Zeitgeist 29.0: What the Pundits Mistake About Black Liberation Theology

Black liberation theology is rooted in slavery. The American slaves identified with the Jews in the Old Testament. What is interesting is that Rev. Wright's church is called racist. Just try to join a synagogue and see what happens. You'll have to prove that your birth mother was a Jew, would you not? If only your father is a Jew then you are not a Jew. You would have to convert just like anyone else? Is that racist? No, it isn't, so why is black liberatin theology racist? Try to join the Armenian, Russian, Serbian, Greek, Ukranian, Ethiopian church and see what happens. Most of their sermons are in their native language, but is that racist? Who are whites to tell blacks that their religion is racist because it's called black? It is the only thing we had during slavery time that kept us alive. Are the whites of today telling us that we were racist to have a black church when white churches would not have us?

"Obama Che Guevara Flag ‘Scandal’

That’s the Cuban flag with the image of Ernesto Che Guevara superimposed on it. It’s tacked onto the wall of an office in Barack Obama’s Houston campaign headquarters. An office belonging, apparently, to a low level staffer who’s in charge of setting up the office.

I’m immediately reminded of a line from Charlie Daniels’ breakout hit, Uneasy Rider: “I betchya he’s even got a commie flag tacked up on the wall inside of his garage.” The classic response: “I ain’t even got a garage, you can call home and ask my wife!”

But I digress.

Here are the headlines of some select reactions to the Obama flag flap:

Ed Morrissey: “A Flag Obama Supporters Salute?”
Charles Johnson: “Che Guevara Flags in Obama’s Houston Office”
Texas Communists For Obama (Apparently They Were Out of Himmler)
Matt Bramanti: “Obama office adores psychotic Marxist thug”
Ed Driscoll: “Sixties Radical Chic, Frozen In Amber”
Curt@Flopping Aces and Don Surber weigh in with “Che Obama”
Michael Goldfarb: “Che You Can Believe In”
Morrissey is simultaneously fair and not:

Does Obama know his Houston supporters honor a terrorist in his campaign office? I’m sure he doesn’t. However, it would behoove him to ensure that the flag gets taken down and that he renounces any affinity for Che and the Fidel Castro regime.

He’s right that Che is a terrorist who shouldn’t be honored by decent people. Che worship (or, alternatively, the wearing of Che t-shirts as a statement without the slightest clue of who he was) seems to be a phase that certain left-leaning activists go through in their youth; it generally passes. Driscoll’s characterization of it as “juvenilia” is spot on.

But, surely, Obama doesn’t need to publicly weigh in on the decorating choices of every low level staffer? Let alone “renounce” affinities which he’s never shown?

Johnson’s insinuation is simply beyond the pale: “Barack Obama won’t wear an American flag on his lapel, but on the wall of his Houston campaign office: a Cuban flag with a picture of Communist mass murderer Che Guevara.” As I noted when the ridiculous flap over Obama’s calling flag pins “a substitute for true patriotism” emerged,

I don’t mind people wearing pins or putting stickers on their cars as a show of support for their country or their cause. I am, however, irritated by the notion that so doing makes them somehow superior to those who don’t.

The suggestion that Americans need to start swearing loyalty oaths, though, is light years beyond irritating.

CORRECTION: The original contained the sentence “John Cole’s suggestion that the flag is merely a statement on our Cuba policy strikes me as giving credit where it decidedly isn’t due.” Cole responds in the comments below that the discussion of Cuba policy was merely an aside rather than an attempt to analyze the motivations of the office worker. My apologies for the inference.

UPDATE: Johnson responds here arguing that I’m attributing something to him that he doesn’t believe. It seems to me, though, that the implication of juxtaposing Obama’s refusal to wear an American flag pin with supporters displaying a Che flag is plain enough.

The “loyalty oath” goes to the whole notion — implied by Johnson and others quoted above — that Obama is under some obligation to declare that he’s anti-Communist and pro-American. Neither of those should be in doubt.

As to my “rushing to do damage control for Barack Obama,” regular readers can decide for themselves on that one. New readers can feel free to check through my Barack Obama archives.

