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Theology in the News

Reading the Bible with Obama

The presidential candidate crosses swords with Dr. Dobson over hermeneutics.

Collin Hansen | posted 6/30/2008 09:46AM

John McCain's victory in the Republican presidential primary may have signaled the declining influence of Focus on the Family founder James Dobson, who vowed not to vote for the Arizona senator. Then ...

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Philip Friesen

Posted: July 12, 2008 9:53 PM

A Call for Evangelical Rhetorical Accountability (by Brian McLaren) The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA.org) was launched in 1979, in response to growing concern "over an increase of [sic] questionable fund-raising practices in the nonprofit sector." As their Web site explains, Sen. Mark Hatfield challenged "a group of key Christian leaders" to begin policing their own mission agencies as a kind of "Christian Better Business Bureau." Perhaps 30 years later, evangelicals, because of "an increase in questionable rhetorical practices in the nonprofit sector," need to form the ECRA: The Evangelical Council for Rhetorical Accountability. ... The need for an ECRA became clearer than ever to me this week when a beloved elder in the evangelical broadcasting community spoke out against Sen. Barack Obama.

Cezanne

Posted: July 12, 2008 5:50 PM

2 Timothy 4:2-5---Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. We as christians have a duty to pray for, research and look into the people who are running for political offices. If we would all do our part things could be different. But we also need to remember that the Lord is in control of EVERYTHING. He knows what is happening and what is going to happen. We need to make sure that we are holding on tight to the Lord and trusting in Him.

search for truth

Posted: July 11, 2008 11:18 PM

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=51121 Obama has consistently voted in favor of expanding abortion rights and the funding of abortion services with taxpayer dollars. As a state senator in 1997, he voted against Senate Bill 230, which sought to ban partial-birth abortions unless necessary to save the life of a mother. He also voted against a 2000 bill that would have ended state funding of partial-birth abortions. He voted “No” on a bill prohibiting minors from crossing state lines to gain access to abortion services, and “No” to requiring physicians to notify parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions. As a state senator in 2002, he voted against the Induced Infant Liability Act, which was intended to protect babies that survived late-term abortions from being permitted to die from intentional neglect.

Dee	Posted: July 10, 2008 9:31 PM


How gulllible christians are. We need discernment in these critical times. obama is a slick chicago politician. Very Dangerous.

Thom	Posted: July 09, 2008 8:45 AM

I look forward to a similar article on John McCain, to learn (from the author's perspective) exactly what Mr. McCain's beliefs are and if they merit the support of the evangelical community. Is he Mr. (Mc)Cain or Mr. Abel. He doesn't talk about his faith, so we really don't know. What we do know is that Mr. Dobson doesn't like him. However, that hardly anyone has commented on Mr. Dobson speaks volumes on his apparent growing irrelevance within the evangelical community. Because of the relative nastiness and fingerpointing on a high percentage of the comments entered, I find the mixture of faith and politics to be extremely unpleasant - but entirely unavoidable. Based on his considerable writing, Mr. Obama's faith seems quite genuine - no less genuine than the faith of Mr. Bush and, perhaps, Mr. McCain. Comments such as "anti-Christ," his being a secret Muslim, etc., etc., etc., speaks more to the fear of the accusers than to Mr. Obama.

Emmanuel

Posted: July 09, 2008 5:00 AM

Matthew 7: 1-5 says do not judge so that you may not be judged. It is the measure with which you judge that you will be judged. Judgement belongs to God and God alone. If you are pointing accusing finger on to someone the other three are pointing at you. Evangelists and these pastors running these comments should be aware that God’s will, will be done. Quincy Joan and Bill Gate though not pastors are teaching the pastor what to do “To feed the poor, heal the broken hearted.” The pastors use the text, “it is better to give than to receive” without applying this to themselves. Having acquired wealth from the congregation by way of tithes and offerings have not thought it wise to give back to their congregation. We all have faults so do not condemn Obama. He would not be President to Christians alone but to all. God’s light and rain shines and falls on all. Rich Warren has Quincy and Bill’s example. Let us as evangelists seek a way to rid the world of man’s inhumanity to man.

