Monday, March 24, 2008

Thoughts on the Obama/Wright Fiasco

Since the media isn't about to let the issue go yet, I decided to weigh in on the comments by Obama's pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright. I'm going to go after this on two fronts - first, the cynically politicized and second the hopefully Christian.

Cynically Politicized
Why are you people making such a big deal about things that Obama's pastor says? Of course he hasn't left the church. That church is the largest black church on the south side of Chicago. The reason he goes there is because he needed it to form his political base when he was first running for office. He doesn't take Rev. Wright seriously. No one does. Just relax and recognize that our political system requires candidates to be church-going people. Therefore, candidates choose the most prestigious churches that they can find. This whole issue says nothing about Obama's judgment or his beliefs. He simply used the church for his own benefit...just like every other politician does. He stuck with Wright and his church for the same reason that Hillary stuck with Bill...power and politics.

Hopefully Christian
Wouldn't it be great if it wasn't an assumption that the minute we disagree with our pastor we are obligated to leave our church? I know, I know, you're going to say that it's not just disagreeing with the pastor, it's the level of hatred and vitriol that would make it impossible to stay in a church like that. But what if Obama is more interested in the community than the pastor? What if some aberrant beliefs aren't enough to cause him to leave the church where he found his faith, where his kids were baptized, where he finds emotional and spiritual support from a community that loves and embraces him? What if Wright also offers spiritual counsel that is very different from these publicized comments? What if he also offers good and faithful teachings that have been beneficial to Obama's spiritual development? What if Obama recognizes that Wright's comments are wrong (which he does) but instead of leaving, he decides to be a voice of change in the community that he loves? Can't we find a way to be Christian without dividing into tinier and more fragmented groups ALL THE TIME!!

5 Comments:

At 10:36 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

While I share your aversion for anything that has to do with politics, I think you are being too critical of Obama (although I might say the same thing). While I don't think it is important for Christians to be as worried as some are about what I call "the American empire," I do think that we can, with some certainty, look at Obama and see someone who really does honestly want change. They wouldn't be spending all the money, going through all the fuss, putting their families through hell, and what not if they didn't think they could bring change.

That goes for all three candidates.

 
At 10:38 AM, Blogger Corey said...

Danny,
Yeah, I probably overstated it a bit. I'm actually an Obama fan and think this whole controversy is ridiculous. My own views tend toward the hopefully Christian rather than the cynically politicized.
Corey

 
At 10:24 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

sighs... that it, i'm leaving the River!

j/k

i think it's safe to say that this election season will be the most dramatic time of year... it will make Christmas shopping look like a quick trip to wal-mart for a pair of white socks.

personally i eagerly look forward to the mud slinging, because this year people are going to go below the belt.

WUGS!
davidMURDER

 
At 12:39 PM, Blogger Mr. F said...

I really wanted to comment on your blog, but I really have nothing to say on this topic other than that I am sick of hearing about it. No one who goes to church ever believe or do what their pastors say, and that is why no church-goer is having issues with this topic.

There is one other thing though. The most recent news is that the churches has sanitazed it's website. The joy of the internet . . . you can delete/edit your past.

 
At 12:43 PM, Blogger Corey said...

"No one who goes to church ever believe or do what their pastors say"

So tell me again why I preach a sermon to you every week???

 

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