LETTER: If Obama is really saved, he needs to act like it

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Wednesday, August 20. 2008

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Dear Editor:

Recent letters and news reports claiming that Barack Obama is such a great Christian are very disturbing. Even Obama claims to be a Christian. I fear that he is like many people in that he doesn’t understand what it takes to be a Christian.

I’m not judging whether or not he is a Christian, because I don’t have that right or power. In a recent TV interview questioning his faith, he said “I believe the stories in the Bible are fundamentally correct.” Being a member of a church or attending a church does not make a person a Christian.

Saying you believe in God and the Bible doesn’t do it either. Satan believes in God and the Bible. The only way to be a Christian is to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal savior. I have never once heard Obama mention Jesus, much less talk about having a personal relationship with Him.

If he is not saved, I pray that he will be one day. If he is saved, he needs to act like it.

Sincerely,

George Pate

Commerce

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#1 Joe Hallenbeck on 08/20/08 at 06:46 PM [Reply]

I think you have a good point. Barack Obama attended a "Black Liberation Theology" church for better than 17 years. Liberation theology is very much different than mainstream Christian Theology in that liberation abandons the eternal salvation principals for a present version of retribution by God against non-blacks by citing scripture.

James Cone published the seminal work that systemized black liberation theology, Black Theology and Black Power, in 1969. In the book, Cone asserted that not only was black power not alien to the Gospel, it was, in fact, the Gospel message for all of 20th century America.

Cone stated, "Black theology refuses to accept a God who is not identified totally with the goals of the black community. If God is not for us and against white people, then he is a murderer, and we had better kill him. The task of black theology is to kill Gods who do not belong to the black community ... Black theology will accept only the love of God which participates in the destruction of the white enemy. What we need is the divine love as expressed in Black Power, which is the power of black people to destroy their oppressors here and now by any means at their disposal. Unless God is participating in this holy activity, we must reject his love."

Jeremiah Wright, Obama'a "Pastor" who married he and Michelle and baptized his children, preached racially and politically charged sermons. Wright, who began the "Ministers in Training" program at Trinity United Church of Christ, has been a national leader in promoting theological education and the preparation of seminarians for the African-American church. The church's mission statement is based upon systematized Black liberation theology that started with the works of James Cone.

Maybe that's why Obama doesn't act like it.

#1.1 Jackson County Resident on 08/21/08 at 09:22 AM [Reply]

Yes, you got one part right. You have no power to judge
if Obama is saved or not.
But, I will ask all McCain supporters to take the same
look at McCain as you are Obama. McCain has a mouth like
a sailor, an extremely dangerous temper, has committed
adultry and loves war and the killing it produces.
Maybe we don't have any candidates who are Christians so
lets not jump to conclusions on Obama.

#1.1.1 Anonymous on 08/22/08 at 09:07 AM [Reply]

Well, McCain was a Navy captain. That would explain the sailor mouth, but I seriously doubt anyone who has spent 5 years being tortured in Vietnam loves war. I just think that he is not a weak chicken who would back down if war was necessary.

McCain has not made the same religious claims as Obama in attempts to pander to a demographic (such as evangelicals). I am a Christian, but for me personally this whole issue is not about Christianity but integrity vs. hypocrisy.

#2 Nobody on 08/20/08 at 07:20 PM [Reply]

Wow.

#3 Anonymous on 08/21/08 at 09:27 AM [Reply]

Of course he's not a Christian!
If he were a true born-again, Bible-believing Christian, nobody would have to wonder about it! And, the "rumors" that he is a closet Muslim would have never had a chance to get started.
Obama is a Christian the way most American's "think" they are a Christian--they go to church occassionally and expect a holy God to wink at their sin when they die.
Jesus said, "Ye must be born again", and He meant it!

#4 kevin w on 08/22/08 at 08:32 AM [Reply]

Democrat vs Republican: ( I love this story)

A Father/Daughter Talk

A young woman was about to finish her first year of college. Like so many others her age, she considered herself a very liberal Democrat, and was very much in favor of 'the redistribution of wealth.'

She was deeply ashamed that her father was a rather staunch Republican, a feeling she openly expressed. Based on the lectures that she had participated in, and the occasional chat with a professor, she felt that her father had for years harbored an evil, selfish desire to keep what he thought should be his.

