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Could Obama be good for the Gospel?
Written by Peter Youngren on March 7th 2008I must admit I am biased, not for Obama, Clinton or McCain, but I do tend to view things from the perspective of the gospel. World events, elections, no matter what is going on, I ask myself: is this a positive or a negative for the Gospel? Initial excitement for a political candidate can quickly change to disappointment. I remember in 1976 when, then candidate, Jimmy Carter announced he was born again. It had been unthinkable for a politician to admit such a thing, so naturally I felt incredible joy. In retrospect our opinions differ on the effectiveness of the Carter presidency. Whenever we deal with humans we are bound to, at some point, be disappointed.
What about Obama? Now I know I risk the ire of some of my Christian friends, but based on the facts at hand and the candidates available, I hope he wins. I think it will be good for the Gospel. Now I don’t think it will make a huge difference, just a little one. Politicians, presidents and prime ministers come and go, while real and lasting change comes by the Gospel. That’s why it’s not a big deal to me who wins.
Here is my reasoning. Rightly or wrongly, the Gospel is associated with America. If America is viewed in a positive light around the world possibilities for the Gospel open up, while a negative view of America can have detrimental effects.
The Gospel is also about equality of people. Jesus’ death and resurrection has torn down separating walls. So why not have a president, who is the son of a white mother and an African father, who spent four years in Indonesia, and devoted his early career as a community organizer in Chicago?
America is a great country of hope and opportunity. Europeans sometimes consider their democracies superior to the Americans, and yet it would be a far-fetched idea that a person of mixed race would become the President in France or the Prime Minister of England. Take France as an example. It has Europe’s biggest population of African immigrants and yet there isn’t a single black mayor in any town across France. The National Assembly has no member who is a first generation immigrant. Yes, there are plenty of Africans on France’s national soccer team, but none in the halls of political power. If America elects a president of African descent, it could be interpreted as a sign that the message of the Gospel has actually had an effect.
What about moral issues like same sex marriage and abortion? Where did we ever get the idea that good morality was a result of one political party defeating another? Of the last fourteen Supreme Court justices, twelve were nominated by a president elected for family values. Still the Roe vs. Wade ruling on abortion hasn’t been overturned, and it doesn’t look like it will be no matter who the next president is. Similarly, the next president of the United States will have little or no effect on same sex marriages.
Important family values do not come from a political office, but from the human heart, transformed by the love of Jesus. Heart transformation leads to behavior transformation. At best, legislation can modify human behavior, while only the Gospel can bring about lasting change.
What about reports that Obama is a secret Muslim? Some Christian preachers keep emphasizing that Barack Obama’s middle name is Hussein, as if this alone would disqualify him from high office. What bigotry! What lack of understanding of the Gospel! Just like we need born again Tom, Dick, George and Harry’s, we need born again Mohammad, Hussein and Abdullas. Real Christian conversion is not in the change of the name, but in the change of the heart. Now, I’m not suggesting that Barack Obama is born again, but frankly I don’t hear any other candidates lift up Jesus either. Maybe, just maybe, an Obama presidency could be a positive for the Gospel around the world. I don’t think it would help a lot, but maybe a little. Your thoughts?
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Comments:
Politics is ‘Poliy-trick’ it quie a tricky business. we don’t know what games they are playing
So, therefore wait and see what is gonna happened. Whatever happnens Jesus is going to be the same Yestarday Today and Forever!
On Tuesday oct 16 2007 Wasinton post said…
Eighth cousin, that is.
Lynne Cheney, the vice president’s wife, revealed this tantalizing bit of political trivia during a television interview today.
She said she uncovered the long-ago ties between the two while researching her ancestry for her latest book, a memoir titled, ‘Blue Skies, No Fences.’
Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton offered a tongue-in-cheek response to the revelation, saying, ‘Every family has a black sheep.’
There is also a rumor that is going around ‘Obama is a distant cousin to Bush’ as well…So, How do we know Obama is not in the bloodline of ’ The illumintai’?
God Bless you all!
Keep your eyes on Jesus!!!
Jeff
I must say these ideas are very interesting and thoughtful! Being both a born-again and an active politician I have many times wondered about the expectations that some christians have on politicians and parties.
I don“t think that a political leader or party can bring some of the chnges to a society that many christians hope. What they can do is to provide laws and regulations that do not hinder the churches from doing what they should do.
Stay blessed Pastor!
Best Regards!
Daniel
‘Free world’ is ready for Black Man… Kofi Annan was the7th UN secretery general…I do not belive they are ready for woman though.
What did Knofi Annan did for Africa?
