Obama's Pastor & The Frog
Steve Brown March 20th, 2008
It’s not an uncommon problem. In fact, I have a degree of sympathy for Barack Obama.
What do you do when your pastor says really stupid things?
It’s not that I have to apologize for my pastor. I’m thankful that I don’t; but, frankly, I suspect that a lot of friends have had to apologize for me.
If you ever visit the Key Life building, you should note a cartoon that hangs on the wall in the lobby. It’s a picture of a pastor standing in front of a shocked congregation…their eyes wide, their hair standing on end and incredulity all over their faces.
The caption reads, “Now Steve didn’t really mean what you thought he meant.”
When Obama vigorously disavows the comments of his pastor, I think of the “eat the frog syndrome.” That’s when someone seems sane, balanced and rational, and just when you are about to join the club…a frog hops across the floor and the formerly sane, balanced and rational man or woman picks it up and eats it.
Rev. Wright ate a big, juicy frog and Obama has to explain it.
Obama said that his pastor told him about Jesus and taught him about his obligation to love others, to care for the sick, to feed the hungry and to help the poor. I’m sure that all of Rev. Wright’s sermons weren’t as divisive, hate-filled and wrong-headed as the ones we’ve seen and heard in the media. I know that black anger isn’t totally without reason and that preachers get caught up in the excitement of the moment and…well…uh…say stuff that might cause them to wince when they have an attack of sanity.
Okay. But there’s still the frog.
As you know, I wasn’t going to vote for Obama anyway, so I don’t have a horse in this race. But I do like Obama and wish him well in trying to explain the unexplainable and defend the indefensible. That’s a hard place to be…especially with a beloved friend or pastor.
And then, I do feel constrained to say something about Rev. Wright. If I knew Rev. Wright, I would say this to him and not about him:
I know, I know. I’m a preacher and have said some really stupid things in my day and probably will again. But good heavens, man! What were you thinking? Are you out of your mind? You’re a pastor and you’re supposed to help this love thing along…not bury it in a pile of hateful manure.
I know about justified anger and I think I somewhat understand the black/white thing…but you’re about Jesus. Okay? He did the cross in the face of this stuff. You made an obscene gesture.
I’m not your mother. But if I were you, I’d repent.
If you don’t repent, Jesus will still love you.
I’ll try too.
But a bunch of Democrats and Republicans might not.
Comments (26) | Trackback |
|
Thomas Ortiz
That’s a great question you posed Eric because I think...
Jesus Watches Your Church Ad
Read More
Thomas
Curtis your assessment of America being wonderful...
Obama’s Pastor & The Frog
Read More
Ed
I am in a discussion with a friend who...
Homosexuals & Evangelicals - The Internet Monk on SBE
Read More
Ed
I haven’t heard the interview yet,...
Homosexuals & Evangelicals - The Internet Monk on SBE
Read More
mike
hey erik, have I ever told you how much...
Homosexuals & Evangelicals - The Internet Monk on SBE
Read More