Christ and African Culture at Trinity United Church

A week or so later, people are still taking about Barack Obama’s participation in Trinity United Church. I think an article from Newsweek helps explain what’s going on at the church. The article says,

On New Year’s Eve, the search committee interviewed its final candidate. Jeremiah Wright Jr. was a young pastor enrolled at the University of Chicago Divinity School. Wright belonged to a group of black intellectuals who embraced “black liberation theology,” the idea that blacks shouldn’t have to choose between “Malcolm and Martin,” as the theologians put it. They could be Christian and black; they could be black and proud.

John McCain and Christ in Paradox

Even though I have been supporting John McCain (since 2000) I have always done so despite the fact that he doesn’t speak about his faith very often. It was tempting to write off such politicians during the days of George W. Bush and the heyday of the Religious Right but I stuck to my man even if I wasn’t sure about what he believed. Even today, with the influence of Evangelicals in office is waning, when I watched McCain at the Saddleback Forum I noticed what an unsatisfactory answer he gave when asked what Jesus meant to him. In fact, when he picked a self-avowed Evangelical for his running mate, this confirmed in my mind his shaky credentials as a fellow Believer.

That is what I though until I read last week’s Newsweek.

Osteen and Culture

A couple weeks ago Newsweek had an article about the Osteens called, The Osteens As Spiritual Midgets. This article is the best critique I’ve read about the famous televangelist. It shows how the Osteens are more promoting a particular white, upper-middle-class culture than Christ.

Rick Warren, Billy Graham, Christ and Culture

Newsweek had an article last week about Rick Warren, who will be giving the the Invocation at Barack Obama’s Inauguration. The article compares Rick Warren and Billy Graham. Although both men are influential Christian leaders their mission and goal are both very different.

For one, Billy Graham has always been an evangelist primarily- hoping to spread the Gospel to the world. Although he has been an “advisor” for many Presidents, his advice has been spiritual than about policy. This makes Graham an example of Christ and Culture in Paradox.

Christ and Culture, so help us God

Today Barack Obama will become the 44th President of the United States. Before he becomes President, however, he will have to say:

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States. So help me God.

Newsweek had an article about the controversy of adding “so help me God” to the end of this oath.

My favorite Christian movies

Usually when people describe a movie as “Christian” it is produced by Evangelical Christians in order to promote a Christian agenda- an example of Christ Above Culture. For example, Facing the Giants, which was produced by a church in Georgia. I was surprised that I actually liked that movie (although it was rather “preachy” it really spoke to me).

The First Church: Obama Considers Which Church to Join

The other day I realized something- usually when someone becomes President they pick an area church to attend. Then I realized that I hadn’t heard about Obama and his family picking a church. Now maybe this is not unusual- and I am still used to Bush’s open faith- but it struck me as odd that I hadn’t heard anything yet.

State Sponsored Mass in Italy

My heart and prayers go out to the victims of the earthquake in Italy last week. As I listened to the news about the tragedy I started to think about the tragedy and its aftermath in terms of Christ and Culture.

What interested me was the Mass held for the victims. The Mass was sponsored by the Italian Government. What struck me was that the funeral service sided with one particular perspective in Christianity- Roman Catholicism- rather than a more ecumenical perspective like we might have in the United States.

Shouting to the Lord on American Idol

According to the Worship Matters blog, the song, “Shout to the Lord” was openly sung on American Idol this week. I missed it because I stop watching the show after the try-outs- because it no longer justifies me. This example, however, gives me another reason to talk about American Idol in my blog- because it relates to Christ and Culture.

Woody Guthrie and Christ of Culture

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This is a prime example of Christ of Culture because of Guthrie’s retelling of Jesus in terms of his own political ideology.

But wait, you might say, this seems an accurate description of what Jesus taught. I agree- to an extent. I appreciate Guthrie’s focus, especially when I think of all the terrible health-wealth, prosperity gospel preachers out there. These “preachers” are equally guilty of recasting Jesus in terms of their own (uniquely American) perspective that you will prosper if you have enough faith.