I endorse Barack Obama!
Over dinner the other night Karen and I talked with our kids about the phenomenon that is Barrack Obama. For the moment let’s leave aside his politics - good or bad. Think about his message and how people have responded to it. Why has the message of “yes we can” and “hope” caused a complete sensation amongst people that have never before entered the political process? Let me offer a couple of Christian reasons.
First, “hope”. God has created us a yearning for doing the right thing. Yes we are fallen, but there is a remnant of the goodness of creation still within that yearns for the right. This is why (and I am no political strategist) a positive message of hope will always do better than these strategies that move with the poling numbers. I do not know whether Obama is a Christian or not but he taps into a christian view of the world that “hopes” for things to be better in the future than in the past. No “circle of life” for Christians, life is instead a line from creation through fulfillment every step of which is taken in hope.
Secondly, “yes we can”. If “hope” is an emotion or state of mind, “yes we can” is about what we do with that hope. And, again, God has created us with a yearning for justice that is underneath why in our best moments we act in love not hate. We give a loaf of bread and not a rock to our neighbour. Christianity is not a religion that exists in the emotions it exists in the actions we take towards each other and towards our neighbour. “Yes we can” could be our motto or our slogan because it puts into words our Christian mandate to act in the world for the good of the world.
Who knows if Obama is a believer or not. But do not be surprised if he wins handily against an opponent that seems to define cynicism. McCain will be a different opponent. But what Obama has done is not just sense the mood of the day he has tapped into real fundamental motivations that God gave to all of us for our own good. Obama gets my vote for the democratic candidate.
February 28th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
… for the democratic candidate. Fine. But, not for president. Not if I can help it.
You say, “Christianity is not a religion that exists in the emotions it exists in the actions we take towards each other and towards our neighbor.”
Agreed. And Obama seems to be all about emotions (rather than solutions) while his political “actions” toward his unborn neighbors are anything but Christian.
(Sorry, I’m a bit of a one issue kind of guy.)
I’ll be voting Constitution Party
http://www.constitutionparty.com/party_platform.php
February 28th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Sure, for the democratic party. The choice is the queen of cynicism vs. someone who at least has hope in their vocabulary. For me it is a no brainer. I dont think though it is coronation march for the democrats. I think that McCain will be a more formidable opponent than he is given credit for. At the same time I do not think Obama will be able to govern as he has campaigned. Just cant be done.
I am glad I dont vote (cant, not a citizen yet). Plus, I dont think being a one issue guy is really possible in practice. On top of that, the reason why Luther and others spent a lot of time thinking about the division of church and state as that they were painfully aware that they couldnt trust a ruler of the secular kingdom to make the right decisions on many things like, in our day, the protection of the unborn.
February 28th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
I’m all for the proper separation of civil and religious governments. God gave us plenty of principles in His word to build upon. But, our culture has placed the abortion issue in the center of our elections. How can I in good conscience cast MY vote for someone who stands up and shouts ANTICHRIST with smiles and pride?
I can’t.
I’m not saying that I have to find a religious leader to vote for as a civil leader. And, if this were not a republic, then I would have to deal with the ruler that God put over me. Since it is a republic, I believe I have to try to find a leader who is actually representative of who I am in Christ. I know … good luck.
March 1st, 2008 at 11:48 pm
You say “Why has the message of “yes we can” and “hope” caused a complete sensation amongst people that have never before entered the political process?”
The sensation is not because of his message - it is because he is
1. good looking,
2. black ( even though he is as white as he is black),
3. good looking.
When people, especially those under 30, are asked about his record or his views they are unable to come up with anything.
Judging by your comments you too have been swayed by the superficial fluff. Stick that message in Al Sharptons body and no-one would give him a second glance.
March 2nd, 2008 at 7:39 am
Well, an interesting response from Karen. I have to say that so far in life I have never been swayed by good looking black men. I am much more swayed by feisty, beautiful, Scottish women. But that is just my weakness I suppose.
The problem with you one issue folks is that in a real democracy (or a real church) there is a lot of messiness that is just not what you want. I think Paul’s advice was to be content in every circumstance. That seems like practical advice. By all means vote against Obama but at least respect that he has tried to lift the political process above cynicism.
March 3rd, 2008 at 7:40 am
If we would have ended up with Rudy and Obama as our candidates for President what would the right to lifers do then ? This would have been a very very sad day for this country.
Bill Woolsey has more experience running a business than any one candidate running for the office of President. I have never seen a more pathetic choice for President in my lifetime. I thought the last couple of elections were really bad but this round really takes the cake. Clinton, Obama & McCain could not run Crosspoint Church with its 1 million plus dollars in revenue yet we are going to vote one of these people in for President to run a multi trillion dollar economy.
One thing Obama has proven in his efforts is that America is sick & tired of the same old stuff. That is why he is doing so well. Clinton & McCain ARE THE SAME OLD STUFF………