Why Jeremiah Wright Offended Me So Much

      The Jeremiah Wright "scandal" caused an uproar.  Partially because many, probably most white Americans don't know the history of black Protestant Christianity in America.  They don't know about the Jeremiad sermon style Wright used.  They can't sympathize with the experiences of blacks and don't understand how difficult the past is.  They don't know what goes on in black churches.   They didn't react well.  Instead of acting with peace and forgiveness, understanding, and dialogue, they lambasted Wright and didn't give him a chance.

      Perhaps one of the things that most upset me is his speaking for God.  Of course, you must be confident that your message is from God and pray that you are speaking His truth. However, it must be done humbly, not with arrogance. I am probably one of the biggest critics of American culture that you could find.  I rarely mince words about it.  However, I would never, ever, ever say "Goddamn America...it's in the Bible".  That is off the charts arrogant to say that. 

      I was also offended that somebody in the pulpit would make a crude sexual gesture when talking about Bill Clinton, someone who had invited him to the White House to honor him and fellow clergy.

      The single most distubing thing to me was his message (specifically his tone).  Pastors are supposed to represent hope and share hope.  Black people have a right to be angry, to say the least, about the past. There were terrible, terrible things done to them that are straight from hell.  However, there must come a time of reconciliation.  No whites living right now have ever owned a black slave or actively persecuted them (with the exception of white supremicists). They must lose their heavy hearts and let their mouths overflow with forgiveness.  Hundreds of thousands of whites dedicated their lives to black equality or gave their lives in the civil war. White Americans have done nearly everything possible to help them and atone for their transgressions. There was affirmative action and the Great Society.  We are not in the 1800s. Blacks need to get over the past. (And whites must understand why that is so difficult for them.)  They must not look past it or forget about it, but they must not dwell on it or use it as an excuse.  Yet Jeremiah Wright didn't preach that.  He should have shared the prophetic message of Jesus and talked about forgiveness and love, not preach hate or encourage blacks to begrudge their white brothers and sisters.  He was cultivating bitterness. It is up to Christians to change culture, not encourage it.  Blacks have focused on the past for decades.  Everyone acknowledges the sins committed.  He should speak to the problems blacks are creating themselves through things like gang violence, drug addiction and trafficking, promiscuity, teenage pregnancy and abandonment, violent, sexual, and sexist rap lyrics, and failure to act responsibly. Reverend Wright was focusing on the dark truth of history, but Jesus wants us to focus on the light!  He can lead us to overcome!  He is the messiah and the savior and He can and will deliever us!  But only if we let him!  He doesn't want to focus on the old, he wants to create something new and beautiful that is full of mercy and love, not something focused on the past filled with animosity. The fruits of the spirit are love, joy, peace, patience...I didn't see much of that when he was saying the U.S.K.K.A. or Goddamn  America, racism runs the country, that the country is run by rich white people, or that Bill Clinton did America just like Monica. His tone is not respectful or loving and that doesn't sound like a positive message that is loving or peaceful.  My favorite bible passage reads "And what does God require of you?  Do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God."  Wright has done justice.  He's done great work in the inner city and poverty.  He should be honored, praised, and commended.  But there are two other requirements, loving mercy and walking humbly.  Jeremiah Wright spoke out of personal spite and anger and arrogance when making these remarks.  You can see it in his mannerisms.  I actually agree with many of the sentiments he espoused, but I can't get over his attitude.  He wasn't leading the black community to forgiveness or a new era of racial justice and dialogue, he led them to more hate, while dividing the Christian community and driving white Christians away.