Peter Lemiska
In time of need, Obama turns to Scripture
By Peter Lemiska
Barack Obama's recent comments at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington have caused a stir among conservatives in general, and particularly among Christian conservatives. The reason is clear. After first taking the opportunity to emphasize his Christian faith, he cleverly employed Jesus Christ as an ally in his political campaign for economic equality. After reflecting on his daily regimen of morning prayer, Scripture and devotion, he cited Luke 12:48, and reminded us of Christ's words: "For unto whom much is given, much shall be required."
No one can presume to know what is truly in a man's heart and mind, and we all agree that liberals, as well as conservatives, can hold deep religious convictions. But most of them live their faith, or try to live it, every day of the year. They don't pull it out to please a crowd or to make political points. Mr. Obama is, if nothing else, an accomplished politician, skilled in the art of manipulating crowds, and capable of becoming anything his audience wants to see. So it's not unreasonable to question his authenticity and sincerity when he cites biblical verse.
Those who look to Obama's past for evidence of his commitment to Christianity must be sorely disappointed. As early as 2006, in an address to religious progressives, Obama announced that America is no longer just a Christian nation, but a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, a Hindu nation, and a nation of nonbelievers. He went on to talk about, almost mockingly, selected Old Testament passages: Leviticus 25, which condones slavery, and Deuteronomy 22, which advocates the stoning of an errant son. Since nonbelievers often cite similar passages when they try to discredit the Bible, Obama, even then, just did not sound like a deeply committed Christian. Then again in 2007, he denied America's Christian-Judeo foundation at a press conference in Turkey when he announced that we "do not consider ourselves a Christian nation, or a Muslim nation, but rather, a nation of citizens who are bound by a set of values."
And let's not forget Obama's contemptuous and revealing comment about those bitter, frustrated people in small towns who "cling to their guns and religion."
Following that, there were the controversial policies of the Obama administration — the refusal to enforce the Defense of Marriage Act and his pro-choice decree that Catholic institutions offer free contraception to their employees, in direct violation of Church doctrine.
In fact, over the past few years, Barack Obama and the progressives have been doing everything in their power to diminish the impact of Christianity in our lives. And though he occasionally tries to re-emphasize his Christian faith, most of us somehow just can't associate the term "Christian" or even "religious" with the far-left progressives in Obama's administration. In fact, many people in the country are still convinced that Obama, himself, is actually influenced more by his Muslim heritage. A closer look, though, suggests that it was actually Jeremiah Wright, who had a much greater influence over Obama during his years at the Trinity United Church of Christ. Rev. Wright also used biblical quotes, but his sermons were laced with Black Nationalism, anti-Semitism, and anti-Americanism — the antithesis of traditional Christian values.
But whatever influenced Obama's core belief system, it has become abundantly clear that he now has little interest in supporting or respecting those Christian values.
Yet there he was again at the National Prayer Breakfast, citing Scripture to justify his political policies. Of course critics are outraged by Obama's comments, not only because of his boundless hypocrisy, but because of his breathtaking arrogance, reflected in his liberal interpretation of Luke 12:48: "The government giveth, and the government taketh away." He is clearly dissatisfied with his role as Distributor-in-Chief and now he has a higher calling, and though it's true that no one ever succeeded in politics without a healthy self-esteem, hubris does not equate to leadership.
Perhaps the next morning Mr. Obama finds himself reflecting on his faith, he might also think about the seven deadly sins, particularly "pride." He might also think about "envy," as he looks out over the wave of discontent, the distain for the wealthy, and the class warfare that he cultivates every day. Maybe then he'll remember his campaign promise and the goal of a true leader — to unify the people.
There's one other source that might open Obama's eyes to the immorality of class warfare: the Ten Commandments. And if he's lucky enough to find a copy, he might take a closer look at the Tenth Commandment.
© Peter Lemiska
February 8, 2012
Barack Obama's recent comments at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington have caused a stir among conservatives in general, and particularly among Christian conservatives. The reason is clear. After first taking the opportunity to emphasize his Christian faith, he cleverly employed Jesus Christ as an ally in his political campaign for economic equality. After reflecting on his daily regimen of morning prayer, Scripture and devotion, he cited Luke 12:48, and reminded us of Christ's words: "For unto whom much is given, much shall be required."
No one can presume to know what is truly in a man's heart and mind, and we all agree that liberals, as well as conservatives, can hold deep religious convictions. But most of them live their faith, or try to live it, every day of the year. They don't pull it out to please a crowd or to make political points. Mr. Obama is, if nothing else, an accomplished politician, skilled in the art of manipulating crowds, and capable of becoming anything his audience wants to see. So it's not unreasonable to question his authenticity and sincerity when he cites biblical verse.
Those who look to Obama's past for evidence of his commitment to Christianity must be sorely disappointed. As early as 2006, in an address to religious progressives, Obama announced that America is no longer just a Christian nation, but a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, a Hindu nation, and a nation of nonbelievers. He went on to talk about, almost mockingly, selected Old Testament passages: Leviticus 25, which condones slavery, and Deuteronomy 22, which advocates the stoning of an errant son. Since nonbelievers often cite similar passages when they try to discredit the Bible, Obama, even then, just did not sound like a deeply committed Christian. Then again in 2007, he denied America's Christian-Judeo foundation at a press conference in Turkey when he announced that we "do not consider ourselves a Christian nation, or a Muslim nation, but rather, a nation of citizens who are bound by a set of values."
And let's not forget Obama's contemptuous and revealing comment about those bitter, frustrated people in small towns who "cling to their guns and religion."
Following that, there were the controversial policies of the Obama administration — the refusal to enforce the Defense of Marriage Act and his pro-choice decree that Catholic institutions offer free contraception to their employees, in direct violation of Church doctrine.
In fact, over the past few years, Barack Obama and the progressives have been doing everything in their power to diminish the impact of Christianity in our lives. And though he occasionally tries to re-emphasize his Christian faith, most of us somehow just can't associate the term "Christian" or even "religious" with the far-left progressives in Obama's administration. In fact, many people in the country are still convinced that Obama, himself, is actually influenced more by his Muslim heritage. A closer look, though, suggests that it was actually Jeremiah Wright, who had a much greater influence over Obama during his years at the Trinity United Church of Christ. Rev. Wright also used biblical quotes, but his sermons were laced with Black Nationalism, anti-Semitism, and anti-Americanism — the antithesis of traditional Christian values.
But whatever influenced Obama's core belief system, it has become abundantly clear that he now has little interest in supporting or respecting those Christian values.
Yet there he was again at the National Prayer Breakfast, citing Scripture to justify his political policies. Of course critics are outraged by Obama's comments, not only because of his boundless hypocrisy, but because of his breathtaking arrogance, reflected in his liberal interpretation of Luke 12:48: "The government giveth, and the government taketh away." He is clearly dissatisfied with his role as Distributor-in-Chief and now he has a higher calling, and though it's true that no one ever succeeded in politics without a healthy self-esteem, hubris does not equate to leadership.
Perhaps the next morning Mr. Obama finds himself reflecting on his faith, he might also think about the seven deadly sins, particularly "pride." He might also think about "envy," as he looks out over the wave of discontent, the distain for the wealthy, and the class warfare that he cultivates every day. Maybe then he'll remember his campaign promise and the goal of a true leader — to unify the people.
There's one other source that might open Obama's eyes to the immorality of class warfare: the Ten Commandments. And if he's lucky enough to find a copy, he might take a closer look at the Tenth Commandment.
© Peter Lemiska
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