Christians Being Wronged by Wright

For the past two weeks, like you, my evening news has been besieged with the rants of Rev. Jeremiah Wright. I have been fortunate enough to have had many conversations about the topic and about the man himself. While it has become a political firestorm for a candidate I offer no support, the bigger issue is that of Rev. Wright’s comments and theology and the relative silence of Christian leaders (with the exception of a handful), both black and white, to stand up and say that this is not how our church, our denomination and our congregations worship on Sunday. Kudos to Bishop Harry Jackson for standing up on national television and clearly explaining that this is not the status quo of the African American church in America!

I am realist and acknowledge that, sadly, racism is alive and well in America. A reader of the Church Report sent me a letter and in it stated, “Racism is woven into the hearts and minds of us all.” However, racism in our churches is something that needs to be addressed and corrected. As Christians, we are called to be leaders, not the subject of racism on the evening news. Unfortunately, one has to look no further than You Tube videos, DVD’s that Trinity Church sells and the plethora of discouraging clips on television to realize that the leadership and theology of Trinity Church in Chicago is clearly not a Gospel that anyone should be comfortable with, much less celebrate. Liberation theology, as it has come to be known, has no place in our churches. It is a misinformed theology based up on economic structure, politics and racial agendas. I would maintain that a Sunday sermon is meant to educate and celebrate not to incite and retaliate.

In much of the defense of Rev. Wright, we have heard suggestions that his message resonates within the black church. Perhaps Thomas Sowell, the famed African American leader and current senior fellow at the Hoover Institute at Stanford University makes the most sense of this poorly drawn argument when he wrote in a recent column, “There was a time when the Ku Klux Klan's words had a resonance among whites, not only in the South but in other states. Some people joined the KKK in order to advance their political careers. Did that make it OK? It is this type of honesty in dialogue that I feel is required by all of us if a conversation on racism and liberation theology ever produce any real and lasting effect.

Throughout this two week discourse on race and religion that has circulated the airwaves and newspapers, perhaps the most disappointing element has been the lack of comment from Rev. Wright and his successor, the Rev. Otis Moss III. These men owe Christians an apology. These men owe us an explanation. More importantly, these men need our prayers. As leaders of churches and Christians, the hate-filled sputum pouring from their pulpits is an atrocity. Though a reader suggested to me, “We have free speech even if we don’t agree with the contents and language. That is part of being free.” I would challenge that reader and all Christians to denounce these types of hate speech and denounce this theology of liberation as it is neither liberating nor theology.

Finally, in a column written for The Church Report earlier this week, Bishop Harry Jackson reminds us that “racism is a matter of the heart, first of all. And because it is truly a spiritual problem, it will require the involvement of a unified, emotionally focused church to lead us toward racial reconciliation.”

Jason T. Christy is the Publisher/Editor in Chief of The Church Report, a Christian conservative website and newsletter of purpose, as well as the CEO, of Christy Media. Sought after for his knowledge of the Christian community, Jason often consults with other media outlets. Some of his media credits include: CNN, FOX News Channel, MSNBC, CBS, LA Times, Washington Post, CBS Radio, and the NY Times.

For letters to the editor, please email crdaily@thechurchreport.com

Trinity United’s Rev. Wright Supports Hamas in Bulletin Insert

Tom Blumer, whose blog is worth the read if you have never visited it, has discovered a dreadful bulletin insert that appeared in a bulletin at Trinity Church, written by a Hamas official, Moussa Abu Marzook. The article, was originally printed in the Los Angeles Times, expounds upon the terrorist group’s refusal to acknowledge the state of Israel to exist!

Obama responded publicly with comments in the Jerusalem Post saying,” I have already condemned my former pastor's views on Israel in the strongest possible terms, and I certainly wasn't in church when that outrageously wrong Los Angeles Times piece was re-printed in the bulletin.” As he has been apt to point out, Obama pointed out that he does reject some of the views of his long time pastor.

In a short introduction to the piece, Wright wrote, “Islam has as many manifestations as Christianity and Judaism but most Americans are only fed a media diet on Islam as it relates to the ‘war on terror’ and the Palestinian Muslim problem in the ‘state’ of Israel.”

Obviously, this is a pastor disaster! Thank goodness Rev. Wright retired, though I am uneasy about the current state of Trinity United as the Rev. Otis Moss III Easter sermon was dripping with innuendo and sarcasm. And finally, how do does anyone begin to understand what parts of the bulletin Obama reads and what sermons he supports?

Talkback—Email your thoughts to the mailbag at crdaily@thechurchreport.com

8 reasons I won't vote for John McCain

Last week, a good friend and frequent writer and analyst for The Church Report sent me a column he wrote about the state of GOP party. I thought I was share this very interesting column with you and get your thoughts.

Letters to the editor may be sent to crdaily@thechurchreport.com

8 reasons I won't vote for John McCain

By Gordon James Klingenschmitt

In a recent WND column, Janet Folger begs social conservatives to vote for John McCain. She believes McCain will rescue "most everyone" from our political "burning building" – when in fact McCain has already locked arms with the Kennedys, Feingolds and liberal Democrats to keep social conservatives "out" of politics while they burn our constitutional republic to the ground.

