It all starts like this… I have a Christian friend that recently said – in a work setting with mixed company – that he was “scared” of Obama. When I prodded, he just said vaguely and quickly, “I don’t know what it is. He just scares me, so I’m not gonna vote for him.” How closed-minded! If you “don’t know what it is”, shouldn’t you AT LEAST look into why? What if we never ever stepped near or toward something that “scared us”? That’s another rant entirely that I won’t visit now. Anyway, I could understand saying it nonchalantly, but reserving final judgement until at least some research was put into identifying what prompted him to feel that way. But to knee-jerk that answer was unreasonable and irresponsible. Was it because he’s black? Was it because he’s a Democrat? Did they assume he was not a believer in Christ? I wondered why… As you can see, I was (and still am) smarting from that comment.
Anyway, I remember reading Obama’s TIME magazine article back in October titled, My Spiritual Journey
and found him to be refreshing and his viewpoints new. The Sunday morning after having this conversation with my friend, I felt led to find out more about his points and stances to arm and educate myself the next time the talk went that way. Not only did I find the TIME article, but I was reminded of his ‘Call To Renewal’ keynote address to a group of evangelicals at their ‘Building A Covenant For a New America” conference back in June of 2006., sponsored by Sojourners. I found the transcript and read it.
You can read the transcript of the speech here:
Obama’s Call To Renewal Keynote Address
After reading that, I think he nailed it. He made points that Christians, or anyone of faith, for that matter, could agree with. Conversely, he also made points that even non-believers could agree with. In my (and many other people’s) opinions, he made what may be the best speech regarding faith and politics in recent memory. You see, he’s both a Democrat AND a believer. Yes, you can be both.
So I printed the transcript and gave it to Marti to read enroute to church that morning. That same exact morning, our church was having a teaching called Rethinking The Church.
My jaw dropped. So did Marti’s. The tone and perspective was similar to that of Obama. We were slack-jawed. Barack Obama’s stance ran parallel to that of our guest speaker at church did that day. I felt emboldened. I also felt like a light came on. I personally thanked Reggie for his message after the service.
Obama was telling us WHAT needed to be done. Reggie Joyner was telling us HOW to go about it. Change the hearts of men and women by showing them what God is for and about, as opposed to telling us what He is against. I chuckled when he said that God can fight his own battles. God’s not interested in rallying the troops to go down and boycott Disney World for sponsoring their Gay Day. God doesn’t need people firebombing abortion clinics on His behalf. He certainly never asked for any of this hubbub over Harry Potter, either. Listen to the message. Many more points are made and done so more eloquently. It’s funny and enlightening.
Obama’s message focuses on changing the hearts and minds of men and women to ignite change at a deeper level. More laws and more constitutional amendments only create more divide and misunderstanding. Read his message also. Likewise, many more points are made and done so more eloquently.
Regardless of what side of the aisle any of you come from, what color your state is, who your Creator is, or what sticker you have on the back of your car, there’s a point to be heard. Open up and listen.
Don’t be scared. You owe it to the rest us of in this country to get in the game and read up.
Either that, or stay scared AND stay home on November 4, 2008.
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