Video: Obama says Christianity has been “hijacked” by the “Christian Right”
posted at 9:37 am on June 25, 2007 by Bryan
Share on Facebook | regular view
Sen. Barack Obama spoke Saturday to a national meeting of the United Church of Christ, of which he’s a member. Since the 1970s the UCC has adopted positions on socials issues that put it to the left of the average Christian, and of the average American.
Here’s a clip from Obama’s speech:
Partial transcript:
“Somehow, somewhere along the way, faith stopped being used to bring us together and faith started being used to drive us apart,” the Democratic presidential candidate said in a 30-minute speech before the national meeting of the United Church of Christ.
“Faith got hijacked, partly because of the so-called leaders of the Christian Right, all too eager to exploit what divides us,” the Illinois senator said.
“At every opportunity, they’ve told evangelical Christians that Democrats disrespect their values and dislike their church, while suggesting to the rest of the country that religious Americans care only about issues like abortion and gay marriage, school prayer and intelligent design,” according to an advance copy of his speech.
This is a very tired, and very liberal miscasting of history. The rise of the so-called Christian Right didn’t just happen in a vacuum. It happened mostly in response to specific issues, abortion chief among them. Traditional values were under assault from the left; Christians became politically active to counter the assault. It has not been the case that “leaders” of the “Christian right” have told their followers that Democrats disrespect conservative Christian beliefs and that conservative Christians have mindlessly followed whatever they say. Christian leaders have, to be sure, said what they think about the advance of various issues on the national scene, but no one had to tell me that Democrats disrespect traditional values when it’s been obvious that as a party from the top down that Democrats do disrespect traditional values. All I had to do to learn that was to pay attention.
Obama’s formulation actually furthers the notion that Democrats like him disrespect conservative Christians. Look how he treats us. We’re not brethren in Christ who happen to disagree with liberalism, we’re zombies. His formulation makes mindless drones of conservative Christians, and puts liberal Christians in the role of being the only ones who can and do think for themselves. It’s elitist and typical of the liberal worldview. Obama is saying, in essence, that if you disagree with his liberal views on abortion, gays and the rest, that you’re not honestly disagreeing with him and you haven’t come to your conclusions by any real soul-searching. You’re under the control of cynical people who want to “divide” America. He doesn’t even think you’re capable of thinking, let alone coming to a different conclusion from his that might be valid.
Gee, why on earth would anyone hearing that think that liberals and Democrats don’t respect conservative Christians?
Obama also uses the words “faith” and “hijacked” as instruments against conservative Christians that, as Ann Althouse says, seems out of place in post 9-11 America. Why hasn’t he said the same of people who actually do hijack things in the name of their faith? But I won’t dwell on that too much.
CBN’s David Brody takes a more positive view on Obama’s speech, and Brody’s view has some merit. It is refreshing to hear a national leader remind us that the greatest speeches in American history all reference Christian faith. It is refreshing to hear of a genuine conversion moment, though we also heard about George W. Bush’s conversion quite a bit back in 1999 and 2000. And it’s refreshing to hear a liberal Democrat talk at length about what his Christian faith means to him, and how he sees it helping others.
It’s just a pity that Obama had to use the occassion to smear fellow Christians who don’t share his and his church’s unorthodox views on social issues. If he’s really interested in learning who is using faith to divide America, he’d do well to take a look in the mirror.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages: 1 2 Next »
It’s the left that has hijacked christianity by doing things like allowing actively gay people to be ministers, writing Bibles that remove any gender from God, and generally ignoring as much scripture as possible to make sure they don’t have to change the way they live.
Benaiah on June 25, 2007 at 9:48 AM
Obama made a speech before a Christian group almost exactly a year ago, at which he demonstrated a much better understanding of Evangelicals and Democrats.
EditoratIP on June 25, 2007 at 9:51 AM
It’s strange to me that in the same moment he is referencing a dividing force within the Christian population, he is in fact driving the wedge deeper….. there’s a certain irony there that even I can understand.
Faux Pau Mr. Obama… Faux Pau…..
Of course the upside is that in making these comments, we’re able to see that he in fact is extremist in his views, and know now that he is hoping to bring his own brand of oligarchy to the stage.
KMC1 on June 25, 2007 at 9:51 AM
Well, Benaiah beat me to what I was gonna say. Yeah, it’s the left that has hijacked Christianity with many of the reasons listed above and the many “fluffy gospel” preachers like Warren and others.
vcferlita on June 25, 2007 at 9:53 AM
Liberal Theology is nothing more than Humanism with some Theological terms thrown in…
jp on June 25, 2007 at 10:01 AM
He has no confidence in himself
tomas on June 25, 2007 at 10:01 AM
Perhaps this is why Mr. Obama is so obviously clueless.