NOTHING!!!
By the same token I don’t think Barack Obama is going to do any thing for us ( Africans) if he gets elected. As such I am not putting my hopes up neither put my trust on them.
I hope Clinton wins!
East African girl
We’ll see what Obama is going to do…
We’ll see what kind of Change he will bring to HIV/AIDS epedemic. that sweeping Africa as if there is no tommorow.
We’ll see what kind of Change he will be bringing to Mid east situations
We’ll see what kind of change he will be brininging to the Iraq war that lasted 5 years.
Wait and see…
Lola
Recalling a story about King Nebuchadnezzar in the Daniel. How God humbled him and at the end of the day He acknowledged the Lord God. Or how God used a heathen king, King cyrus to help Nehemiah rebuild the ruins of jerusalem. Or even how God humbled Pharoah of egypt in the plagues. What i’m saying here is, even God is at work in the politics of the world. He sets people up, he can dethrone them. Man is but only a midst. here today gone tomorrow. To be honest, God doens’t really need Christian politicians. He can use the heathen as well. We as his people should submit to the authorities God has placed over us, as what Paul say and pray for His purposes to come to pass. And what is His purpose, that all should come to the desire of the Nations. Jesus. He’s the savior of the world. Not some politician or leader or rich individual. Amen
Ignatius
dear P
astor Peter,One of the reasons I love and support you(in my ever so humble, small contributions) is that you seem larger than politics and politicians. Ilove the way you include Muslims especially even though I as a woman, find Muslims scary.
Every thing is so much a question of CONSCIOUSNESS that there is no point in discussing someones race or color. I don’t know anything about obama and what matters is not that his mother was white and his father was black but what kind of people they were. If they had an evolved Christian consciousness when they conceived him then we’ll be lucky indeed if he becomes American president. Otherwise he’s just another politician and I’d be scrutinizing his platform and what he thinks about healthcare, fair taxation and warring against other nations for material gain.
When preachers talk about the Blood of Jesus, surely they’re referring to the consciousness of Jesus. If they spoke in more modern , even scientific terms they might save more people. Even the word suffering . Was not that a word that meant’experience’ in 1611 ( or whenever the King James version was written?) We should be describing salvation more in the form of prose and science and not so much in poetry.
This because the kingdom of God, living in His kingdom, is living in Reality. Jesus teaches us how to live in reality. This reality can even been taught through some of the principles of quantum physics—like there is no physical made-in-stone-reality. We change any physical thing just by looking at it etc etc etc. P.S. If you study history you see that there was a good reason for separating church and state (an extremely revolutionay concept at the time) People, with their different states of consciousness and intolerance couldn’t stop killing each other.
bd bf salo
Does it really matter who you vote for or who wins the presidency? Doesn’t Paul tell us that ‘the authorities that exist are appointed by God’ and hence not man?
Romans 13:1, NKJV
Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.
Anyway, grace and peace to you Pastor Peter :)
Andrew
Sen. Obama has displayed all of the fruits of the spirit during his campaign.
His LOVE for his country and countrymen is obvious.
He is keeping his eyes on the JOY set before him.
He has stood for PEACE in the senate.
He has been very PATIENT with his pastor :)
He has been very KIND to the under-priviledged in Chicago.
He has been FAITHFUL to his local Church.
He is a consummate GENTLEman.
He has displayed awsome SELF-CONTROL in leading a clean campaign.
We will know them by their fruit, and also their confessions:
‘I’ve been in the same church for 20 years, Prayin’ to Jesus’
‘I pray to Jesus every night.’
- Sen. Obama
Perhaps someone could help me remember a single time the name of Jesus has been confessed by a president since Carter?
Dominic Cerisano
I do not know if Sen Obama is a secrete or official Muslim; I do
not know if he is Anti White. or any of those T things.I only know he is a Christian and one of those highly
articulated Americans.
In fact, to me he is neither black nor white. He came out of a white mother and a black father. Why do people choose to categorize him
as black? If you see a glass filled with water half way ; do you
say the glass is half full? Or half empty?
Ethiog@live.com
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have the choice of a highly elected official truly born again, standing for what we all pray for, that God’s will be done in the earth. I don’t think we have that choice. So, we take the one a little closer than the other two in record and PRAY!! I do think it matters because God gives us the responsibility to be active in choosing our government. I would not like to see Obama as our president. A black man whose record SHOWED him to believe God’s word would be wonderful.
