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Two Wrongs Don't Make the Reverend Wright |
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Posted By: blessings2you
Okay, if I don't vent some steam I think I may blow a gasket. I will try as hard as I can not to offend anybody, but it will be difficult. Normally I try to stay out of these situations, but the current one is flat out getting out of hand. As long as the United States of America is the land of free and the home of the brave, I have as much right to voice an opinion as anyone else.
The topic at hand is the incessant, nonstop, and ever increasing rhetoric being spewed out of the mouths of various Reverends that claim to represent the "black church". I am a reverend if I so wanted to be called such a thing (which I don't), I am a white person but I never claimed to represent the "white church". Since when did we come up with such designations? Where in the Bible is there reference to "black churches" and "white churches"?
Remarks made by the notorious Rev. Jeremiah Wright the other day reflect more of his true character and agenda. He made constant references to himself being the spokesman for the "black church". He keeps bringing his messages of hate and racism back to the foundation of it being allowable since he is speaking to and for the "black church". This stuff makes me want to grab hold of what hair I have and pull it all out.
Last weekend, another notorious Reverend who has taken it upon himself to blame white people for everything bad on earth, the Rev. Al Sharpton ranted and raved about shutting down New York City as a way of expressing rage over ONE JUDGE'S decision regarding the shooting of a groom outside a strip club in New York city. It matters not to the Rev. Sharpton that two of three officers who were being tried were black men. Because one was a white officer, it is cause to paralyze the biggest city in America and stir up racial hatred reminiscent of the 1960's.
Now I understand all about being an advocate for others. I have "stood in the gap" many times on behalf of the downtrodden, helpless and abused. I understand fully the need to try and rectify social ills and attempt to shed light on injustice and situations which are corrupt or evil. But there has to be a line drawn between being an advocate and being one who stirs up strife.
I recently wrote a post on the seven things the Lord hates out of Proverbs 6. When I look at what these men, who claim to represent God are doing, I see those seven things at work. Even if none of the other six were being done, there is no question about the sowing of strife among the brethren. To me, I look at what Rev. Wright and his "black liberation theology" and Rev. Sharpton with his "social activism" theology as men of great pride who are using their positions of influence to grab headlines for themselves.
I recently wrote a post on the qualifications of Christian leaders. I would challenge either of these so-called "Christian leaders" to justify their behavior in light of the standard of God's Word. It cannot be done. By daring to designate a difference between black and white churches is grounds for looking at all of what is being said with great skepticism. Whatever happened to all the verses dealing with unity and the body of Christ working together? Whatever happened to the verses stating that within the body of Christ there is neither male or female, bond or free and implied BLACK and WHITE?
I am fully aware of history and the incredible injustice done to many blacks through slavery. But, to use what was done in the past to justify racism, hatred and paranoia is just as wrong as the original sin. Two wrongs never have made a right and in this case a Rev. Wright.
My life is devoted to God and His Son Jesus Christ. It causes my blood to boil when I hear men who claim to be representatives of the God and Lord I serve say and do things straight from the pit of hell. It generates within me intense passion (as you can tell) when I see men who flaunt the REV. title as some kind of justification for their hate, wag their finger at everyone and scold them for being the very thing they are-pure racists.
I have worked with, spoken at, ministered to, helped rebuild, taken truckloads of food and clothing and laid my life on the line for plenty of black, white, red, green and yellow churches. I have stood, as the only white man in the church, before a congregation of black Christians far more fervent for the Lord than many white churches I have been to. My best friends in life are not of my color. I take it personally when someone makes daily national headlines claiming to be the spokesperson for the "black church". They most certainly do not represent the "black churches" I have had the privilege of going to and fellowshipping with.
Black Liberation Theology is a demon inspired counterfeit of the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Those who subscribe to it are of necessity racists. Those who use their version of Christianity to justify "social activism" which spews racial hatred are guilty of the worst form of hypocrisy. This line of distinction between the supposed black and white churches and black and white Christians is so evil it has forced me to write this expose. I cannot, and I will not sit back and allow anyone to rip asunder the truth of God and turn it into a lie as these men have done and continue to do daily.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-By 2.5 License
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Posted: 05/02/08 8:10am - Total Views: 852 - Category: Church
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blackrose65 |
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Posted by:
blackrose65 
(Posted: 05/02/08 1:52pm)
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Ok. I think we need to look at something here. I am not a proponet of:
a) racism
b) black separatist theology(which isn't theology at all but a direct result of racism)
c) Islam (I'll explain in a minute.)
