Praying for the Prez
The Sun News published a letter from me today (Thursday). In it I responded to President Obama’s speech at Notre Dame, and 
I expressed my disagreement over his views on abortion. I don’t know how many people have read the letter, and I don’t know how many people care at all about my views on politics or world events. But don’t miss this: The Bible commands us to pray for our leaders. God expects it, and President Obama needs it.
I can’t imagine the pressures of the job. Critics and pundits and armchair political quarterbacks with strong opinions sit in the peaceful confines of their/our homes and pontificate about how we would act. But what if you actually had to make the tough decisions demanded from the Oval Office? In case you haven’t been keeping up:
- The war in Iraq is not over.
- The war effort in Afghanistan is heating back up.
- The Taliban is on the verge of overwhelming Pakistan, and Pakistan has nukes.
- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (I call him “AhImaNutJob”) is working overtime to make Iran a nuclear threat.
- And that increases the likelihood that Israel will be provoked to the point of at least air strikes.
- North Korea has just tested ANOTHER nuke.
- The American economy is still coughing and wheezing.
- GM is on the brink of bankruptcy and may become “Government Motors.”
- The government is out of money, but is taking on “health care reform.”
- A Supreme Court nomination is in the works.
- The President was elected on a platform of change, and those who supported him expect the stimulus bill and bail-outs (although some of those are attributable to former President Bush) to work … and soon.
- Conservatives expect him to moderate, and hard-core leftists expect him to carry the water for radical liberalism.
- And oh, by the way, he’s black. That means many will place on him the added pressure of not blowing this historic opportunity.
WHEW! With that on your plate, would you want people to pray for you? None of us can fathom the intensity of that responsibility. I have very strong opinions about cultural and political issues. But I don’t actually have to make the decisions and have history judge me for them. I don’t want the job. But I will definitely pray for the guy who holds it. I strongly encourage you to do the same.
Obama doesn’t strike me as the guy making the decisions so much as the guy listening to other people and voicing the conclusions they come to. I’d imagine it’s possible to shirk a lot of the pressure in that case. Sounds like an interesting strategy for the GOP … y’know … getting in touch etc. Reminds me of my last relationship.
Also, Obama has already come so far being the first black president. What more does he have to prove? My guess? He’s just enjoying himself. But time will show him for what he is. Presidents don’t generally age well.
My prayer is that he get saved.
If he can come to know Christ and follow his guidance, all these concerns will fall into place.
Commenter above me, I’m really impressed. You’re able to see right through the president’s statements of faith, years of church attendance and, you know, the detailed account of his salvation experience in his books, to see that he’s not REALLY a Christian. What insight you must have!
PS – nice post, Kevin. (for once a political post I can agree with!)
My pledge to pray for our president has nothing to do with politics (his or mine). And I’m not sure I’d put a lot of stock in the value of his previous church attendance. I’ve heard his pastor.
The president, I agree, regardless of who He is needs lots of prayer.
Apparently Bojack thinks he’s not a Christian. I wonder why. Bojack, if you read this, why do you think he’s not a Christian?
Alan, are there really detailed accounts of his “salvation experience” in his books that lead you to believe he is a Christian?
As far as David’s comments, I do think Obama has some ideas of his own and comes to decision-making-conclusions without a hand up his shirt. (Forgive me, Achmed The Dead Terrorist.)
I’m not sure referencing Obama’s pastor does anything but discredit his years of church attendance, though.
To end, Obama, whether we like him or not, needs our sincere prayers. As Kevin said above, the Bible commands it.
“(for once a political post I can agree with!)”
…
“My pledge to pray for our president has nothing to do with politics (his or mine).”
…
That was my point.
Yeah. Rev. Wright certainly doesn’t help credit his years of Christianity.
I think we’ve all had Pastors in the past who have said things we didn’t agree with. Did we jump up and make a big scene or publicly and loudly leave the church so that everyone would know we did NOT agree with what was being said? No.
I also think the Wright situation is difficult to bring up without entangle one’s self in why those certain things were and are said by African American pastors.
All in all, however, Wright never said anything that would lead me to believe he is not a Christian or that those attending his Church are anything but Christians.
The Bible says you can know a tree by the fruit it bears. The reason I think Obama is not saved?
1. He supports abortion. He even supports infanticide, the killing of babies that are accidently born during failed partial birth abortions. No true Christian could ever support such a thing.
2. He supports the “Gay” agenda. God says it is an abomination. Again, no Christian would ever support this agenda.
3. He declared recently that we are not a Christian nation, nor were we founded on Christian principles.
4. He gave 20,000 dollars a year to support the Racist hate monger “Rev” Wright.
5. He refused to even attend a prayer breakfast and a couple of other religious events that nearly all Presidents attended in the past.
