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Posted: May 1st, 2008 at 12:19pm By: Kevin Considine
We don’t just go to church. We are the church.
That’s the meaning of the Greek word “ekklesia” that we translate as “church.” In short, it means a group of people called out for a specific purpose. And that purpose is to create a community of disciples of Jesus the Christ.
As important as this purpose is and as important as church leaders are, God’s work is larger than any one man or woman. It encompasses the entire people of a parish or congregation. It’s a call to embrace lived community rather than a call to pick and choose exactly what church fits one’s needs.
Of course we all need to be nurtured by our churches and to find one that provides sustenance. But we are not religious consumers. We are not shopping in a supermarket but rather making a commitment to live as the people of God. And the community of people called church, which includes a leader, is not just the building. It is the people who congregate in the sacred space. Even a Catholic like me can say that.
This is the understanding of church that I want us to remember as we think about Sen. Barack Obama, Rev. Jeremiah Wright and Trinity United Church of Christ. Because many commentators and some politicians have chastised the Senator for not leaving his church. They say that when Trinity’s former pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, had offensive moments within sermons Obama should have left. He should have known what his pastor was about and he should have moved on.
Well I think it’s to his credit that he didn’t. He showed a loyalty and commitment to his church that should be respected. This is the church in which he found Christ, was married, and had his children baptized. This is the church in which he seemingly lived as part of a community of disciples. And now so many of us outside Trinity Church want him to sever ties not only with Rev. Wright but with his church? Please.
First of all, Rev. Wright is not a government official. He is a pastor. His sermons and controversial remarks are not policy prescriptions. And they’re not a history class. They’re theological commentary meant to challenge, inspire and renew the people of God. Rev. Wright is not running a government bureau. And he’s not lecturing in a classroom. He’s preaching the gospel. And he’s preaching it through one particular strand within the tradition of the black church.
That specific lens includes a theology of black liberation and Afro-centric identity. And this lens provides a different perspective on history and world events than other religious lenses. Which has allowed some to hold up controversial moments in his sermons—in which he condemns some of America’s actions at home and abroad, calls for liberation for the oppressed and focuses on black identity—as heretical both religiously and politically.
Now some of these actions that Rev. Wright called out are real, some are perceived. And we may disagree, be appalled or we may applaud. But we need to accept the reverend’s role as a pastor rather than an elected representative. And we need to accept that if Trinity had a hateful man as a pastor for 20 years it would not have done so much good for so many people. It would be a dead congregation rather than one alive with the Spirit.
Second, no one should be called to abandon a church in which he or she has found God. Especially when that person has become part of a community dedicated to serving the God of Jesus Christ and ministering to the poor, the oppressed and the marginalized. Even if there are aspects of the church that one opposes it is shameful to call for someone to abandon a nurturing church and find another one that is more politically correct.
Because no church is perfect. Churches are composed of broken and sinful men and women. That means a lot of problems can arise within even the best congregations. And that also means that occasionally there are good reasons to leave and find another church. But when the Spirit is alive and moving within a parish or congregation you know it. You are transformed by it. You are challenged and inspired by that imperfect church. And you know it would be wrong to abandon the people of this church due to a political or theological disagreement.
As you may have noticed, this week Sen. Obama severed his ties with Rev. Wright. And, for better or worse, many of us have been calling for him to go even further—to leave his church. And that is unfortunate.
Because a church is larger than any one pastor or priest. It is a community of Christian disciples who worship God and work to participate in ushering in God’s Kingdom here on earth. From the outside we should not be calling for him to abandon his faith community. We should be looking at the fruits of the church’s labors and leaving it to him to decide.
Now I don’t buy that Sen. Obama didn’t know about Rev. Wright’s basic theology. If he was in the pews he must have known. But I understand his political camouflaging of that theology. Because I think he was protecting the church just as much as he was protecting his campaign.
So I’m glad Obama hasn’t left his church. Because I’m glad he has remained loyal to the congregation that has provided him a spiritual home for so many years. But I wish more people would give him and Trinity the benefit of the doubt. No matter what they think of his political views.
Because no Christian should be asked to abandon a good church.
———
Kevin Considine has an M.A. from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, the largest Roman Catholic school of theology and ministry in North America. He is pursuing Ph.D. studies in Theology and hopes to become a scholar/professor. He is married to a most wonderful woman who keeps him in line and makes sure his thoughts make sense. He and his wife live on the South Side of Chicago. He welcomes comments, feedback or fits of anger and can be reached at {email considkp@yahoo.com}considkp@yahoo.com{/email}. © copyright 2008 by Kevin Considine
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We don’t just go to church. We are the church.
