Progressive Revival

Barack Obama Is Not a Christian! Again.

Friday November 21, 2008

Categories: Election '08

Barack Obama is not a Christian continues to be a rallying cry from the Christian right. For some, like Joe Carter and Rod Dreher, it is because Obama isn't orthodox enough (read: he doesn't believe and act exactly as they believe and act)  

For others, like Mark Holick at Spirit One Christian Center in Kansas, it's because, Barack Obama is...wait for it...A Muslim!  The sign from the church says it all. 

I'm having a hard time with this silliness. As progressive revival reader Val commented:

I AM SOOOO TIRED OF PEOPLE IN AMERICA WHO FEEL THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO JUDGE WHO IS A CHRISTIAN AND WHO ISN'T. Judge not lest ye be judged. God is the only one qualified to judge who is a true believer. President-Elect Obama's life story could put some so called "Christians" to shame. Some of us go to church every Sunday and still practice racial discrimination. Jesus instructed us to love one another and to take care of the poor among us. Obama's mother and grandparents took issue with (and challenged) the hypocrites who went to church and behaved abusive towards people who are different. Our duty on this earth is to follow God's commandments so we can give an account for how we spent our time here on the day of reckoning. Pray for the success of our next president (if he fails we will all suffer) instead of judging his faith.

Amen sister.

Advertisement
Comments
gmo2
November 22, 2008 8:18 AM

Yes, he is a muslim, marxist, socialist, not a real Christian, not born in the United States, paling around with terrorists while redistributing the wealth kind of a guy. The one thing he is not, is a dufus. We've had that for about 8 years now and I'm glad for the change. Meanwhile, the oogedy-boogedy wing of the Republican party marches on.

David Letterman on President Bush
November 22, 2008 9:14 AM

David Letterman wrote this; it's the David we don't often see....

'As most of you know I am not a President Bush fan, nor have I ever been, but this is not about Bush, it is about us, as Americans, and it seems to hit the mark.'
'The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some Poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right?
The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the President. In essence, 2/3 of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change. So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking,'What are we so unhappy about?'

A. Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 Days a week?

B. Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter?
C. Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job?

D. Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?

E. Maybe it is the ability to drive our cars and trucks from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Oceanwithout having to present identification papers as we move through each state.
F. Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?

G. I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough either.

H. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.
I. Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home.
J. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family, and your belongings.

K. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.

L. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90% of teenagers own cell phones and computers.

M. How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world?

Maybe that is what has 67% of you folks unhappy.

Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S., yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.

I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?
Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad? Think about it......are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the 'Media' told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day.
Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an 'other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable' discharge after a few days in
the brig.

ochieng
November 22, 2008 9:57 AM

well,it is all good if it true.

Record Strate
November 22, 2008 2:33 PM

Letterman never wrote that. http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/hitnail.asp

Sheesh.

Asinus Gravis
November 22, 2008 3:16 PM

It is all right with me if Dreher, Carter, and Holick choose to make themselves feel superior in this misguided manner. I tend to read it as another way of advertising their intellectual inadequacies along with expressing their sense of personal inferiority.

It is very highly unlikely that Jesus of Nazareth would have passed their "criteria" for really being a Christian; and not simply because he was a devout follower of Judaism. Nor would Paul, Peter, or James--of New Testament fame--have met their "criteria."

Read All Comments

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.



Please type the text you see in the box below to verify your post and help us prevent spam. You have a limited time to type - you may wish to compose your comment in a separate document and paste it here upon completion.

Type the characters you see in the picture above.

Advertisement

Search This Blog

About Progressive Revival

Diana Butler Bass and Paul Raushenbush both stand firmly within the Mainline Protestant tradition and, along with guest bloggers of all religious backgrounds are dedicated to the revival of religious progressivism and its influence in American politics.

Contributors

Diana Butler Bass
Diana Butler Bass is a commentator and scholar in American religion. She is the author of seven books including A People's History of Christianity: The Other Side of the Story (HarperOne, 2009).
» Posts by Diana Butler Bass
Paul Raushenbush
Moderator of the Progressive Revival blog and the Associate Dean of Religious Life at Princeton University.
» Posts by Paul Raushenbush
More »

feed icon Subscribe

RSS Feed

Receive updates from Progressive Revival

Calendar

Advertisement

Advertisement


About Beliefnet

Our mission is to help people like you find, and walk, a spiritual path that will bring comfort, hope, clarity, strength, and happiness. More about Beliefnet.

Legal

Copyright © Beliefnet, Inc. and/or its licensors. All rights reserved. Use of this site is subject to Terms of Service and to our Privacy Policy. Constructed by Beliefnet.

Advertisement

Report as Inappropriate

You are reporting this content because it violates the Terms of Service.

All reported content is logged for investigation.