Joe	Posted: July 08, 2008 11:52 AM


I echo Matt's observation: what is the point of the article? Seems like you are dancing around trying to avoid the subject and perhaps, please everybody or not offend any body. If Senator Obama believes that we live out of faith in our daily lives, his excuse for condoning abortion does not make sense. One must be very careful not to use religion, the Bible and God for political purpose.

floyd

Posted: July 07, 2008 2:10 PM

in the 15 or so pages i read at the barber shop in time magazine not once did obama affirm that he accepted christ as his saviour, but everyone accepted him as a christian. how then can one present ones self as a christian without accepting that which was done on the cross, thus invoking the name of jesus the christ as my personal saviour. as yet i have not heard obama say this. as a lot of secular christians say i belive that a christ existed but have not called on his name for salvation. which is obama.

Discerning believer

Posted: July 06, 2008 7:01 PM

Collin Hansen seems to have fallen under the spell of Barack Obama. Obama does distort the Bible. He seems to have studied it very little considering he regards himself a scholar in general. Obama calls himself “a committed Christian” yet his version of Christianity isn’t Biblically based. In a newspaper interview, he said he doesn’t believe in eternal judgment. If there were no eternal judgment for sin, Jesus Christ wouldn’t have had to come down to earth to die on a cross. Obama doesn’t know if he’s going to heaven. Obama takes issues with Jesus’ words in John 14:6 where Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father but by Me.” Last year the highly esteemed Rev. D. James Kennedy of Coral Ridge Ministries closed his sermon on John 14:1-7 with this: “And let me add this. If you go out of here saying you don’t like that text (John 14:6), that is your privilege. But do not call yourself a Christian. You are calling Christ a liar."

Stephanie Moore

Posted: July 06, 2008 5:44 PM

I feel as though the use of religion in politics is almost mandatory. If not vocally and publicly, definitely in private. The fact that Obama has chosen to admit and not be embarassed by his father has brought him into favor amongst his many enemies. Thank you Jesus, for sending a leader that not only fears you, but renders the just respect you so deserve! Way to go, Obama...you are definitely a role model to those of us that operate in fear our employers and friends. Thank you for not keeping silent and acknowledging the use of scriptures and prayer to solve all problems.

Lawrence Mwangi

Posted: July 06, 2008 10:42 AM


waht a wonderfull article God bless

jack smit

Posted: July 06, 2008 7:28 AM

Barack Obama a Christian ? "I'm rooted in the Christian tradition" said Obama,who has declared himself a Christian. But then he adds something that most christians will see as universalism: 'I believe there are many paths to the same place,and that is a belief that there is a higher power,a believe that we are connected as a people" But Jesus says of Himself in John14:6 " I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." If all people of faith--- Chritians ,Jews, Muslims, animists etc.-- know the same God, then Jesus wasted his time coming to earth and he certainly did not have to suffer the pain of rejection and crucifixion if there are ways to God other than through Himself . Obama's reply:"There's the believe,in some quaters, that if people haven't embraced Jesus Christ as their personal savior, they'r going to hell " Obama doesn't believe he , or anyone else, will go to hell, but he is not sure he'll be going to heaven, either."

Dave	Posted: July 05, 2008 11:07 PM

Obama's beleif in Christianity is politcal, not faith based. He is pro abortion, pro gay marriage and does not believe Christians should be public about their faith. Like Hillary, he may call himself a CHritian, but readily states he does not believe CHrist is the way to salvation. I wonfer how many CT reporters come from the mainstream press. I read as much yellow press here as I do in my daily news paper.

LittleChrist

Posted: July 04, 2008 10:46 PM


What is the purpose of this article? To lead more people astray from Truth?

Debbie

Posted: July 04, 2008 6:47 PM


It's true we cannot see into another man's heart/soul. We can see his voting records and Obama's is not good. Please continue in prayer for our country through this election season that God will not judge the USA for our poor choices.

Steven Freeberg

Posted: July 04, 2008 3:20 PM

If he gets elected, we will become an "Obama-Nation". He cannot be trusted, and history proves that we learn nothing from our history."For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons that we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."2 Cor10:3,4. Christians are in a spiritual war of beliefs and attitudes and arguments. However, it isn’t always easy to know where the enemy is. There are millions of people who claim to be Christian and belong to a church. They say they believe in Christ, the spirit and the gospel. The gospel seems to progress. But are all who claim the name of Jesus truly His people? Our spiritual enemies use deception as the key to their success. They used the same words as us: Jesus, spirit, gospel.Read Jude 4.