1 Corinthians 2:14 “The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
infidel4life on June 25, 2007 at 10:02 AM
I thought that a Christian Liberal Democrat wouldn’t stand a chance of being elected President…until I remembered that both Clinton and Carter are nominally ‘Baptists’ even though they are at odds with nearly all of the beliefs of the denomination.
I’m glad that Obama went to this national meeting of his denomination. In future interviews, he can be asked about his faith:
“Senator Obama, do you accept that the Bible is inerrant in the original languages?”
If he answers yes, the proper follow-up questions would be:
“As the Bible declares homosexuality to be sin, are homosexuals in danger of going to Hell?”
“As the Bible is inerrant, and it declares Salvation comes only through Jesus Christ,isn’t it true that all other religions, including Islam and Hinduism, are false?”
I don’t want to have all of the fun-can anyone else out there think of some questions for the Christian Senator Obama?
Doug on June 25, 2007 at 10:03 AM
Christianity a la carte for the liberals.
I think it’s funny he chose hijacked because we’ve been hearing quite a bit about how “radicals have hijacked Islam” over the last few years. That choice of words is no accident.
I guess Obama, the UCC and the liberals are in quite a quandry, they want to be able to be Christian when it suits their needs, but they don’t want to be bothered with actually practicing the religion.
Obama is a fraud. He’s just a loser like the Clintons, who use their so-called “Faith” to score political points. I guess he needs a vast right wing Christian conspiracy to try and rally the masses.
reaganaut on June 25, 2007 at 10:05 AM
since the Bible says life starts at conception and “Thou Shalt Not Murder” is one of the 10 Commandments: Why did you support Live Birth Abortions as State Senator of Illinois?
the Bible says “Thou Shalt Not Steal” and “Thou shalt Not covet thy neighbors property”….Then why do you and the Democrats play Class Warfare politics based on Envy and propose theft via the “Progressive” tax code?
jp on June 25, 2007 at 10:07 AM
What fascinates me (as a decidedly nondenominational deist) is the way that “progressives” like Senator Obama constantly claim that those on the conservative side are rigid ideologues, when it is in fact the “progressive” crowd who demand that everyone march in lockstep on the issues, ranging from abortion to gun control to national defense and even energy policy. (There are many others, of course, but those were just off the top of my [bald] head.)
Here’s a little gedanken-experiment for Senator Obama;
Name a conservative (Christian or otherwise) leader who disagrees with the policies of the present GOP leadership.
Now, name a “progressive” (Christian or otherwise) leader who disagrees with the policies of the leadership of your own party.
The former category would be far larger than the latter. Because, of course, if you dare to disagree with the progressive “party line”, you simply are not part of their leadership. Period.
I’m still trying to decide whether Senator Obama, and the rest of his cronies in the DNC, suffer from an extreme case of groupthink plus the “mote-beam” syndrome, or are simply habitually dishonest and cynical.
The former would indicate a certain degree of unfamiliarity with reality.
The latter would indicate an utter and complete contempt for the rest of us.
cheers
eon
eon on June 25, 2007 at 10:08 AM
Pretty much the exact thing Carter said a few months back. Obama is the fresh, clean, articulate Jimmy Carter.
You nailed it, Bryan, with tired. This claim was old and tired back in the ’80s. But it stuck, didn’t it? The movie sites I read reek with kiddies who claim that, say, Bush and the Christian Right are the reason the new Die Hard movie is rated PG-13 and not R: Bushitler wouldn’t allow it in this oppressive Puritan climate. Meanwhile, Michelle’s blog has photos of Iranian men being beaten in public by masked moral police for wearing their hair in Western style. And these kiddies still think Jerry Falwell was the greatest threat we ever faced. Idiots.
Speaking as an atheist, I’ll take the “oppression” of the Christian Right any day.
saint kansas on June 25, 2007 at 10:08 AM
Odd, that Obama is doing exactly what he claims the religious right did. You know, using religion as a wedge.
Krydor on June 25, 2007 at 10:10 AM
The man is playing for 2nd. Positioning himself to pull in the Camelot voters that Hillary can’t. One smart lady with one smart machine behind her. I stick by what I’ve been saying for months….GB43 IS the issue, not who is next. Our credibility as a party is in the tank. Defeating Shamnesty is a great first step to taking control back from the compromisers. Otherwise Billary/Obama are going to the WH with a 1984 election mandate.
Limerick on June 25, 2007 at 10:14 AM
Pretty much because Democrats really actually do both disrespect their values and dislike their church.
It’s not as if there isn’t a wealth of Democrats out there who don’t truly believe that many (if not most) Christians aren’t as bad (or WORSE) as the jihadists we’re fighting across the globe.
