First Black President

We had a very interesting program this week at Business Fellowship (sponsored by Pinnacletucson.com). Dana Cooper, host of Inside Business on KGUN 9, did an interview with Pastor Warren Anderson of Living Waters Ministry. Pastor Anderson is a former U of A basketball player (late 60’s) and has been pastoring in Tucson for over 20 years. The questions posed to him were about how he felt as an African American pastor about the election of Barack Obama as our president. The folks attending the luncheon were Christian business people of a more conservative bent. His answers were very interesting and revealing. He commented on how excited he was to see a black man running for the highest office in the world. It would have been just as exciting for him if it was Colin Powell, or Condoleezza Rice, it was the historic nature of the election.

The election of Mr. Obama proved that there was nothing holding black people back from full inclusion in our country. Pastor Anderson’s wife commented that now when they visit black men in prison and they say that “the man” is holding them down, they can point to the President and say “that’s not true”. It also means for young black children that they now have a role model and can know that in our country anything is possible if you work hard enough. But, what about abortion and other moral issues? Hasn’t Mr. Obama been extremely pro-abortion and very liberal on homosexuality and other moral issues? That was very troubling to the Anderson’s. They said that they believe that the president elect is a Christian, although an infant in the faith, and that they will be praying to God for Mr. Obama and seeking influence as Christians in his decisions.

Well we know the Bible commands us in 1 Timothy to pray for the Kings, and those in authority over us, so that makes sense. What about Jeremiah Wright? Interestingly enough Pastor Warren had mixed feelings about him. Rev. Wright has spoken many times at their convention (Baptist) and always brought a clear Gospel message. He never heard him preach on liberation theology or anything like the radical G** Damn America message we saw broadcast. He questioned whether he had drifted in his theology, or whether he made an isolated mistake out of frustration that has been spun by political operatives.

This talk created great discussion and dialogue among those that attended. I think what is important, just like on this web site, is that we have an open dialogue in this country about race, politics, religion etc. It is this kind of dialogue that leads to the truth. We should never fear open discussion about what we believe unless we are afraid that what we hold to is not true. This is the essence of what the First Amendment is all about, that congress should not prohibit the free exercise or religion or freedom of speech. It is this freedom that we enjoy that enables us to have this “town hall” on the internet. I believe it is what the founders intended to create a more perfect union. Agree or disagree this is one of the things that makes America different and great!