Like our mutual friend Alan Keyes, I've been a lifelong Republican and never voted third party, but this time I've had enough (and apparently so has Alan Keyes, who reportedly is quitting the GOP).

So here are eight reasons I won't vote for McCain and will continue to support Dr. Keyes wherever he leads our Exodus:
Sen. McCain refused to help me when I fought to pray "in Jesus' name" as a Navy chaplain. When I walked into his office on Capitol Hill, two of his liberal staffers told me I should water down my prayers and stop praying "in Jesus' name." McCain will surround himself with similar liberal appointees in key White House positions.
Meanwhile, Alan Keyes helped Dr. D. James Kennedy and friends get 70,000 petition signatures for chaplains in a national petition drive to overturn my "religious speech crime" court-martial. Alan also raised $10,000 to pay my legal costs and successfully lobbied Congress to overturn the bad prayer policy. Which candidate defends religious liberty – Keyes or McCain?
In 2006, McCain was one of only three Republican senators to vote against defining marriage between one man and one woman. Why? McCain said: "I think that gay marriage should be allowed if there's a ceremony kind of thing, if you wanna call it that, I don't have any problem with that." No wonder Dr. James Dobson replied: "Speaking as a private individual, I would not vote for John McCain under any circumstances."
Meanwhile, Alan Keyes could be found in Massachusetts supporting parents outraged by sexually explicit classes promoting homosexuality to their children, and by court-initiated assaults on the family.
McCain not only refused to participate in Janet Folger's Values Voter Presidential Debate, he has repeatedly distanced himself from religious groups. He won the Republican nomination without faith-based voters. So, if he wins the White House, will he suddenly listen to our pleas? No chance! Only by treating ourselves with respect can we demand respect from others. Have we no dignity?
Meanwhile, Keyes is the ONLY remaining candidate who scored 100 percent on Janet's Values Voter scorecard, consistently supporting Crisis Pregnancy Centers, pro-life groups and Christian schools.
The lesser of two evils is still evil. But by Janet's logic, if Jesus Christ himself were running on a third-party ticket, we should still vote for McCain. Alan Keyes is no savior, but he remains the candidate of good conscience for those whose consciences are not yet seared.


McCain claims to be "pro-life" but supports destruction of human embryos for use as "spare parts" in unproven medical research. McCain won't veto; he'll fund the murder of innocents. Alan Keyes worked tirelessly in Missouri against the murder of "snowflake babies" and in South Dakota to protect life in the womb.


McCain wrote the bill helping Ted Kennedy in his attempt to grant amnesty to illegal aliens (McCain-Kennedy), so why should we believe he'll veto the Democrat plan to de-fund and tear down the border fence and issue driver's licenses and voter registration cards to illegal aliens? Alan Keyes has personally stood with the Minutemen to secure our borders, protecting our national sovereignty.


McCain voted against the Bush tax cuts and could preside over the largest tax increase ever when they expire next year. But Keyes supported plans to abolish the income tax and replace it with the FairTax system long before Mike Huckabee and others recognized the wisdom of ending tax slavery for all Americans.


McCain wrote the bill censoring free speech by religious organizations and shutting down grass-roots criticism of elected officials (McCain-Feingold), so why should we now believe he'll veto hate-crimes legislation? He'll sign it, opening the door to further persecution of the church. I also predict McCain will sign the Democrats' "equal time" bill to censor conservative radio talk-show hosts. Dr. Dobson predicts McCain will require pro-family groups to provide documentation to the government anytime they try to spark any "grass-roots" action. Phone calls, personal visits, e-mails, magazines, broadcasts, phone banks, appearances, travel and fundraising would all be subject to government tabulation verification, and audit. Alan Keyes will protect ministries like Focus on the Family and Janet Folger's Faith2Action radio activists – but under McCain, these will be prime targets of persecution by IRS agents!
Religious conservatives who hope McCain will choose Mike Huckabee for vice president will be disappointed either way, since McCain will still make all the bad decisions. But when McCain picks a closet liberal for VP (mark my words), many still won't have the self-respect to abandon McCain's sinking ship.


No amount of deodorant can overcome his rotten record of departure from conservative principles and personal assault on our grass-roots organizations. McCain still carries the scent of George Soros, who has contributed heavily to McCain's effort to stifle grass-roots free speech and action.


Abandon McCain's sinking ship! Man your lifeboats! I cannot violate my conscience in November. I'll make a statement with my vote, instead of wasting it on Clinton, Obama or McCain. Faith-minded people cannot tolerate evil, whatever its degree, since Christ taught us, "Be ye perfect even as your heavenly Father is perfect." Show some self-respect and have faith in God. America needs principled leaders who have borne the battle for liberty and are unashamed of the wounds received in doing so. I'll vote for Alan Keyes, writing in his name if necessary. Join us, and someday you'll stand before God with your head held high, blameless and unashamed of your vote.

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Gordon James Klingenschmitt is a former Navy chaplain who sacrificed his career to help change national policy, restoring the rights of military chaplains to publicly pray "in Jesus' name" – even in uniform. "Chaps" travels to speak at churches and can be invited via e-mail. He encourages readers to sign the petition to reinstate Chaplain Danny Harvey, the hospital chaplain fired for praying in Jesus' name.