Guest Opinion
February 3rd, 2010
From ABC News, “Obama Finds Ways to Keep the Faith During First Year in Office”
By Devin Dwyer
This article was first published by ABC News on January 29, 2010. Let us know your thoughts and prayers for the President and his family below.
If church attendance is one measure of a man’s faith, then President Obama may appear to have lost some of his. The first family, once regular churchgoers, have publicly attended services in Washington just three times in the past year, by ABC News’ count, even bypassing the pews on Christmas Day.
Obama quit Chicago’s embattled Trinity United Church of Christ months before taking office in 2008 and has not formally joined a new one in his new hometown.
But sources familiar with the president’s personal life say Obama remains a faithful Christian while in the White House, practicing his beliefs regularly in private with family and the aid of his BlackBerry.
“Barack Obama is a Christian. He’s always been clear and unapologetic about that, and he’s comfortable with his own faith,” Rev. Jim Wallis, an Obama friend and spiritual adviser, said. “But I think the president, particularly a president, needs the kind of pastoral care or spiritual counsel with people who don’t have a political agenda. And it’s hard for a president to get that.”
Obama told ABC Nightline’s Terry Moran that his personal BlackBerry, which he famously fought with the Secret Service to keep, has actually become a tool of keeping the faith during his first year in office.
“My Faith and Neighborhood Initiatives director, Joshua DuBois, he has a devotional that he sends to me on my BlackBerry every day,” Obama said. “That’s how I start my morning. You know, he’s got a passage, Scripture, in some cases quotes from other faiths to reflect on.”
Keeping the faith in quiet moments of worship may be the best Obama can do given the realities of the presidency that make it nearly impossible to join a church without inflicting a heavy burden on taxpayers, fellow churchgoers and his own spiritual life, sources say.
Security concerns mean costly and complicated measures to ensure the president’s safety on church outings, including screening every member of the congregation for weapons and sweeping the church building and areas around it for threats.
Incessant media attention is also distracting for any president trying to commune with God, exposing what is traditionally a private practice to public scrutiny, Wallis said.
“I don’t think for them [the family], it’s a political decision,” he said of Obama’s church dilemma. “I think for the media, it’s a political issue. Where they land and get their nurture, care and formation; that’s very difficult for the first family to find.”
After Quitting Home Church, Obama’s Improvise
The Obamas announced a search for a new place of worship in late 2008 after a scandal over incendiary comments by then-pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright forced their separation from Trinity, where they had been members for 20 years.
Days before his inauguration, Obama described to ABC News the “difficult time” of being without a church, saying that despite receiving daily prayers from supporters, “it’s not the same as going to church and the choir’s going and you get this feeling.”
But weeks later, when the Obamas ventured to 19th Street Baptist Church — one of the oldest, most historic African-American churches in the nation’s capital — aides say the family was shocked by the circus atmosphere surrounding their attendance and dismayed that some longtime church members couldn’t even get into the service.
“It is tougher as president,” Obama told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos in his first year. “This is not just an issue of going to church, it’s an issue of going anywhere.”
Joshua DuBois, the White House religious affairs director, said last year that the Obamas “will choose a church home at a time that is best for their family.” It’s now looking increasingly like their search may be indefinite.
Aides and family friends have spent months visiting various local churches on behalf of the Obamas. And on two occasions, the first family turned to an old presidential favorite across the street from the White House, St. John’s Episcopal.
Every president since James Madison has attended a service at St. Johns, where pew 54 is designated as “The President’s Pew.”
President Obama also enjoys worshipping “fairly regularly” at the Evergreen Chapel at Camp David, where the Rev. Carey Cash -_ a U.S. Navy chaplain and great-nephew of singer Johnny Cash — ministers, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs has said.
“We’ve been attending church, there’s a little chapel up in Camp David when we go up there,” Obama told ABC News’ “Nightline” in July. “There’s a wonderful young pastor up there, a chaplain, who does just wonderful work. And the Camp David families attend.”
Obama’s predecessor, George W. Bush, also frequented the chapel at Camp David and ultimately chose not to formally join a church in Washington during his eight years in the White House.
Church Membership Not a Requisite, Presidential Historians Say
A president’s not formally joining a Washington, D.C., church is consistent with precedent, historians say.
“For the modern presidency, it is not the norm that a president attends church regularly,” University of Maryland presidential scholar Matthew Burger said.
Burger, who studies presidents, religion and public life, points out that George W. Bush and his father, George H.W. Bush, were both “frequent attendees” at local churches but did not formally join a D.C. congregation.
“Ronald Reagan stands out as someone who articulated certainly the values of evangelical Christianity but was a pretty infrequent church attendee,” Burger said. “He wasn’t a member officially anywhere.”
Jimmy Carter, who joined First Baptist Church in Washington, stands out as one of the most prominent presidential church-goers. He attended 72 Sunday services at First Baptist while in office, according to records kept by the Carter Library.