One day she was challenging her father on his opposition to higher taxes on the rich and the addition of more government welfare programs. The self-professed objectivity proclaimed by her professors had to be the truth and she indicated so to her father. He responded by asking how she was doing in school.

Taken aback, she answered rather haughtily that she had a 4.0 GPA, and let him know that it was tough to maintain, insisting that she was taking a very difficult course load and was constantly studying, which left her no time to go out and party like other people she knew. She did not even have time for a boyfriend, and did not really have many college friends because she spent all her time studying.

Her father listened and then asked, 'How is your friend Audrey doing?'

She replied, 'Audrey is barely getting by. All she takes are easy classes, she never studies, and she barely has a 2.0 GPA. She is so popular on campus; college for her is a blast. She's always invited to all the parties, and lots of times she doesn't even show up for classes because she's too hung over.'

Her wise father asked his daughter, 'Why don't you go to the Dean's office and ask him to deduct a 1.0 off your GPA and give it to your friend who only has a 2.0. That way you will both have a 3.0 GPA and certainly that would be a fair and equal distribution of GPA.'

The daughter, visibly shocked by her father's suggestion, angrily fired back, 'That wouldn't be fair! I have worked hard for my grades! I have invested a lot of time, and a lot of hard work! Audrey has done next to nothing toward her degree. She played while I worked my tail off!'

The father slowly smiled, winked and said gently, 'welcome to the Republican Party.???

#4.1 Anonymous on 08/22/08 at 06:06 PM [Reply]

Democrat vs. Republican
So based on that presumption, I guess Jesus is a
Democrat. Jesus helped everyone...Republicans just
want to help themselves.
And if you really don't like handouts (ie: welfare),
than give your GW Bush stimulus check back to the
government.

#4.1.1 Anonymous on 08/23/08 at 07:50 AM [Reply]

my stimulus check was MY money, being returned to me. It was not welfare.

#4.1.2 Anonymous on 08/23/08 at 08:13 AM [Reply]

Actually, Jesus did not help everyone! He helped those that repented of their sins and believed in him. If anyone wants to post about the Bible, have the decency to read it first.
I won't go into God's politics, but He did say, "If a man will not work, neither let him eat".
Try to draw your same conclusion from that.

#4.1.2.1 Anonymous on 08/23/08 at 06:33 PM [Reply]

If the economy keeps up, a bunch of us will be on
Welfare!!!!!!

#4.1.3 kevin w on 08/23/08 at 09:17 AM [Reply]

SOCIAL PROGRAMS ARE A GOOD THING UNTIL PEOPLE START TO USE THEM AS A CRUTCH THEY WERE PUT INTO PLACE TO HELP FOLKS WHO FACE A HARDSHIP DURING THIER LIFE HOW EVER NOW YOU SEE 2ND AND 3RD GENERATIONS GETTING THEM AS A MEANS OF SUPPORT ! ALSO THEY ARE AVALIBLE FOR ILLEGALS SO THE WELFARE PROGRAM HAS BECOME A MAGNET FOR THEM (THE ILLEGALS) AND THEY COME IN DROVES PUTTING A STRAIN ON OUR SCHOOLS AND MEDICAL HOSPITALS P.S. JESUS DID NOT HELP EVERYONE HE MADE SOME WAIT ! I THINK THIS WAS TO SHOW THEM THAT THEY NEED TO CHANGE SO THAT THINGS LIKE THEY WERE NEEDING FROM HIM WOULD NOT HAPPEN TO THEM ANYMORE

#4.1.4 Anonymous on 08/23/08 at 10:00 AM [Reply]

Sorry, but the stimulus check was a tax rebate - we were getting back what we had already earned. I don't see how getting some of my own money back is a handout.

#4.1.5 Anonymous on 08/26/08 at 05:19 PM [Reply]

"Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:1-4).

It is biblical that we pray for those in authority. As we set ourselves to pray for them, God turns their hearts in such a way that results in a quiet and peaceable life. But that is not the only reason for such prayer. The latter portion of this scripture reveals that God, "who desires all men to be saved," commands this prayer. The command to pray for authorities comes from the desire in God to see all men saved. In some way, praying for our president, governors, mayors and city councilmen and police officers creates order in our country that is conducive for salvation. It's important to keep this perspective while praying. We pray, not so we will have no responsibility, but so our responsibility of getting men saved will be fulfilled in a greater measure. Therefore, set yourselves to pray for "all who are in authority," and we will all see a greater harvest in our nation, WHOEVER might be elected.

