Obama's Pastor of 20 Years

Posted by Scott Williams
32 Comments
March 17, 2008
Controversy | Politics

This is Jeremiah Wright who has been Obama’s Pastor of 20 years.

Obama had previously made a statement that everyone would feel comfortable at his church; Hmmmm is he really that naive.

Thoughts?

  • http://dturn.wordpress.com david

    hmmmmm…..I had a feeling you would be going there today… :)
    Being from the Chicago area, I am familiar with Obama’s church.
    Although it is a very well-attended church, I doubt that EVERYONE would feel comfortable there.
    I long for a church where every race would feel loved and welcome, not like they are some special ministry project.
    Scott, you know this is one of my sensitive areas.

    BTW, should a member of a church be held responsible for what their pastor says??

  • http://isdifferentok.com Heady

    Scott, you’re starting stuff. lol. I’m already at work so I will have to check this out later. I’ve read some about it in the newspaper but wasn’t really sure what was going on. Will be back later.

  • http://cindybeall.com Cindy Beall

    I will answer David’s question: No. I don’t think a person should be held responsible for what their pastor says. BUT, I would say that it does make me wonder what type of person would consistently go to that church and sit there week in and week out with that sort of hatred being spewed. It makes me rather sad because there are probably hundreds of people sitting in that church who don’t believe what he says but because they are under his “covering” they figure they better follow.

    All in all, very sad video. In my opinion, he’s a disgrace to all clergy.

  • http://paravane.wordpress.com jimmy paravane

    It’s an interesting question. As a white man, I always find myself uncomfortable around black people who use the “N” word. I’m not allowed as a white man to use the “N” word, but blacks are allowed that privilege, right?
    As a moderate liberal, I have no problem accepting condemnation of blind patriotism or the challenging America’s past and present military actions. Volatile language that does this and upsets conservatives just amuses me.
    Still, as someone who was brought up in a white-flight, middle-class, southern democrat, Christian, suburban school system, I know, as well as any other educated person should know, that the government didn’t invent the HIV virus, or conspire to blow up buildings on 9/11 to create a fake “War On Terrorism”, or conspire to break the growing and uncomfortable power of the black community within White ruled America through a combination of a failed “War On Drugs”, “War On Poverty” and “War On Crime” that’s flooded our prisons with young black men and destroyed black communities nation-wide. I mean, we all agree on all of that, at least in the church, right?
    Besides, it’s our right as American citizens to never have to feel uncomfortable about anything we personally didn’t do. Right?

  • http://charlesshyblosky.wordpress.com Charles

    I’m sure Barack attends sparingly, due to his hectic schedule, and in DC most of the time. He picked a rather interesting church to attend….

  • http://www.unveilinghope.com Hope

    Very intertesting. No tolerance? No loving neighbours as yourself? No submission to authorities and government? Barack doesn’t have to agree with anything his pastor says but if my pastor spewed out that kind of hatred before our community, I, for one, would not return to that church. Submitting to our leaders and elders is not something we do passively. Whether he says, “My name is Obama Barack and I approved this message,” or not – he has approved by not issuing a statement contrary to his name being used and by continuing to attend this church. I’m not American; I won’t be voting in this election. But I can tell you that my country is an ally and very much affected by who is chosen by the people to stand in office and represent them. I am very much afraid.

  • http://www.nataliewitcher.blogspot.com Natalie Witcher

    That was somethin’! I would not feel comfortable in that church at all. Probably becuase I’m one of those white people runnin’ the country…wait…

    oh, and I agree with Cindy.

    Thanks for the post.

  • http://rollmentalcamera.blogspot.com roger

    I think Obama has confused the word COMFORTABLE with COMBATANT. I don’t think anyone should be comfortable in church. It should make you restless to be more like Christ. this guy needs to ask himself if Jesus himself word say these words. I would hope he would answer no, if not then I do not know what bible he is reading.

  • Scott Williams

    In all fairness to Senator Obama,I think he was quoted as saying people feeling comfortable or right at home. I know that he has been in D.C., but thta has only been for a short time, this was his home church while he is in Chicago and was a State representative in Chicago. This is his church, Pastor Wright married him and his wife.

    I don’t think that we can be held accountable to what our pstor says; however if there is a overall central belief and tone from church leadership that you disagree w/ you should probably find another church. No church or pastor is perfect because we are imperfect people.

    When you are running for the office as the leader of the free world, President of the U.S.; I think people have to draw where you stand from your body of work, history of beliefs and not just during the campaign. It’s important to ask questions, ask questions and ask questions. That’s not just for Senator Obama, but Senator Clinton and Senator McCain.

    Obama made reference to Pastor Wright as being like an old uncle who says silly things sometimes; you may not always agree w/ what they say but they are still family.

