I'll not deny that Christianity is dogmatic - any world view, be it social, spiritual, or otherwise, is dogmatic, if one holds it to be true. But I do assert that the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ have freed me from the dogmas of American politics - the strict rules of "conservative values" (whatever those are) or "liberal progress" (whatever that is). If I follow Christ and not Reagan or Roosevelt, neither of whom died on a cross for us and rose again, I find my views on various social and political subjects not limited to one side of the fence.
Having said that, I should elaborate my Presidential voting history - in 2004, the year I turned eighteen, I voted for George W. Bush, and would not change that vote if I could. In both 2008 and 2012, I voted for Barack Obama. And though I've grown increasingly dissatisfied with his job in office, I believe it to be un-Christlike to curse him rather than pray for him. It's sort of like John Wayne said when John F. Kennedy was elected - "I didn't vote for him, but he's still my President and I hope he does a good job."
'Merica!
Now, many of my brothers and sisters in Christ, some of whom serve an idol without knowing it - that is, "conservative values," even if they clash with Christ - take much joy in slandering and reviling the President. Well, that's an American tradition, but my Lord teaches me to rebuke slander and lies, such as blatantly fake "foreign student" ID cards from Columbia University, and other Facebook posts and chain e-mails with inaccurate information. So, addressing some of the most common things being said on the web about Obama, here are some things you should know:
1. Concerning the claim that Obama is the Antichrist - this cannot be, according to Scripture. Many prophecies concerning the coming Antichrist, specifically two key passages - 2 Thessalonians 2:3-5 and Daniel 11:36 - describe that the "man of perdition" will exalt himself above any other god that has ever been worshiped. President Obama, however, is a Christian. And yes, many of you may say "How can he call himself a Christian when he..." (insert complaint here). But the point is, he still calls himself a Christian and therefore does not exalt himself above any other god, nor most importantly, the only true God.
The true Antichrist is very serious and will be a very real threat, and the more we as Christians call this politician or that "the Antichrist" because we don't like him, we cause others to ignore the very real danger the real "man of sin" will bring. Further, when we use the Bible to curse and revile, rather than what we are truly instructed to do with God's word, we drive so many away from Christ. (see 2 Timothy 3:13-17)
2. The assertion that Obama is a Muslim is ridiculous because, again, he has identified himself as a Christian and has said "I'm a Christian. I am a devout Christian. I believe in the redemptive death and resurrection of Jesus Christ." (Source: "Christianity Today") Islam, however, denies that Jesus is the Son of God, and denies that He died and rose again.
"Yeah well, maybe he's an undercover Muslim!"
Yeah, that's not how it works. Muslims would consider that blasphemy against their religion. If Barack Obama were a white man named Rick Johnson, this paranoia would simply not exist.
...what? It wouldn't.
3. When you say President Obama's "turban is too tight" when he makes a blunder, let's remember two things: he's not a Muslim, and second, the turban is not a strictly Muslim piece of attire. The Levite priests wore turbans in the days of Moses, and turbans are mentioned many other places in the Old Testament, as they were common pieces of headwear centuries and centuries before Islam was founded.
4. For those of you calling for the impeachment of Obama - you keep using that word "impeach"...I do not think it means what you think it means. To impeach does not mean to remove from office. Rather, impeachment is actually a formal accusation or bringing of charges against an elected official. Presidents Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton were the only two Presidents to be impeached, yet neither were removed from office, and both finished their terms. Also, I'd suspect that you'd be concerned about a trial costing taxpayers money - the Clinton investigation alone cost almost sixty million dollars.
The Bible's definition of a saint is not a flawless person, nor is it a person chosen by Rome; rather, the Bible alludes to saints as anyone who believes in and calls on Jesus Christ. Being in a job where everyone wants to shoot you, I believe President Obama calls on Jesus quite often. I may disagree vehemently with decisions he's made, but he is a brother in Christ, he is a fellow saint, one far above the likes of myself, or of the apostle Paul, who described himself as "less than the least among saints."
