I already knew I had a lot in common with President Obama. This comes as no great surprise. But I'm glad I found it on the TM Blog:
http://tentmaker.org/blog1/?p=82#more-82
That is an awesome article.
Quote from: eaglesway on May 02, 2010, 03:53:51 PM
That is an awesome article.
I thought so as well, Eaglesway. I haven't looked around the main Tentmaker site in a while -- didn't realize Gary had been currently blogging. I wanted to check out the main site because a girl I've known since 1st grade is going through a very traumatic loss and I gave her a link to the main Tentmaker pages in hopes that some of the writings would be a help and comfort to her. Any/all prayers on her behalf would be appreciated.
I will pray.
I'm very suspicious of religious certainty expressing itself in politics.
Quote by Obama
Quote from: Redlettervoice on May 05, 2010, 02:14:04 AM
I'm very suspicious of religious certainty expressing itself in politics.
Quote by Obama
I assume you feel the same way, Carlene. I do. Our founding Fathers wanted freedom from Catholic controlled Europe. I suppose you could say they wanted to put the Pope on a rope :laughing7: What if Fred Phelps were President? Oh my, what a frightening thought.
Quote from: Raggedy Anne on May 05, 2010, 07:30:20 AM
Quote from: Redlettervoice on May 05, 2010, 02:14:04 AM
I'm very suspicious of religious certainty expressing itself in politics.
Quote by Obama
I assume you feel the same way, Carlene. I do.
Our founding Fathers wanted freedom from Catholic controlled Europe. I suppose you could say they wanted to put the Pope on a rope :laughing7: What if Fred Phelps were President? Oh my, what a frightening thought.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The point President Obama makes in the statement quoted above is very well said
and right to the point, personaly I am suspicious of the same religious certainty expressing itself in politics because religion and politics mixed together suck to begin with unless one desires to live in a man fashioned babylonian style ruled theocracy, so I agree with what President Obama has said here.
Peace,
Fire Walker
Wow, I enjoyed that! Thanks!
I'm new here, but personally I think it might be a mistake to associate Obama with UR (what he says in the interview is not really UR). I think a lot of people who may come across this site may be like me, a conservative Christian who is looking for answers to a real contradiction in traditional study of the Bible, and I have to admit it gave me more than a minute of pause when I saw Obama featured prominently in the middle of the page.
With that said, several of his quotes in the interview are un-Scriptural and seem to to be centered on him (Obama) rather than Him:
"...I'm rooted in the Christian tradition. I believe that there are many paths to the same place..."
Ques: So you yourself born again? Ans: "Yeah...I'm not somebody who is always comfortable with language that implies that I've got a monopoly on the truth, or that my faith is automatically transferable to others...I think that religion at it's best comes with a big dose of doubt..."
Ques: Who's Jesus to you? Ans: laughs nervously "Jesus is a historical figure for me. And he's also a bridge between God and man, in the Christian faith...He serves as that means of us reaching something higher."
Ques: Do you believe..in a place spiritually you go after you die? Ans: "What I believe in is that if I live my life as well as I can, I will be rewarded..."
Ques: What is sin? Ans: "Being out of alignment with my values."
I have no doubt that God loves Obama as he loves every man, and he will be saved, but I do not find what he has said here to be related to the Scriptural Truth of UR. I think he is probably like many if not most semi-religious or non-religious people who believe in God, but don't believe in hell, because really it's against every sense of human goodness, mercy, and justice (and God is infinitely more good, merciful, and just than man). I think "hell-fire" Evangelical Christians have convinced themselves that they need to believe in hell to love God, because of what has been taught by the church for the last 1500 years.
Fortunately I was able to get over my bias against Obama, and see that the resources on this website are beyond wonderful and have freed me from a prison. I just wouldn't want other people like me to miss that chance.
Matthew 25:
11 Afterward came also the other virgins (those with no real experience with God), saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
Quote from: KJEU on June 24, 2010, 03:34:12 AM
Ques: So you yourself born again? Ans: "Yeah...I'm not somebody who is always comfortable with language that implies that I've got a monopoly on the truth, or that my faith is automatically transferable to others...I think that religion at it's best comes with a big dose of doubt..."
In other words "born again" has no religious meaning to him.
QuoteQues: Who's Jesus to you? Ans: laughs nervously "Jesus is a historical figure for me. And he's also a bridge between God and man, in the Christian faith...He serves as that means of us reaching something higher."
Keywords "in the Christian faith" Meaning not his faith.
QuoteQues: Do you believe..in a place spiritually you go after you die? Ans: "What I believe in is that if I live my life as well as I can, I will be rewarded..."
Here he only says he will be rewarded (in this life)
QuoteQues: What is sin? Ans: "Being out of alignment with my values."
Again nothing religious.
Quotebut I do not find what he has said here to be related to the Scriptural Truth of UR
I agree with that. All answers are just hollow political rethoric. Just read back the questions. He didn't answer any of them.
Peronally I think Obama's only religion is greed. And even if he had an religion he can't speak about it because he has voters of all religions.