Now, the primary reason there is a white church and a black church is the church's fault. Ok?
For 400 years blacks were stolen from home, family, culture by folk that claimed to be Christians. And yet, when the Word went forth about all men being of one Blood and all are equal in Christ Jesus, was this Word actually displayed to 400 years worth of blacks? No. Even today, as the Word goes forth there is a cultural difference that a lot of people, black and white have difficulty receiving.
At least as a tenet of Islam, once a muslim enslaved a non muslim and the non-muslim converted, the muslim master set the slave free.
That didn't happen when a Christian enslaved a non Christian that became a Christian.
(As a matter of fact, I've been visiting a church that was built in the 1870's specifically to tend to slaves. After Emancipation and desgregation the white congreation of the church 1 block away refused, and still refuses to accept the black congregation housed in the church built to tend to the needs of slaves, ex-slaves, black folk. Another cute factoid. In the sixties, many of the white congregation that employed many of the black population threatened the black congregation with the loss of jobs if the blacks decided to cross the color line!)
What happened instead is that racism has become an unwritten standard of behaviour in this country.
As a person of color I can easily understand where both of these gentlemen are coming from, however it does not mean I agree with them.
Furthermore, I'd like to point out that the primary reason we hear so much about RETIRED Rev. Wright is because he's the FORMER spiritual leader of a potential president. Much like the furor arouse over Kennedy's being Catholic, and being influenced by the Pope-Reverend Wright is being portrayed as someone that may have potential influence over you-know-who.
Rev. Sharpton, while we may not like his stance, also has a point. I ask you my dear brother in Christ... what is the legal justification for shooting an unarmed man 50 times? I didn't lie or exaggerate- the people of New York City are upset over an innocent man being shot 50 times for nothing.
some thing else to ponder
selah
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blackrose65 |
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Posted by:
blackrose65
(Posted: 05/02/08 2:00pm)
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I applaud you efforts in walking out the Full council of God, my brother. If more Christians behaved as You did through time we wouldn't have the mess we have today...
Just another reason to stay on our knees.
selah.
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youaregolden |
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Posted by:
youaregolden
(Posted: 05/02/08 2:12pm)
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Thank you for posting this blog Blessings. This is something that has never sat right with me. God Bless!
YSIC,
-Golden 
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blessings2you |
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Posted by:
blessings2you
(Posted: 05/02/08 3:11pm)
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I normally do not make comments in regard to comments but this time I will. I agree Blackrose with most of what you are saying. I just grow tired of people, especially those who prominently display the Rev. in front of their names "grandstanding" and sensationalizing situations. For every time Rev. Sharpton has done some good with his tactics, he has made a situation worse by what I call "grandstanding". My problem with the New York situation was making it racial when it was not.
I fully understand the basis of the non-violent movement and its origin with Dr. King. I understand that many called him everything (and worse) than what Rev. Wright is being called today. I understand what took place in this country with slavery and the incredible wrongs that were done by "white Christians".
Back in the late 1970's I was a minister in Mississippi. I spent more evenings sitting on front porches of poor black families in that state than I can possibly remember. One thing stands out from those visits. The complete LACK of anger, bitterness and racism towards those who had made their and their ancestors live's miserable. For the most part these people simply forgave the past and enjoyed the present. They didn't have much in life besides Jesus and they were content having Him.
The Egyptians made the Israelite's lives miserable through their slavery. Yet, if Pharaoh would have simply let the people go; they would have moved on to enjoy their freedom and Egypt would have remained a power. The horrible destruction to Egypt came from failing to let the people go. Once gone, Moses didn't preach about Egypt, he talked of the new life and the promised land awaiting them.
Two wrongs do not make a right in any situation. No amount of hate, rage and bitterness will ever make a situation any better. The only way to make something better is to manifest love, forgiveness and a willingness to move on and work together. I personally know many wonderful black ministers who do just this and their congregations are blessed and do not spend their Sunday's hearing lies about America. I absolutely love these people and their churches. To me, this is the "black church".
My only reason for posting this was the specific point about the "black church" and how Rev. Wright's views are NOT reflective of the "black church" in general but the part of the "black church" he is a spokesman for. Thank you for your honesty in the comment and I pray this sheds some light on why I wrote this.
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kraftykatz |
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Posted by:
kraftykatz
(Posted: 05/02/08 6:06pm)
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Hate filled speech is hate filled speech and I don't see that it makes any difference in the color of the face speaking hatred. We can not change the past, only live the best we can today for Christ. I have had to come to acceptance about how my European ancestors and native American ancestors treated each other. Both side did things that they should not have.
