Secretary Rice referred to the birth of our nation by using the metaphor of a birth defect. She was referring to that peculiar institution know as slavery. Even before Blacks were "emancipated" without so much as the 40 aces or the mule, we have been a sick and divided nation.
As a Christian minister it has really disturbed me to see how differently my Anglo brothers see certain issues. Even the word of God cannot destroy man's traditions. Only the traditions of man make the word of God of none effect, says our Lord. (mk 7:13)
Whites see racism as an individual problem and individual solutions apply and blacks see it as individual and systemic and both arenas must be dealt with to overcome.
Thus , the Rev. Jeremiah Wright issue. I have been in this brother's presence on more than a few occasions. He is a scholar, a christian, a great preacher and a lover of people of all colors. Yet, he , like myself has known racism personally and he desires to speak truth to power.
He may use hyperboles or even analogies that I would not but God made us all different. I know he is not perfect. The Bible says if a man is perfect in speech, he is a perfect man. (only Jesus).
It is not what he said that bothers me but the fact that many White and black Christian brothers and sisters can't even talk civilly about the issue.
Some are even unwilling to listen to the whole sermon for the context. And this puts them in danger of sinning against their own Christian brother, speaking gossip about another Christian, without all of the facts.
It's seems that, like wright's sermon suggest, we put Government above God. Nationalism above the Word of God. Is this not like the Pharisees, or the Nazis?
I believe the Blood of Jesus should make us one as Christians. We are to seek unity with all christians, especially those who are hurt and suffering, those who are marginalized, and obviliously suffering greatly from the ills of oppresion, proverty and the ongoing lagacy of this "birth defect".
If Anglos don't understand our pain or anger, they should seek to understand and vi·ce ver·sa
I am praying for Dr, Wright, his family, his church and that God will gain the glory out of is humanity and feeble way of saying and doing things.
I pray that one day white Christians in America will be able to follow black Christian leadership just as blacks can now follow some of them and even join their churches.
I pray that we will not put party politic before the cross of Jesus and the command to love one another.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Pastor Roberson, this is an excellent post. As Christians we need to weigh everything (our families, decisions, our government, relationships and all other things) against the word of God. The word of God is our blueprint for our lives. Not the Government, our bank accounts, the media or even our feelings. In Tuesday night Bible Study we talked about Matthew 13. Jesus said the following in Matthew 13:33 "33"Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.". You cannot believe everything you see on TV or read in the papers. As Christians our job is stay informed and use the Bible as our guide. Rev. Wright is not perfect. No human being is perfect. Remember the old saying, "There is always two sides to every story." So my prayer is as a nation and as the body of Christ, we will take the time to look at our heart condition. Jesus said in Matthew 7: 1-6, " 3"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
6"Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces." Take the time to listen to an entire Rev. Wright sermon. Have a blessed day.
Post a Comment