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“Obama Offered Evangelical Entitlement Wrongly With Birdsall’s Blessing!!”

Ramesh C. Reddy
Publisher

Judd Birdsall  in his article 'Barack Obama: Evangelical-in-Chief?' wants us to believe that Obama is an Evangelical Christian by asking us the question, ‘What if more evangelicals knew Obama largely shares their religious beliefs?’

However, if you look closely at the contemporary theories of revelation and inspiration, you will come to the conclusion that Obama does not hold to the Evangelical view of Scripture for us to consider him an Evangelical Christian.

An Evangelical view of Scripture states:

Holy Scriptures are to be received as the authoritative Word of God.  

If Obama believed that then he would be against abortion, gay marriage, homosexuality, etc.

Holy Scriptures are the supreme written norm by which God binds the conscience, and that the authority of the Church is subordinate to that of Scripture.

If Obama believed that, he would be against forcing chaplains to conduct gay marriage ceremonies, against abortion, against homosexuality, against gay marriage, etc because the Bible binds our conscience on issues of morality.

The Written Word in its entirety is revelation given by God.

If Obama believed that he would be against immoral actions instead of supporting them.

Holy Scriptures having been given by divine inspiration, is infallible, so that, far from misleading us, it is true and reliable in all the matters it addresses.

If Obama believed that he would oppose immoral issues clearly spoken in the Bible.

Holy Spirit bears witness to the Scriptures, assuring believers of the truthfulness of God’s written Word.

If Obama believed that, he would not go against God in supporting issues such as abortion, homosexuality, gay marriage, etc.

A confession of the full authority, infallibility, and inerrancy of Scripture is vital to a sound understanding of the whole of the Christian faith and increasing conformity to the image of Christ.

By supporting issues like abortion, gay marriage, homosexuality, Obama has not confessed the full authority, infallibility, and inerrancy of Scripture. Instead of wanting to conform to the image of Christ in all issues, it feels like Obama wanted to conform to the pocketbook of donors by changing his view on gay marriage.

Hence, Obama not adhering to even one of these affirmations mentioned, he cannot be labeled an Evangelical Christian.

An Evangelical View of Scripture is different from a liberal view of Scripture, a Neo-Orthodox view of Scripture, and a Neo-Evangelical view of Scripture.

The Liberal View of Scripture states:

Only certain parts of the Bible are from God and others are not.

Obama is picking and choosing what to believe when he is for abortion rights, homosexuality, and gay marriage by wanting to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act which defines marriage between a man and a woman.

Bible itself is not the Word of God.

Since the Bible only contains certain parts from God, one must use human reason, intelligence and the spirit of Christ to determine which parts of the Scripture are true and which are false.

Obama seems to fall in this category since he supports abortion, gay marriage, homosexuality, etc. If he saw the entire Scripture to be true than he would not support any immoral actions but he does!

The Neo-Orthodox View of Scripture states:

The Bible is not a formal authority which demands belief in all it contains from the outset, but it is an instrumental authority.

All true knowledge is knowledge which is determined not by the subject [God] but by the object [man].

Obama wants to decide what is right and wrong when it comes to hot button issues instead of allowing God to decide.

The propositions laid down in Scripture are unimportant, even irrelevant. What matters is the encounter the man of faith has with God.

Obama can fall into this camp too because he lets man decide what issues are okay for him to support rather than God’s Word.

The Neo-Evangelical  View of Scripture states:

It is not all the content of the Bible that is inspired but the saving intent and truth of the Bible.

The truth of Scripture should be understood as its unswerving purpose to save, a revelation of God’s redemptive plan.¹

Obama can fall into this camp too because he believes Jesus died to save him but he does not hold to the truth that the entire Bible should be followed.

In summary, the view of Scripture can be seen in 3 ways but only # 1 is the correct way.

1.      The Bible is the Word of God è Orthodox View or Evangelical and Fundamentalist.

2.      The Bible contains the Word of God è Liberal View and Neo-Evangelical.

3.      The Bible becomes the Word of God è Neo-Orthodox View² 

As stated before, Obama definitely does not fit into category one for Birdsall to make us believe he is an Evangelical Christian.

Birdsall goes on to write that ‘Obama has been extraordinarily open on matters of faith, providing ample evidence for his repeated claim to be a devout Christian.’

Supporting abortion rights on demand, gay marriage, homosexuality, etc , is not ample evidence for me to believe that he is a devout Christian.

He may consider himself a devout Christian or even born-again by speaking Christian jargon such as believing in Christ as His Lord and personal Savior.

However, what we can ponder on is what does Obama think the following verses mean and what do they mean to you?

“By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?  Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’  “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. (Matthew 7:16-24, NIV)

^“In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead!” (James 2:17)

 If someone says they believe in Jesus, we should believe them and accept them as a brother or sister in Christ, but we need not accept that everyone is an Evangelical Christian because they are not. As an Evangelical Christian, I cannot give my vote to Obama!

Lest, this article is misunderstood, Evangelical Christians are not perfect and need God’s sanctification in their lives daily. When the Lord shows us what we are doing wrong, it is important to turn aside from wrong and do what is right. We are capable of doing that when we allow Jesus Christ to work in us. because He is the One who saves us by His grace!

Sources:
¹Norman L. Geisler and William E. Nix, A General Introduction to the Bible, Moody Press, Chicago, USA, 1986.

Ramesh C. Reddy prays everyone lives out God's Word from Genesis to Revelation without picking and choosing what they want to live out. Help us Jesus! He can be reached at rreddy@pittsburghstandard.com

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