Deanie Molloy
When the righteous rules, the people rejoice as opposed to when the wicked rules, the people suffer(proverb 29:2). Prayer can determine who is right to lead America at this time; in such a time like this in America, we shouldn’t put our faith in the promises of politicians, but in God who is able to transform people and cause them to do His pleasure. Let us remember the word of God: If my people that are called by my name shall humble themselve, pray and repent… I will heal their land(2Chro. 7:14). If we really pray from the heart and ask God to dertermine who leads America at this time, I believe He will hear fom heaven and answer the prayers.
Osasere Dennis Ogbewi
The people of America need to pray and trust God for whoever emerges as president of United States to be a blessing to the people and the gospel in particular. The word of God trained me not to trust in man but God who is able to transform man and use him as a blessing to the people. May God hear our prayers!
Osasere Dennis Ogbewi
Obama is slowly shifting to what they want him to be, He is belittle his own. This the whole game when a black man needs a Job in US he has to confirm.
Conformity one of the keys to get a Job in USA as well as Canada So, Obama is looking for a Job his Job is his Sheppard, so Obama shall not want
Obama can’t be trusted. Now, inorder for him to get the Job he has to bash black people. by telling us ’ we are our own victims’
Thanks So much Pastor Peter preaching the Gospel of grace that is the only hope for us all. NOT OBAMA!!
Mesfin
I think this is the most insightful discussion about American politics that I have heard since this whole political campain began. History has proven that a president’s faith or religion has made little to no effect to Americas values or faith in Jesus. I think a good example is George Bush’s public announcement of his acceptance of Jesus. Well, let’s look at the last 8 years: most, if not all, non christian networks will not allow anyone to proclaim their faith in Jesus Christ onscreen (just to name one eg). Now when you think about it churches were open and people were hungry for the word and were they able to do any less or any more as a result.
In the book of Daniel, Alexander conquered a huge portion of the world. Through his efforts roads and the greek lunguage and culture were spread through a huge portion of the world. Opportunities were opened for Paul to preach the gospel in Rome.Alexander was a blood thristy king who enjoyed battle and no doubt ,killing. Was God’s will done in this instance?I would say yes. I think it’s very difficult for us to fully comprehend the fact that, the gospel is the living word of God and that there is supernatural power released evrytime it is preached. Can we stop trying to fulfill what we think is God’s will through our own efforts.
Thank you,
God bless you all richly.
Farai D.
~ ST Caths.
“And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favor have I had mercy on thee”(Isaiah 60:10). The foregoing verse of the bible seems to me a perfect description of America. In 2009 and beyond, with the help of the sons of strangers including Barack Obama, the present problems surrounding the United States’ economy and foreign policy may come to an end; the country shall be restored because God has had mercy. Praise God!
Osasere Dennis Ogbewi
~ United States
I Pray that anyone that has not been ” born again ” that is : asked Jesus Christ for forgivenesss and accepted him as their Lord and saviour to please do so and to mean it truly with every fiber of their being ; trust in the Lord Jesus Christ totally /completely and been babtized in the name ( Jesus Christ ) Please for your own sake please do it. He is our salvation. We will and are lost without him. Give him Praise and Honor and Glorify him always in everything. Things of this world : such as a new auto , diamonds , fancy homes , whatever; of this this world ; please don’t put them before the Lord . He comes before anything and before anyone. I don’t mean there is anything wrong with having these things; just don’t put them before the Good Lord Jesus Christ. He is what matters; always has and always will be forever. There is soooo much comfort in Jesus that we will never have and never ever will have from anything on this earth.
Patsy Mullins
~ Tennessee, USA
Hi African girl. I think you are too much frustrated. I dont know about koffi annan did or Obama going to do. but he is also from us. hope he will do atleast something for us.
Obama Politics
Yeah..I’ve also heard from some ’ Chrstians’ Obama’s campaign is funded by the S.Arabian Government What a blanket statement!
For years and Years I heard that….The leading cadidates for presidency are carfully chosen from the bloodlines of the ’ Thirteen Illuminati familes’. Reserch also shows that all the presidence of the US from the begining untill now we’ll see almost all of them are from the same bloodline they are ’ all family related by ancestry. Thus, Where does ’ Obama’ Falls in this blood line? As his Father is An African Man.
I do not think So called ’ Free World leadership’ is ready to embrace Neither black man nor a woman.Not in our life time…AND there are yet many more unknowns and where unknowns exist, people generally fall into what makes them comfortable. hence,I say that comfort is easier found in the familiar than the unfamiliar. As such I think Mccain probably would be the one as he is ’ The Familiar one’
As you have said Pastor Peter
‘Politcians Came and go parties came and go. The real lasting change only comes by the Gospel’. I could not agree more.
Hagere Bachore
Hagere