African-American Christians should place greater importance on a candidate’s character than his skin color, maintains a conservative black magazine.
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(Photo: AP Images / Dima Gavrysh)People watch the a telecast of Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, Thursday, Aug. 28, 2008 in New York's Times Square. Barack Obama cast his presidential nomination as proof that no dreams are too high, savoring a historic moment for himself and the nation Thursday before setting out on a difficult struggle to break another barrier for a black American.
“Are We More Black than Christian?” was the controversial question posed in the latest edition of Freedom’s Journal Magazine.
Polls indicate, the magazine pointed out, that up to 96 percent of African Americans plan to vote for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama in November. But a growing number of conservative black leaders, the journal highlighted, are challenging that high figure by asking fellow believers to re-examine their priorities.
"Dr. Martin Luther King's dream that future generations be judged by the content of their character would be set back decades if Obama wins based on racial loyalty alone,” contends Dr. Eric Wallace, founder of Wallace Multimedia Group, LLC and Freedom's Journal Magazine, in a statement Wednesday.
Wallace criticized Obama for what he views as a “skewed approach” to “traditional Judea-Christian values” and for his lack of experience.
"Christians who are tempted to support Barack because of a feeling that we aren't doing enough to fight poverty, racism or sexism, etc. need to realize that the government cannot (and should not) do the work of the Church," Wallace writes in his editorial "Unto the Least of These." "As a matter of fact, government will, in almost every case, limit what can be done."
Similarly, evangelical leader Bishop Harry R. Jackson, Jr., who leads a socially conservative black pastors group called High Impact Leadership Coalition, has urged his black congregation in Maryland as well as other black Christians to vote on their values rather than their race.
Jackson is a registered Democrat but has joined several Focus on the Family Action broadcasts to criticize Obama for his support of abortion and same-sex “marriage.”
Also, last year a born-again black author released a book that reprimanded her fellow African-American believers for holding a worldview that is shaped by their race more than their faith.
In the book, Finding Soul Brothers: Dismantling Black Christian Racialism, Pamela G. Wilson argues that black Christians are still “stuck” in the civil rights mindset and are willing to “turn their back” on biblical issues of abortion in exchange for a civil rights agenda.
Polls have shown that more than half of the African-American population say they oppose both same-sex “marriage” and legal recognition of same-sex civil unions. But less than 10 percent say that abortion, moral and family values issues are their top concerns for the upcoming presidential election.
Instead, the highly religious African-American population listed the war in Iraq, health care and the economy and jobs as their top concerns.
Freedom’s Journal Magazine premiered in January 2008 as a political voice for conservative black leaders. The September/October edition features an op-ed by nationally syndicated columnist Star Parker on the topic of racial and gender politics.
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Did Obama support the murder of Christians in Kenya? Aparently he raised $1 million dollars to his uncle who did.
Chip, if I support Obama I defy God? I don't remember God endorsing McCain, so I must laugh at your comment...here I go:
HAHAHA
Character over race, huh? Well, despite not agreeing with all of his policies, I have to say that Senator Obama is pretty strong on character. Moreso than the Republican Party candidate, to be completely honest.
I don't like McCain's adultery. I don't like the kind of dirty campaign he's running. I don't like his apparent belief that leadership consists only of belligerence and conflict.
I'm going to be voting based on policy, but if I were voting on character, the Democrats would have my vote this time around.
You can tell who you're fighting against when you look around and see who you're allied to and fighting with! Obama and his legions of God-defying supporters need to be defeated at the polls!
Catholics have more faith than us.
Hmmmm...more faith huh...Catholics pray not only to Christ but Mary, Peter, James, Jude, Paul and ect.
But Jesus said to ask God in His name not anyone else. You think Jesus would omit something so important.
There are only three speakers in the Bible, God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.
Catholics have more faith than us. They are good value in lives. You will see more catholics in their club named __ seekingcatholic.com __ . Just be faith in yourselves.
I agree with SqueakyWheel!
If you believe the Bible teaches that abortion is murder then you should vote for a prolife candidate, regardless of skin color or party affiliation; if you believe the Bible teaches marriage is one man one woman, then vote for the candidate that opposes same-sex marriage, regardless of skin color or party affiliation.
Vote your Christian beliefs!
Also, does anyone else see the irony of Wallace's comment? He says, the government should not do the work of the church. And without skipping a beat, Wallace turns around and criticizes Obama precisely because he's not promoting "traditional Judeo-Christian values" strongly enough! Pull your head out of your...um...cloud, Mr. Wallace.
"Christians who are tempted to support Barack because of a feeling that we aren't doing enough to fight poverty, racism or sexism, etc. need to realize that the government cannot (and should not) do the work of the Church"
So Wallace thinks the government should get out of the Civil Liberties business? I wonder how his comments would have been received if he were speaking at the 1963 March on Washington.
As much as I am opposed to Obama's politics, I am disturbed to hear some die-hard democrats in our area say that they will not be voting for him simply because of his skin color.
God does not talk about color in the Bible, nor does Jesus or the Holy Spirit.
We find Christ or antichrist, saint or sinner, believer or pagan, faithful doer or unbelieverâ
The primary priority in determining how one should vote ought to be Christian values. That takes priority over one's race, culture, gender, age, etc.
This nation will be spiritually doomed when racial allegiance takes precedence over the biblical worldview.
America will get the leader that we vote for; further acceleration into spiritual and cultural chaos will occur as the fruit of our "collective voices."
We will reap what we sow. Our children will suffer the consequences of our ill-informed priorities. Vote with great caution!