UPDATE: Ace disagrees with me but has a reasonable take. I’m sympathetic to the “Lie down with dogs and you get fleas” sentiment. But the nature of Big Tent politics is that both sides are going to attract some yahoos. Ronald Reagan was endorsed by the Ku Klux Klan, after all. I don’t think it serves anyone’s interest to play the “whose crazies are crazier” game. Ultimately, it’s just guilt by association.

Yes, I’m “interested in rejecting what seems to be easy pandering and hackery.” But not simply out of high-mindedness, drug induced or otherwise. Frankly, there are plenty of good reasons for conservatives to oppose electing Obama president. Making mountains of aspiring molehills weakens our case rather than strengthening (Full Story)

http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/2008/02/obama_che_guevara_flag_scandal/

http://www.debbieschlussel.com/archives/2008/01/obamas_nation_o.html

http://www.debbieschlussel.com/archives/

Obama's Nation of Islam Staffers, Edward Said & "Inflexible Jews" Causing Mid-East Conflict: An Obama Insider Reveals the Real Barack
Printer Friendly

By Debbie Schlussel - Copyright 2008
EXCLUSIVE: Must Cite Debbie Schlussel and/or DebbieSchlussel.com ****

Responding to criticism by Washington Post columnist Richard Cohen, Barack Obama declared his strong opposition to Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan:

I decry racism and anti-Semitism in every form and strongly condemn the anti-Semitic statements made by Minister Farrakhan.
Obama also went on to condemn his Church's award to Farrakhan and his minister's tight relationship with him.

But a former Obama insider says that Obama's sudden aversion to NOI and Farrakhan is belied by the fact that Obama employed and continues to employ several Farrakhan acolytes in high positions on his Illinois and U.S. Senate campaign and office staffs. I have verified that this person--who agreed to talk on the condition of anonymity--held a key position in the Obama campaign. The insider was so close to Senator Obama that they frequently personally discussed and exchanged direct e-mail messages on campaign and policy matters. This person is not connected with the Clintons and is not a disgruntled employee.

Barack Obama belongs to an unabashedly Black African-centered church. Its teachings focus on a "black value" system. It has knowledgeable Americans questioning how Obama's church (Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ) and its pastor, the Reverend Jeremiah Wright, Jr. influence the man who wants to be President of the United States.

Why couldn't Obama have chosen to be a Methodist, a Pentecostal or a Lutheran? What drew him to a church that many find questionable?

Many Americans attend churches their parents attended. Others choose denominations where they are comfortable with the teachings.

As a whole, the United Church of Christ does not teach black liberation theology. The main Conference of the denomination is responsible for the theological teachings of its churches and the manner in which they are presented.

The nagging question begs to be answered. Why would the top Democrat presidential candidate feel more comfortable attending an Afrocentric church? Obama's attendance at a church that encourages blacks to separate themselves from the rest of American society must be explained. How can he claim to be able to unite and reach across to all the people in the nation?

Excerpts from the Trinity United Church of Christ — Black Value System:

The Pastor as well as the membership of Trinity United Church of Christ is committed to a 10-point Vision:

1. A congregation committed to ADORATION.

2. A congregation preaching SALVATION.

3. A congregation actively seeking RECONCILIATION.

4. A congregation with a non-negotiable COMMITMENT TO AFRICA.

5. A congregation committed to BIBLICAL EDUCATION.

6. A congregation committed to CULTURAL EDUCATION.

7. A congregation committed to the HISTORICAL EDUCATION OF AFRICAN PEOPLE IN DIASPORA.

8. A congregation committed to LIBERATION.

9. A congregation committed to RESTORATION.

10. A congregation working towards ECONOMIC PARITY.

American society has changed positively since the days of Martin Luther King and the freedom marches. Why is there this need by some to retreat back to the days of separatism while claiming that they are moving society forward?

Many people do not understand what black liberation theology is. If Mitt Romney found it necessary to make a speech about his Mormon faith, it's about time that Obama explain black theology. There has been much controversy over faith in this election year. However, Obama's church leaves something to be desired regarding social acceptability of its ideology. "Thus saith the Lord" is taught in quite a different fashion.

Black theology teachings began in America during the Civil Rights Movement. A demanding authority of presumptuousness was ushered in claiming black theology as the legitimate Voice of God to all black Americans.

The central theme of black theology puts an emphasis on the oppression of the black people. All aspects of this type of theology become a "subjugating theme."