  • http://jennifercady.blogspot.com/ Jenn Cady

    Okay! I thought I was just watching Saturday Night Live! What was that! No Obama should not be judged by what this pastor says but in politics and the way the media works…now his life is our life! I do question any of the presidential candidates on what they believe not who their pastor is. WOW! what a racket! I agree with you Scott!

  • http://bigtelicious.wordpress.com Tyler

    Uh, yea. I don’t think I would feel so comfortable. but it doesn’t look like everyone in the church is comfortable. That guy was a fireball. You can’t be held COMPLETELY responsible for what your pastor says, until you say that you have been at that church for 20 years and love it. I would say that holds some responsibility with it.

  • http://www.floatingaxhead.com michael

    obama’s not responsible for that stuff…i listened to him definitely not endorse the behavior.
    .
    the question for me is whether there is an agenda behind obama much like is behind that church. i mean there’s always an agenda but to what degree.
    .
    i didn’t hear much scripture there either…the irs is probably really looking at that tax exempt status.

  • http://www.ichilly.typepad.com Chilly

    a man is known by the people he avoids.
    remaining 20 years under this man’s ‘ministry’ is a pretty strong endorsement. or has he maintained some form of deaf tolerance. hmmm, I don’t think so.
    - I’m profoundly saddened by this.
    - I wish I was profoundly surprised.

  • http://www.snydersjourney.blogspot.com John Snyder

    The sad thing is that I think he really is that naive.

  • http://jthelmsdeep.blogspot.com Joseph

    As a black man living in these good old United States, I am embarassed to say the very least, by such incendiary remarks made purely from speculation and emotion. The govt. invented the HIV virus to attack black people??? This is the twilight zone all over again. Instead of preaching Christ and Him crucified, he spews venom over issues that have no bearing whatsoever on the salvation of mankind. What scares me most is that some of his congregants will offer to pay for his lunch after these services, thinking he has spoken truth. What he spews though, is not truth because the truth sets you free, rather than pervert your perspective of other races or people. Wow! I guess I really have nothing to say about this topic huh!

  • http://paravane.wordpress.com jimmy paravane

    Fascinating. So, none of you have any problem judging this pastor at all? And Obama is guilty by association, or even better “a man is known by the people he avoids.” This pastor must really be controversial! Uhm…y’all do know who yer Senior Pastor is, right? (grin)

  • http://geppapa.blogspot.com chris g

    hes a whack job! interestingly enough, oprah goes to the same church. it all makes sense now!

  • http://solshine7.blogspot.com SolShine7

    Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t think Rev. Wright was being anti-patriotic. Given, I haven’t seen the whole sermon because that would put his words in context. That snippet seemed more along the veins of criticism of our goverment and it’s long history of mistreatment of the black community and more recently the Arab community in the Middle East.

    Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell both made comments on how they thought 9/11 was brought on by our country’s shameful actions and people didn’t like that either. And yet Robertson endorsed Giuliani and he was all smiles about it. Check out this article: http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/07/pat-robertson-endorses-giuliani/

    I don’t agree with everything Rev. Wright said but there is some truth in his words: there’s a gap between the quality whites vs. blacks and other minorities in this country and if the church doesn’t at least try to tackle these issues then we’re part of the problem.

    p.s. I really like the speech Obama gave today abut race in America.

  • Scott Williams

    This is all over the news now; I think this is going to potentially hurt Obama.
    36% of Independents said they now view Obama less favorable.
    97% of Democrat voters said it made no difference.
    56% of Republicans said they viewed him less favorable.

  • http://menonpurpose.com Bert Boan

    No, Jimmy, I don’t have any problem judging this “pastor” at all. And Obama is guilty by association. The same way that I don’t have a problem with you judging me for my words or my associations. Dr. King said he wanted a environment where men were not judged by the color of their skin but (and we so easily forget the second part) by the content of their character. And the other incomplete quote we often live by is “judge not,” when the quote is “Judge not lest you be judged.” I don’t spew hate, therefor I don’t mind if you judge me on that. I know for a fact that I’m not the best mechanic so I don’t mind you don’t drop your car off for me to fix it, judging me is the only way you can tell if I’m OK or not. Would a wise man not judge the guy dating his daughter? Would we not judge the salesman trying to scam our elderly. No one is above testing save God and even he allows it in one case.

    How shall we “know them by their love for one another” if we don’t discern the difference between love and hate?

    I have tested the words and spirit that come out of my church and have found it worthy of my attendance and service. When that message changes then I’m out the door.

  • http://jthelmsdeep.blogspot.com Joseph

    Bert, in a nutshell, I concur with your expressed view above.