Vyce on June 25, 2007 at 10:15 AM
Being a “progressive” means that to tolerate another’s viewpoint is incomprehensible. To disagree with his position means that you are a religious fanatic that should be scorned. Same viewpont on immigration is if you are against it in it’s present form, you are a racist or a bigot. Being a progressive and being a hypocrite are synonymous.
volsense on June 25, 2007 at 10:20 AM
PERFECT-
could we be hearing some of B. Hussein Obama’s islamic background coming thru as well?
Ya know, they can lie if it’s for the good of allah.
I do NOT trust him at all, never will.
shooter on June 25, 2007 at 10:23 AM
Couldn’t agree more. Those who live out the New Testament in it’s entirety are now branded as “radicals” in the same way that Muslims who live out the Koran in it’s entirety are.
kjspeedial on June 25, 2007 at 10:26 AM
I don’t think Christianity’s been “hijacked” by the right – Christianity has WILLINGLY become a political tool of the right. As Bryan points out, it’s all because most practicing American Christians refuse to accept a woman’s right to terminate her own pregnancy. They would rather have her give birth out of wedlock and live in misery for the rest of her life to teach her a lesson.
Your “culture of life” breeds ignorance and poverty.
As for Obama’s assertion that liberal Christians are closer to Jesus than conservatives – that’s obviously true. Jesus was a socialist who believed in income redistribution and turning the other cheek – meaning Jesus would have opposed BOTH wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. If you’re going to accept Jesus as your personal savior, it seems pretty stupid that you’re ignoring his most obvious teachings about pacifism and socialism, and waste your time trying to ensure that gay people remain unmarried.
Of course, I’m an atheist and couldn’t give a crap what Jesus would think about anything. But if that’s what it takes to motivate people to vote these days, then Obama’s dead on – Jesus was a liberal.
Enrique on June 25, 2007 at 10:28 AM
Aw, come on, Bryan, let’s be honest here. The UCC’s positions put them to the left of most communists…
Jaibones on June 25, 2007 at 10:41 AM
Christianity is a relationship, not a religion. How can one “hijack” a relationship between a person and Jesus? He said that NO ONE (not even the great and powerful BO) can snatch me out of His hands. John 10:29
For a Christian or Muslim or whatever he is this decade, BO appears to be ignorant of the Bible. How is he with the koran?
saved on June 25, 2007 at 10:48 AM
Hate to break it to you, but the “average” American supports gay civil unions, abortion rights and hate crime protections for gays (the last one by a rather massive margin of higher than 77% in every poll). So those talking points of yours work well on conservative blogs, but they’re fairly meaningless in the real world.
And yes, Obama was largely correct in his speech. Mike Huckabee reinforced his point when he bizarrely claimed that “if you want a president who doesn’t believe in God, there are plenty to choose from” during the last GOP presidential debate. Now, gee, I wonder who he was talking about? At best, just the Democrats (even though there are no self-declared agnostics or atheists running on either ticket), at worst, the Democrats and some of his fellow Republicans.
So yeah, when it gets to the point where you have a schmuck like Huckabee basically insinuating that his opponents are atheists because they’re not conservative, I think it’s safe to say that yes, indeed, the Religious Right is trying to hijack religion and politicize it.
Fragility on June 25, 2007 at 10:49 AM
You nasty, wrong-headed Christian conservatives are using religion … uh … to divide … uh … us.
Uh … never mind.
Jaibones on June 25, 2007 at 10:49 AM
I’m so sick of people hijacking religion by claiming that other people have hijacked religion. Does that even make sense?
I’m a Christian. I’m probably defined as a conservative. Not because I think “Jesus is a socialist”, “Jesus is a pacifist”, “Jesus would want you to…….” But because I believe there are certain morals and standards to which we must live.
Will I blow someone up for not believing what I believe? Of course not, don’t be ridiculous. Will I persecute people for believing other stuff? Of course not, don’t be ridiculous.
Will I judge someone else for making decisions that I think are unwise? Well, maybe a little (I am human, after all). But I do not expect them to live according to my beliefs.
Jesus may have been a pacifist (as many claim), but I am not. Pacifism breeds neutrality. Neutrality breeds disinterest. Disinterest’s natural consequence is ignoring the plights and such of others. I would be a pacifist if I didn’t see what horrible people can accomplish as the result of other people’s pacifism.
So, every person who says that radical Christianity is bad or that Christianity was “Hijacked” by so-and-so needs to stop with the jingoistic crap and actually say something instead of a whole lot of nothing.
Jesus does not need you to defend Him or detract from Him. He’s God – I wouldn’t mess with that. Obama is using Jesus as a platform to attack those who aren’t with him and I would be very careful in speaking for God.
mjk on June 25, 2007 at 10:50 AM
But suddenly you’re an expert on Jesus Christ and Christianity?
