I want to start by saying Barack Obama and his family are in desperate need of prayer. We need to pray for God to reach the Senator and bring him back to Christ, as there is a strong possibility he could become our next president. We also need to ensure true Christians are not fooled by his rhetoric and claims of following Christ.
Obama has certainly been in the spotlight for his profession of Christian faith coupled with his liberal anti-Christian political agenda—most notably, partial-birth abortion and gay marriage. Long before his candidacy for the Presidential seat, he entertained religion reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times, Cathleen Falsani, in an afternoon interview. Noted below are his words about his faith as a Christian and his beliefs in Christian principles, taken directly from the interview transcripts. Following his comments are verses from the Bible (NIV), along with some of my own comments (in CAPS).
“If all it took was someone proclaiming I believe Jesus Christ and that he died for my sins, and that was all there was to it, people wouldn’t have to keep coming to church, would they.” Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
“I am a Christian… So, I have a deep faith. I'm rooted in the Christian tradition. I believe that there are many paths to the same place, and that is a belief that there is a higher power, a belief that we are connected as a people.” Matthew 7:14 “But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
When speaking of the Sunday about 16 years ago when he went to the altar at his church as was saved, he said: “I think it was just a moment to certify or publicly affirm a growing faith in me." Matthew 6:20 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full” Isaiah 2:17 “The arrogance of man will be brought low and the pride of men humbled; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day”
“There's the belief, certainly in some quarters, that if people haven't embraced Jesus Christ as their personal savior, they're going to hell...I can’t imagine that my God would allow some little Hindu kid in India who never interacts with the Christian faith to somehow burn for all eternity. That’s just not part of my religious makeup.” Jeremiah 31:33 “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts, I will be their God and they will be my people.” Psalm 9:8 “He will judge the world in righteousness; he will govern the peoples with justice.”
“I think that religion at its best comes with a big dose of doubt.” James 1:6 “But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.”
When mentioning a certain “power” he can “feel” when speaking, and then questioned if he believes it’s the Holy Spirit, he says: “I think it’s the power of the recognition of God, or the recognition of a larger truth that is being shared between me and an audience.” WE MUST REMEMBER, GOD REVEALS HIMSELF TO US! Zechariah 4:6 “So he said to me, ‘This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.”
When asked “Who’s Jesus to you?” He states: “Jesus is an historical figure for me, and he’s also a bridge between God and man, in the Christian faith, and one that I think is powerful precisely because he serves as that means of us reaching something higher.” NOTICE THAT HE DOES NOT SAY JESUS IS MY SAVIOR OR JESUS IS LORD! YET HE GOES ON: “And he’s also a wonderful teacher. I think it’s important for all of us, of whatever faith, to have teachers in the flesh and also teachers in history.” Titus 2:13 is clear: “…the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,”
Asked if he reads the Bible, he says: “I read it not as regularly as I would like. These days I don’t have much time for reading or reflection, period.” Matthew 4:4 “Jesus answered, ‘It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” and 2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is God-breathed…”
He continues on, “but that’s where that internal monologue, or dialogue I think supplants my opportunity to read and reflect in a structured way these days.” Joshua 1:8 “Do not let this book of the law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.”
When asked, “Do you believe in heaven?” He questions back, “Do I believe in the harps and clouds and wings?” Better defined by the interviewer as “A place spiritually you go to after you die?” He goes on to explain, “What I believe in is that if I live my life as well as I can, that I will be rewarded.” GOOD WORKS OVER JESUS? Matthew 5:20 “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Obama says he’s most aligned spiritually when “I’m being true to myself.” Matthew 4:10 “Jesus said to him, ‘Away from me, Satan! For it is written: “Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
Obama claims the name of Jesus and the Christian faith, but he does not speak of or stand for the truth of the Bible--the only truth there is for true followers of Christ.
References:
Chicago Sun-Times: http://www.suntimes.com/news/falsani/726619,obamafalsani040504.article
Full Interview Transcripts:
http://www.audacityofhypocrisy.com/2008/06/06/barack-obama-the-2004-god-factor-interview-transcript/
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