6. He has stated that he would stand by the Muslims if things got bad, not by Christians.
7. He is friends with unrepentant terrorists. (Bill Ayers) The Bible says to abstain from even the appearance of evil.
Need I go on?
Can you show me where he has ever introduced any legislation supporting a Christian world view?
You’re going to have to explain some of your points for me. Namely the supporting gay agenda ‘point.’ Much to my dismay(because I do not agree with him on this one) our current President does NOT support gay marriage. I’m assuming that’s the “agenda” you’re referring to but feel free to correct me if my assumption is false.
Believe or not gay people exist and they don’t need a conspiracy theory to help that existence along.
I’ll go ahead and debunk some of your other claims.
1. regarding infanticide, this rumor started floating around when it was reported that while in the Senate in Chicago, Obama voted ‘present’ regarding a born alive act. He did so because there was already a law on the books(in Illinois) that protected a fetus who survived an abortion and who was viable outside of the womb.
The wording of the proposed bill was also a bit sketchy. This was brought up by Hillary Clinton during the democratic primary and for more information you can search ‘Born Alive Act’ via http://www.politifact.com
3. nice try but what he said was that we are no longer JUST a Christian nation. And guess what? We’re not. If we hope to change that we might want to start EMBRACING people of different faiths instead of ignoring them. For more information on this visit: http://www.factcheck.org/askfactcheck/did_obama_say_we_are_no_longer.html
5. Yes, he limited the National Day of Prayer service. In fact, all he did was return to the pre-Bush administration policy regarding National Prayer day events–he issued a proclaimation. So your claim that he opted out of something all past Presidents participated in is clearly wrong.
6. Ooh, I found the factcheck page that references this junk, spam email that circulated.. the one that contained that misleading and misquoted and incorrect tidbit, here you go: http://www.factcheck.org/askfactcheck/did_obama_write_that_he_would_stand.html
7. Oh please. Bill Ayers, really? Here is how the Bill Ayers thing came to be–Obama and Ayers worked together on a grant program. End of story. They knew each other very briefly and he has, over and over, shown public disdain for what Ayers and the Weather Underground did the past.
Can you show me all of the Christian legislation past Presidents have introduced?
Has Obama ever spoken out against abortion? Has he ever voted against an abortion bill. Has he ever said abortion is wrong?
Has Obama ever spoken out against homosexuality?
Did he declare during the campaign he was a born again Christian?
I see nothing in his career to date that gives any indication that he is a Christian. I will say that about 95% of the guys in Washington DC, in both parties. A real Christian cannot hide his salvation, it shows forth in his life, his speech, and the choices he makes.
“7. He is friends with unrepentant terrorists. (Bill Ayers) The Bible says to abstain from even the appearance of evil.”
Really? That argument still?
“Has Obama ever spoken out against homosexuality?”
Did Palin and McCain?
Because I remember a certain debate where Palin said it should be left up to the states to determine gay marriage.
Nick, you appear to be very uninformed.
Sarah Palin on abortion:
Q: Your stand on abortion?
A: I’m pro-life. I’ll do all I can to see every baby is created with a future and potential. The legislature should do all it can to protect human life.
Source: Q&A with Newsmax.com’s Mike Coppock Aug 29, 2008
I am pro-life and I believe that marriage should only be between and man and a woman.
Source: Campaign website, http://www.palinforgovernor.com, “Issues” Nov 7, 2006
The candidates were pressed on their stances on abortion and were even asked what they would do if their own daughters were raped and became pregnant.
Palin said she would support abortion only if the mother’s life was in danger. When it came to her daughter, she said, “I would choose life.”
Source: Alaska 2006 Governor Debate: AP coverage of public TV debate Nov 3, 2006
John McCain:
Abortion issue shows what kind of country we are
Q: Some people argue that, in the general election, the most important issue is going to be national security, and an issue like abortion should be de-emphasized. Do you agree with that?
A: I think the respect and commitment to the rights of the unborn is something I’ve fought for, and it has a lot to do with national security. Because it says very much what kind of a country we are and our respect for human life, whether it be here in the US or anyplace else in the world. So I think it is connected.