You make yourself look pretty ridiculous, angry and alone.
shooter on June 25, 2007 at 10:50 AM
We all judge people, but to judge someone is far from condemning someone.
shooter on June 25, 2007 at 10:53 AM
You equate children as misery? Obviously you have never known the indescribable joy of having children. Name just one instance where abortion caused success and happiness. Show me an example of a woman who proudly kills her children for that elusive success that you believe can only come from the dismemberment of your children.
Guardian on June 25, 2007 at 10:55 AM
The Christian Right has ruined my personal relationship with God?
tomas on June 25, 2007 at 10:58 AM
You beat me to it, reaganaut. The only other I would add is that Christianity dropped the “convert or die” mantra centuries ago when people realized it was against the fundamental doctrines of the faith.
I know people who have had children out of wedlock. Oddly enough, they love their children and received support from several people in my church. They have to live with the consequence which is the responsibility of raising a child alone (or until they are married), but that’s not “punishment.” That’s fact of life.
The foundation of the “Culture of life” is that every life is unique, and yes, also created in the image of God, therefore special.
looking4statesmen on June 25, 2007 at 11:00 AM
Christianity is bigger than any political party, I fail to see how a religion can willingly become a tool. That makes little sense. People on both sides have tried to use Christianity to their advantage, right and left.
This isn’t about religion at all though, it’s about scaring enough people into voting one way or another. I think there is just way too much religion in politics.
Of course that is mostly from the left, who likes to force their progressive issues down our throats. “Gosh, why can’t we be free to be as lewd and crude as we want, to hump everyone of either sex whenever we want and we’ll just kill off our little mistakes….”
reaganaut on June 25, 2007 at 11:02 AM
Well, it caused success and happiness for Planned Parenthood and their bankers. Now if you happen to think that making a profit off of killing babies is a bad thing…
ReubenJCogburn on June 25, 2007 at 11:05 AM
Sad but true….
Guardian on June 25, 2007 at 11:06 AM
Having grown up in a mainline protestant denomination, I used to hear stuff like this preached from the pulpit all the time. If I hadn’t discovered evangelical Christianity as a teenager, I would have assumed all Christians were left-wing, anti-American, pro-Communist (this was in the 80’s) and, yes, very hateful. I probably would have left Christianity.
Despite their claims of love and tolerance, many of them really hate conservative Christians. You can see it in the words of their leadership and their literature.
Coyote D. on June 25, 2007 at 11:06 AM
Don’t the rest of you-all always find it highly amusing that it’s the atheists who always claim to understand religion OH SO MUCH BETTER than the actual religious folk themselves?
Vyce on June 25, 2007 at 11:08 AM
Barry O is not going to win anyway. Anyway, Barry Hussein Obama needs to leave the religion topic alone before someone starts digging up the old madras records.
cochransintexas on June 25, 2007 at 11:08 AM
For a uniter, Obama is doing a pretty good job of escalating the tension. I really don’t understand why he is misleading the public with his questionable and controversial evidence. Is he trying to start a culture war?
Dusty on June 25, 2007 at 11:09 AM
Who’d a thunk that the messiah would ever dis the followers of his name sake? I hope his supporters had their seat belts on while he made this hard turn to the left. I expect quite a number were thrown out the passenger side door of the magic negro flower power mini bus.
csdeven on June 25, 2007 at 11:17 AM
Wow. That explains everything. I’ve been “brainwashed” my entire life in Christianity. Good to know he’s the solution to the problem… Yeah, right. What an a**.
ophelia on June 25, 2007 at 11:19 AM
I’m a Christian, but I really do not want candidates to proclaim loudly that they are believers. One, because all the candidates are bold liars (both Dems and Repubs), thus breaking Thou Shalt Not Lie commandment. God doesn’t like hypocrites. Two, because the “are you a believer or are you not?” issue then supercedes the issues that matter. I’m sick of figureheads on the Christian right. They’ve given the green light to candidates that are not necessarily the right people for the job. Case in point: our lame duck President. His quixotic dreams for Iraq and this recent amnesty fiasco has proved that. James Dobson should just stuck with writing books dealing with marriage and child-rearing. Focus on the Family would still survive.
mram on June 25, 2007 at 11:21 AM
This is just another smarmy attempt to keep Christians away from the polls. Since no one wants to be seen as “bigot”, or whatever term the left wants to use, Christians should just shut up, go to church, and let the nanny state tell them what to think.
jdawg on June 25, 2007 at 11:22 AM
Christians hijacking Christianity. Isn’t that like railroad engineers hijacking Amtrak?
angryoldfatman on June 25, 2007 at 11:26 AM
If I thought he’d say something theologically deep and historically orthodox, I might listen. But I haven’t even read the article and I still know what he said. He’s an idiot.
