Jeremiah Wright

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Born on September 22, 194122 September 1941
1 Tishrei 5702 He
1 Ethanim 5945 AM in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. is considered by most liberal Christian theologians as a learned, almost reverred biblical scholar and since March of 1972 has been senior pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ (TUCC) in Chicago, Illinois.

After Jeremiah Wrights initial schooling in Pennsylvania he went onto Virginia Union University for three and a half years. Soon after he joined the United States Marine Corps but it was ultimately with the United States Navy that he served as a cardiopulmonary technician for six years. After this time in the military he attended and recieved a doctorate from the United Theological Seminary under President Dr. Samuel DeWitt Proctor; he has also received numerous other honorary doctorates. Following his predecessor Dr. Reuben Sheares the now Rev. Jeremiah Wright assumed the role as senior pastor of TUCC developing it into what is now considered a megachurch consisting of over 8,000 members. It wasn't until early 2008, after 36 years as senior pastor that Rev. Wright finally decided to retire. ^[1] ^[2]

Controversy

Following Dr. Reuben Sheares tone Rev. Jeremiah Wright adopted the churches motto which is, "Unashamedly Black and Unapologetically Christian." This is quite the opposite when compared to parts within the TUCC mission statement which mandates a more biblical approach. The mission leaves the color of skin or status within society out of the picture when it states, "We are called out to be 'a chosen people' that pays no attention to socio-economic or educational backgrounds." ^[3] It would seem that even Jeremiah Wright fails to live up to that theme of the TUCC's mission.

Sunday sermons at TUCC rely heavily upon the concentration on skin color which is distorted by Rev. Wrights perception that the United States leadership consists of rich white people systematically practicing racism against the African-American community. Rev. Wright has literally stated to his congregants that the U.S. is reponsible for AIDS and its propagation within the African-American community, that 9/11 was the result of U.S. actions rather than that of Islamic jihadists, that the liberation of Iraq from decades of murderous oppression was based on a lie and that the bravest of Americans, our military men and woman are incapable of conducting a war that takes innocent life into consideration. ^[4] ^[5] This line of thinking is readily accepted and encouraged by TUCC's umbrella organization called the United Church of Christ. The UCC in July 2007 officially adopted Rev. Wright's extreme political positions regarding the Iraq war. The Officers of the United Church of Christ signed and continue to encourage the signing of a petition ^[6] describing the U.S. presence in Iraq as a terrorist oppressor causing tens of thousands to be killed and injured daily.

Rev. Wright even goes so far in his continous claims as to identify Jesus Christ as a black African. ^[7] This is a stance that is completely unfounded within scripture when a historical-grammatical exegesis is maintained. It is exceedingly obvious when reading the Bible that Jesus Christ was and still is in fact a Jew born from Jewish parents who themselves had strong Jewish heritage. It can be faithfully argued that He was darker in skin color, how much so is another question but to not directly highlight the fact of Jesus Christ being a Jew is at least misleading and at the most demeaning to the very essence of what Christ had to be in order to fulfill Old Testament prophecies.

It would seem that the central figure or figures within TUCC leadership do not allow Jesus Christ the proper position of authority at times. Rev. Wright himself, black power and Africa in general, to the support for the Palestinian cause while denying a right to exist by Israel are routinely the focus rather than biblical Christian doctrine founded by Jesus Christ; His life, death and resurrection. For example, in a 2008 Easter sunrise service at TUCC congregants were given a handout including an essay entitled, "Not on My Watch" by the Rev. Samuel B. McKinney of Mount Zion Baptist Church located in Seattle, Washington. Convinced of a media lynching against Rev. Wright, McKinney is quoted in the article referencing not the Gospel of Jesus Christ but a, "... social Gospel of liberation."

“

Dr. Wright represents the best among us ... An attack on this man of God is an attack on all those of the cloth who believe in the social Gospel of liberation. And I will not stand for it ... ^[8]

”

Supporting terrorist propaganda

The Rev. Jeremiah Wright in 2007 while still senior pastor of TUCC also allowed the reprinting of what was already published material by a known terrorist in the church newsletter bulletin within a section called, "Pastor's Page." ^[9] The article originally appeared as an op-ed in the Los Angeles Times and amounts to rants against Israel's right to exist and includes arguments to justify these claims. ^[10] The 2002 indicted terrorist by the United States Department of Justice named Mousa Abu Marzook ^[11] whom originally authored the article holds the distinguished position of Deputy Political Bureau Chief within Hamas (Islamic Resistance Movement) ^[12], a designated foreign terrorist organization by the United States. ^[13] A terrorist organization that has claimed responsibility for terrorist attacks that have killed hundreds in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, including at least two dozen Americans.

Palestinians

Main Article: Palestine

The decision to publish terrorist propaganda within a TUCC newsletter was likely prompted by Rev. Wrights documented sympathies for the establishment of a Palestinian majority state within the heart of Israel. For a pastor, this is again exactly the opposite of what should be derived from a historical-grammatical method of biblical interpretation. Israel is an important internationally recognized democratic state surrounded by dictatorial and brutal regimes. The Jewish homeland was set apart from the rest of the world by God and is absolutely essential to the Christian faith to support it. It is also essential to realize that the Palestinian cause is no more than a propaganda tool used by the leadership of offical representative organizations to portray Israel as an aggressor towards Arab territory rather than a defender of its own. History proves this notion while the Word of God clearly attests to it.