Here we go again, but this time it is called "Thug Theology." Obama's new pastor, Otis Moss, calls Tupac Shakur a prophet and claims when Christ was on the cross He was "hanging out with thugs." I personally feel the crucifixion was too sacred an event to speak of it as though it were the "homies on the corner kickin' it."
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Thank God "my condition is not my conclusion." Thank God, like Paul "the chief of sinners," I know I have some "thus in me." Thank God Jesus hung between those thugs and saved the one who called out for His mercy. Thank God He's saving me the same way. Thank God for preachers who are not impressed by social position, who know the Spirit goes where He will, that God will save whomever He chooses. Thank God for preaches who remind us Jesus didn't die in a beautiful sanctuary between white candelabra and Easter lilies, but in a garbage dump between two thieves (thugs). That's the Jesus I know. That's the Jesus who saves us from sin and serving self and sometimes from religious claptrap. Thank God heaven is made for sinners saved by grace.
ReplyDeleteI must admit that once again I agree with you. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnybody noticing a trend of extremism here? It makes me wonder what he will bring to the White House if elected...
Helen - thank God even preachers who depict the crucifixion with dark sarcasm can be saved. I personally felt Moss was cheapening the crucifixion to speak in such terms. I have never heard any preacher refer to Calvary as a beautiful sanctuary with white candlebra and Easter lilies. The Passion of the Christ would be a better depiction. Furthermore, I do believe ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God, and that He gave His life for ALL, thugs included. Just don't make a thug a saint until he leaves his thug life behind. Rich or poor, black or white need repentance. Even thugs must repent to be saved.
ReplyDeleteMark - That's a great word for this, "extremism."
ReplyDeleteYou know, in all honesty, I can hear Jeff Arnold preaching part of this message but even he would never cheapen Calvary. Calvary was much more than a gang fight. And, I don't believe Arnold would rate Tupac as a prophet. To think Obama claims Moss to be "A fine, young pastor," is a scary thought. Obviously, Obama believes what this church teaches more than he is willing to claim. He certainly would bring such "extremism" to the white house.
This past Sunday morning, Bryce was listening to the service at Greater Baptist in Bakersfield. It is a huge, black church. The preacher was laying it down about respecting all men and telling the people to quit wearing their feelings on their shoulders. He taught the Bible instructs us love is the greatest and to not be offended if we have great peace and love His law. If all black churches preached such messages, we could bring an end to racism rather than further inciting it such as Wright has done.
This is what happens when a preacher tries to bend the bible to justify his position instead of letting the word of God speak for itself. Sometimes it may sound good (not so much in this example) but it is not scriptural... AND it has nothing to do with race.
ReplyDeleteWeston - thanks for your comment. You're right this message had nothing to do with race. Moss has been a little more careful in his sermons than Wright. In my opinion, Wright preaches a message of hate and supports Cones opinion that "whites should be eradicated." We would have never known about this if Obama was not connected to this church, but I believe it should be exposed. Not for the purpose of determining a presidential candidate, but to show the spirit of racism they possess. If they want to fire a white person for saying "nigger," then they should fire a black for saying, "We need to eradicate whites." Racism can never end until ALL people, white, black ,brown, lay down their prejudice. NO ONE should berate another race. Thankfully, I attend a color blind church that preaches love is the greatest. I wouldn't want it any other way.
ReplyDeleteSis Allard--My comment has NOTHING to do with the Obama "thug theology". Im commenting on westons and your convo. I do agree with the both of you BUT we must keep in mind the motives behind each statement. For an African American to say we must "eradicate whites" is out of anger to the hositility of being a victim of racism. WHEREAS a white person calling an African American a "nigger" is oppressing this person through the ideology of superiority. Both are completely different contexts. Doesnt make either of the statements right BUT BOTH statements are results from racism towards people of color. Just my personal take on it :)
ReplyDeleteNot only this but in another message recently Otis Moss likened Moses unto a thug saying, "Moses would beat you down!". Nice. I know we all try to put the message in the language that our congregation would understand but that is too much! By the way, the most segregated hour of the week is Sunday morning from 10-11.
