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June 3, 2008 | 7:53 am

Christianity and politics: Obama discusses salvation and public office

Posted by Brad A. Greenberg

I was at a wedding Saturday, and by the time I returned to my computer the next day, Barack Obama’s split from Trinity United Church of Christ was as appetizing as a cup of cold coffee, reported ad nauseum on the cover of the LA Times, on NPR, in the NY Times and everywhere else.

This didn’t come as much of a surprise considering the steady stream of bad news from the church’s pulpit, and it overshadowed a much more interesting story this weekend involving Christianity and Obama. (The fact it has received little attention has a lot more to do with the media’s bloodlust than news judgment.) Toward the end of news conference Saturday a reporter asked, “Can you give us some context of how your spirituality, your practice of religion factors into your decision making process as a leader, as a politician?”

I’ve stated over and over that I believe the marriage between religion and politics is a precarious, insincere affair. But this reporter asked just about the only relevant question on the topic. Here is Obama’s response, courtesy of Time magazine and via the DMN religion blog:

Well, look, obviously as a Christian I believe in the values that are laid out in Scripture. I reflect on them often. I reflect on the lessons of Scripture as I’m going through the day. I pray frequently. I wrestle with doubts and try to figure out whether I’m doing the right thing, am I operating in an honest and moral way that is true to my religious precepts? Sometimes I may falter. So I guess the point is, I approach my work or I guess my faith is part of everything that I do. And I don’t think there’s a clear separation between my faith and how I try to live my life. And I certainly think that part of my motivation in the work that I do is a belief in what I consider the core precept of Christianity in addition to Christ dying for your sins and that is treating your brothers and sisters as you would have them treat you. A sense of empathy and a belief in the golden rule. And that’s what I try to apply to my work and what I do every day.

In this, Obama says very little while saying a lot. But, reading between the lines, it is apparent that while Barack Obama may be a religious man, he is not selling his presidential bid as one ordained by God. Religion to Obama seems to be something you practice, the way to communicate with God, even if you can’t easily explain it to others. And that, rambling and Trinity-related rantings aside, is quite refreshing.

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That was reasonable.  You clarified something for me by zeroing in on that.  As a church-member Christian myself, I can’t understand how Barack ended up in that church, unless maybe his wife picked it!  That’s common enough.

Comment by Juliet on 6/03/08 at 3:37 pm

Interesting take.  Unlike many believers, I do not take Obama to task for staying at a church that has different political beliefs.  As a pro-life Democrat, I would be lonely indeed if I only attended a church with like-minded politically Christians.  I may disagree with my pastor’s interpretations of Scripture re: politics yet still love his Biblical teaching, the fellowship of other believers, and the spiritual accountability I find.

Comment by Bethany on 6/04/08 at 7:32 am

Brad, I really appreciate your comment. 

I grew up as one who had a profound interest in politics, to the point of considering—on many occasions—running for public office.  God’s call on my life to focus on spreading the Gospel, however, has moved me away from thoughts of campaigning for office.
 
If I may steal a thought from the movie, “The American President,” America is really tough.  It is very difficult to balance protecting the freedoms that are afforded by the Constitution and taking the kinds of positions that I believe must be advanced to the glory of God.  While I have a responsibility—as a citizen of the United States—to do what I can to protect those freedoms for others, I have elected to not work so hard to “strike the balance” necessary for Christian in public office so as to not have to question—within myself—my allegiences.

My “struggle,” though, has created a peculiar understanding of the Barack Obamas of in the public square—at least, where the articulation of his faith struggle is involved.  For example, I am opposed to the escalation of gay rights because of how I believe it dishonors my God; but I don’t want to live a country in which people would be forced to serve my God.  I’d rather approach the lost through evangelism.

Although, I feel that I am entitled to somewhat “cop out” where my struggle for balance is concerned; I think all of us—as believers—are required to seek wisdom from God that will allow for a peculiar civility and a balance that only the Holy Spirit can bring about as we participate in the public square.

Comment by Frank Anderson on 6/04/08 at 7:59 am

Just because a person calls himself a Christian and seems to have it down pat, does not mean that he is truly one of God’s men. Ask him for his salvation testimony.

Comment by catherine on 6/04/08 at 3:31 pm

Do you think mixing Christianity with Politics is like mixing oil and water?  Isn’t oil made with water? Or is it made with solids?

Comment by Peter Monroe on 9/10/08 at 11:05 am

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