Thank you, President Obama.
In his second inaugural address, President Obama, made his position clear on a highly controversial topic in today’s social debate.
Many of his friends are likely outraged. For twenty years they have worked to convince the American people that God has no place in politics. They have preached not just a separation of the organizations of church and state but a dualistic division of truth into moral thought and governing thought.
With this speech the President repudiated that division.
From his opening quotation of the Declaration—”endowed by their Creator”—to his closing remarks tying America’s moral obligation to its governing responsibility, the President showed that all authority for truth flows from the Almighty. He understands truth cannot be separated—work from home, Sunday from Monday, the White House from the church house.
Truth in one place is truth in all places. Our lives need not be divided.
It would be easy to focus on points of disagreement with President Obama’s speech and those points are significant. However, I was struck by the foundation on which the speech was built. The speech was crafted upon the idea that theology matters. Not only does it matter, it trumps personal ideology and political preference.
In this climate where God is often pushed off the page, Obama made Him front and center.
My fear is that too few people will notice.
Will Bill Maher lament?
Will Hollywood question?
Will conservative Christians cheer?
Probably not.
Maher won’t notice; Hollywood won’t care; and too many conservative Christians will find points of disagreements (to which there are many) never realizing that we have been invited to the table for discussion.
By linking his political agenda to a long-lasting moral cause, President Obama has rejected a common argument of our day. God belongs in the discussion of every issue of American life.
This is a discussion I am ready to have.
Thank you, President Obama.
11 Responses to Why Bill Maher (and all atheists) Should Hate President Obama
Caleb January 21, 2013
In some respects what you pointed out may show both open mindedness and the lack of it. Conservatives and liberals are able to elect someone who doesn’t share their religious beliefs as long as they share their political beliefs. Bill Mahar supports a Christian president because he shares his political beliefs. Conservative evangelics can vote for a conservative Mormon. However, maybe the point is that we aren’t open the other way. We’d think badly of a Christian who held different political leanings than ours. I don’t know. Just a thought.
Kevin January 21, 2013
I know for me I often have higher expectations for some more than others. From those that I expect more, I probably have less tolerance when they choose differently than I expect.
Chris January 21, 2013
Oh look, a Christian trying to tell others who they “should” hate based on their beliefs. Typical.
Kevin January 21, 2013
Chris, did you read the post or did you just respond to a headline?
chris January 28, 2013
Yes, I read the article. Why did you choose to put “hate” in the headline, if it didn’t reflect the article?
As an athiest, I don’t care what someone’s religious beliefs are (or lack thereof). I only care if someone can navigate through their life, and public policy if necessary, in a way that is just toward everyone. Some people think they need religion to do that, others don’t. It’s very pragmatic when you evaluate someone’s personality based on actions rather than words, and doesn’t cloud your judgment with extraneous details.
Kevin January 28, 2013
Headlines are meant to get readers. The headline got your attention.
As an atheist were you concerned with the President’s connection of his policy with God? I’m very surprised there hasn’t been a larger outcry about it.
Chris January 29, 2013
First, are you really trying to convince me that the headline was *just* to get attention, and has absolutely no connection to your article? You know that’s either a hackneyed approach, or a lame backtracking excuse, right? If you didn’t mean it, why say it? Might as well have the title “Big Tits XXX” as the headline.
Second, no, I’m not concerned with Obama’s vague mentioning of god here and there, and I don’t think it’s as significant as you are making it out to be. Whether he is sincere in his faith or not is of no matter to me, although honestly I’d rather he be sincere than pandering. As I stated before, actions are all we can really evaluate in a person. If you want Christians to be part of the conversation, perhaps you should address the policy concerns Obama mentioned, instead of reducing all his points to some sort of larger theological stance that you are reading into his speech. You make a lot of assumptions about Obama’s larger policy intentions with mentioning god.
Perhaps the reason a Christian such as yourself is “surprised” that there hasn’t been a larger outcry about Obama’s occasional mentioning of his faith is because you don’t seem to understand that most of us don’t think someone’s creed or beliefs are cause for concern unless they are harming someone else.
Christians however, excel at making a mountain out of a molehill and being “so heavenly minded that they’re no earthly good.” Christians have never NOT been invited to the public discussion especially considering the vast majority of Americans identify themselves as Christian. It’s just that some Christians don’t seem capable of discussing things in a rational, logical way; they’re too busy reading into every mention of god or imagined slight as if it’s somehow more significant than it truly is.
C Means January 21, 2013
Kevin
Its truly a blessing to know that our leader is a believer in God to a certain degree. My son that is seventeen looks up to President Obama which we all should as our president, but i have never really heard any clear confession from our president on his beliefs. Thankful to hear it! Thankful for the blog!
Kevin January 21, 2013
Thanks Christa. I wish the President would be more Christ-centered but at least he isn’t like many who are pushing God to the side. There are several areas in which I have deep respect for the President. There are other areas where I have deep concerns.
RJ January 22, 2013
If you google search Obama’s comments at the National Prayer Breakfast you can see a pretty clear evangelical testimony. Do I wish the President’s faith equated to a pro-life political stance? Yes, I do. I also wish that many evangelicals would allow their faith to transform their thinking on immigration, civilian casualties(especially children)resulting from our cavalier attitude of war, etc.
Kevin January 22, 2013
Very true RJ. My greatest lament of the last four years is how the evangelical community has pushed the President away instead of engaging him. He has communicated a better testimony of what Christ has done for him than many in our churches. Instead of seeing him as a young convert, many have seen him as an enemy. In my opinion, that’s a tragic mistake.