ReplyDelete"But though I was initially disappointed at being categorized as an extremist, as I continued to think about the matter I gradually gained a measure of satisfaction from the label. Was not Jesus and extremist for love: "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." Was not Amos an extremist for justice: "Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like am ever-flowing stream." Was not Paul an extremist for the Christian gospel: "I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus." Was not Martin Luther an extremist: "Here I stand; I cannot do otherwise, so help me God." And John Bunyan: "I will stay in jail to the end of my days before I make a butchery of my conscience." And Abraham Lincoln: "This nation cannot survive half slave and half free." And Thomas Jefferson: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal . . . ." So the question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be. Will we be extremists for hate or for love? Will we be extremists for the preservation of injustice or for the extension of justice? In that dramatic scene on Calvery's hill three men were crucified. We must never forget that all three were crucified for the same crime -- the crime of extremism. Two were extremists for immorality, and thus fell below their environment. The other, Jesus Christ, was an extremist for love, truth, and goodness, and thereby rose above his environment. Perhaps the South, the nation, and the world are in dire need of creative extremists."
ReplyDeleteMartin Luther King Jr. "Letter from a Birmingham Jail," April 16, 1963.
Anonymous - I have made the choice to reject anonymous comments. Anyone who cannot sign their name to what they speak, I will not take seriously or post. If you are going to stand for something, be proud of it. However, I will respond that you obviously did not comprehend what you read because I never said or inferred that Obama said to "eradicate whites." How you came to that conclusion, is a mystery! I CLEARLY stated it was "Cones" opinion which he wrote in his book. The name "Cones" is not even similar to "Obama." Furthermore, I DID put the "N" word in quotation marks because I do not use that word. It is not part of my spoken or written vocabulary and neither is eradication of any race in my vocabulary. (I quoted the word from a recent case in the news.) Written words can be misinterpreted and, if you knew me, you should know I am not against any race and believe in equality for all.
ReplyDeleteCarissa - You are right in saying that both comments are wrong regardless of origination. I understand your argument, but not all people who used ("used" not "use") the "N" word was to oppress. I remember an elder white couple that attended our church for many years until their death. The man used the "N" word to refer to color because that is what he knew from childhood. He was so innocent with the word. The great part, is the best friends of this elder white couple was an elder black couple. I'm talking friends who went on vacation together, camping, fishing, etc. GOOD-BEST-friends.
ReplyDeleteAccording to dictionary.com, the degree of offensiveness for that word has increased markedly in recent years. This leads me to believe that the word was innocent at one time. I have pasted the definition below.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
nig·ger Audio Help /ˈnɪgər/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[nig-er] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
—Usage note The term nigger is now probably the most offensive word in English. Its degree of offensiveness has increased markedly in recent years, although it has been used in a derogatory manner since at least the Revolutionary War. Definitions 1a, 1b, and 2 represent meanings that are deeply disparaging and are used when the speaker deliberately wishes to cause great offense. Definition 1a, however, is sometimes used among African-Americans in a neutral or familiar way. Definition 3 is not normally considered disparaging—as in “The Irish are the niggers of Europe” from Roddy Doyle's The Commitments—but the other uses are considered contemptuous and hostile.
–noun 1. Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive. a. a black person.
b. a member of any dark-skinned people.
2. Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive. a person of any race or origin regarded as contemptible, inferior, ignorant, etc.
3. a victim of prejudice similar to that suffered by blacks; a person who is economically, politically, or socially disenfranchised.
One thing for sure, you and I are on the same page when it comes to loving ALL people. I'm glad you understand me and know how much I love all people.
Than - thanks for your comment. I agree. It is sad to me that most of the nation is segregated on Sunday morning because I have never been in a church that was segregated. From the first service my parents took me to as an infant, I have always been in a multi-racial congregation. We have some memorial windows in the back of our sanctuary and one is in honor of a black lady who was blind and would frequently testify and sing. She passed away when I was a little girl, but her daughter, grandchildren and great-grandchildren are still part of our congregation. As a teenager, I was a bus captain and many of my "bus kids" are now in ministry, business owners, prominent citizens of the community and none of them are white. My mind just can't comprehend having church any other way.
ReplyDeleteHelen - you have brought up a good point of what side of extreme are we on. Can you imagine if everyone became extremists for loving our brother as ourself?!?!? We could solve the world's problems in a moment. To be creatively extreme could be a good thing if love was the core value.
I think according black preaching standards, Otis Moss is just that kind of extreme. I would listen to him. He is preaching a message of hope to black people in particular and all people in general.
ReplyDeleteHelen - I don't believe otis Moss preaches hate in the way Wright does and he is a very intelligent man. I just don't like Moss' impression of Calvary. To use the term "hangin' out" just seems to cheapen the crucifixion. God shedding his blood was not a casual meet and fight on the street corner. It was so much more. I would never want to lessen the Cross and its redeeming power for all of us.
ReplyDelete