Nelson

Posted: July 04, 2008 12:02 PM


read Gal 5 also

A Hermit

Posted: July 03, 2008 10:49 PM

Dr. James Dobson and many 'Christian' readers apply the Bible in a distorted way. Jesus never gave his blessing to 'capitalism'- in fact, he urged people to give away their extra possessions and work for a heavenly kingdom. The early Church held possessions in common, as do many intentional Christian communities today. He did not come to establish a materially wealthy and powerful Jewish nation state, but the 'kingdom of God' as people follow God's will. He would certainly not bless our nation's lust for power and greed. Materialism and greed threaten families the most. Our nation's sins of greed and materialism and lust for worldly power are given back seat by Dobson, just so long as we don't legalize abortions and homosexual marriages. Neither conservative nor liberal politics are approved by God, only individuals who have given themselves wholly in being to the Word.

Hugh Vincelette

Posted: July 03, 2008 5:52 PM


Dobson has a reputation for taking and distorting the research done by respected university researchers. It has riled the academics impacted , such that they have a website entitled respectmyresearch.org . His actions are the very definition of dishonesty and lack of ethics.

bill	Posted: July 03, 2008 2:49 PM

If you read this and are a true Believer, you better fall to your knees and prepare for the fall of the USA. Remember, most societies last for only 500 years or so before they fall into decay. If you count 1492 +/- as the start of America, be ready. No matter who wins in November, we best get on our knees. And if you truly believe all the Holy Bible (Gen-Rev) playing with the LORD will be hazardous to your health (or should I say your eternity - and don't take my word, check out ALL the scriptures of those who are inconsistant and unfaithful before responding)!

jeri	Posted: July 02, 2008 5:44 PM

For some reason as I watch Obama perform his magic on the masses, 2 Thessalonians, Chapter 2 comes to mind. Although I'm not, by any means, implying that this passage describes Obama, it does seem clear to me that there is a spirit of delusion in the world...including our nation. I'm deeply troubled by the evidence that a majority of Americans have rejected even the possibility that there is absolute and indisputable truth. This rejection makes us prey to every sort of idea or proposition, unable to distinguish truth from a lie. Above all other forces, it is this inability that will ultimately lead to the destruction of this nation we have known and loved.

GrammaJeanne

Posted: July 02, 2008 4:48 PM

We don't have a Theocracy, here, as we would in a heavenly kingdom...what we have is a democracy--which must give courtesy to adherents of differing philosophies. A politician's particular temptation is to play down his own convictions in order to garner votes from those who disagree with him. That is intellectually and spiritually dishonest. If he believes in God, and believes that God has led him to run for President, then he should be honest and courageous about his own convictions and trust God to take care of his opponents. Religious people have made martyrs out of honest believers, like Joan of Arc and Christ Himself. You can't expect us on the religious right, or left or center to agree with you. We are too busy arguing among ourselves! So, Barack, decide what you believe and stick with it. And pray for the country you hope to lead. And I will pray for you.

Cezanne

Posted: July 02, 2008 4:33 PM

Anglican

Posted: July 02, 2008 4:14 PM

How like Psalm 81 or Psalm 106 is Romans 1:18-32 ? Psalms (NRSV)81 God's Appeal to Stubborn Israel To the leader: according to The Gittith. Of Asaph. 1Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob. 2Raise a song, sound the tambourine, the sweet lyre with the harp. 3at the full moon, on our festal day. 4For it is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob. 5He made it a decree in Joseph, when he went out over1 the land of Egypt. I hear a voice I had not known: 6"I relieved your2 shoulder of the burden; your3 hands were freed from the basket. 7In distress you called, and I rescued you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah 8Hear, O my people, while I admonish you; O Israel, if you would but listen to me! 9There shall be no strange god among you; you shall not bow down to a foreign god. 10I am th

RxBach

Posted: July 02, 2008 1:11 PM

I'm amazed that thinking, biblical Christians take at face value what Obama says about "religion." A while back he began his predictable march toward the center because without convincing people that his views (on almost everything) are not so far out as his (admittedly meager) Senate voting record shows, he surely won't get elected. The UCC congregation he was associated with for 20 years is part of a denomination that can surely not call itself Christian by any orthodoxly biblical standard (which is not to say there are no Christians in it, of course). But now he's left them at last. How convenient! We hardly need Obama to tell us how to interpret the Bible when the UCC plays willy nilly with it. You folks in/near Chicago at Christianity Today ought to understand better than most that Obama is just another politician, try as he might to appear otherwise, and untainted by the Chicago Way. It's bad enough that the secular press are still starry-eyed about him. -- from a former Dem.

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