  • http://paravane.wordpress.com jimmy paravane

    Bert Boan, hey don’t let me stop you from judging this as you put it “pastor”. Or Obama, since he’s guilty by association. I guess that includes his congregation too, since Obama was a member of that congregation and that’s the association we find him guilty of. Hmm…I wonder how many pastors and congregations we can judge based on the content of their characters?
    Could you clarify this part for me? Your reference to the second part of the “judge not lest you be judged(Matthew 7:1?) and the part about you not spewing hate so you don’t mind if I judge you on that…does that mean that if you judge me I get to judge you? Or if you did spew hate then I’d get to judge you for it? These are some interesting interpretations of the difference between judgment and discernment. I’m sure your church is relieved to hear they are worthy of you.
    Where I come from, there’s a an old saying about grandfathers and lessons on egg content extraction… (grin)

  • http://menonpurpose.com Bert Boan

    Just so you know who this is, I’m the guy you met at the NW campus of Lifechurch, we talked about Apples and my Powerbook.
    I never knew my grandfathers but when I want to extract the contents of an egg I break it open. If I judge/examine it, and it smells rotten I don’t put it in the pan. I am responsible for the choices I make and the council I seek. I use life experience and the teachings of the bible, family, and my church as a filter to make those decisions. This man (Obama) is wants to be my leader and make decisions on my behalf. He doesn’t get my vote unless I “judge” him to be worthy of it.
    You have sarcastically taken issue with two words, “judge” and “worthy.” To judge simply means to examine and worthy simply means capable or deserving. I examine a man and based on the content of his character and I can decide if he’s worthy to fix my car, date my daughter, or lead my country.
    It seems like you are using the word “judge” like its a bad thing, I’m not talking about judging him on some meaningless point, He wears bland colored suits, I could not care less, he has short hair, doesn’t bear on the conversation. He sat under the spiritual leadership of a man that, to say the least, doesn’t like me because of the color of my skin, I think that is “worthy” of my “judgment.”

    Next, why is my church worthy of me? The day I decided that Lifechurch was the place for me was during the Q/A series a couple of years ago when speaking on interracial relationships, Craig looked into the camera, pointed his finger and took a stand. He said, “If you have a problem with it, you are a bigot and you need to let God deal with your heart.” I was stunned, shocked, awed, proud, emboldened, and inspired. If this man can stand in front of this many people and defend the unloved then he is a man I can get behind. And why can’t I say what is worthy or not? For you and I are heirs to the throne of God, partners with Christ, warriors in the battle against the evil one, and beloveds of the Father. Just like everyone else that goes to my church and your’s. Our churches are indeed relieved to hear and proud to know that we are partnered with them in service. For we were made worthy by the one who is.

  • http://menonpurpose.com Bert Boan

    By the way, Mr. Paravane, this is the comment that made you worthy of my RSS aggrigator.

    http://swerve.lifechurch.tv/2007/10/01/where-is-god-working/#comment-46208

    I took your comment about Scott to be a judgement on the traditional church and that Lifechurch was worthy of a second look.

    Meeting you was uneventful, but when I read your words you became an event to follow. I see your name every time I log onto the Internet. See where I’m coming from?

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  • http://paravane.wordpress.com jimmy paravane

    I had this really sharp, and I mean in the double edged sword with no hilt kinda sharp response, when I remembered that this isn’t either of our blogs. So, I’ll settle for just this quick cut (grin)
    Craig is a “worthy” pastor indeed. What will you do when he fails you? Will he no longer be worthy of your presence? Will that mean that LC is no longer worthy of you? Because one thing I bet even Craig will guarantee you. He will fail you. At least once. That last sentence was banter. (grin)

  • http://menonpurpose.com Bert Boan

    No blood here, I judge Craig to be a good leader, not a perfect man. He wrote a book about it. I expect leaders to make mistakes. I don’t expect them to live in that mistake for 20 years.
    Ask my wife why she didn’t leave me when she discovered my failure. It was because I repented and stopped ingesting the filth that I had been eating for 20 years. I see Obama being dismissive about his relationship to this man, not condemning the hate speech. Had I not turned my wife would have had every right to judge me to be an unfit husband and leave, not because of me but because of what I was doing.

    –I’d like to hear that comment, I’ll be at menonpurpose.com, there is a post about this post. (smirk)

  • http://paravane.wordpress.com jimmy paravane

    Bert Boan, I noticed. Our exchange changed the whole direction of Part 3 of a series I’m doing on mine. I loved your trackback title so much I linked it there at the end. You smirked at me! Now I have to put the rest of it there! Get ready for the farmhand(I watch way too much Punk’d)! Not that we’re pimping our own blogs here or anything, Scott. (grin)

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  • http://knowgreaterlove.org/wordpress1 Avery

    Hey more hits for your blog…

    Your naughty Scott…

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