MY SUNDAY MORNING WITH JEREMAIH WRIGHT

Dr. Wright has been on the scene a long time in Chicago and at Trinity Church they have rich, poor and middle class as members. Wright and Trinity to this day preaches a theology of liberation , action and justice.

I went to a church for many years in Chicago's inner city and the preacher there said if you didn't say something to that junkie or crack head standing on the corner when you walked into the church that same junkie or crack head would be standing on the same corner after church, God does not come down out of heaven.

Id be really interested in reading that Michael, thanks

Michael, you know I do not agree with your politics. I think you wrote a fairly well written piece about a man and his background. There seems to be much missing from the story however. I too, have read a quite a bit about this man.

I have never been in a black church. I was raised a Southern Baptist. For those of you who don't know what that means - Southern Baptists (at least in the South) are traditionally all white Baptist churches. It is very rare to see a black person in a Southern Baptist church, UNLESS you are in an urban area. I was not raised in an urban area. I was raised in a rural area where all the churches were segregated. We had white churches and we had black churches. That was just the way it was. I did not see a black person in a church until I was at least 15 years old. However, in my lily white church, our pastor did not preach about race or ethnicity. In fact, we would have welcomed anyone to come in our doors. It just was not done.

In the years since I have attended desegregated churches, I have never heard hate spewed forth, nor politics come from, the pulpit like I did come out of the mouth of Dr. Wright. All of the churches I have attended have been very careful in this regard, especially in the political arena, so as not to lose their tax-exempt status. That is the biggest thing I cannot understand. Liberals always say that churches should pay taxes because churches want to have a say in politics, yet the churches I attend are very careful not to enter the political fray because of that. How did Dr. Wright get away with preaching political messages from the pulpit and Trinity not lose their tax exempt status? That really does not seem fair to me at all.

Having been a minister and a Southern Baptist pastor most of my life, I can say that I have never agreed with the idea of segregation. I insisted that all the churches I pastored be open to receive as members, anyone who gave their allegiance to Christ and accepted the Bible as God's Word and guide for life. Very few black people ever attended the churches I served but we welcomed all who did and received all who wanted to be members and gladly lived and worshiped with them.

I have preached in many black churches and was always treated with respect by the membership. I have invited many black preachers to preach from my pulpits and our people generally would rather hear them than me. Having said that, I often thought that many of our people would like to be members of the black pastors churches but would not simply because they felt the sting of segregation's power.

The races are still segregated in the south and I do not think this will change in my generation. It will take a couple more generations to accomplish it. Prejudices die hard. In my humble opinion, the greatest barrier is not racial but moral standards. This gap is rapidly disappearing and so I have hope that all Americans will one day see the value in "loving your neighbor as yourself" and learn to treat everyone with equal respect. I do fear that the moral fiber of our nation is being eroded instead of being improved in all races. I hope I am wrong in that.

I have lived in the south and know

Sorry, but I did not complete the last sentence. It should have been, I have lived in the south all my life and know both sides of the street very well. Among my most respected friends are several black families and I treasure them highly.

I had several paragraphs typed out after reading your article, yet I left only a simple statement. The reason is, I could not have added any value to what was so well written and poignant about something which many Americans will judge without any first hand knowledge. I have learned, over the years, the adage is true, you can lead a horse to water but you cannot make him drink.

Truth is, far too many white folk will never seek out a “Black Church “with the intent to see for themselves what is being discussed beyond the front doors, they will not. It is so much more comforting to read what some reporter with an agenda has to say --that is a truth they can justify, it fits into what they want to think. Sad and sadder every year for some people who just want to enjoy the same freedoms that America has promised.

Thanks Michael for introducing me to Rusemag.com

Brilliant work Michael.

An insightful and intelligent article. Rev. Wright is an exceptional preacher who has no problem tossing the politically correct bu**sh** we've mired ourselves in and gotten lost in to the side and saying what is. People do not like reality, that's why we're so on the bottom of the barrel of humanity and ethics these uncertain days.

Brian (glad 1-20-09 came!) T., Loved your comment. The whole congregation actually has that responsibility, yet they tend to leave the preaching to the clergymen. Matthew 28:19,20 was addressed to each and every christian.

I however disapprove of ministers of religion involving themselves in politics no matter how worthy the cause seems to be. Remember, they wanted to make Jesus King while he was here, yet he avoided and hid himself from those who would have done so. Which better King was available? He was the best (most wise, incorruptible, powerful, couldn't be deceived), yet he refused to be made King.

The segregation in "Christian" churches is very painful to me. The fact of the segregation belies any claim to Christianity. I don't mean just having a congregation of mixed race attendees, but of mixed race friends, true friends.

I forgot what words of this preacher so offended people. I know I heard them, but they seemed so unimportant at the time that I had vanished them from my mind.

I will check this out.

Stopping By From ?????? ??????!

POINTS NATION

Again I say Traitors everywhere!
Stopping by from

Christian Glitter by www.christianglitter.com