save your sermon for the washington monument
by Steven Doss
Published: March 25, 2008
Just in case you were dead last week, the media created another frenzy out of the things Pastor Wright said at his church in Chicago. I, for one, am glad he said it! The message contained things that needed to be said and it allowed Obama to come and talk to the nation about race problems (gasp) like we were capable of thinking on our own! Gone, at least in that speech, are the days of “Affirmitive Action Bad! No White People Bad!” But before you think this is all praises, kisses and sunshine lollipops for Pastor Wright, I must say the one problem I had with his sermon is just that… it was a sermon!
Was it something that needed to be said? Of course! It’s just that it was said at a church, in front of a congregation, by a pastor. Now, I must first make clear that I have nothing against pastors being political. As a matter of fact, if it wasn’t for pastors being political, we might still be living in an age without the civil rights that we now enjoy. I mean, a few civil rights, no matter who promoted them, are better than none, right?
Yes, however, it’s not a question of what’s being said but where it’s being said. Pastor Wright delivered his message during a church service in which the focus should not be on Democrats, Republicans or even the True Whig Party; rather, it should be based on the belief structure of the congregation.
I know what your saying, “Churches are always used for political reasons!” That is true, but not normally on Sunday morning service. If it is, it is usually just so we can get a clip of some politician awkwardly clapping his or her hands in the middle of a choir - off rhythm of course. Very rarely do blatant political ideas get into sermon topics. They are always hidden inside stories of fishing trips or sermons on mounts.
Can there be political ideas in sermons? Of course. The ministry of Christ (Since Pastor Wright is UCC) is full of them. But they should only come out in the context of teaching of Christianity. You should never have an entire church service that is ranting and raving about a political concept. Save that for a march on Washington!
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