For weeks there has been a national debate about the appropriateness of sermons preached by Rev. Jeremiah Wright from the pulpit of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. Many preachers, both black and white, believed that Wright must have been misquoted, misrepresented, or demonized by the press – especially Fox News.
On Monday morning, Rev. Jeremiah Wright confirmed to the world that concerns about his theology and worldview were justified. Wright seemed to be grasping for attention and for his own place in the national limelight. He may envision himself as a modern day Martin Luther King, Jr. or even a “Christian” Malcolm X. Unfortunately, he came across as an arrogant intellectual with unresolved bitterness. Although Wright is articulate and bright, he lacks the largess of spirit and Christian warmth that characterized the speech and demeanor of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Most importantly for me, any careful listener would question whether Rev. Wright is preaching “another gospel” as the apostle Paul termed divisive heresies of his day.
As I watched Wright and the Monday Press Conference, I saw a sharp contrast to the way he presented himself on Friday’s Bill Moyer’s program. I also thought that he was selfishly putting his career goals and reputation above the needs of his long time church member, Barack Obama.
So what do Bible believing Christians do about the problem of race in America? How do we end this dance with death and division? Something happened last week that gives me a lot of hope.
I was privileged to be interviewed on a Christian television program by Rev. Bernice King, the only living daughter of civil rights icon, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. She was greatly encouraged that over 400 pastors and thousands of lay Christians had signed a document called the “Reconciliation Referendum.” This document was drafted by a black man and a white man who want to see America changed. We strongly believe that the Church can be desegregated in the next decade. The visible unity of the Church on Sunday morning will be an amazing step in healing the racial divide in the entire nation. Tony Perkins and I believe that St. John 17 requires the Church to walk in unity. Further, we think that the Church is the only agency that can solve the race problem in America.
The following is an excerpt from that referendum:
“While politicians like Barack Obama and the national media wring their hands over a problem that has persisted in this country for nearly 400 years, they offer no solutions to the problem…
“The failure of good Christian people to provide a clear and convincing example of racial unity within the Church has contributed to the divide between the races in the nation and it only appears to be widening.
“We must recognize that racism is not just a social problem in America; it is also a spiritual problem. It is a matter of the heart. Healing racism in the nation is, therefore, a challenge facing our country that must first be addressed in and by the Church. We believe that contrary to what Americans have seen in the last few weeks, the Church can and must help lead the nation toward reconciliation among the races. …
“A racially reconciled Church can eventually unite the nation. Evangelical churches are especially prepared to seize this strategic moment in American history because of their shared theology and value system.”
If we do not act now, there may be dire consequences. The referendum addresses the concern as follows:
“Just 16 years ago on April 29, 1992, a major race riot sent shock waves from Los Angeles around the world. Seven hundred million dollars of property damage, 13,212 arrests, 2,383 human injuries, and 54 deaths lay in the wake of an initial lower court verdict concerning the beating of Rodney King by four LA policemen.
“We believe that a repeat of that riot is possible today. The protagonists may be black, white, or Hispanic but the danger of unresolved race based anger deserves a national “intervention” by the Church. . “There is no time to waste. “
If you agree with this referendum, I ask you to do three simple tasks:
1. Join the leaders and pastors who have already signed this document by signing it yourself at www.thetruthinblackandwhite.com
2. Pass this article on to your friends and ask them to sign the referendum as well.
3. Send a copy of this article to your pastor so that he/she may unite with us by signing the referendum.
In our book, Personal Faith, Public Policy, we give a visionary game plan for a racially reconciled Church to serve the entire nation. As the Church unifies, there are many specific public policy initiatives we can introduce in order to create a greater atmosphere of biblical justice in our land. Together we can seal racism’s fate!
Harry R. Jackson, Jr. is Senior Pastor of Hope Christian Church and author, with Tony Perkins, of Personal Faith, Public Policy.