Trust in thee?

"This authority, however, does not arise automatically but must be earned by the preacher through earnest and effective preaching as well as through meaningful association with the 'folks' over a period of time."(LaRue, 12) This part of LaRue's writings was particularly interesting to me because of the "Jeremiah Wright" factor. Yes, it is obvious and almost easy to point out the Rev. Wright when discussing black theology, simply because of the limelight that has been unfairly shown upon him. But I couldn't help but wonder about the connection between an authoritative figure and the Reverend.
Jeremiah Wright has been preaching at the Trinity Church since 1972, and has seen it grow to 8,500 members under his leadership, making it the largest of the "otherwise predominantly white," United Church of Christ demonination. (Moyer) In other words, under the criteria of LaRue, Rev. Wright has "earned" the trust and the association with the "folk." That's weird. Where was the media when this church was growing? Were they there to put out the fire and passion of a man who's supposedly unpatriotic? Shouldn't they have seen this coming?
The fact of the matter, and an obvious fact, is that when black theology is put in the limelight and is associated with people in high power (Barack Obama) the public grow in fear due to the misunderstandings of its ideas. Many figures in the mainstream American public are guilty of this.
"...I think you're absolutely wrong about the context. I think Reverend Wright, if you study his history, he is an anti-American guy. And I think that's going to hurt him." (O'Reilly) Those are the words of Bill O'Reilly, host of Fox News' "The O'Reilly Factor." But if you really study his history, Rev. Wright has allowed women leaders and homosexuals into his church. Isn't that what America-excuse me, the United States of America is about? But then again, there will always be those people who will misunderstand this theology's ideas. Rev. Wright is an authority figure who has gained trust, therefore he is "creative and thoughtprovoking"(Larue, 12) in his preachings. Thought-provoking indeed.


Works Cited:

1. The Heart of Black Preaching. LaRue, Cleophus J. Copyright 2000


2. Reverend Jeremiah Wright. Moyers, Bill. 25 April 2008. Billy Moyers Journal

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/04252008/profile.html


3. Pastors weigh in on Jeremiah Wright Controversy. The O'Reilly Factor. 17 March 2008.

Transcript from Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,339048,00.html