#5 Agnostica on 08/22/08 at 01:17 PM [Reply]

You know what my favorite thing in the world is? I'll tell you.

Each week, millions and millions of Americans put on expensive dress cloths and load into expensive cars and drive past homeless shelgers, oprphanages, prisons, missions, and halfway houses on their way to a very expensive and nice church, where somebody tells them how to be more like Jesus.

Good job that.

#5.1 Anonymous on 08/22/08 at 03:49 PM [Reply]

Just who do you think pays for, and works at, these homeless shelters, orphanages, missions, and halfway houses?? And who goes into the prisons trying to bring light?
What a foolish and ignorant comment.

#5.1.1 agnostica on 08/22/08 at 04:21 PM [Reply]

surely not ALL of the millions and millions of "christians".

The truly good souls do what you state sure, but they are not all Christians by the definitions I see posted in this thread. One does not need to be christian to have a good heart and soul. Or religious for that matter. I myself have donated countless hours helping in various types of settings and I didn't do it because "I'm a christian" (which I am not as you can possibly tell by the name).

So take your "foolish an ignorant" comment and walk the other way. For every 'good christian' you'll find at least a dozen or more weekend Christians who quit being this almighty christian as soon as they walk out of the doors of the church. And don't even get me started on the 'bad christians' (westboro church maybe?)

Being christian is just a label. It doesn't matter if you are Jehova witness or Christian or Athiest. You get out of life what you put into it, not what organizations you belong to. And you can surely lead a good and respectable life without being labeled as a Christian. Yet many feel that you can not. And it is sad. People really need to get over this whole is he christian or not christian thing. Rather annoying to say the least.

#5.1.1.1 Anonymous on 08/23/08 at 08:08 AM [Reply]

You are confused about the fundamentals: People can call themselves whatever they want. But, there is only one type of Christian that God recognizes and that is one who is born again.
You are so correct about the majority of people who "call" themselves Christians--they are not. Reread some of the above posts.
But, since you do not believe that God is alive, then you will not believe that he changes lives. He does! He changed mine!
You can be a good person in the eyes of people everywhere, but that does not impress God. You can donate all of your money and time in the above places "doing good", but that will not make anyone a Christian.
Hell is full of religious, good, kind, people! God is not a scorekeeper, deciding if you did more good things than bad things. Only those who repent of their sins and trust Christ, will go to Heaven. You don't have to worry that all the "Christian pretenders" are going to trick God.
Stop looking at other people for your example of how to live, and look at Christ. He is the only way to salvation.
You may say that "Christian" is just a label (and we do agree that anyone can SAY that they are a Christian), but what matters is this: Does God know that I am a Christian?
Remember the saying: wishing don't make it so.
One last thing--God makes the rules. Men can, and do, twist those rule to suit themselves. But God is not fooled.

#5.1.1.1.1 Agnostica on 08/23/08 at 08:13 PM [Reply]

You have some very valid points but I'd like to point out one misunderstanding. You state: "But, since you do not believe that God is alive". Being agnostic does not mean you feel God or god or whatever is dead. In fact it is the complete opposite. It's more of a belief that we have no way to prove or disprove that God does or does not exist.

I completely believe God is alive but I can not prove it. What I do NOT believe in is any form of man made rules and organized religion. Living in the area I do it is fairly diverse between religious viewpoints and ethnicity. I know Muslims, Jewish, Atheists, Jehovah's, you name it I probably know someone of that belief and race.

I have a hard time looking at all of those people and saying "yep that one is right, the rest are wrong and will live an eternity of Misery". Especially when you look into the many histories and mythologies of the vast religions in the world (even the now extinct ones such as Norse Gods) All religions had a "great flood". Doubt me? Look into it. Also they all have one similar secular belief of the "Golden Rule". You know the rule I'm sure.

Being Agnostic I'm more of the belief that all of the organized religions are not "wrong" but there is an inherent flaw and that's the condemnation of those of other beliefs. That condemnation goes completely against the Golden Rule. Live by the Golden Rule and you'll do OK in the end in my opinion.

