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Should Obama have turned his back on his pastor of many years?
Early Doss beat me to this discussion with his last comment to one of last weeks blog, but I thought the subject is worthy of our discussion.{Thanks Early!}
Barack Obama on Friday condemned inflammatory remarks by his pastor, who has accused U.S. leaders of bringing on the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks by fomenting terrorism. “I categorically denounce any statement that disparages our great country,” Obama wrote in a blog on the Huffington Post. Obama called the statements appearing on television and the Internet “completely unacceptable and inexcusable” in a Fox News interview and said they did not reflect the kinds of sermons he had heard from the Rev. Jeremiah Wright while attending services at Chicago’s Trinity United Church of Christ. Obama wrote that he has looked to Wright for spiritual advice, not political guidance, and he is been pained and angered to learn of some of his pastor’s comments for which he had not been present. “I categorically denounce any statement that disparages our great country or serves to divide us from our allies,” Obama said in his blog posting. “I also believe that words that degrade individuals have no place in our public dialogue, whether it’s on the campaign stump or in the pulpit. {The Associated Press}
Last Monday’s Bible Talk blog entry began the discussion on if a pastor of a church should endorse a political candidate? But in the past week, the national discussion moved to the role a spiritual leader plays in the political life of a candidate. Barack Obama has not only had to separate himself from a minute part of his pastor’s sermon, but also had to defend why he continued as a member of his family’s church!
Aren’t we taking this endorsement thing a little too far? Should a candidate be held responsible for the things his pastor says in the context of a sermon? As a local pastor myself, I know too well about saying something that could be taken out of context. Should member’s change churches because of a slip of the tongue or an illustration gone badly? Was Obama wrong to turn his back on his pastor of many years? Was Obama right when he said that he went to his pastor for spiritual guidance and not about political advice?
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By KDF
March 16, 2008 9:52 PM | Link to this
I usually vote Republican. I would like that to be clear before my opionion is made.
In the 5 years that I have been out of the Navy, I have attended the same church that I do now. If my Pastor is responsible for the sermons preached, and then having said I was not there for those sermons, well, either Obama’s steadfast churchgoing is a lie, or Obama does believe what his pastor preaches. Mr. Obama is currently clearing his trail of this man that he has befriended as a pastor and a spiritual mentor for 20 years.
This whole business reflects very poorly on Mr. Obama’s spiritual side, and it makes me question his faith. Now, I do not judge, but I do cast a vote at the ballot, and I think I will stay on the conservative side again.
By Ms. Early Doss
March 17, 2008 8:06 AM | Link to this
Pastor Joe: I cannot imagine you saying anything like what we are hearing. Those sermons are not about the Gospel. Those sermons were designed to keep the South Side congreants coming back. Those sermons were designed to feed upon the wants and fears of persons who, in some way, considered themselves less than what they are or what they wanted to be. Those sermons were designed to pile on any feelings of deprivation and unfairness in a land of plenty. They were wrong. I can believe that Obama was not there for most of the sermons because the church setting is also a social setting. Senator Obama could have been in the same building working on what he has refered to as the Gospel of Christ. He has been, for a lot of years, a community activist before becoming a State senator and then a member of the Federal government. I don’t want to hold his membership against him and I believe he has denounced Jeremiah Wright as a matter of conscience rather than for political gain.
Pastor Joe, we can’t be everywhere and so we have to depend upon persons we trust to fill us in on some things. I want to trust my minister but I am disposed to verify what I hear. I know that in the final analysis I am going to be responsible to God for what I hear, speak and do.
By :)
March 17, 2008 4:22 PM | Link to this
KDF: It did not suprise me that you vote usually for Republican considering your comment, its pretty typical.
Now, I have always voted for Republicans. The difference is one man that has caught my attention and has almost confirmed my vote for him this year. This is of course Obama. Let’s be clear.. this is an election year and many rumors and scandals will surface and be exploited at the expense of all teh canidates. I have been in churches where I have disgreed with the Pastor on many occasions. That should not mean I should turn my back on all the relationships and ministrie ties I have because of a Pastors comments or ideology. Now i agree, that what Wright said about America was not good for Obama considering its an election year but, he should not be knocked down for something someone else said. He was retiring and felt he had to say what he had to say, and he had a right to. Obama has denounced his comments and made it clear his values are not shared with the Pastor. I think its wrong what the Clinton campaign and the media is trying to do to spin this, while Hillary smiles and denies any involvement, lol! Its clear and I am glad that Obama has ran for president because now we can see how many white Americans, including white democrats do not want to see a Black president, even though he is very qualified to do the job. By Obama denouncing his affiliation with Wright but shows he has not denounced the church, proves he is a man of integrity to remain a member of the congregation he has belonged to for over 20 years.
Conclusion: Just so you that think i am some flaming liberal that is making a case for another liberal, im not. I have voted for Bush twice!
By :)
March 17, 2008 4:36 PM | Link to this
Lets also think about the comments.. “God damn America.” These are harsh words, very harsh and not good PR. But, talk to African Americans, and even though they may not go so far and say “damn america,” do you think they are happy with what America has done to them. Probaly not and if you can’see it, then I don’t know what to tell you. As I said, I voted conservative all my life, but after studying and reading about race relations and the history of race realtions in america for a year now, there is no way I could deny the facts that the powers that be and the govt. have played a crucial part in the anger and sometimes hate (Wright) that is displayed by African Americans. To say that racism does not exist anymore like white americans do all the time, is either ignorance or prejudice and is a slap in the face to all minority races. So, what Americans should be asking is “Why are blacks still angry?”… Not why does Wright hate America. I know someone that is African American will comment to this and disagree and help some of you justify the thought that racism has come a long way and barely exist, but I am sorry, it does.
