Obama's Religious Problem is Our religious Problem

Before I get started on my two-cents worth today, I would like to direct all of those who are on Facebook to a commentary written yesterday by Bill Ed Huff. He is a high school classmate and a very bright and articulate man. His commentary yesterday dealt with the hypocrisy of Gene Robinson, the openly gay Episcopalian bishop who will lead a prayer, for lack of a better word, at one of the inaugural events for President Elect Obama next week. I originally planned to express some of my thoughts and emotions on this issue and to run parallel to Bill Ed's emotions, but I believe that Bill Ed hits the nail on the head and needs none of my interference. I feel his words represent my thoughts and to incorporate his commentary with my thoughts would only diminish his eloquence on the manner. So if you want to know how I feel, read Mr. Huff's commentary on his Facebook page. It is well worth the time and effort.


And now for my thoughts on all of Obama's religious problems; they are just that, religious problems. The President Elect is not suffering from persecution for or of his beliefs nor are his problems stemming from any exercise of faith on his part. Obama's religious problems are political under the guise and misnomer of problems of faith and belief; making them "religious" problems, using the literal definition of the word religious; and lacking any spiritual connotated meaning.

That is not to say that Barak Obama is not a Christian. For starters, that is not my call and I am not about to judge. At least I refuse to judge someones relationship to Christ. I may be able to "examine the fruit" like people like to say in church, and I have to admit that his relationship deals with a lot of words and contradictory actions. But only he and God know his true heart, not me.

But I do know what has caused Obama so many problems in the area of spirituality. Obama's obvious relationship with Jeremiah Wright and using one of Mr. Wright's catchphrases as a title of his book, did little to establish many Christ-like attributes. Then the backpedaling. Next came the audacity to use Jeremiah Wright's catchphrase as the title and suggested basis of his book, only to go on to say that the Reverend, if we can call him that, had little influence on himself personally. Such a contradiction in words shows a character trait of a person that has little real faith, since faith comes from perseverance. Rarely can we throw someone under the bus when the heat is on us, then move forward in our lives, then develop any amount of faith from that action. But that was political and I want to address the spiritual.

The Jeremiah Wright issues brought about the concerns that Barak Obama is a Muslim. While the President Elect Obama gave a Christian testimony at the Saddleback Civil Forum, I cannot help but wonder if he would admit to being a Muslim if it were pre 9-11 United States. I do not know but can't help but wonder if it would have benefited himself in the polls, that Barak Hussein Obama would not claim to be Muslim. For the record, that may not be fair of me to print, but in trying to be honest in MY thoughts, I really can't help but wonder. But this also is political, not spiritual, and therefore I should get back on track.

But do you see the pattern of political and spiritual being mixed? And isn't that close to secularism or humanism? And aren't those enemies of Faith in God and Christianity in its self? Could this conglomerate be at the root of what is causing Obama so many troubles in the area of religion?

And getting back to Obama's religious problems, Oprah Winfrey gives him no credibility what-so-ever. At least not in the area of Christianity. She doesn't even remotely represent Christ. She does represent spirituality in the humanist form. She is as close to Godly, and I mean Yahweh not the one universal god, as a gypsy reading a crystal ball. And while I don't personally hold Obama accountable for his friends beliefs, there are many others who do. He is not responsible nor has he said that Oprah has had any influence on himself spiritually. But for a man who has been so calculating in his maneuvers, this does little to support the testimony of Christ in his life, not the universal deist theory of god; at least by some people. But again, it is good politics.

Mr. Obama's apparent decision to remain absent from any church services since the Jeremiah Wright issues does not help the case for his strong faith or belief in God. This too is unfair territory to judge Obama on. We do not know what direction God may be leading him and his family. But for a man who has been groomed as presidential material for over four years, to remain absent from church is not the best manner to promote much spirituality. Even Carter and Clinton know you that you have to go to church. And that you can't always wait for the polls to reflect popular opinion before deciding to do so. But maybe he is in a season of prayer on this issue and is deciding that his faith is more important than his poll numbers. I sincerely hope that is the case and believes he deserves the benefit of the doubt.

And finally, the decisions to have Rick Warren pray at the inauguration and then having Gene Robinson pray, or at least mutter words, at another event reflects more actions of political motivation rather than a reflection of Obama's personal beliefs. And let me explain why I say that Mr. Robinson will only mutter words; it has nothing to do with his religion. Gene Robinson has acknowledged that he will try to pray as UN-Christian as he can, as not to offend anyone. My question is, who is he praying to? Even an atheist knows that you pray to God. So Mr. Robinson's token words will heal some political wounds that were inflicted by the announcement of Rick Warren praying at the inauguration. But it will do nothing to express any form of true faith or belief in God. For a man to say that he believes that Jesus died for our sins, that that blood is the only manner in which salvation can be reached, and that there is no other way to the Father, to then have a man such a Gene Robinson mutter some empty words, is nothing more than a political wash; a break even, as close to win-win situation as can be achieved by the President Elect. The two prayers cannot co-exist in any arena other than that of the political. Logically or theologically. And personally, the concept of the two prayers is personally appalling!

But what would be more appalling in this situation is for us to sit back and judge Barak Obama. We may question his actions and may recognize his errors, but we should not judge his heart. I realize that this article has come close to sounding judgemental, but that is not the intent; nor is it the intent to sound hypocritical. I am "judging" or examining the President Elects actions and philosophies and his words. But the Bible says to test all things and to examine all things and also warns about false belief and true religion. And personally, I have tested the Bible and have put God to the test. Not because I am in any posititon to do so, but because the Bible says test all things. I wouldn't place my faith or belief in anything less. And neither should anyone else.

But to forgo my personal conviction and reasoning and to continue on to the appalling issue, I have typed all of these words to express this thought: Obama's Religious Problem is Our Problem. Not because he is our president and that we inherit his mistakes. But Obama's problems are our problems because many will judge him and point fingers at him and pretend to be more Christ-like than him. When all of the while, our churches are full of people who have a convenient faith and a social religion. Our churches are full of "cultural christians" who have little sign of a real relationship with God. Many of our churches feed the psychology of man-made religion and neglect the real meaning and teachings of Jesus. Many churches have replaced the Holy Spirit with common sense philosophies and secular motivated purpose. We can blame those who call themselves Christians more than we can blame an individual, such as Barak Obama.

So I say again, Obama's Religious Problems are Our Problems...and what are YOU willing to do about the issue, point a self-righteous finger at someone else or point the finger of self-realization at yourself and ask God how we can pray for our new president and how to pray for His will in our lives and in our country? If we truly pray, as true believers, we can rise above this appalling political mess and real communication with God will be established next week. Our new President and our country will truly benefit from REAL prayers.