these 14 churchs: http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news3/2002_02_16_Marchocki_BishopRemoves_Laferrier_etc_1.htm
would you assume that he also supports sexual misconduct and believes it should be tolerated?
leave religion out of politics.....
One thing that is rarely discussed is how often Rev. Wright made the sort of comments that have become embarrassing. It may have been a small percent, something Obama could have missed a lot of or thought outweighed by better things. But remember, Obama will be talking more about this issue soon.
Barack says he was led to Christ, but he may have accepted Barabbas instead.
It's ironic that during the week before Easter 2000 some years after people went in search of Jesus in Pilot's court, we find ourselves in the court of public opinion with a very similar decision. It caught my ear when Obama said his pastor led him to Christ, but then everything else he spoke of was political or ceremonious sacraments without any mention of Christ or his sacrifice.
My point is this. I believe that Barack Obama came to his church seeking Christ as those did who entered Pilot's court. But, just as it says, "the chief priests and elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas," Barack's pastor led him to a political kingdom, not a spiritual one. Barabbas wanted to "liberate" the Jews of Rome. Jesus did not point to Rome as the problem, but rather the Jewish people's own hearts. This was tough for people to accept. These were a people whose leaders had made them quite comfortable in their "victim status". But just because Rome with its oppression was wrong, but it did not make them righteous. I could not imagine anyone yelling, give us Barabbas! The names have changed but the story is still the same. While we're in this parallel universe, did anyone notice how many times Barack refused to deny his mentor?
Why are we so aftraid to hear from true men of God today? Why are we not afraid to deride and ridicule them?
One of the most notable misinterpretations of westernized Christianity is the belief that church and state should remain separate. Is that what Jesus meant in Matthew 22:20-21? I don’t think so. The Pharisees sought to trap Jesus with a political question, in hopes that he would commit treason against Rome and be put to death. They asked him if it was lawful to give tribute to Caesar. He asked them whose portrait was inscribed on the coin that they intended to use to pay the tribute. When they replied Caesar's, he simply said, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's.” Separation of church and state is a concept that originated in the West, not the East. In no way does that Scripture support such a ridiculous concept.
The Pharisees thought Jesus would fall into their trap because the notion of religious values being different from those of the state was and is unthinkable in Eastern culture. Jesus taught that serving two masters could never work. He taught that we would hate one and love the other, or that we would be devoted to one and despise the other. So, if spiritual principles and values were different from those of the state then that would mean serving two masters. This teaching is similar to the one given by Jesus to Nicodemus. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
This separation of church and state is simply camouflage for the state to exist outside of the laws of God. That is why racism, sexism, imperialism, and every other kind of “ism” is alive and well in America. Our systems of government — political, judicial, educational and economical — can never survive, because they are operating outside of spiritual law.
Separating the church from the state is Satan’s presentation, not God’s recommendation. It has nothing to do with the teachings of Christ. In fact it takes away from God's authority and gives it to man. Jesus never intended for the state to operate independently of the church. His teachings were never limited to only a part of society; they were holistic and meant for the whole of humanity. Caesar represents material life. Jesus represents spiritual life. Caesar represents man. Jesus represents God. Caesar represents birth and death. Jesus represents eternal life.
Booker
White America has found fault with a few phrases or sentences from 3 or 4 of Dr. Wright’s sermons. These sound bites have been played in a continuous loop particularly by cable news shows. In his 35 plus years of ministry Dr. Wright must have preached well over 7000 sermons and yet most people have only heard fragments and sentences from three or four. I have read Dr. Wright’s books and listened intently to the entire sermons in question and I find no fault at all in this man. If one has ears to hear they will recognize God’s warning to a proud, selfish, and self-righteous people. Throughout Scripture we find God using his prophets to warn those nations in moral decay of impending judgement whether it be his chosen people or the nation of Nineveh.
“God will damn America for killing innocent people and treating her citizens less than human. God will damn America as long as she acts like she is God and supreme.” This is the message that God put forth to the people through his Prophet. Yes, the so-called patriots want all the people to show love for their country and sing God Bless America. But, God will not bless America for her selfishness, corruption, racism and inhuman behavior toward others. God will not bless America for her immorality and worldliness; God must be first, for our Lord is a jealous God.
Those who dare to exalt themselves above God have ignorantly painted Pastor Wright as being unpatriotic, anti-Semitic, and a hate monger to mention just a few of the slurs that they have thrown his way. I say these self-exalted people are ignorant because they have no idea of how God works with his Prophets, nor can they truly understand his Word. It is for those who have ears to hear. So, for those who have not ears to hear lack spiritual knowledge, and that is understandable. However, for so-called people of faith to judge a man or woman of God is outrageous and most certainly against Scripture. America must understand that God has not stopped speaking damnation through his Prophets wherever irreligion abounds?
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