People busy about their lives, working, raising their kids, sometimes pursuing special interests like art or science, even politics, often haven't made "religion" a matter of study, whether in or out of religious institutions. Their statements can sound sort of generic, certainly not oracular, yet they may live their lives according to a few simple ideas of righteousness and mercy. We would be wrong to belittle their faith. They often consider it to be other's vocation to be "spiritual" or to study to be well enough informed about religious categories to speak authoritatively and in greater detail about God. Many work out the ideas of the beatific vision, the utopian community, and establishing justice along very irreligious lines.
I wonder how God judges them compared to those faithfully attending and supporting a steeple house, saying the things that give them acceptance among that community, yet never entering deeply into experiencing God, being little involved in other's lives, and making little difference for the better in the way things are done in the world around them?
Quote from: reFORMer on June 24, 2010, 07:24:50 AMI wonder how God judges them compared to those faithfully attending and supporting a steeple house, saying the things that give them acceptance among that community, yet never entering deeply into experiencing God, being little involved in other's lives, and making little difference for the better in the way things are done in the world around them?
Many don't agree with it but imo 'works' are (still) of great importance during judgement.
I'm now thinking about the verses: "If you help the poor/sick/hungry/thirsty/etc you have done so to me."
I think judgement is about two parts: Believe in Jesus. Be like Jesus.
A regardless of (lack of) religion a person can be like Jesus. But being religious doesn't automatically mean you be like Jesus.
Any appeal to an authority figure is a false way to reason something as true.
We can be glad if Obama has seen that spiritual freedom, but to me using him to gain doctrinal strength is actually demeaning to the faith and christendom uses this ploy in abundance.
This may not have been Garys intention, just giving my pennies.
Quote from: KJEUWith that said, several of his quotes in the interview are un-Scriptural and seem to to be centered on him (Obama) rather than Him:
"...I'm rooted in the Christian tradition. I believe that there are many paths to the same place..."
Ques: So you yourself born again? Ans: "Yeah...I'm not somebody who is always comfortable with language that implies that I've got a monopoly on the truth, or that my faith is automatically transferable to others...I think that religion at it's best comes with a big dose of doubt..."
Ques: Who's Jesus to you? Ans: laughs nervously "Jesus is a historical figure for me. And he's also a bridge between God and man, in the Christian faith...He serves as that means of us reaching something higher."
Ques: Do you believe..in a place spiritually you go after you die? Ans: "What I believe in is that if I live my life as well as I can, I will be rewarded..."
Ques: What is sin? Ans: "Being out of alignment with my values."
You will know them by their fruit.
It never fails.
for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.--Luke 6
It's difficult though for a president to talk about faith in Jesus, for he lives in a country of all faiths and being president he wants to keep the votes, for the other faiths don't regard Jesus in the same light as Christians. Nevertheless I think he should have the right to have freedom in his faith just like all people and a bold president who is not shy about his faith is a good thing for the country. It would be great if there was another like Abraham Lincoln though.
I thought it very Good! :banana: :Egyptdance2:
Whether it's Obama or Bush or another man (or woman!) in office, it's still just a human operating in a human system.
Paul told us to pray for all those in authority for two very good reasons... so that we might lead our lives as believers in peace and because it is good and right and acceptable to pray for every person.
Whenever I start to get agitated about politics or politicians, I try to remember Paul's warning that "we wrestle not against flesh and blood."
LOL... it doesn't always work, though. :)
Peace,
Andy
:cloud9: I hear you :sigh: :winkgrin:
willieH: Hey Card... :prankster:
Quote:sigh: :winkgrin: :thumbsup: :2thumbs: :CryBaby: :eek:
:offtopic: Are these the ........"grays"? :laughing7:
This was an :wacko2: UNPAID POLITICAL announcement, ...okay, now back to amabO/
+\Obama... :blah: ...Or as I think of him, brother "Oby" (not to be confused with "wan-kanobi")
...SillieH er... ...willieH :beerburp:
Quote from: willieH on July 12, 2010, 11:16:12 PM
willieH: Hey Card... :prankster:
Quote:sigh: :winkgrin: :thumbsup: :2thumbs: :CryBaby: :eek:
:offtopic: Are these the ........"grays"? :laughing7:
This was an :wacko2: UNPAID POLITICAL announcement, ...okay, now back to amabO/+\Obama... :blah: ...Or as I think of him, brother "Oby" (not to be confused with "wan-kanobi")
...SillieH er... ...willieH :beerburp:
speaking in other tongues? you must be drunk on the "spirits" called holy ghost. :happy3:
Quote from: willieH on July 12, 2010, 11:16:12 PM
willieH: Hey Card... :prankster:
Quote:sigh: :winkgrin: :thumbsup: :2thumbs: :CryBaby: :eek:
:offtopic: Are these the ........"grays"? :laughing7:
This was an :wacko2: UNPAID POLITICAL announcement, ...okay, now back to amabO/+\Obama... :blah: ...Or as I think of him, brother "Oby" (not to be confused with "wan-kanobi")
...SillieH er... ...willieH :beerburp:
:cloud9: :grin: :msealed: