The Institute (協会)

Exactly how is this unfair? The clip is three minutes long--it's not a sound bite, but rather a significant portion of his sermon. I believe it's from his own church's website originally.

Please. You say it, you own it. It's not like anybody is misquoting it or taking it out of context here.

Bubba said, "The clip is three minutes long--it's not a sound bite, but rather a significant portion of his sermon."

Most black preachers preach for AT LEAST an hour. Maybe because I grew up hearing this stuff but it's standard black mainline preaching. He didn't say anything that you wouldn't hear in most of the 46,000 black congregations in America.

I think the church think it's unfair because the whole church is being judged (as is Wright) for a 3-minute "fair and balanced" Fox News clip.

If this is standard fare in African-American churches, then I don't know how we can even really talk to each other. Chris Rock is right about the "old black man", the bitterness runs too deep for significant change in the relationship between the races. I'm discouraged, and saddened.

Anthony, what do you mean by "he didn't say anything that you wouldn't hear in most of the 46,000 black congregations in America"? That would seem to include the racially charged comments that Wright is rightly taking heat for.

Not an accusation I'd like to make. Please clarify.

That's not an accusation. The so-called "racially charged" comments are normal for many pastors of his generation. America is controlled by rich white people. How is that not true? And it's a painful fact of history, especially if you grew up under Jim Crow and lived through the civil-rights movement when rich white people fought segregation and so-called "evangelicals" remained passive and silent observers. So, like I said, it's normal reflection on black life in America. When you're not a part of the dominant culture, you see things just a little differently.

Anthony,

You said...

"So, like I said, it's normal reflection on black life in America. When you're not a part of the dominant culture, you see things just a little differently."

This brought joy to my heart! Thank you for pointing out that sub dominant cultures see the world, scripture, and life in general through a completely different lense. It is hard not to see things in light of the "oppressor" and their state of "oppression."

I just wish that those who see the world through the dominant culture lense could (white western males) would allow for this diversity in interpretation.

Bike Bubba... no comment.

Holla!

If its any consolation rich Chinese and Arabs own alot of America so the power is shifting. How does what Wright have to say help the black church? I understand the side of the coin of naming things that are unjust but doesn't he just then stir up a congregation of angry and bitter people. What is the other side of the coin of healing, growth and the thought of not living your life as a victim come into play? Is this not the other side of the message of his that we don't get in a sound clip? I'm curious.

cavman, the divisions are not so deep as to be beyond the power of Christ to unite! In Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, male nor female, master nor slave, Republican nor Democrat, rich nor poor, white nor black nor Asian, Laker nor Sun, Cub nor Cardinal, Duke nor UNC. In Christ, the divisions of the flesh have been conquered. But only in Christ.

"Christians" who deliberately stir up racial division in their churches merely demonstrate that they have missed the whole purpose that Jesus Christ came to accomplish.

cavman, the divisions are not so deep as to be beyond the power of Christ to unite! In Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, male nor female, master nor slave, Republican nor Democrat, rich nor poor, white nor black nor Asian, Laker nor Sun, Cub nor Cardinal, Duke nor UNC. In Christ, the divisions of the flesh have been conquered. But only in Christ.

"Christians" who deliberately stir up racial division in their churches merely demonstrate that they have missed the whole purpose that Jesus Christ came to accomplish.

Anthony,

Is it the richness or the whiteness of those in control of this country that is so bothersome? If the country was run by poor vietnamese would that be better? I would assert that the demographic of who is running the country is less alarming than the financial demographics of who is running local churches. The social elite, usually, comprise the entirety of the elder boards in white churches across the country. They are being run like corporations. Is such the case in black churches, or are the various boards and committees comprised of a more balanced financial sampling of the congregations?
I think it would be interesting to find out the balance statements and annual incomes of the members of the board of elders at TUCofC. THAT would determine for me the hypocracy (or lack thereof) that is present in this particular "sound-bite." In other words, have the black elite at TUCofC made the same power grab that they malign the rich white government for making, or are they above such criticism? How many unwed mothers, pregnant teens, or teens with gang issues is Wright reaching with redistributed wealth within the church? I HOPE that the numbers are staggering in Christ's favor because it would be a great stat to hold up in front of the wealthy white's that attend the Kirk of the Burbs.

For what it's worth, people are looking, and this isn't the only example of Wright's bigotry; look up what Victor Davis Hanson, Thomas Sowell, and others are starting to say. Some interesting comments about Clarence Thomas and Condi Rice bring Ephesians 4:29 to mind (not in a positive way), and setting people against one another with such rhetoric is an interesting way of trying to implement 1 Cor. 13.

Sorry, Anthony, but this church, and any other church that allows this kind of garbage to be spouted off from the pulpit, has a MAJOR problem. So does Obama; he can't credibly say he's never heard this kind of thing about his church.

(so does the IRS--it's been a political platform for years--why do the conservative churches get audited, but not the liberal ones....?)

My church also has long sermons--45 minutes is typical--and I guarantee you that if someone started spouting off that kind of garbage from the pulpit, we'd have people walking out, and that preacher would have a not very friendly interview with the deacons instead of lunch that day.

As someone who grew up in an all-white, Baptist church, I couldn't help but feel like I lacked the context to understand Wright's criticisms. The remarks are harsh, but you rightly point out that there is a history behind them that is not discussed in mainstream media.