KraftyKatz
 drinking tea
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papillionkiller |
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Posted by:
papillionkiller
(Posted: 05/03/08 1:45am)
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Your primary point is will said and true to the Bible, this guy is and has disgraced his title of Rev.
Unfortunately as we see, your point will get washed away by the racial factor.
As for the racial problem of the Churches, it is the Churches fault, not one color or the other, but all.
I am a Native American, was raised, for most of my life, not knowing anything about racial issues.
It stills baffles me as a issue today.
And has no business being spewed from a pulpit like we are seeing.
Everything Blackrose said is true - I could say worse from my Ancestral Native background. So what? It's history!
I have Black friends that are Doctors, Lawyers, Scientist, Business owners and more.
I have Indian friends with the same qualifications.
All as poor as I was when we were young.
Explain to me again the injustice in todays society?
I know that question is naive and rhetorical.
All the same, there is no defense for what we are seeing today from these men of God.
They have shamed their calling.
Good post Brother,
P-Killer
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papillionkiller |
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Posted by:
papillionkiller
(Posted: 05/03/08 1:58am)
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One more thing:
No, it is not, it is a direct result of hate.
A result of holding on to old hates and finding new hates.
Someone must be responsible for our poverty and pain - got to be them other guys - surely not our fault.
If you want to dig your own well, build the ladder long enough to be able to climb out, don't blame your neighbor for not being there.
Black separatist have been digging for a long time, not sure they can see the sky anymore now.
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throughfaith |
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Posted by:
throughfaith 
(Posted: 05/03/08 8:05am)
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I agree with Blessings point ... it is sickening to see men with the "Rev" title before their name misusing and abusing their position.
The sad thing is what we are seeing in the media is no different than what we are seeing in the little church down the street or the new big church with the million dollar family life center. There is a lack of true leadership in the church today. When we see it in the media broadcast for the whole world to see, it is easy to pick out the men who shouldn't be walking under the title "Rev". We can comment on them and make our displeasure known and perhaps bring them to some accountability.
But how do we defend against the ones who quietly preach the same things in the church on the corner and only have the accountability of men who don't even know all the books of the Bible?
Blessings blogged about the qualities of leaders in the church ... that is what we need to be falling back to ... that is what we need to be teaching ... actually following what is written in scripture.
Erin
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blackrose65 |
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Posted by:
blackrose65
(Posted: 05/03/08 8:06am)
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Looks like we have a discussion here. Again, as a person of color, I must point out that while having an understanding of motive does not mean condoning one. I would rather call all my brothers and sisters in Christ brothers and sisters in Christ rather than differentiate due to the amount of melanin in our skin tones.
I agree hate is hate. Discrimination is discrimination and predjudice is predjudice
Now that we're through spewing.. what will we do about it?
Prayer is good but there needs to be some more action. How many of us live with the subtle but ever present racism we are engulfed in?
Ever catch yourself tensing up around a person of color you don't know based on how they are dressed?
Ever refused a helping hand from a person of color because you don't know them- and therefore don't trust them?
Please, don't take offense at these questions... just think about them.
I've noticed a lot of people defending their associations with people of color.. why? There's ho shame in it.
Please, do not take that question as offensive. Just think about it.
Pray for the ministers mentioned in the original post and pray for healing of the racial rift in our land.
more to think on...
selah
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blessings2you |
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Posted by:
blessings2you
(Posted: 05/03/08 8:38am)
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In response to your questions, which are totally legitimate I would say that I have far more apprehension standing next to a burly biker with hair down to his waist and tattoos all over his body than I would a person of another color. Perhaps that is just me due to my overcoming any color blindness many years ago, but I think our personal inadequacies tend to cause our discomfort more than stereotyped racial positions at times.
I know many people who do fit your descriptions perfectly. My mother, due to her upbringing was never able to NOT judge a person by the color of their skin. She had as many problems with Koreans as she did with Native Americans and African Americans. She tried to change and she never made a stir, but I could sense her tense up for instance when at a Doctor's office and the MD was from India.
I do not mind praying for those who make things worse, but I would rather believe that the answers lie in praying for and bringing together believers and doing away with the old black, white, Asia, Mexican, etc. churches. Any church which is uncomfortable with believers of another race being in their attendance is a church guilty of spiritual racism and needs prayer and instruction.
