Rev. Jeremiah Wright — Controversial Theology?
On Sunday, May 4, 2008, Michael Powell wrote Race and the Race: A Fiery Theology Under Fire for the New York Times’ Week in Review. Powell writes, By the mid-1960’s, the horns of Jericho seemed about to sound for the traditional black church in the United States. Martin Luther King, Jr. was yielding to Malcolm X. Young black preachers embraced the Nation of Islam and black intellectuals sought warmth in the secular and Marxist-tinged fire of the black power movement.
As a young, black, and decidedly liberal theologian, James H. Cone saw his faith imperiled. “Christianity was seen as the white man’s religion,” he said. “I wanted to say: ‘No! The Christian Gospel is not the white man’s religion. It is a religion of liberation, a religion that says God created all people to be free.’ But I realized that for black people to be free, they must first love their blackness.”
Dr. Cone, a founding father of black liberation theology, allowed himself a chuckle. “You might say we took our Christianity from Martin and our emphasis on blackness from Malcolm,” he said.
Many black Americans have long embraced this type of religious tradition, with its emphasis on advocacy, political action, and protest against racism. There are other religious traditions that also incorporate cultural and ethnic aspects from their congregants, including Mormons, the contemporary Latino Christian churches, the Greek Orthodox church, and Judaism.
The Rev. Jeremiah Wright, former senior pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, and Senator Barack Obama’s former minister, has certainly been in the news lately. Rev. Wright is one of the foremost adherents of black liberation theology. Snippets of some of his sermons criticizing American foreign and domestic policies have made the media rounds and have been soundly denouned by Senator Obama.
Rev. Wright, however, has his supporters. He also defended himself, saying that his remarks were “descriptive, not divisive.” Do you agree with his contention? If you attended a house of worship and the senior clergy preached or made comments with which you disagreed, would you leave or speak out? Or, are clergy not necessarily representing the congregation’s spiritual beliefs and actions at all times? What would be your reaction?
Suzanne Smith | June 13, 2008 9:11 pm
I have wondered why anyone would sit in a church that would make comments like Rev. Wright about any race and not get up and leave unless they also felt the same way. If a white church preached like that, not only would they be sins of the mouth, the community would run them out of town. I know that American whites do not feel the hate towards the American blacks as Rev. Wright’s frightening sermon. It upsets me to think that there is that much hate out there.
Rev. Thomas A. Flowers | June 5, 2008 1:49 pm
Wright makes me embarrassed to be a clergyman. Speaking prophetically requires a humility of which there seems to be little or no evidence.
catherine courtney | June 2, 2008 6:32 pm
I agree with Carolyn Wilson. If I went to a church and the center focus was of man and not God I would have to get up and leave. Many of Rev. Wright’s comments were presenting him as puffed up and prideful.
James D. Kennedy | May 14, 2008 2:41 pm
As a black man from western Africa, I inhabit a hard-To-define feeling whenever racism is invoked publicly and/or privately in American societal interactions. Of all my travels, I come to find America the most tolerant of people ever. I feel Black Americans just don’t step up to seize the opportunities available. I see other races surpass them but Blacks live as if whites’ sole purpose is to cater to them. Perhaps if they stop blaming and whining they may be able to think clearly.
Carolyn Wilson | May 13, 2008 9:32 am
To speak or write about what a man has said, and the man is “quoting” another man, is not a fair judgement call. Only Christ, repentence, reconciliation, prophecy, and exaltation to God, should be preached from the pulpit. “Whatsoever is not of God is sin!”