Drum on June 25, 2007 at 11:33 AM
This gem is from the 139th psalm. It poetically states how God creates us and values us before we’re even born.
For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother’s womb.
I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.
Obama talked about some things that aren’t in his bible. Perhaps his bible doesn’t contain the book of psalms.
I wonder how affected Obama is by his rascist church? He’s lost perspective. There’s no black church, white church, asian church, hispanic church with God. There is only the church. Obama is unelectable but I guess he’s enjoying his moment in the sun.
Mojave Mark on June 25, 2007 at 11:36 AM
Good rant, Bryan. You saw this?
Connie on June 25, 2007 at 11:39 AM
Really. Jesus was a socialist and a pacifist? Has he [Enrique] nothing in his ARSEnal more original that those tired and worn absurdities?
Drum on June 25, 2007 at 11:41 AM
(as he sought to exploit a gathering of liberal religious followers by illustrating the divide between them and more conservative believers)
kjspeedial on June 25, 2007 at 11:42 AM
Not so odd, really. More like irony at its finest. What I find most interesting is his use of the word “hijack.” Is he trying to equate the Christian Right with Islamists, as Rosie did?
Connie on June 25, 2007 at 11:44 AM
ROFL! Wow, what a revelation! Read the parable of the talents.
There are 800-something verses in the Bible dealing with money and financial principles — none of which advocate a social*ist structure. Most are dealing with how the love of money first is the greatest evil.
It gets really frustrating dealing with people who want to take Christianity and make it into a political entity. It’s not. It’s following the person of Jesus Christ. When Obama accuses others of dividing Christianity, it brings to mind one of the great verses of the New Testament, Matthew 12:25 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.
Tennman on June 25, 2007 at 11:45 AM
OK, I read it. Obama says, “Somehow, somewhere along the way, faith stopped being used to bring us together and faith started being used to drive us apart.”
I don’t recall anything in the record about Jesus working to “bring people together.” In fact, the record shows the opposite. Has there ever been a more divisive figure in history than Christ? Jesus came to save from sin. Winking at sin in the name of “bringing together” is not Christianity.
Drum on June 25, 2007 at 11:48 AM
The vision of Saddleback, Rick Warren’s Church, is:
To bring people to Jesus and membership in his family,
develop them to Christlike maturity, and equip them
for their ministry in the church and life mission in the
world, in order to magnify God’s name.
As a past member of Warren’s congregation for over 10 years, I can tell you that there is little that is “fluffy” about him, his church, or his vision. Yes, his Sunday messages are seeker-friendly. Yes, his books focus more on knowing God and discovering His purpose for our live and churches rather than deep theological underpinnings of it all. But how is that much different than Christ’s method of reaching out to people in ways that could be easily understood through parables that related to their everyday lives?
To say that Warren’s message is “fluffy” is like reading Cliff’s Notes of the Bible and then declaring to all in earshot that it lacks substance and meaning. His books and seeker-friendly message are mere introductions to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They plant the seed of the Holy Spirit. They are the front door of Warren’s ministry. And once through that door, his global ministry develops the desire, provides abundant opportunities, and lays out the path for becoming fully devoted disciples of Jesus Christ.
I would not call that ‘Fluffy” by any stretch of the imagination.
If you are a Christian then please realize that while his message, ministry, or methods may not fill your spiritual needs, (and for many Christians it does not, which is certainly okay) it has touched and changed the lives of literally millions of others. Praise and glorify God for that.
Rod on June 25, 2007 at 11:52 AM
So in other words those that read and believe the bible’s messages about life, homosexuality, and morality in general have hijacked Christianity.
Brilliant!
FireDrake on June 25, 2007 at 12:03 PM
One man who knew how to “exploit what divides us” was the Apostle Paul. Add to the pure Gospel? Anathema! (See Galatians). But now, in Obama’s illogic, Bible adherents are troublemakers for condemning progressive Magic Marker scripture deletions. Sadly, the Senator participates in the eternally dangerous game of mocking God’s Word while exhorting others to follow. Phil. 3:2 Question: What “faith” issues will be peddled by progressive dogs during the next election cycle?
T J Green on June 25, 2007 at 12:06 PM
I don’t know who the better comedian is here, but rest assured that I am laughing at both you (Engrique) and Obama. You are both mistaken in your assessment of who Jesus IS and what His message was all about. Jesus was ALL about God’s value system and the things of the spiritual world, and NOTHING about the temporal world or the things of man. Politics (liberal or conservative) is ALL about the world and the things of man. The two could not be MORE diametrically opposed. This is why Jesus had some pretty nasty and sarcastic things to say to the “religious authorities of the day” (who were DEEPLY embroiled in the politics of the day, IMHO) during the three years of His ministry on earth. As for the governmental/political authorities of Rome, He pretty much ignored them altogether, with a passing reference admonishing people to “render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s” (pay your taxes nimnul – my words, not His).
