Obama sounds Christian at prayer breakfast

  I often search for Scripture to figure out how I can be a better man as well as a better President.  And I believe that we are united in these struggles.  But I also believe that we are united in the knowledge of a redeeming Savior, whose grace is sufficient for the multitude of our sins, and whose love is never failing. Obama spoke of looking to the scriptures to find guidance for living, both in his office and individually with his family. I imagine him (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,) reflecting on Isaiah, that we wait upon the Lord; that the Lord shall renew those who wait; that they shall mount up with wings as eagles, and they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint.  Obama spoke of both Martin Luther King, Jr., and Abraham Lincoln, and about how these men relied on faith during trying times in our nation. The president quoted scripture for a second time as he reflected on faith, his own and the faith of the nation in general.We know that faith is something that must be cultivated.  Faith is not a possession.  Faith is a process.I was struck by the passage that was read earlier from the Book of Hebrews:  “Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and He rewards those who diligently seek Him.”  He rewards those who diligently seek Him -- not just for one moment, or one day, but for every moment, and every day.As Christians, we place our faith in the nail-scarred hands of Jesus Christ.  But so many other Americans also know the close embrace of faith -- Muslims and Jews, Hindus and Sikhs.  And all Americans -- whether religious or secular -- have a deep and abiding faith in this nation.  Obama spoke of his own faith, but also recognized that there are many faiths in our diverse nation. He calls for everyone - regardless of which faith one embraces - to to have faith in our nation. Also not just for one day, but every day, people should have faith and allow their faith to grow.View the list »
Obama speaks at the national prayer breakfast

Western Religions newsletter

President Barak Obama quoted scripture and spoke of his faith at the national prayer breakfast Feb. 7, 2013. The event has been held every year since 1953 and is put on by the Fellowship Foundation.

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Obama spoke of his faith, and the role of faith in American culture. He sounded like someone who believes in God, and sounded rather Christian, referring to having faith in Jesus Christ. This hardly sounded like words of a Muslim.

Still, he was inclusive of other faiths, but he spoke of his relationship with God, and how he has used the bible for personal inspiration and direction.

He also called for humility and lamented the fact that divisiveness would return as soon as they left the prayer breakfast.

The scriptures tell us that we should respect those in authority, whether we agree with them or not.

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Romans 13:1.

Obama lamented the fact that the unity at the prayer breakfast is short-lived.

But I do worry sometimes that as soon as we leave the prayer breakfast, everything we've been talking about the whole time at the prayer breakfast seems to be forgotten -- on the same day of the prayer breakfast. I mean, you'd like to think that the shelf life wasn't so short. But I go back to the Oval Office and I start watching the cable news networks and it's like we didn’t pray.

Here are four quotes from Obama's speech at the prayer breakfast relating to his faith, and to the scriptures.

View the list
  • We know that faith is something that must be cultivated.  Faith is not a possession.  Faith is a process.I was struck by the passage that was read earlier from the Book of Hebrews:  “Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and He rewards those who diligently seek Him.”  He rewards those who diligently seek Him -- not just for one moment, or one day, but for every moment, and every day.As Christians, we place our faith in the nail-scarred hands of Jesus Christ.  But so many other Americans also know the close embrace of faith -- Muslims and Jews, Hindus and Sikhs.  And all Americans -- whether religious or secular -- have a deep and abiding faith in this nation.  Obama spoke of his own faith, but also recognized that there are many faiths in our diverse nation. He calls for everyone - regardless of which faith one embraces - to to have faith in our nation. Also not just for one day, but every day, people should have faith and allow their faith to grow.
  • I imagine him (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,) reflecting on Isaiah, that we wait upon the Lord; that the Lord shall renew those who wait; that they shall mount up with wings as eagles, and they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint.  Obama spoke of both Martin Luther King, Jr., and Abraham Lincoln, and about how these men relied on faith during trying times in our nation. The president quoted scripture for a second time as he reflected on faith, his own and the faith of the nation in general.
  •   I often search for Scripture to figure out how I can be a better man as well as a better President.  And I believe that we are united in these struggles.  But I also believe that we are united in the knowledge of a redeeming Savior, whose grace is sufficient for the multitude of our sins, and whose love is never failing. Obama spoke of looking to the scriptures to find guidance for living, both in his office and individually with his family. 
  • And so my hope is that humility, that that carries over every day, every moment.  While God may reveal His plan to us in portions, the expanse of His plan is for God, and God alone, to understand.  “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face; now I know in part, but then shall I know even as also I am known.”  Until that moment, until we know, and are fully known, all we can do is live our lives in a Godly way and assume that those we deal with every day, including those in an opposing party, they're groping their way, doing their best, going through the same struggles we're going through. Obama referenced the writings of Paul, who spoke of seeing through a glass darkly. He realizes that he does not know everything, and no one knows everything. He called for people to understand each other, even those you might not agree with, and believe that they too are trying to follow God. 
View the list
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, Wichita Bible Examiner

Biblical studies are fascinating to James. There is a lot of information out there that is not based on sound scholarship and facts. The more you examine the Bible, how it came to be, and how it holds together, the more fascinating it becomes. ...

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