Sorting Out The Philosophies of Our Times

Oh my. Talk about someone stepping in the perverbial pooh! Poor Barak Obama has really put his foot into something that is leaving a real mess wherever he steps. Sorry for the allagorical use of words but, MAN!

Some of the exerpts of Obama's pastor that have slipped out into the world of media got my wife curious. Nobody's more curious than Jean! Anyway, she did some relatively deep digging into the Rev. Jeremiah Wright's background and some eye-opening tendencies have surfaced. Foremost of these is a little known religious philosophy, intertrwined with Wright's soul, called 'Liberation Theology.' Now, it is not my intent to either bore you to tears or sling mud. However, it is good to have knowledge, especially if danger lurks behind the nearest rock. Believe me, danger is lurking behind Obama.

Liberation Theology was huge in the late 70's and throughout the Reagan years of the 80's. It is a radical Catholocism-created, Marxist-based, worldview of Christ and the masses. Its basic component is centered on Christ's supposed mission of freeing the oppressed poor from the exploitation of the ruthless rich people/nations of the world. It was exercised by such people as Che Guevarra (partner of Fidel Castro until Castro betrayed him), in the 50's, and the Sandinista regime of Nicaragua, led by Daniel Ortega in the 80's. These are just two examples of hundreds of world leaders that bought into the falicious premise of Christ-oriented-revolution. It proved to be nothing more than a tool of manipulation, used by gifted orators, in harnessing power for themselves by garnaring the support of the poor and oppressed. They then turned and oppressed the poor.....but at least the poor/oppressed suddenly had a cause. The result left millions dead around the world and violence everywhere it was expounded.

In Wright's case, the historic oppression of blacks in the USA is the flash point of his preaching. His rantings are against the supposed 'white' establishment that, in his views, have continued to keep black people under the toe of their boots. In lashing out against America and its white roots, the Reverend picks at the scab of people who have certainly been oppressed and remain under a boot. However, the boot is no longer a slave-traditioned establishment headed by white people. It is the 'victim' mentality that excuses itself from any self-evaluation or self-help. Wright exploits this for his own power, not for the liberation of his people. Obama has obviously held, at the least a neutral position to the preaching, if not its full though unspoken absorption.

Now, here is the problem for me. I acknowledge the sin of our forefathers in mistreating their fellow human beings by way of slavery....for that matter, the slaughter of Native Americans in years gone by. However, generations have passed since those days and, although there will always be prejudice (Except in Al Gore's utopian society) it doesn't have to be the limiting factor in a persons life. Here's the deal: The only way for any man, black-white-red or yellow, to rise above his circumstances is to recognize and acknowledge the one, true oppressor-- SIN It is the pride of fallen man that makes him rant and rave against everything but his own degenerate nature. It is the pride of sinful man to blame his ills and actions on everything from God to his horrible upbringing, rather than his own dark heart. There is no revolution that will bring peace, other than that which recognizes that man must give himself up to real liberty, the liberty that comes when a person confesses that only God can resolve and forgive man's central issue of sin.

If Jeremiah Wright were a legitimate preacher, an authentic and anointed man of God, he would be preaching to his black congregation about the real Jesus and his utter and complete triumph over the power of sin and death. He would be offering his congregation a way out of their oppression and peverty by pointing the way to forgiveness, humility, and total trust in God's ability to lift the person out of the mire of his fallen condition. We may never get rich monitarily, but riches are only of value when they are spiritual. All that said, Liberation Theology is hatched of the devil and will never work to bring about reconciliation of any two people groups be they black or white, rich or poor.

Only the saving blood of Jesus, already shed and applied by his death on the cross, can bring about the change of heart needed for reconciliation. These are my thoughts, take'm or leave'm, they happen to be right! PJim