As for Jesus being a liberal, perhaps I can enlighten you. Here’s a comment that I left a Lashawn Barber’s site way back in November:
CyberCipher on June 25, 2007 at 12:10 PM
Hijacked? The only thing that’s been hijacked is Obama. I believe a brain-eating alien latched onto him sometime in the last five years.
And Jesus a socialist?! Hmm, now where has -that- lie been used before?
Dark-Star on June 25, 2007 at 12:11 PM
Enrique seems to be one of those who writew without having any factual information to back it up. Jesus never emphasized giving to the poor as an effort to eradicate poverty. He did, however, emphasize that those with more resources should take care of the poor, and in Matthew 26:11, Jesus even says, “The poor you will ALWAYS have with you…” (my emphasis). As for His pacifism, Jesus states in Matthew 10:34, “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” There are wars that need to be fought. This countrys very existance is proof of that. I just hope Obama and Enrique can figure it out before the sword falls once again.
MrFreeman07 on June 25, 2007 at 12:17 PM
Just curious, but which part of that covers kissing murderous, terrorist-sponsoring dictators’ asses?
http://hotair.com/archives/2006/11/14/warren-meets-assad/
http://hotair.com/archives/2006/11/28/audio-warren-praises-syrias-moderation/
http://hotair.com/archives/2006/11/30/warren-and-obama/
http://hotair.com/archives/2006/12/19/rick-warren-on-barack-obama-and-being-a-back-channel-for-peace/
ReubenJCogburn on June 25, 2007 at 12:18 PM
Jesus was no pacifist. Being the same God who created this universe, He is the same God of the Old Testament, and there is no pacifism to be found there.
In His earthly incarnation, He came as the Spotless Lamb, for two purposes:
1. As the substitutionary ransom for our (every human in the world’s) sins, paying the price we each deserve that we, if we accept His gift, may enjoy eternity in Heaven.
2. To be the example of moral behavior that believers ought to follow and obey while in this temporal life.
- Matthew 10:32-38
Not terribly passive, or pacifistic, if you ask me.
Freelancer on June 25, 2007 at 12:18 PM
Obama knows he’ll never get the support of conservative Christians so he’s building on his base by attacking the Christian Right and somehow making himself and other more liberal Christians feel like victims somehow.
I agree mostly with the Christian Right when it comes to abortion in that I’m against it as a means of birth control but I do like how the church Obama is a member of is much more welcoming and friendly towards gays and lesbians. Gay Rights is one issue I probably lean a bit more to the Left on.
Yakko77 on June 25, 2007 at 12:27 PM
Not very unifying either. That was the passage I immediate thought of when I heard Obama’s statement.
baldilocks on June 25, 2007 at 12:48 PM
I will believe that the liberals REALLY believe in the separation of Church and State when they strip Jackson and Sharpton of their 501(C)3 status.
OrthodoxRobert on June 25, 2007 at 12:53 PM
Obama… you just lost your vote for SOOO many Christians.
He is ridiculous.
msipes on June 25, 2007 at 1:03 PM
Sounds as if 1 Corinthians 2:14 applies to you as well Mr. know-it-all.
infidel4life on June 25, 2007 at 1:04 PM
Christianity has no political sides that can be defined as right or left, conservative or liberal. It is a Religion. It has no code of law that Christians are required to establish or push their government toward. Christians voluntarily attempt to make their countries’ laws conform to God’s law as they understand it, believing that it is in everyone’s best interest to do so. But no pope or prophet or apostle commands that they do anything beyond praying for their leaders, paying their taxes, and obeying such laws as exist.
Because their efforts are voluntary and their understandings vary, we have Christians sincerely working on both sides of many issues. Some of them are politically liberal or conservative, but there is no such thing in Christianity. There is only Orthodoxy, in varying degrees.
NellE on June 25, 2007 at 1:12 PM
Demonizing other people’s religion? I had hoped Obama would stay above this kind of thing. Silly me. The left likes to bash religions, especially Christianity. Why should he buck the tide?
Ditto Brian: “If he’s really interested in learning who is using faith to divide America, he’d do well to take a look in the mirror.”
petefrt on June 25, 2007 at 1:13 PM
Connie on June 25, 2007 at 11:44 AM
Obama is a decent politician, and he knows what he’s doing with this tack. The perception is that the Republican party is a party of religious kooks, and he’s playing that up. This kind of statement has to be analyzed through the prism of strategy and not just partisanship.