By KDF
March 17, 2008 10:32 PM | Link to this
For :); A man of the clothe should not preach hate, no matter what the circumstances, no matter what his skin color is. Does not our Word teach us to return anger with love, such as Martin Luther King did??
No, I don’t think you are a liberal. If I thought Obama was the man for president, his color makes no difference (I watched 24 which had two black presidents, and I liked them both!!!)
In all seriousness, Mr. Wright has preached the same words for years, and it is hard to believe that anyone in the congragation did not hear his words. This is why Obama is doing a show over it Tuesday night.
I retired out of the Navy in 2003, and I had black friends and white friends. That is why I know about race and race relations pretty well. I was on the MLK Comittee at two of my commands, one being the USS Merrill, DD-976. I am very schooled with this Reverand and his preaching. Believe me, racism cuts both ways. But where there is bad, there is also good. I pray for this racism to end one day, for Jesus Christ represents all of us!! <><
By :)
March 18, 2008 1:13 AM | Link to this
I respect what you are saying and agree. I too pray that it would. Lets be clear, I did not recently began learning from books. I was raised with African Americans, ate, befriended them, slept over their homes more time than I can count, etc… I was just too young to understand the history and recently I began to understand why many minorities are so upset. I just don’t think that just because someone criticises America that they should be written off. Remember, the America that white Americans see is not at times the America that African Ameericans see. The history proves what I am saying. White Americans (not all) see everything from a very strong euro-centric persepctive and this perspective dominates. African Americans should not have to apoligize for seeing America one way while other Americans see it another. Until many Americans understand this, we will never get anywhere with racism. I pray that those that beleive that a person must look, act, and talk a certain way to be American or a Christian, will change there understanding and wake up that God created us with different cultures, gifts, talents, all in His image.
By Fred
March 18, 2008 4:18 AM | Link to this
Rev. Wright reminds me of another firery Minister…..John the Baptist in the Bible. The message of John the Baptist was also loud, obnoxious, unpopular and damning too. Maybe its time for America’s judgement? After all; America is the only nation to drop nucular bombs on human beings. America has been a war-machine since WWII. I say AMEN to Rev. Wright. America should turn to God or be Judged.
By thefireman101
March 18, 2008 7:32 AM | Link to this
this attack on obama and his pastor is just the latest croanie attack by hilliary clinton………. She is a crook…….
She really is a crook……….
But there is one thing you don’t do-
dont mess with Gods children………
hilliary stepped over the line-
By :)
March 18, 2008 10:31 AM | Link to this
Amen Fred! when I voted for Bush both times, I went with him assuming there would be changes in abortion, marriage amendments, etc… All political rhetoric that consumed the Christian vote by the Rep. party. I was never supportive of the war. I beleive war is wrong and should not be drawn on unless its in defense. This war should never have been allowed. I hate when my fellow bothers in sisters quote Matt 24:6, as an excuse that war is inevitable and there God allows it. also they quote old testament scripture to support aggresive military action. Shame on you, its never right. Good comment Fred.
By Pastor Joe
March 18, 2008 10:39 AM | Link to this
I realized that I did not include my perspective this blog topic, so here goes:
For me, Obama’s character is on the line as to how he treats his pastor of 20 years. Obama can renounce Rev.Wrights rhetoric and inflammatory remarks, but if he turns his back on a spiritual leader who has been there for a large portion of his life, that would cause me to reconsider my vote for him. If a man turns his back on his pastor, then resigns his membership just to get elected, then I have to wonder about his commitment, dedication and integrity to a minister and ministry than has in essence, shaped his spirituallife-not his political views.As also stated by fellow bloggers, one must understand the black spiritual culture in which black pastors operated under.There has always been this perception that the white man is responsible for holding the black man down. Right or wrong,I have many black pastor friends who I have gone to visit their church and it’s just a way they get their points across. You could probably hear this type of rhetoric on any given sunday in a black church, so if you don’t understand the culture, you won’t understand the message in the way it is being presented.But again, I believe you can hear this type of stuff in any church because in the end, rather we want to admit it, we all are prejudice against sonething or someone-we just don’t want to admit our fallen state.Rather it is a comment about a certain segment of society,the way people dress,the physically challenged,or another religion, we make those type of comments that could be divisive or hurtful if it was broadcast over the entire nation. If I vote for Obama, it’s not going to be because of a comment his pastor said, it’s going to be because he is the best man for the job!
By Ms. Early L. Doss
March 18, 2008 12:07 PM | Link to this
Thanks Pastor Joe: It is not in my character to denounce or drop friends of long standing in order to press my issue. However, I don’t spend a lot of time trying to make up my mind. I may have missed out on things because I acted too hastily.
I personally would have left the church after one or two visits because my sense of independence or maybe even my arrogance would have said this was not the place for me. I plan to vote for Barrack because I have hope that he will cause change. I will not be overly disappointed if not but keeping hope alive is keeping possibility alive.
By :)
March 18, 2008 12:49 PM | Link to this
Thank you Pastor and thank you Obama. You both hit it right on the money. No further comment.