According to mainstream doctrinal teaching, black theology falls short. Its cornerstone is one which focuses on the oppression of blacks. The biblical teaching in mainstream Christian denominations is Christ-centered. Their focus is the Lord Jesus Christ who was to come, came, and is coming once again, and will reign forever. "I am the LORD; and they shall be my people." (Jeremiah 24:7)

Is black theology one of hope or does it purposefully dredge up painful feelings of victimization? If that be the case, it would be wiser to consider a church where it is fully understood that God is no respecter of color or gender. (Acts 10:34)

The terminology of black theology is questionable amongst many biblical theologians. Its teaching is improperly centered in human pragmatism. The Lordship of Jesus Christ is not held in proper biblical perspective. Freedom has been granted to all who have become believers of the Living Word. We show our faith in Christ by living upright and reaching out in love to others.

If Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. is not asking the most important question of all, "who is Christ?", then he does his congregation a disservice. For it is from this premise that all questions can be answered. The teaching of a theology written by black men for black man presented to an exclusive segment of society can only be a stumbling block to God and a nation that was founded on Judeo-Christian beliefs.

Accepting Christ as Savior makes all the difference in the perception of the believer's life. His or her status in life is made abundantly clear. This question of what God has done through Christ is focused upon and no longer in doubt when we learn that we are God's children.

Is Christ able to save you? Is it the Lord who brings positive changes in your life today? Is the believer's walk moving forward and touching others for Christ's sake? The answer ought to be "yes," no matter what the color of our skin or gender.

In the final analysis, only by beginning to ask these questions for a starting point of Christian theology can black theology be defined. When one knows who Jesus Christ is, then man can begin to understand where God is in man's existence and problems, and how Christ will provide the help man so desperately needs.

The days of segregation are over. "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28 )

The Goals Of Black Liberal Theology — Dr. Robert A. Morley, an internationally recognized scholar in the fields of theology and apologetics.

"l.The goals of BT are to turn religion into sociology, Christianity into a political agenda, Jesus into a black Marxist rebel, and the gospel into violent revolution. They are more interested in politics than preaching the gospel.

"III. The Methodology of Black Liberal Theology

"The main method employed by BT is to manipulate embittered young blacks by turning their feelings of inferiority, alienation, jealousy, hopelessness and self-hate, into racist rage against whites, Orientals and affluent blacks who are conveniently blamed for their lack of personal initiative to better their lot in life.

"IV. The Main Philosophic Error of Black Liberal Theology

"BT is based upon the philosophic error of relativism in which 'Jesus' is viewed as only a religious symbol which can be interpreted anyway they want. Thus it does not matter who and what the historical Jesus really was. BT invented a black Marxist Jesus to lead the way to violent revolution because such a 'Jesus' will serve their purpose. BT is condemned in II Cor. 11:4 and Gal. 1:8-9.

"V. The Racism Of Black Liberal Theology

"While BT is filled with racist statements against whites and Orientals, it is primarily a form of 'black on black' racism. The following evidence demonstrates this to be true.

"A. While BT claims to give blacks a better self-image, they unwittingly encourage a poor self-image among blacks by defining "blackness" in such negative terms as 'the poor,' 'the oppressed,' and 'niggers.' Why do they always define the 'black experience' in such negative terms? Why do they assume that all blacks live in the ghetto subsisting on welfare in the midst of crime and filth?

"B. With its constant emphasis on God loves the poor, the oppressed, etc. BT actually paralyzes and demoralizes blacks to accept a parasitic life- style dependent on the government dole instead of fostering self-reliance and entrepreneurship.

"C. It seems to me that BT feeds off of class envy and racist rage. Instead of spending their time blaming the white man for the black man's problems, BT ought to be encouraging black men or women to become financially successful through hard work and self-reliance.

"D. BT often describes the black man as a helpless victim of forces and people beyond his control. But this negative stereotype often leads people to accept poverty, drugs, crime and filth as their unalterable fate.

"E. BT makes a great mistake when it assumes that poverty automatically means crime and filth. Just because you are poor does not mean you have a license to rob, rape, or murder others. The poor are for the most part good and honest people. Crime is crime regardless of who commits it. Poverty is no excuse for criminality.

"F. BT judges people on the basis of the color of their skin instead of the content of their character.