I shall never forget the time just two years ago when I took a friend who was a black minister to a Steve Green concert being held at a Southern Baptist church in Mississippi. The minute we walked up the sidewalk we could feel every eye glaring at us. Funny, the unspoken racism manifested itself through ignoring my black friend and absolute hatred toward me for daring to bring a person of color to a white church. We both just smiled and got blessed with the concert knowing we had "ruined" the concert for many who couldn't get over someone breaking the "unwritten rules of the South".
In my estimation, the leaders of that church are every bit as guilty of pure racism as the Rev. Wright. Hate is hate, racism is racism no matter what color it is. My only point continues to be what business does this stuff have in the church? How can we call ourselves Christians if we can't see past the color of one's skin or one's ethnic background? What business does the church have in promoting the pure evil of racial hatred or looking down upon those who are poor or mentally challenged?
The true church of Jesus Christ sees no color and opens its arms to anyone and everyone regardless of color, financial means or mental capabilities. It is time for the true church to rise up and drown out those who seek to alienate with the roar of LOVE.
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blackrose65 |
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Posted by:
blackrose65
(Posted: 05/03/08 5:31pm)
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thanks B2Y- I see that you get it - However there are many who do not. And those questions weren't directed at you, per se, but the blog in its' entirety.
How can we minister to all if we minister only to the people we feel comfortable with?
maybe you would be blessed by "race, racism & religion" by dr. Fredrick K.C. Price...
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papillionkiller |
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Posted by:
papillionkiller
(Posted: 05/04/08 12:32am)
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Not sure if that comment above is a direct shot at my bow or not B2Y.
So if you don't mind, I'll say short, color of a person has nothing to do with who I help or when I tense up.
If having friends (yes I mean Friends) from a wide range of colors and ethnic backgrounds a defense, then I'm guilty as charged.
I would hope more are guilty also.
I defend nothing, racism crosses all borders - knows no color or nationality.
What would help in resolving, a start, is visit each others Churches;
plan Sunday picnics or community events together to reach out and share the spirit of Christ with others as one.
Add to the list as needed.
Speaking from a pulpit the way Rev. Wright is now certainly is not going to solve anything.
First and foremost praying - to resolve our own internal conflicts and for all others whether one likes a person or their beliefs or not - for the good and glory of God.
We need to pray to see people - people that need to know God - people as fellow Believers in the Way.
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grizzly1 |
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Posted by:
grizzly1
(Posted: 05/07/08 3:13am)
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What I found exceptionally galling was "Rev." Wright bashing this nation for freeing Grenada from the grip of Marxist, Cuban thugs.
The nation of Granada was absolutely ECSATIC that the US armed forces freed their little nation from the prospect of becoming another island concentration camp under the ruthless boot of Fidel Castro. The people of Grenada regard Ronald Reagan as a HERO for liberating them from such a fate. In fact, not very long ago, Grenada held a vote as to whether or not they wanted their nation to become an American protectorate! THATS how much they thought that-in the words of Wright-America simply came to their island nation to bomb and kill innocent civilians.
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savedbyegrace |
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Posted by:
savedbyegrace
(Posted: 05/07/08 3:31am)
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Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
And may I add: neither black nor white nor brown nor any other color.
There is only ONE church, that of Jesus Christ.
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kraftykatz |
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Posted by:
kraftykatz
(Posted: 05/07/08 8:15am)
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All color, all races of people, all are descended from the two persons God created in the beginning. We are all, believers and non-believers descended from the sons of Noah.
The wrongs have the past seem to continually come back and haunt Christians.
KraftyKatz
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rivermandan |
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Posted by:
rivermandan
(Posted: 05/17/08 9:48am)
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Being a missionary evangelist, I spend a lot of time with people who aren't of the same race as myself. God loves diversity and different cultures. What Rev. Wright and any of the proponents of Black Liberation Theology represent isn't the gospel. Because of all the oppression blacks in America have endured, they are reluctant even in the church to renounce this evil. Rise up black christianity and confront this, don't eat the poison apple! I to wrote a blog on this here in Christian Blog several months ago entitled Black Liberation Theology Christian or Cult, this just dove tails with it.
Rivermandan
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Member Biography |
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I served as an ordained minister for many years with a Biblical research and teaching ministry. Although I am no longer affiliated with the group, my love for "working the Word of God" and teaching it is as strong as ever. I belong to no specific denomination or organized group....
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goldie's bible study week 2 - 1 thess. 2 pt. 1
