The National Prayer Breakfast is an event that takes place in Washington, D.C. every year on the first Thursday of February. It was started in 1953, and was initially called the Presidential Prayer Breakfast. In 1970 the name was changed, and now it is an event that has 3500 guests that represent over 100 countries. Since the 1980s, it has been held in the International Ballroom at the Washington Hilton on Connecticut Avenue N.W.
This past Thursday, February 2, President Barack Obama stood at the podium, as has every president since Dwight D. Eisenhower. He made some very good points; some statements one might not be surprised to hear from the pulpit on a Sunday morning. He spoke of men being imperfect vessels and God being infallible. He spoke of following the Golden Rule and always remembering to turn to God, and of his meeting Dr. Billy Graham at his home in North Carolina. These are things that need to be repeated, and the leader of a nation should be respected for saying them.
However, several things the President said on Thursday morning bear a closer look and a better understanding than was exhibited. For instance, it was interesting that the President said, "Our goal should not be to declare our policies as biblical," when everything he said before that was an attempt to declare that his policies were in fact biblical.
The President referenced Luke 12:48 as his reason for believing the rich should pay higher taxes. The verse reads: "Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more." If one were to pull this completely out of context and use it as a prooftext, one could make this mean what our president believes it to mean. Left in context, this is not talking about a person who is wealthy in material things being expected to pay higher taxes than everyone else. One might keep in mind the parable of the talents - the master gave more to the servant who was responsible over more. Is it responsible to funnel money through an inefficient government that makes a claim to redistribute wealth? When asked about taxes, Jesus was very straight forward: "Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's..." (Mark 12:17)
For a moment, let one consider this scripture from the interpretation Mr. Obama has placed on it. Does this not mean then, that those who are on government assistance - "to whom much has been given" - should be expected to show some amount of responsibility with what they have been given? Yet it has been said in some states that those on government assistance should not have to submit to drug tests. They are not expected to work for the state. They are not even expected to keep the property they are given in good condition. Why are the wealthy, who made their wealth, expected to give much while "those to whom much is given" are given no expectation of responsibility?
Perhaps the most controversial statement the President made on Thursday morning was this: "We know that part of living in a pluralistic society means that our personal religious beliefs alone can’t dictate our response to every challenge we face."
President Obama told everyone that he reads his Bible every morning. Suggestion to Mr. President: read Colossians 3:17 - "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." Further, add this: 1 Corinthians 10:31 "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." And finally, note what Peter said: 1 Peter 1:3 "His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness..."
These three scriptures tell the Christian that when he faces a challenge, God in his divine power has already given him all that he needs for life and godliness. Therefore, the Christian should live a life in which every decision he makes should be in the name of the Lord Jesus, to the glory of God.
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