“Against The Black Church”
Watched Rev. Jeremiah Wright (aka Obama’s pastor) on c-span last night and wholeheartedly agree that the recent negative press he’s been receiving is not an attack on him per se, but an attack “against the black church” particularly by those unfamiliar with the tradition. Is he “bombastic”, “caustic”, “dangerous”? I would say, yes, yes, and wholeheartedly, yes. But a pastor has to try real hard not to be those things. You cannot stand in the pulpit and not be bombastic, caustic and dangerous, because the gospel we proclaim is just those things; it’s not tame; it’s wild and undomesticated, and yes, bombastic, caustic, and very highly dangerous. I resonate with Eugene Cho’s daily blog about the same subject: “if you’re somebody worshipping at [my] Church right now…please make darn sure you never run for any sort of public office because you CAN’T win with me as your pastor.” Ditto that, I can see numerous points of contention if someone in my congregation were to run for office. I think I would get u in trouble re: my views on
the Yankees over the Red Sox in ‘08, why I can’t stand Celine Dion television specials and, how Canadians can keep their salt and vinegar potato chips. Terrible, controversial stuff – all kidding aside, you just can’t win for speaking from the pulpit about things you bleed true.
Having said that, there are some things that disturb me about Rev. Wright. While I am more empathetic towards him as a churchman and now, a public church statesman, I take issue with him as a theologian.
<theo-babble> his frequent mention of liberation theology is what troubles me, and a few comments he made on c-span were clearly un-orthodox and outright, wrong and untrue in light of Scripture. Slight leanings towards universalism were detected and I would assume a pastor of his caliber would have more discriminating views (tongue in cheek, I use the word “discriminating” meaning more refined, orthodox, careful) as a theologian. But his frequent citing of liberation thinking quickly places him in company of heretics – but I won’t go so far as to say cultish. He’s done outstanding work. But his theology is sub-Christian. </theo-babble>
Which leads me to ask: what does it mean to be black and a Christian today? What does it mean to be Asian and Christian? Colleagues have pointed out that the Asian church has lost all ethnic and cultural identity and is merely copying Anglo forms of “church” in America today; can we retain the beautiful praxis evident in Liberation Theology while holding fast to an orthodox creed?
Where is the quote in brown from? I actually like liberation theology…a lot. Though some of it is a little out there, it is deeply rooted in the physical sufferings of people, particularly holding claim to the promised that God wants to redeem people spiritually AND physically from suffering.
I take more offense in the use of sub-Christian. I didn’t know such a thing even existed. Yes, I realize that the theology is sub-Christian and not Rev. Wright or a person, but even the thought or an idea such as sub-Christian I believe is poisonous and toxic to use as Christians or even as human beings.
What does an Asian church look like when it retains its ethnic and cultural identity? What is an Asian church supposed to look like? Are you talking about the people who have lost their ethnic and cultural identity? ‘Cause if you are, I have to disagree.
I think young adult Korean Americans today (I’ll use Koreans as an example since I can’t speak for others) are more Korean than ever. Young adult Korean Americans today are more Korean than Koreans living in Korea. I think Korean Americans try very hard to be “Korean,” whatever that may look like in their mind. Sure, we all speak english and know how to act in the white dominated world, but once we’re accused of being white, or told, “can’t you read Korean faster?”, or asked why we don’t eat kim-chee, asked if we can read it, write it, and speak it, we feel as if we’re being told that we’ve been whitewashed and we go on the defensive. So, I think Korean-Americans today (again, I don’t know about other Asian Americans) feel more comfortable in their skin than previous generations who grew up in the States. The 2nd gen. is defined as being conflicted between two cultures…for some reason I think we need to reassess that definition, particularly with Korean Americans today. This is merely my observation so it could be total bunk.
Wayne, just curious, what is your beef with liberation theology? I’m guessing it’s the Marxist background? How scripture is interpreted? I really don’t know too much about LT, but reading the interview with Bill Moyer, I think Wright clearly understands that God is the one who changes things not governments. I’ll be honest and say that when I heard Rev. Wright’s “controversial” sermon, I did not find it to be anti-patriotic or anti-American.
Honestly I don’t know enough about Lib Theo either and I’m not about to pontificate for all on what is kosher /unkosher. Think for yourselves; we all can use wikipedia… what do u think? What’s more important in this day and age, right orthodoxy or the strong activism of the Lib theologists?