Overall, it’s an empty statement. However, it’s designed to set him up as the “right” kind of Christian. Once again, this is a strategic move and he doesn’t particularly care if he alienates voters who wouldn’t vote for him in any case.
Krydor on June 25, 2007 at 1:24 PM
Yah…Scripture, the awe of God, respect of life and belief in something greater than the Democratic party is total Right Wing frenzy material.
There is not one Democrat running for office that is in a position to lecture on Christianity. They hold actual Christians in contempt, and have invented their own form of nominal faith, lip service, hypocrisies.
Hening on June 25, 2007 at 1:29 PM
If any one teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ…he is conceited and understands nothing. (1Tim 6:3)
drewas on June 25, 2007 at 1:36 PM
Amen.
Drum on June 25, 2007 at 1:40 PM
I consider myself way right of right. I probably shouldn’t fly.
On-my-soap-box on June 25, 2007 at 1:57 PM
Obama… you just lost your vote for SOOO many Christians.
ophelia on June 25, 2007 at 2:03 PM
Oops. You know what I meant. D*mn quotes!
ophelia on June 25, 2007 at 2:04 PM
Of course, I’m an atheist and couldn’t give a crap what Jesus would think about anything.
Jesus was a socialist who believed in income redistribution and turning the other cheek – meaning Jesus would have opposed BOTH wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. If you’re going to accept Jesus as your personal savior, it seems pretty stupid that you’re ignoring his most obvious teachings about pacifism and socialism, and waste your time trying to ensure that gay people remain unmarried.
This is comedy at its best!!!
You can’t have it both ways. You either know JESUS or you do not. Christians do not fight to keep gays from being married. We fight to keep the idea of what a family IS alive! Destroy the family – destroy the country.
JESUS did not believe in income redistribution, HE believed in giving it all away and following him. HE believed in sacrifice.
So, JESUS would be happier if girls were kept from school and women kept from jobs and higher education – right? The Samaritan was honored by GOD and not the religions of the day who walked by the man who had been beaten and robbed.
Enrique, before you speak for GOD/JESUS, read the word and gain understanding.
On-my-soap-box on June 25, 2007 at 2:20 PM
I’m sorry…..but is there a Spanish Inquisition going on that I did not know about????
ericire12 on June 25, 2007 at 2:26 PM
I think what he meant to say was, ‘faith has been hijacked by the preachings of the Bible’. It’s a new book they got out now. Have you heard of it??
ericire12 on June 25, 2007 at 2:33 PM
Yet another reason why I am ashamed to say that this goof and his partner in crime, Dickie Durbin, are representing my state of Illinois in the Senate.
pilamaye on June 25, 2007 at 2:33 PM
What’s wrong with hijacking Christianity? That’s what Martin Luther did; thus we now have Obama’s faith and the other Protestant sects.
radjah shelduck on June 25, 2007 at 2:38 PM
Hey, speaking of Christianity, the headlines show a story about Darwinism that leaves me wondering:
Does Darwin’s theory explain why Natural Selection is somehow a finished process as it relates to apes and humans? I mean, why aren’t there half-evolved apes running around in various stages of humanness … troglodytes, cromagnon men, etc.?
Jaibones on June 25, 2007 at 2:43 PM
“Somehow, somewhere along the way, faith stopped being used to bring us together and faith started being used to drive us apart,”
Yeah, it was when liberals began ignoring the Bible and started instituting their own doctrines.
Vaporman87 on June 25, 2007 at 2:44 PM
Barack Hussein Obama’s minister says too many Christians are white (Video of Jeremiah Wright)
In 1984, Jeremiah Wright traveled to Cuba to teach Christians about the value of nonviolent protest and to Libya to visit Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, along with the Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan.
On the Sunday after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, Mr. Wright said the attacks were a consequence of violent American policies. Four years later he wrote that the attacks had proved that “people of color had not gone away, faded into the woodwork or just ‘disappeared’ as the Great White West went on its merry way of ignoring Black concerns.”
DANEgerus on June 25, 2007 at 2:44 PM
Can you really call it hijacking when the other side throws it away?
Joshua P. Allem on June 25, 2007 at 3:44 PM
Only the respect for life and the family can truly unite a nation, but Mr. Obama’s politics and those like him are what have divided us.
Call them what you want, Mr. Obama, the Christian “right” is right. The godless left have “left” the traditional values that have united this nation.
ricelchew on June 25, 2007 at 3:45 PM
Apparently Townhall.com isn’t goof with trackbacks since none of mine have worked, but I have my thoughts posted here.
Basically it isn’t the right that hijacked Christianity, it’s the left that abandoned it. So badly in fact, that they call using faith in their campaigns an “injection,” like faith is just a booster shot for political points. That is why the left has lost values-voters: They lost values first.
