You can read the details here. Here's a link to the show so you can listen to it yourself. He talks about Tim Russert first (the Obama discussion begins at 10:56).
I wanted to blog on this issue but I don't have time this morning. I plan to do so tonight. I think this is issue is one of the things that we need to get right as Christians and I believe Obama got it right when he said this:
Democracy demands that the religiously motivated translate their concerns into universal, rather than religion-specific, values. It requires that their proposals be subject to argument, and amenable to reason. I may be opposed to abortion for religious reasons, but if I seek to pass a law banning the practice, I cannot simply point to the teachings of my church or evoke God's will. I have to explain why abortion violates some principle that is accessible to people of all faiths, including those with no faith at all.Shocked that I would agree with Obama? Didn't see that coming did ya?Now this is going to be difficult for some who believe in the inerrancy of the Bible, as many evangelicals do. But in a pluralistic democracy, we have no choice. Politics depends on our ability to persuade each other of common aims based on a common reality. It involves the compromise, the art of what's possible. At some fundamental level, religion does not allow for compromise. It's the art of the impossible. If God has spoken, then followers are expected to live up to God's edicts, regardless of the consequences. To base one's life on such uncompromising commitments may be sublime, but to base our policy making on such commitments would be a dangerous thing.
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My personal experience is that of having been very limited in job opportunities because of my Puritan outlook. But that does not mean the Puritans were wrong.
Especially the Old Testament Psalms speak of whole nations bowing before King Jesus (Psalm 2, for example). Democracy is not Biblically mandated, and democracies can quickly turn into dictatorships or oligarchies in times of crisis.
The Scottish Covenanter vision of having the State as well as the Church bow before the authority of the Bible still applies.
Hello, I am a longtime republican who has changed parties for the first time in my life. I answered a survey on line thinking how my answers would lead me (of course)to the republican side of the aisle. I was awakened to the reality that I had changed. Barak Obama was the #1 choice, then Hilary Clinton, then Mit Romney. I decided to look into these three candidates. I was genuinely surprised at what I discovered. During the primary race, I was well satisfied with the way Mr. Obama responded, and as well Michelle. There will always be those
incidences when the answers don't just flow and that a 'mis-spoke' word
will be grounds for major consideration by the media or the oposition. I am white, female, over 65, masters degree in education, no health care, (don't want it), lower middle class. I watch PBS and Bill Moyer's Journal is one of my favorite shows. My husband and I get up to watch the farm shows and are looking forward to the fall election
when Barak Obama is our president!
"The Scottish Covenanter vision of having the State as well as the Church bow before the authority of the Bible still applies. "
This only works with a nation that isn't pluralistic like ours. But it still does not make the nation a Christian nation. There isn't one because the Lord's kingdom is not of this world. Our mission isn't to govern ourselves (Romans 13 speaks of a secular government that we are to subject ourselves to) but to make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
"Hello, I am a longtime republican who has changed parties for the first time in my life."
I'm curious what made you Republican. I would find it hard to vote for Obama because of how much he plans to raise taxes and because of his support for infanticide (he voted against a law that would have allowed a baby to live if he/she survived an abortion).
Do you have any Republican positions that you no longer support so you can now vote for Obama?
I'm responding to Michelle McG's post at 2:43 this afternoon.
Here I become autobiographical. For over 20 years I was in the United States Army and Army Reserve and was a member of the Reformed Presbyterian (Covenanter) church. I tried to work out serving in a pluralistic military with being in a church who emphasizes the Sovereignty of God to such a degree that they don't associate much with non-Christians. (The historic Covenanter position was that because the U. S. Constitution is not explicitly Christian, swearing loyalty to it, as I did in the Army, was being disloyal to Christ.)
But I am not happy with the Westminster Seminary which takes "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord" and says that applies only to the church in our dispensation. Since Christ is pure, and His church may be ethnically pluralistic but not pluralistic in doctrine, Christianity becomes pulling souls out of a pluralistic society into the church to wait for the rapture, or whatever.
If you are a-millenial Psalm 2 has an application to governments today.
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