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Theology in the News

Obama's Social Contract

Abortion and the candidate's commitment to freedom and equality.

Collin Hansen | posted 1/25/2008 09:00AM

Did you receive an e-mail that claimed Sen. Barack Obama was a closet Muslim? I did. And I deleted it without a second thought. Obama has publicly proclaimed his Christian faith on many occasions. Yet ...

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David

Posted: February 08, 2008 8:59 AM


Liz: It IS "notorious" because that language has been twisted to mean even the trivialest inconvenience. To be effective, it needs to be re-phrased as "physical life of the mother" (so the question becomes: Is THAT what Senator Obama means?).

Dave	Posted: February 07, 2008 2:57 PM


If your only basis for a vote is what the candidates stand on the killing of children is then you can not support any candidate that supports war. Over 81,000 civilian non combatants dead in the last 3 years of war. Half are women and children. So the same argurement prohibits you from voting for any Republican candidate either.

Cami G

Posted: February 06, 2008 3:54 PM


I totally agree, with what it was said above. I wished people will research more than to believe what the media says. He would say anything to win this campain. I hope people will realize that. He will be sworn in to the office on the Koran!!! That's what he said!!! HELLO!!!!!!!!!

Grandpa

Posted: February 04, 2008 5:37 PM

Being raised in any religious persuasion does not mean one cannot come to Christ. Perhaps Mr Obama has, perhaps he hasn't. God knows. If Mr Obama does not reject abortion and homosexuality outright then the chances are he hasn't. But who are we to tell. God knows. Perhaps Mr Obama is still in the process of being refined by the Lord. Who isn't ? If it's a matter of who to vote for, then Christians should set aside their own opinions and prayerfully seek God's opinion and direction. The problem is, we think our interpretations are right. There is a way that seemth right unto a man, but the ways thereof are the ways of death. Proverbs 16:25

Edith Whitford

Posted: February 04, 2008 2:41 PM

Very insightful at this critical time of decision. The writer was totally honest, gracious, yet forthright with Biblical truths. I take my position with Mike, for I could never find a reason for an innocent baby, (unless possibly a pregnancy through rape from a vile, murderous person), that would qualify a totally innocent baby to be killed. I cannot buy into the reasoning of Fred in believing a premature birth makes him/her of lesser value than a full-time birth in God's eyes. Many "premies" live through the early birth, so that would not be termed as "lasting harm" as stated in Exodus 21:22. If the child died, then it would be a 'lasting harm', so the punishment would be 'life for life'. I stand to be corrected as I have not done proper sturdy on this. If God knows us even before we are born, and is no respecter of persons, I believe those very much alive little fetus' within their Mommie's womb, are in God's great heart of love. I believe they posses an Eternal spirit. Edith

Lisa Corrado

Posted: February 04, 2008 11:30 AM

Candidates will make us think anything. Do your homework and don't take what they say at face value. Watch what they do. Why did Obama's senior pastor/church give the 2007 Lifetime Achievement award to the leader of the The Nation of Islam via the Trumpet Magazine, published by the pastor's daughter with help from church staff! Of all the people serving the Lord they honor Louis Farrakhan whose life-purpose is to praise Allah as God? Blasphemy! This is Obama's church leadership. Who he listens to! Other than praising Farrakhan does his pastor preach about the afterlife? He is obviously not preaching that Jesus said, "I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father but by Me." Obama also knowingly and purposefully employs Nation of Islam members on his staff. A devout Christian would not be so unwise or have such a lack of discernment. Beware of wolves in sheep clothing. Look it up! Obama's church: http://www.tucc.org/home.htm Trumpet Mag: www.trumpetmag.com

Letty

Posted: February 03, 2008 9:45 PM

I don't know who to believe two of my most trusted christian web-sites oppose each other concerning Obama and Clinton. The AFA gave a voters guide and it shows that Obama and Clinton both stand on the same issues. They do not stand for any evangelical issues no matter what they say at the pulpit moment. No let me correct my first statement I belive in The Lord my God and His Word. If you want to check out the web site I mentioned it is www.AFA.net. I hope that christians really research the issues before making a desicion on who to vote for.

Linda

Posted: February 01, 2008 5:16 PM

It might seem the Christian thing to do -- to give Obama the benefit of the doubt. He may claim to be a Christian outwardly but let us remember that many of the precepts of non-christians overlap with the morals our Christian Bible teaches. Is it not naive then to ignore the possibility that his private agenda could be fulfilling the threat that the Muslim world wants to infiltrate the United States from the inside-out? We are warned of wolves in sheeps clothing! Let us not be decieved!

Wake-Up America!