"G. BT gives the impression that the black man's problem is his skin instead of his sin.

"H. Most BT books glorify rage, hatred and violence instead of faith, hope and love.

"I. BT preaches race instead of grace as the solution to problems.

"J. BT cries out for political liberation instead of spiritual salvation.

"K. BT thinks more of Marx than it does of Jesus.

"L. BT is more interested in black culture than in Jesus Christ.

"VI. The Liberalism Of Black Liberal Theology

"BT is not a fundamental, Bible-believing, Christ-honoring theology. BT was created by white liberation theologians at white liberal seminaries and universities that are radically anti-Christian and anti-Bible.

"A. Most of those involved in BT do not believe in the Trinity, the deity of Christ, His virgin birth, sinless life, vicarious death, bodily resurrection, literal ascension or return to this world. They claim that all such doctrines are 'Western.'

"B. Many of those who teach BT openly deny the immortality of the soul, a conscious after-life in heaven or hell, the resurrection of the dead, the Last Judgment and the eternal conscious torment of the damned in hell. They usually say that hell is 'being black on welfare in the ghetto.' They attack those blacks who talk about heaven as a 'pie in the sky by and by slave mentality.'

"C. BT often denounces Christianity as racist and the 'white man's religion.' But then it turns around and claims that Jesus was black. If Jesus was a black man, then how can Christianity be the 'white man's religion?'

"D. Most BT writers deny the inspiration, inerrancy and authority of the Bible while at the same time using it to foster their racist agenda.

"E. Many BT leaders teach the theory of evolution in which man evolved from an ape in Africa as if that theory can give dignity to blacks or to anyone else. The theory of evolution actually destroys all dignity and morals by reducing man to an animal.

"VII. The Absurdity of Black Liberal Theology

"BT is so filled with self-contradiction and erroneous ideas that it is has no intellectual merit. For example, BT defines 'blackness' and 'whiteness' in the Marxist sense of class struggle. Thus BT is not really talking about blackness as a race but as a class. Wake up! Read that last sentence again. Did you get it? Black liberal theology is really concerned with class struggle and not about black people per se. What is 'black' and 'white' according to the BT books?

"Black = anyone regardless of race or color who is economically and politically oppressed by the upper classes.

"White = anyone regardless of race or color who is guilty of oppressing the lower classes.

"Walter McCray in his book, The Black Presence In The Bible, quotes with approval the definition of blackness given by his liberal mentor, Charles Copher.

"Additionally, one may be defined as black regardless of color or race; all who suffer oppression...are classified as black.(p. 161, n.72.)

"This irrational definition ends up with some white people being 'black' and some black people being "white." According to BT's definition, a blond, blue- eyed, white Swede on drugs and welfare is 'black' while the successful black man who owns his own company is 'white.' Other absurdities abound in their writings.

"A. BT claims that Adam and Eve were black. If this is true, then all men are 'black' because they came from the first black parents. On what grounds then does BT divide up mankind into black vs white and black vs yellow? Aren't we all 'black' having come from the same original black DNA?

"B. BT claims that Noah, his wife and their three sons and wives were all blacks. Yet, they also claim that the blacks descended from Ham. And they run through the Bible looking for Hamite references to track the history of the black race. How can this obvious contradiction be resolved ?

"C. As part of its Marxist ideology, BT believes that history is as relative as morals. Thus BT rewrites history to foster its own socio-political goals. This is why BT does not hesitate to teach lies and to practice academic chicanery. The 'truth' is not their concern. To manipulate young blacks into racist rage is always their real goal.

"D. BT claims that nearly every individual and nation mentioned in the Bible was black. They do not prove that this true. They simply asset that this is so. Anyone who disagrees with them is labeled a racist.

"E. BT claims that the ancient Sumerians, Assyrians, Babylonians and Persians were all black. Yet, they were the cruelest oppressors known in history. For example, the Assyrians enslaved and deported entire populations. Mass murder was their favorite means of oppression. How can they be "black" when they were worse oppressors than Hitler or Stalin?

"F. BT claims that the ancient Egyptians were black and that the Jews were black as well. But since the Egyptians were a very oppressive society which enslaved the Jews and other minorities and conquered many surrounding nations, how can the Egyptians be 'black' and oppress people at the same time?

