"Plus, Obama's Church isn't a Christian Church"

Weird right? Because when it comes to Mr. President-Elect, I have actually heard it all. The conversations happening here at PureMusic HQ on Morality and Freedom are GOOD ONES. Wait...GREAT in fact, providing a much needed dialogue between conservative and liberal positions. I hope you'll read that conversation (and the MANY comments) and choose to join in. AFTER ALL, IT'S YOUR CHOICE...or is it?

One conversation I refuse to have is about Barack Obama and whether or not he is a Christian. Off General Principle I refuse to discuss slanderous allegations against anyone. Such allegations resemble the title of this post, which is an actual quote by an anonymous emailer. I'll say now that this quote has 4 or 5 in my inbox that look just like it. I can't tell you whether Barack Obama is a Christian or not, you'd have to ask him in one of your racist dreams where he shows up as the AntiChrist (Hey Devil, are you Christian?) What I can tell you for SURE is that HIS CHURCH IS A CHRISTIAN CHURCH.

And by HIS CHURCH I'm guessing you mean TRINITY UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST, the house led by Rev. Otis Moss III, and was once led by Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright? The one in Chicago? On 95th? That gives out bus passes and food vouchers to the poor? That keeps a minister on call during EVERY HOUR of its operation to ensure that ANYONE AND EVERYONE has an opportunity for pastoral care and spiritual guidance? Are we talking about the same church here?

The church that begins service every Sunday morning by praising a Christian God and worshipping a person they call JESUS CHRIST? With the huge crosses everywhere? Are they Christian? And they open up the Bible complete with 66 texts from the Christian Canon? And they baptize all in the name of the father, son, and holy spirit? And they're called TRINITY? And they open the doors at the end of each service to welcome all into the kingdom of God? Are YOU talking about the SAME church? THIS TRINITY?


The same church that dedicates a sizable portion of its annual budget for outreach and missions work NOT IN AFRICA but right here in the city of Chicago? That feeds the homeless and pays light bills for its members?

(Everyone back out of the way unless you have said this about Obama's church. Pray for me)

You've never been to Trinity. You've never seen it in person and you're too ignorant and/or lazy to watch it LIVE on the internet. You've seen 30 second clips of Rev. Wright speeches and talking points by Bill O'Reilly and you gave him your brain. YOU GAVE FOX NEWS YOUR BRAIN!!! I know I'm right about all of this, because if you had been to Trinity or even listened to a FULL SERMON you wouldn't say "Obama's Church isn't a Christian Church." You wouldn't purse your lips to say something so ignorant and racist. The man who will be president became a man worth listening to at Trinity UCC (whether he denounces, renounces, or does whatever to his membership, that WILL ALWAYS BE TRUE).

What happened to Rev. Wright is a terrible thing many shall repent for one day. He is one of the most caring and loving Christian leaders this world knows. Ask your pastor. In the prophetic tradition, he spoke against the actions of his country and encouraged all who would listen to follow in the gospel of Christ - LOVE and JUSTICE for ALL. He stood in the margins with people that would make you cross the street and roll up your windows. He preached LOVE and held hands with drug addicts and drug dealers. He stood on blocks that most folks would condemn. And he did it not because he couldn't do anything better or because he didn't know any better - he has a Ph.D from the University of Chicago - but because this is the work of Jesus.


Trinity continues to sit at the well while most churches and Christians stare from beyond and play the Pharisee (or Sadducee, or Zealot). They continue to honor the people who serve the people of God (even if those people are Muslim), and they continue to display what the UCC is all about: God is Still Speaking.

Do you even know what the UCC stands for? I warn you, it's a lot of "liberal pansy" talk but it's closer to Jesus than I've seen in a while. Check it out for yourself UCC WEBSITE

And then go have a peek at Trinity United Church of Christ

I know you don't understand why Trinity seems so angry, or why they have all that AFRICA talk (don't worry, you're having a racist moment) but try to understand what it's like to be a black person in this country. Then think about how American Christianity has done its best to hate all races, and ask yourself why a loving group of black folks on the southside of Chicago would still embrace the Jesus you know and love. It's because of places like this.

Father Pfleger: Tact is for Suckas

I especially want to hear from you ministers and community leaders on this one.



By now you've seen it. If not, here it is. Most will agree with Father Michael Pfleger, and no one will disagree that he is a prophetic figure in our country (he's an angel in Chicago, trust, he'll NEVER lose St. Sabina). But MORE THAN THAT, how do these comments help or harm Obama's campaign? I'll save my thoughts until a couple of you respond, but I know that after 8 years of Bush, nobody (black or white) even wants the IMPRESSION that our next president will be surrounded and advised by...um...charismatic types. I love them dearly and view them as my mentors in good ministry and community leadership, but I know America.

Are they scaring the majority away? What should Obama do? I think this is ESPECIALLY interesting considering that most of the folks who tune in to PureMusic everyday are ministers and folks who think that Wright and Pfleger are the bee's knees. I know I do.

I really want Obama to beat McCain.

This Man

1961, a young African-American man, after hearing President John F. Kennedy's challenge to, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country," gave up his student deferment, left college in Virginia and voluntarily joined the Marines.

In 1963, this man, having completed his two years of service in the Marines, volunteered again to become a Navy corpsman.

This man did so well in corpsman school that he was the valedictorian and became a cardiopulmonary technician. Not surprisingly, he was assigned to the Navy's premier medical facility, Bethesda Naval Hospital , as a member of the commander in chief's medical team, and helped care for President Lyndon B. Johnson after his 1966 surgery.
For his service on the team, which he left in 1967, the White House awarded him three letters of commendation.

While this young man was serving six years on active duty, Vice President Dick Cheney, who was born the same year as THIS MAN, received five deferments, four for being an undergraduate and graduate student and one for being a prospective father.
Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, both five years younger than THIS MAN, used their student deferments to stay in college until 1968. Both then avoided going on active duty through family connections.

THIS MAN, the young man who interrupted his studies to serve his country for six years, is a patriot. He could have run (and many have), but he didn't. He served and he sacrificed.

After leaving the service of his country, the young African-American finished his final year of college, entered the seminary, was ordained as a minister, and eventually became pastor of the largest UCC congregation in the Nation, Trinity United Church of Christ.

Know This Man. Respect This Man.