Posted: February 01, 2008 12:51 AM

How about much of what the President does, supports, and vetoes is based upon his conscience and what s/he believes is right. While we are not looking for a world religious leader, we are looking for a leader whose conscience will bring this nation back to God. Righteousness exalts a nation, not compromise and trying to make everybody happy. THERE WILL NEVER BE UNITY. NEVER. The times that we are in let us know that things are right on schedule, and will get crazier. Christians must still stand and demonstrate the love of God. If the Christian views the election like the ungodly, then in the next decade our role model family will be a he-she cohabitating with a she-he and 10 human cloned children. We need to be more conscious in our political responsibilities in every governmental selection. Obama's voting records and positions on critical moral issues are clear: He goes with the anything goes crowd. Thank God for his position on the war, but Hilary can take care of that.

EDWARD WILLIAMS

Posted: January 31, 2008 2:49 PM

I am confused here, from what I have heard out of their mouths (the Democrats), the platform is in support of abortion, in support of gay marriage, in support of tearing down the moral fiber of America. The Democrats have been against racial harmony in the past and nothing has changed, it appears to me that Obama is being used as a smoke screen to hide the evil of the entire party platform. While we focus on his race and his charisma we will miss the platform of evil that is lurking. I agree that our choices are few and poor, but I pray that the Lord directs us in His Will. Lord please direct us to the proper candidate in Jesus name.

lola	Posted: January 31, 2008 1:18 PM


Beware of wolves in sheep's clothing!!

kathy

Posted: January 30, 2008 9:40 PM


I will not vote for obama .He beieves in killing a child that is not a chistian to me if you beieves in doing that.

Anonymous

Posted: January 30, 2008 8:45 PM

Abortion devalues life. Since our Country legalized abortion as a women's right to chose abuse of young children has escalated. Also one has to consider how all of Obama's political positions line up with scripture. This has nothing to do with right wing or left wing voters but rather where he leads this country. As Christians that should be our first consideration if we really believe in God's blessing and protection. I am a women and I believe from the day of conception my children's lives were as valuable is my own.

Mitch

Posted: January 30, 2008 5:19 PM

when did this become a political paper? there are two sides to any story and for this to become a spin it just needs a little help, I won't vote for a person who uses the celebrities and fast cheap talk to garner votes, it is the slower methodical thinker that I find has the best results, which can be proven by going into the bioghrapical history of the individual, research alway's pays better then word of mouth, McCain in his Immigration issue said, it is a problem I am not soft on it as reported by others, but if you think I am going to call some young soldier fighting in Iraq and say "By the way we just deported your mother back to mexico," well that's clear and well thought out philosophically sound process...

Ken A.

Posted: January 30, 2008 4:37 PM

There are refreshing thoughts espoused by Obama. The Bible shows over and over again that governments and leaders come and go... When things get done for unborn babies and for hurting and poor children and single mothers and widows is when the bride of Christ rises up to meet the challenge in politics, in business, but especially in serving and fighting for the very least of these. Lets us follow the call of our master and use our personal resources of time, talent, and treasure, to help those who we can help. What would happen to abortion rates, if we as American Christians, pleaded with people not to have abortions, but to let us raise these little ones in His holy name? Are we willing?

Rev. Harry Greene

Posted: January 30, 2008 4:35 PM

I for one don't believe that Mr. Obama is truly a christian but only God knows his heart and the Word of God says that our life will be known to God so what he does or don't do he has to answer for. We will find out by his actions and by how he takes defeat since I don't believe that America is ready for his style of leadership. It is apparent that he speaks two seperate agenda's from each side of his mouth. One being for all people and the other for a select group of people. I don't bye his show, and don't believe he is the answer to America's problems but could be a beginning of a new set of problems for the American People. For those reasons I can't in good faith vote for him.

deb	Posted: January 30, 2008 3:31 PM

to Lavern your words: " How many children are effected each year, because their families are dealing with health related issues? How many children are affected each year, because of poor educational systems and socio-economic disparities? I wish pro-life advocates would work just as hard for these children as they do for the unborn. They also deserve our compassion. " these social issues have always plagued man.... it has been a problem for EVERY president in office and "CONTROLLING" party. "IF Say Kennedy or Clinton were of the right party then why are we still "so plagued" with these injustices today?! OBAMA will not be the one who ENDS these Social Injustices, those who believe those promises are seriously disillusioned. ***as far as pro-lifers go....where do you get the audacity and information that we are not just as active and caring for the children you speak of???

Brenda ~

Posted: January 30, 2008 2:35 PM

Craig, Yes there is disagreement among Christians. Some Christians do assume that they know God's will when it is their own perception that they are promoting. That doesn't prove that God is incapable of making his will known; it only shows that Christians are people too - imperfect and in varying degrees of spiritual maturity. However, God is perfect and able to accomplish his will regardless of how much his followers may embarrass Him. It is only by God's grace that any human life has remained to this day. God has the right to take anyone out of this world at his descretion. Human suffering and defects are a result of Adam pulling away from God's guidance to follow evil. Your logic that to abort a fetus is to save them is flawed because to do that would be to play God, and we've been warned not to do evil so that good may abound. God has made a way to save us; Jesus has paid the ransom for our lost souls, if we flee from evil and run to Him. The laws of nature do not restrain God.