BKennedy on June 25, 2007 at 3:49 PM
Isn’t that was faith is? Something that drives one apart from another? My faith in Christ pushes the Atheist’s beliefs from mine. The Atheist’s belief in Material Monism pushes away from my beliefs.
Obama’s racist bigoted faith pushes away from my faith of “…neither Jew nor Gentile…”
Tim Burton on June 25, 2007 at 4:43 PM
I am glad to see all the responses vigorously attacking Obama’s statement. He and others on the Left would hijack Christianity for the Left’s purposes. Michael Moore’s invocation of Jesus on “The View” in support of socialist medicine is but one recent example.
Phil Byler on June 25, 2007 at 4:54 PM
I guess mr. obama means anyone whom is Christian and votes Republican has been hijacked. He can kiss this Christian goodbye.
gary on June 25, 2007 at 5:08 PM
There are. They are also known as trial lawyers.
Bradky on June 25, 2007 at 6:38 PM
anyone notice this argument is almost exactly paralell to the reason that blacks don’t vote republican? Just thought it was odd.
crr6 on June 25, 2007 at 6:56 PM
Bwahahaha!
infidel4life on June 25, 2007 at 7:30 PM
This is such utter crap. It’s another fine example of Liberals inverting reality and calling it normal.
Any HALFWIT with BASIC understanding of history knows full well that Christianity – FOR OVER 2000 YEARS – has been an historically STRONG religion, that produced STRONG families, STRONG nations, and STRONG civilizations.
Now Obama and his ilk are for Gay ministers, Gay marriage, abortion on demand, and bowing to islam in the name of cultural sensitivity and WE’RE the ones who’ve hijacked the religion?!
Big J please excuse my French but WHO THE F*&# DOES HE THINK HE’S FOOLING?!
thareb on June 25, 2007 at 9:50 PM
Rod on June 25, 2007 at 11:52 AM
Perhpas Warrens preaching has turned some to doing better but, will what he preaches get you past those pearly gates?
I also would like to know when Obama last sat down and actually studied his Bible to see what God does want.
boomer on June 25, 2007 at 10:10 PM
There was that pesky little thing called the crusades that ran for a couple of hundred years. Not quite sure how the killing of Jews and Arabs strengthened their families…..
Bradky on June 25, 2007 at 10:30 PM
Trying to appeal to Christians by attacking Christians.
I knew his ears weren’t the only thing goofy about him.
The Meccan Candidate?
profitsbeard on June 25, 2007 at 10:53 PM
Yes, we christians were the first to try mass attacks against people of other faiths…NOT.
The Romans tried it out on us first when the church was young. Martin Luther and his followers were condemned for questioning the pope’s turning the church into a religious vending machine. We’re persecuted with great vigor -right now- in China, Cuba, Columbia, Cambodia, Egypt and India.
And let’s not forget the until-recently-communist Russia, where the red screwballs drove us underground or out into the brutal gulags.
One final bit on the crusades – if I may be totally blunt the Muslims started their mass conquering attempts (with appropriatly brutal tactics) LONG before we tried anything but desperate defense to stave them off.
If their inital attempts hadn’t been checked by military brillance and sheer bravery, Europe (and hence all of us today) would be reading the Koran and serving their bloodthirsty ‘prophet’ and his ‘god’.
Dark-Star on June 25, 2007 at 10:54 PM
I guess the Jewish people killed in the crusades were just collateral damage..
Bradky on June 25, 2007 at 11:14 PM
He has made up his own god because he doesn’t like the God of the Bible. Sin, wrath, and one way to salvation get in the way.
AZ_Redneck on June 26, 2007 at 1:19 AM
I sat in church Sunday and watched an infant being baptized, and I thought about what a lovely act of God conferring Grace upon us and how this compares to what is being taught in Mosques all over the world. I don’t worry about insults from light weights like this…Jesus told us that they hated him first and will hate us also. It’s a pretty good indication that we are following his teachings when the world hates us.
Remember their god demands that they strap bombs on their Sons and they need to kill others to reach heaven…our God sent his Son to die for us and all we have to do is believe in his death on our behalf to have eternal life!
sabbott on June 26, 2007 at 9:05 AM
“NO ONE EXPECTS THE SPANISH INQUISITION!!”
…Well, someone had to say it! =B
All kidding aside, I never cease to be amused by atheists/anti-theists who claim to be intellectually and morally superior to us braindead Godbags, then proceed to advocate blasphemy and, in the most extreme cases, murder. Hence the passage, “Thinking themselves wise, they became fools.”
ZK on June 26, 2007 at 9:40 AM
Comment pages: 1 2 Next »