To revile a brother in Christ in such a position, rather than pray earnestly for him, is blatant, un-Christlike behavior.
May the grace and peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Having said that, I should elaborate my Presidential voting history - in 2004, the year I turned eighteen, I voted for George W. Bush, and would not change that vote if I could. In both 2008 and 2012, I voted for Barack Obama. And though I've grown increasingly dissatisfied with his job in office, I believe it to be un-Christlike to curse him rather than pray for him. It's sort of like John Wayne said when John F. Kennedy was elected - "I didn't vote for him, but he's still my President and I hope he does a good job."
'Merica!
Now, many of my brothers and sisters in Christ, some of whom serve an idol without knowing it - that is, "conservative values," even if they clash with Christ - take much joy in slandering and reviling the President. Well, that's an American tradition, but my Lord teaches me to rebuke slander and lies, such as blatantly fake "foreign student" ID cards from Columbia University, and other Facebook posts and chain e-mails with inaccurate information. So, addressing some of the most common things being said on the web about Obama, here are some things you should know:
1. Concerning the claim that Obama is the Antichrist - this cannot be, according to Scripture. Many prophecies concerning the coming Antichrist, specifically two key passages - 2 Thessalonians 2:3-5 and Daniel 11:36 - describe that the "man of perdition" will exalt himself above any other god that has ever been worshiped. President Obama, however, is a Christian. And yes, many of you may say "How can he call himself a Christian when he..." (insert complaint here). But the point is, he still calls himself a Christian and therefore does not exalt himself above any other god, nor most importantly, the only true God.
The true Antichrist is very serious and will be a very real threat, and the more we as Christians call this politician or that "the Antichrist" because we don't like him, we cause others to ignore the very real danger the real "man of sin" will bring. Further, when we use the Bible to curse and revile, rather than what we are truly instructed to do with God's word, we drive so many away from Christ. (see 2 Timothy 3:13-17)
2. The assertion that Obama is a Muslim is ridiculous because, again, he has identified himself as a Christian and has said "I'm a Christian. I am a devout Christian. I believe in the redemptive death and resurrection of Jesus Christ." (Source: "Christianity Today") Islam, however, denies that Jesus is the Son of God, and denies that He died and rose again.
"Yeah well, maybe he's an undercover Muslim!"
Yeah, that's not how it works. Muslims would consider that blasphemy against their religion. If Barack Obama were a white man named Rick Johnson, this paranoia would simply not exist.
...what? It wouldn't.
3. When you say President Obama's "turban is too tight" when he makes a blunder, let's remember two things: he's not a Muslim, and second, the turban is not a strictly Muslim piece of attire. The Levite priests wore turbans in the days of Moses, and turbans are mentioned many other places in the Old Testament, as they were common pieces of headwear centuries and centuries before Islam was founded.
4. For those of you calling for the impeachment of Obama - you keep using that word "impeach"...I do not think it means what you think it means. To impeach does not mean to remove from office. Rather, impeachment is actually a formal accusation or bringing of charges against an elected official. Presidents Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton were the only two Presidents to be impeached, yet neither were removed from office, and both finished their terms. Also, I'd suspect that you'd be concerned about a trial costing taxpayers money - the Clinton investigation alone cost almost sixty million dollars.
The Bible's definition of a saint is not a flawless person, nor is it a person chosen by Rome; rather, the Bible alludes to saints as anyone who believes in and calls on Jesus Christ. Being in a job where everyone wants to shoot you, I believe President Obama calls on Jesus quite often. I may disagree vehemently with decisions he's made, but he is a brother in Christ, he is a fellow saint, one far above the likes of myself, or of the apostle Paul, who described himself as "less than the least among saints."
To revile a brother in Christ in such a position, rather than pray earnestly for him, is blatant, un-Christlike behavior.
May the grace and peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
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