Am I right? Are you right? It would suck if we were both wrong wouldn't it heh. I don't know if I am right any more then you know that you are right. It all comes down to Faith. You have Faith in your opinion being right, and I have mine. We'll never change the others opinions, but at least we can appreciate the others opinion. And to me that is the primary downfall of society in general, we fail to appreciate others opinions and try to push our opinions on others (I'm just as guilty as the next) and it causes animosity, hatred and sometimes wars (Pakistan etc). We need to learn to live and let live and not automatically discount someone just because they do not follow our belief systems.

For what it's worth my more then two cents.

#5.1.1.1.1.1 Anonymous on 08/24/08 at 02:21 PM [Reply]

The difference, then, is that you trust only what you can prove. God will never "prove Himself" to anyone, He requires faith (which is essentially the opposite of proof).
I trust what God says in His Word (which is available to all), and I believe because of what He has done in my life
You are 100% correct about man-made religion--it is a complete farce and holds people in bondage. But thankfully, TRUE Christianity is not man-made!
I understand where you are coming from. I was an atheist before I was saved. No one was more surprised than I was when my life started to change. Until it happened TO me, I could never understand it. And no one CAN understand it until it happens to them. That is why I can say with much certainty that Obama is not a Christian--his priorities are not God's priorities.
I pray that God will draw you unto Himself. Then you also will KNOW Him personally. Your changed heart and life will be all of the proof you need.

#5.2 Beverly on 08/24/08 at 09:08 AM [Reply]

Sweetie, I had the same concept. I wrote a letter to the pastor of what looked like a 2 million dollar church and asked him why they weren't ministering to the trailer park across the street from the church. Do you know that this church took Christmas presents to those children in that trailer park and found out that they were living in worse conditions than the people they had been ministering to in Honduras? The trailer park was closed and these families were relocated with the help of this church family. Nearly 10 years later, I am a member of that church. Not because of what they did at the trailer park, or because it's a really nice building, or because of who goes there. The HOLY SPIRIT, someone who a lot of so-called Christians don't ever mention, led me to walk in the door one Sunday morning and I found a FRIEND (Jesus) I'd never known in all the other denominational churches I had been in. So let me invite you to a PERFECT CHURCH FOR PEOPLE WHO AREN'T! New Covenant Worship Center. (706) 613-5000 for more information or ncwc.org - Jesus fills the void in our hearts that nothing or no one else can.

#6 kevin w on 08/23/08 at 09:56 AM [Reply]

This is for all those who say that Barrack Hussein Obama is a Christian. When did a Christian make fun of the scripture? Is this just more evidence that Barrack Hussein Obama is a Muslim.

CUT AND PASTE THIS TO YOUR BROWSER

http://www.youtube.com/v/4FCNKwHRCQM
LISTEN WHAT THIS IDIOT SAYS ABOUT THE HOLY SCRIPTURES AND WHAT HE SAYS ABOUT JESUS'S SERMON ON THE MOUNT ! THEN TRY AND WIGGLE YOUR WAY INTO SAYING THIS GUY IS A CHRISTIAN !

#6.1 Anonymous on 08/24/08 at 02:27 PM [Reply]

to Kevin: No one that makes fun of Scripture is a Christian. You are correct.
But, your attitude is not Christ-like. Not one person's comment above has said that Obama is a Christian. He may be able to fool Hollywood, but he can't fool Madison County.

#7 Mike B on 08/24/08 at 12:39 PM [Reply]

When you vote for obama, your voting to have your taxes raised, your guns taken away, and more social programs for people who dont want to help themselves. there was an article in the AJc yrs ago about a family on welfare for 8 generations, what the heck are we paying these fools to stay home and not work.obama is a muslim not a Christian. His wife is a racist, she hates white people, just go read about some of the things she has said.This isnt a bashing , its all there in black and white. if you put him in the white house, we will all suffer and this nation will fall.I'm not a racist, If Collen Powell was running I'd vote for him. obama has no experience and , oh how can you be commander in chief of all the military if you never served.I'm voting for McCain, not because i'm a republican, but because he is the lesser of the 2 evils. A USMC vietnam combat veteran.

#8 kevin w on 08/26/08 at 06:30 AM [Reply]

Democrats have suddenly developed an interesting sense of morality. John Edwards has been banned from making a speech at the DemocraticConvention for having an affair and lying about it. Bill Clinton will be speaking in his place.

#8.1 Anonymous on 08/26/08 at 10:56 AM [Reply]

that's pretty funny. sad--but funny.

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LETTER: If Obama is really saved, he needs to act like it

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