Source: 2007 GOP Iowa Straw Poll debate Aug 5, 2007
Voting Record
Supports repealing Roe v. Wade. (May 2007)
Voted YES on defining unborn child as eligible for SCHIP. (Mar 2008)
Voted YES on barring HHS grants to organizations that perform abortions. (Oct 2007)
Voted YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines. (Apr 2007)
Voted YES on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions. (Jul 2006)
Voted NO on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education & contraceptives. (Mar 2005)
Voted YES on criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other crime. (Mar 2004)
Voted YES on banning partial birth abortions except for maternal life. (Mar 2003)
Voted YES on maintaining ban on Military Base Abortions. (Jun 2000)
Voted YES on banning partial birth abortions. (Oct 1999)
Voted YES on banning human cloning. (Feb 1998)
That’s on abortion. What does that have to do with homosexuality?
I’ll quote myself…
“Did Palin and McCain?” regarding, and I quote you…
“Has Obama ever spoken out against homosexuality?”
You can’t even read comments correctly, and you want me to take you seriously?
But I’ll play along…
“Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who is running for the Republican presidential nomination, on Thursday while campaigning in Florida said he continues to support human embryonic stem cell research,”
So, how do get stem cells from an embryo and not kill it?
What’s that I hear? Stem cells collected from cord blood? Very good! Just that those are ADULT stem cells, not embryonic.
And hears McCain on gay marriage.
http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/07/14/mccain.marriage/
So it appears he against modifying the Constitution. So, he can be against homosexuality, but it’s clear from his track record he’d do nothing about it if he were in the White House. He’ll leave it up to the states.
“It usurps from the states a fundamental authority they have always possessed and imposes a federal remedy for a problem that most states do not believe confronts them.”
FYI, I voted against McCain during the primaries because he is not a conservative. I did vote for him Against Obama, was there any other choice as a Christian?
As further proof of Obama’s spiritual condition he not only does not call Homosexuality a sin, he has now announced June as Gay pride month, this action clearly makes him a sinful abomination in God’s eyes. He further says Gay rights to be a pillar of his foreign policy.
Pay particular attention to verse 32.
Romans 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; ……..: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Yeah. So?
Is this going to make more people commit homosexual acts then already would regardless of what the month is called?
June is also No Dairy Month and Dairy Month. Oxymoron, what do I do? Drink milk more, or not drink milk? Neither, I’ll enjoy my eggs and soymilk as usual, regardless of the month.
And if there’s a problem with endorsing, then we already know Obama’s fate if he were to die today. He can still repent and all that, change his ways, can’t he?
“was there any other choice as a Christian?”
Huckabee? Romney?
I’ve heard the argument that many people, Christians, voted for Obama due to the economy. Romney was a businessman, that’s perfect! Ran sucessful companies. Great!
Mormon.
Oh.
Republicans are general conservative, religious, and Christian, and yet, their prejudice stood out, they couldn’t get behind a Mormon candidate.
And Huckabee. Many people want the war to end. He didn’t. Other than that, I can’t see what other people have against him.
Instead though, if you didn’t support a war hero, you were suddenly declared un-American, as if that’s the only qualification. That’s fine if that’s the reasoning on why you’re voting for a person, I vote based on who I like more, and would have happily voted for Romney or Huckabee.
Divisivness. You’re un-American if you don’t support a war hero. That type of stuff. That’s what I don’t like. And it happened during the campaign, big time.
“As further proof of Obama’s spiritual condition he not only does not call Homosexuality a sin, he has now announced June as Gay pride month, this action clearly makes him a sinful abomination in God’s eyes. He further says Gay rights to be a pillar of his foreign policy.”
And it changes nothing. It’s already legal in this country to practice homosexuality.
I stand by McCain’s history. Granted, he wouldn’t proclaim June LGBT month, but he wouldn’t do anything to stop it either.
If I can quote Heather in the “Right to Life” post.
“Then again, belittling and judging has worked so well for Christians in the past, why don’t we just keep doing that and see what happens.”
That’s what happened during the campaign.
On the majority, the GOP is at least religious, if not Christian.
Lots of belittling, judging, etc. Calling me un-American for not supporting McCain. Because I could have been for Edwards, Obama, Clinton, it didn’t matter, it was that I wasn’t for McCain, that made me un-American in the eyes of many I associated with. Yeah, that’s the way to get me to want to side with you, tell me that I’m un-patriotic and that I should leave the country.
Especially when that type of hate-speech is thrown in with “you need to be in the military to be President.” Constitution says otherwise, so saying that shows that they’re uninformed.
Nick,
Not sure what the intent of all the rambling you just did was.
I am just pointing out why I feel strongly that Obama is not a Christian. He supports things God said is wrong, not just supports it, but celebrates it. We all sin, but if we are saved we don’t make proclamations about the greatness of those sins.