That’s the meaning of the Greek word “ekklesia” that we translate as “church.” In short, it means a group of people called out for a specific purpose. And that purpose is to create a community of disciples of Jesus the Christ.
As important as this purpose is and as important as church leaders are, God’s work is larger than any one man or woman. It encompasses the entire people of a parish or congregation. It’s a call to embrace lived community rather than a call to pick and choose exactly what church fits one’s needs.
Of course we all need to be nurtured by our churches and to find one that provides sustenance. But we are not religious consumers. We are not shopping in a supermarket but rather making a commitment to live as the people of God. And the community of people called church, which includes a leader, is not just the building. It is the people who congregate in the sacred space. Even a Catholic like me can say that.
This is the understanding of church that I want us to remember as we think about Sen. Barack Obama, Rev. Jeremiah Wright and Trinity United Church of Christ. Because many commentators and some politicians have chastised the Senator for not leaving his church. They say that when Trinity’s former pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, had offensive moments within sermons Obama should have left. He should have known what his pastor was about and he should have moved on.
Well I think it’s to his credit that he didn’t. He showed a loyalty and commitment to his church that should be respected. This is the church in which he found Christ, was married, and had his children baptized. This is the church in which he seemingly lived as part of a community of disciples. And now so many of us outside Trinity Church want him to sever ties not only with Rev. Wright but with his church? Please.
First of all, Rev. Wright is not a government official. He is a pastor. His sermons and controversial remarks are not policy prescriptions. And they’re not a history class. They’re theological commentary meant to challenge, inspire and renew the people of God. Rev. Wright is not running a government bureau. And he’s not lecturing in a classroom. He’s preaching the gospel. And he’s preaching it through one particular strand within the tradition of the black church.
That specific lens includes a theology of black liberation and Afro-centric identity. And this lens provides a different perspective on history and world events than other religious lenses. Which has allowed some to hold up controversial moments in his sermons—in which he condemns some of America’s actions at home and abroad, calls for liberation for the oppressed and focuses on black identity—as heretical both religiously and politically.
Now some of these actions that Rev. Wright called out are real, some are perceived. And we may disagree, be appalled or we may applaud. But we need to accept the reverend’s role as a pastor rather than an elected representative. And we need to accept that if Trinity had a hateful man as a pastor for 20 years it would not have done so much good for so many people. It would be a dead congregation rather than one alive with the Spirit.
Second, no one should be called to abandon a church in which he or she has found God. Especially when that person has become part of a community dedicated to serving the God of Jesus Christ and ministering to the poor, the oppressed and the marginalized. Even if there are aspects of the church that one opposes it is shameful to call for someone to abandon a nurturing church and find another one that is more politically correct.
Because no church is perfect. Churches are composed of broken and sinful men and women. That means a lot of problems can arise within even the best congregations. And that also means that occasionally there are good reasons to leave and find another church. But when the Spirit is alive and moving within a parish or congregation you know it. You are transformed by it. You are challenged and inspired by that imperfect church. And you know it would be wrong to abandon the people of this church due to a political or theological disagreement.
As you may have noticed, this week Sen. Obama severed his ties with Rev. Wright. And, for better or worse, many of us have been calling for him to go even further—to leave his church. And that is unfortunate.
Because a church is larger than any one pastor or priest. It is a community of Christian disciples who worship God and work to participate in ushering in God’s Kingdom here on earth. From the outside we should not be calling for him to abandon his faith community. We should be looking at the fruits of the church’s labors and leaving it to him to decide.
Now I don’t buy that Sen. Obama didn’t know about Rev. Wright’s basic theology. If he was in the pews he must have known. But I understand his political camouflaging of that theology. Because I think he was protecting the church just as much as he was protecting his campaign.
So I’m glad Obama hasn’t left his church. Because I’m glad he has remained loyal to the congregation that has provided him a spiritual home for so many years. But I wish more people would give him and Trinity the benefit of the doubt. No matter what they think of his political views.
Because no Christian should be asked to abandon a good church.
———
Kevin Considine has an M.A. from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, the largest Roman Catholic school of theology and ministry in North America. He is pursuing Ph.D. studies in Theology and hopes to become a scholar/professor. He is married to a most wonderful woman who keeps him in line and makes sure his thoughts make sense. He and his wife live on the South Side of Chicago. He welcomes comments, feedback or fits of anger and can be reached at {email considkp@yahoo.com}considkp@yahoo.com{/email}. © copyright 2008 by Kevin Considine
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