"G. BT just like the KKK and other racist groups claims that its race is the sole source of all that is good in all cultures. But this is a two edged sword. If the blacks are responsible for all the good in the world, then they are equally responsible for all the evil. To claim that the black man can do no wrong and that the white man and yellow man can do no good, is absurd as well as racist.

"H. BT claims that the ancient Greeks were black and thus Greek philosophy was created by blacks. But then BT also says that the white Greeks stole their philosophy from African blacks. How can the Greeks be black and white at the same time? But if they were all blacks, then what is wrong with blacks sharing ideas?

"I. BT claims that the Greeks stole their ideas from black Africans and thus all the good in Western culture comes from blacks. But if this is true, how can BT condemn Western culture on one hand and then claim that it came from blacks on the other hand?

"J. BT also claims that all the good in Oriental culture came from African blacks. The Orientals thus stole their culture from the blacks. But if this is true, why are African motifs missing in Oriental philosophies and art?

"K. BT authors claim that the Egyptian word Kemet means 'the land of the Blacks.' In reality, the word actually means 'the black land' referring to the dark soil along the flood plain of the Nile. It is used in Egyptian literature in opposition to the word Deshret which literally means 'the red land,' a reference to the color of the dirt or sand in the desert.

"VIII. Black Liberal Theology Contradicts The Bible

"In order to make everyone in the Bible black, BT takes passages out of context, ignores the grammar of Hebrew and Greek, and then attacks anyone who disagrees with them as 'racist' or 'white.' But BT violates several clear Scriptures.

"1. Acts 17:26 "He made from one all the nations of mankind to live on all the face of the earth."

"The Bible teaches that there is only one race — the human race — regardless of size, shape or color. Thus there is no "black" or 'white' blood. There is only human blood which can be transfused from one man to the next regardless of color or race. BT con-tradicts this by talking about "black blood."

"2. Rom. 2:11 "There is no partiality with God."

"God does not treat people any differently because they are red, yellow, black or white. They are all precious in His sight. But BT claims that God is partial to blacks! This is just as wrong as the Nazis who claimed the same thing for the Ayrian race or the KKK who claims the same for the white race.

"3. Gal. 3:28 "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

"BT divides the Church into different economic classes and pits them against each other. Thus they try to put asunder what God has joined together. The Body of Christ is one.

"4. Eph. 4:4-5:2 "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma."

BT preaches bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander and that blacks should seek revenge instead of taking the path of forgiveness.

"5. 1 Sam 16:7 "But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

"BT looks only at the outward appearance. This is wrong. We must judge people not by their color but by their moral character or lack of it.

Conclusion :

"Black liberal theology is not of God but of the devil. It is nothing more than 'white liberal religion' and is used by white theologians and politicians to keep blacks down in order to use them as cannon fodder for a Marxist revolution. Black liberal theologians slave for their white Marxist masters to bring about a violent revolution that would guarantee that all men, blacks included, would always be poor and oppressed. The only answer to liberal theology, regardless of the color of those who teach it, is personal salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ. Once you have experienced the love of God in Christ, you do not have any room in you heart for the self-hate and racist rage upon which BT feeds. The black community needs a revival — not a revolution; Jesus — not Marx; Christianity — not liberalism. Jesus is the only One who can change the hearts of all men and set them free from their bondage to sin."

May God add blessings to His Word: "Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things are passed away; behold, new things have come." (2 Corinthians 5:17).

"A person with a history of Islamism and militancy in his family who was running for his party's nomination for President might think that being closely allied with a militant pastor (Trinity United Church of Christ's Reverend Jeremiah Wright) was a tad risky. The fallout from that blowing up in his face had barely cleared when on June 23, 2007, he decided to attack the 'Religious Right' " for 'hijacking faith.' " Erik Rush

Related Readings:

Marxist Che Guevara Flag Hangs Proudly In Obama's Houston Office — Video Included

wikipedia Marxist Chu Guevara

Cuban Born Author Blast Obama Volunteers For Display Of Marxist Che Guera Flags

Barack Obama Says Christian Right Has Hijacked Faith

I'm glad that you found it helpful. Always good to get feedback from readers!

Thanks for writing this, I found all of it extremely informative. I've been bothered by this as well, didn't realize how wide spread it has been (I'm without a tv).

Thanks.