Obama Church Appearance Riles Some Believers
Wednesday October 10, 2007
Categories: Barack Obama
Add to Del.icio.us
Add to Technorati
Add to Digg
Add to Newsvine
Add to Facebook
Add to StumbleUpon
Advertisement
Advertisement
About God-o-Meter
This blog is no longer updated and is closed for comments. We welcome your comments about politics in our Politics forums.
The God-o-Meter (pronounced Gah-DOM-meter) scientifically measures factors such as rate of God-talk, effectiveness—saying God wants a capital gains tax cut doesn't guarantee a high rating—and other top-secret criteria (Actually, the adjustment criteria are here). Click a candidate's head to get his or her latest God-o-Meter reading and blog post. And check back often. With so much happening on the campaign trail, God-o-Meter is constantly recalibrating!God-o-Meter blogger Dan Gilgoff is Beliefnet's Politics Editor. A former political correspondent for U.S. News & World Report, he is author of The Jesus Machine: How James Dobson, Focus on the Family, and Evangelical America are Winning the Culture War.
Search This Blog
Mr. Obama is a friend of influential evangelical leaders like Bishop T.D. Jakes and Pastor Rick Warren. I commend Apostle Carpenter of RWOC for inviting him to speak at their church and I humbly suggest God-o-Meter moves Mr. Obama's reading to 9.
It is a disgrace when believers choose the way of the Pharisees (Luke 18:11) over Jesus' message of love and compassion.
I grew up in church, preached at the age of 10 and I've been a Conservative my whole life. I believe life begins at conception (Jeremiah 1:5). 3 days ago, Obama told The Telegraph's editorial board that when it comes to abortion, he and his wife, Michelle might make a different decision. SO WILL I.
But when a young girl or a married woman conceives following a rape, for example and she doesn't have the faith to hold on to it, it is regrettable but I don't want her jailed or treated with less compassion than a Pastor who commits adultery with his secretary or a Bishop who beats his wife savagely or a Pastor's wife who murders her husband or one who divorces her husband after 17 years of marriage or a prosperity preacher who solicits money from believers using nuanced interpretation of select scriptures or a Republican who's a closet homosexual.
We can't force people to tell the truth, to not-commit adultery, to not-terminate their own pregnancy, etc and we can't jail them for doing so. We let God deal with it appropriately. We tell them the consequences of each action, but ultimately the choice is theirs (Deuteronomy 30:19). That's the emphasis of Mr. Obama's stance and it's a Christian stance.
We will never have a perfect President. But one who has served in a church; who says he is redeemed by the blood Jesus; who says his ways are ordered by the Lord; who promises to always tell the truth to the American people and to listen to us, is a great choice that I'm too happy to vote for and I appeal to evangelicals and Christians nationwide to support this man, Senator Obama. Of all the 18 candidates, if there's a better choice for evangelicals, who can actually win, I'd like to know. God Bless you.
Brother Diamond
AMEN!!!!!
I agree...I am against abortion.
Who are "YOU" to tell me to keep a baby conceive from rape?
Walk with me, comfort me, pray for me, tell me a story.
Share with me what's right and what's wrong...and let me make my own descision.
BROTHER DIAMOND--God-o-Meter thanks you for taking time to compose such an in-depth post. One question: Are you finding that many conservative friends raised in the church feel the same way as you? Or are you doing lots of persuading these days?
Barack Obama is a breath of fresh air in the political arena. It is refreshing to listen to someone who will listen to YOU. And someone who will tell you the truth, whether you agree with him or not. Or someone who doesn't double-speak to appeal to diverse audiences. AND, especially someone who is not ashamed to confess his faith. Jesus Himself said, "But he who disowns me before men, will be disowned before the angels of God" Luke 12:9 (NIV).
As a Christian, Obama knows that just as people criticized Jesus, they will criticize him. I admire Obama for his unflinching consistency. May he be adequately rewarded for his courage. Perhaps his bold strength will encourage others to speak up and speak out.
Odessa W. Hooker
Well, let's think about this... do I vote for a candidate because "he listens to me" and makes me feel valued or important? do I vote based on who will help me have more money in my pocket? (most Americans seem to think so)or do I vote based on who will most closely follow the commands of God's Word? We only have to read a few verses of Proverbs to understand that those who do not follow God's instructions are fools- while those who seek God and obey are wise. The results of foolishness are failure and destruction. If this applies to an individual's life- then it will also apply to a nation.
As for the difficult situation of rape and abortion, let me ask you this. Well, first let me tell you, I have a beautiful 2 year old daughter named Hope. She is so funny and silly that you can't help but to laugh. She has deep blue eyes and curly blonde hair. Let's say that I break into your house one night while you are sleeping. I steal your valuables, vandalize your home and walk into your room and beat you with a baseball bat until you are almost dead. Then I am shot by the police and killed while leaving your home. But I left my 2 year old little girl in your bed right beside you. Would you kill her? Why not?
Two years later... Do you still feel the same about Obama when...
*He didn't attend the Christian National day of prayer
*He hasn't picked a church to attend
*He chose a "beer fest" to solve a problem
*He said,"America does not accept legitimacy of Israeli settlements"
*Obama said to the world "we are not a Christian nation" (many times)
Post a Comment
By submitting these comments, I agree to the beliefnet.com terms of service, rules of conduct and privacy policy (the "agreements"). I understand and agree that any content I post is licensed to beliefnet.com and may be used by beliefnet.com in accordance with the agreements.