Obama's Problem II

In my last post, I mentioned the problem that the comments of Rev. Jeremiah Wright have caused to Barack Obama. The media has been all over this, but with the exception of a very few, they have and continue to miss the real problem.

I mentioned that the problem is not really with Rev. Wright at all, nor is it with his church. The problem here is certainly not one that should be in any way associated with so-called "black" churches. The problem is with the "Black Liberation Theology" that Rev. Wright preaches and promotes.

Black Liberation Theology is a type of broader thought known simply as liberation theology. This theology has its roots in Latin America and exploded on the scene in the 1950's and 1960's. It is strongly associated with Marxism and shares many of the philosophical beliefs of Marxism. Liberation theology in general believes that sin is not an individual's rebellion against a holy God. Instead, sin is the economic and social oppression of the poor on earth. God's role in this system is to be for the oppressed and against the oppressor no matter what. The end of oppression by any means is God's mandate. Thus it becomes that case that sin only applies to those who belong to the group who is seen as the oppressor. Those who belong to the oppressed are incapable of sin against their oppressor. The only sin that the oppressed group can commit is not to join in the struggle against the oppressor. Violence, rape, theft, terrorism, and even murder are justified and even approved of by God as long as these kind of things are practiced against the oppressor.

Black liberation theology is simply liberation theology applied to the black community in America. In a famous quote from his book A Black Theology of Liberation, James Cone wrote,
"Black theology cannot accept a view of God which does not represent him as being for blacks and thus against whites. Living in a world of white oppressors, black people have no time for a neutral God."

It is here that we can begin to see the real problem for both Barack Obama, and for our nation as a whole, and for the church in particular. But that will have to wait until the next post.

IJHM

LEE