Shane

Posted: January 30, 2008 1:41 PM

LIZ, you've bought into the lie or maybe you are the one selling. It is a loophole. Just about every Liberal that voted against that ban, except for the ones that are ultra-liberal enough to be honest. That is not why Obama opposed that legislation. No one can force a woman to forfeit her life and many legal scholars have said that wasn't the issue. It's just another excuse the democrats use to never give in on the issue of destroying unborn lives. Support Obama if you want to but at least be honest about what he is and what he stands for. He is selling a line so that he can get elected. I won't sell my soul to vote for him.

What Islam says about Abortion

Posted: January 30, 2008 12:28 PM

Obama’s stance on abortion makes it unlikely that he could be a secret radical Muslim. www.crescentlife.com/family%20matters/islam_and_abortion.htm declares the Quran says: "what God has prohibited … kill not your children on a plea of poverty; … take not life, which God has made sacred, except by a way of justice and law (Ch 6, Vs 151). and: "Kill not your children for fear of want; it is We who provide sustenance for them as well as for you; for killing them is a great sin. (Ch 17, Vs 31). So Islam says it is a grave sin to take the life of children for fear of want. Neither is it allowed to do so for any other selfish reason. Islam does not at all agree with those who say that a woman has full control over her body. Islam considers our bodies as a trust, which we have to maintain. It also confirms that the fetus is the creation of God. No one has the right to get rid of it. Should a pregnant woman make abortion without the expectation of risk on the mother's life, this is murder.

Margie Lidster

Posted: January 30, 2008 12:19 PM

It's true, abortion and homosexuality is wrong. However, it is also wrong to focus on these two only when Christ' message was to feed the hungry, provide for those who cannnot help themselves. He didn't ask us to march for injustice, he asked us to do something about it concrete. What will He ask us when we stand before him? Everytime you gave a drink or food to the needy, every time you visited the sick, those in prison everytime you helped someone you were doing MY work. Let's use our energies to be his hands and feet in helping others and loving everyone. Remember He died for all. He loves us all. Then He gives us the freedom to chose whether we will accept Him and follow Him.

Bob	Posted: January 30, 2008 11:34 AM

Obama, not ObaHma, was raised by a mother who was a rebel, the daughter of an athiest couple. She was the second wife (bigamist wife) of a black Kenyan who left a pregnant wife in Kenya to come to Hawaii. If he was a Moslem in Kenya it would be legal according to their laws. In Hawaii the babe, was illegitimate according to American law. After the divorce Obama's mother married a Moslem from Indonesia (the world's largest Moslem nation) and moved there to live. He was schooled in Moslem schools and kindergarten until he was 8 years old when he and his mother moved back to the USA. My problem is not with his black father as much as his flakey mother. We need someone who has good judgement about the CHANGE he is thinking about. He speaks too much in generalities, and he was trained by a deficient mother. He now claims to be a Christian, but is it with a Muslim tilt? I would have to hear the details how he came to rely solely on the blood of Jesus Christ spilled for all of his sins.

Jenny

Posted: January 30, 2008 11:03 AM

The issue of abortion is NOT so complex! I wonder if Obama knows or understands what God did to Israel when they sacrificed THEIR children to an idol? He let their enemies (Babylon) capture them. Anyone who sanctions abortion on demand is for sacrificing children to the idols of sexual freedom and population control to 'Save' the envirionment. Someone should ask Obama how he can stomach the fact that millions of black babies have been sacrificed to that.

dennisofraleigh

Posted: January 30, 2008 10:41 AM

"Nobody is pro-abortion." But not everybody is "pro-life" and THAT is where the rubber meets the road. Secondly, women may *say* that "lack of finances" is the reason they have an abortion. However, the two biggest factors contributing to the outrageous numbers of abortions in this country is 1) the easy availability of obtaining an abortion, even for minors without their parents even knowing (in many states). AND we are an unashamedly promiscuous generation. The overwhelming majority of women conceive these babies by men they are not married to. And the men (knowing abortion is easily available) demand their girlfriends obtain an abortion. Compare the national abortion stats from 1967 and 1977. There were lots of poor women getting pregnant in 1967, but abortion did not reach such epidemic proportions until post-Roe v. Wade. Am I for doing all we can to assist women to choose life? Absolutely. Let's also have Women's Right to Know laws in every state (to start with).

Doreen Pettit

Posted: January 30, 2008 10:23 AM

I for one have never held or feared that Obama is a closet or otherwise, Mulim. However, for what it is worth, I also do not believe He is a Christian. I don't get his appeal. The majority of we people in the US want peace and freedom for all peoples, but there is a price to pay for that freedom. And as Christians, we aren't free to protect ourselves or to do things our way. We are set free to be dependent dependent on The Father, as Jesus modeled to us and to do things His way. He can be trusted to give us the peace and freedom that passes all understanding.

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