“Whenever he could, when he was on the road, he’d go to church, too,” Steven Hochman, Carter Center researcher and assistant to the former president, told ABCNews.com.
And the Clintons, who attended Foundry United Methodist church near the White House regularly but did not formally join, are perhaps the exception in modern history for first family participation in church life, experts say.
“The fact that Chelsea Clinton was able to be part of the youth group and sing in the youth choir and that all three of the Clintons could just drop in on a Sunday without creating too much of a stir really is a testament to that church congregation and may also have just been a stroke of luck,” said Amy Sullivan, author of “The Party Faithful: How and Why Democrats Are Closing the God Gap,” who also formerly attended Foundry Methodist at the same time as the Clintons.
“I don’t think the Obamas could assume they can do the same thing, and the Bush family concluded they couldn’t do that in D.C.”
Obama Keeps the Faith on His BlackBerry
Despite the challenges of attending church while in office, Obama has indicated that he has not been detached from his faith or faith communities during his first year.
The President told ABC News in July that he prays every night before going to bed.
“I pray all the time now,” Obama said. “I’ve got a lot of stuff on my plate and I need guidance all the time.”
Aides say some of that guidance comes from the president’s faith advisory council of 25 religious and non-profit leaders who help the administration partner with faith-based and community groups in providing social services.
Rev. Wallis, a member of the council, says the council is another means for the president to hear messages otherwise preached from the pulpit. “I think he certainly listens to people of faith when we speak about things we are about,” he said.
Obama and all former U.S. presidents professed faith in Christianity, with most men identifying as Episcopalians, according to the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. Obama is the first U.S. president who affiliates with the Christian Protestant denomination, the United Church of Christ.
Speaking on the eve of Martin Luther King Jr. Day earlier this month, Obama told a packed Vermont Avenue Baptist church in Washington, D.C., that faith keeps him grounded.
“I have a confession to make,” he said. “There are times when I am not so calm. There are times when progress seems too slow. There are times when the words spoken about me hurt. There are times when the barbs sting. There are times when it feels like all these efforts are for not, that change is so painfully slow in coming and I have to confront my own doubt. During those times it is faith that keeps me calm.”
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Obama says he receives daily scripture on his Blackberry – and that some of it is Christian and some is from other faiths. If you are a true Christian, the only scripture you need is from the Christian Bible! It has proven itself to be the true Word of God.
Thanks PPT for presenting such a fair and balanced article reflecting the struggles and choices each president has had with Church while in office.
The American evangelical “religious” people who have written such hateful comments about our current president, his family & children are HYPOCRITES. They claim what America was “founded” on yet choose to forget the WHOLE TRUTH of our AMERICAN HISTORY and the many SINS of our Fathers. Our country was founded on Christian values for SOME, “life, liberty and justice” for SOME, “all men equal under God” for SOME, but for millions of others was founded on Racial HATRED, DEATH and PERSECUTION led by example, practice, and legislatively by our Beloved Founding Fathers. Is the willful participation in the enslavement of man created in the image of God a “christian value”. Is the murder of UNBORN and BORN alike legalized through slavery laws for 200 years a “christian value”. Is the willful disobedience to God’s word and Constitution a “christian value”?. Is “saying” you hate slavery, but owning, buying and selling slaves a “christian value”. The Pro-Life Movement did not start in 1973. It began when the first slaves were brought to this country! The value of those lives and innocent blood shed is no less valuable to God than any lives today! Did these past leaders ACTIONS speak louder than their words? Were they hearers and DOERS of the Word? Did they really WALK the talk? HISTORY IS CLEAR. Our first “PRO-CHOICE president John Adams claimed his abhorrence of slavery, but his position was to allow his peers and fellow Americans to “choose” their own participation in this horrible practice. DO YOU QUESTION THEIR CHRISTIANITY, like Mr. Obamas? WHY NOT?
I remind us of these AMERICAN HISTORY FACTS to:
1) demonstrate the EXTREME amount of GRACE, MERCY and FORGIVENESS the American people have covered these past leaders who had it in their power STOP the abomination of slavery, but chose not to. Under whose watch were the most unimaginable crimes committed against LIFE, and fellow man in this country! Yet we honor, revere and respect them. Willing to overlook the seeds of hatred sown which our country continues to reap the bitter harvest.
2) remind us that ALL of our presidents have SINNED and fallen FAR SHORT of the glory of God. To encourage us to not be biased in who we hate and who we love, who we judge and who we show mercy. If you hate our current president for his political stance on LIFE then HATE THEM ALL! History speaks for itself. If you choose to have mercy and only highlight the good in past leaders, then you must do the same for the current, for we have not seen anything in our lifetime that compares to the horrors under the watch of our past leaders (thanks be to God). Many claim “judgment ” on this country for electing Mr. Obama. History says that if God were going to destroy America, he had plenty of cause 200 years ago!! We must move forward, in mercy and grace and forgiveness. ALL of these presidents will have to stand before God and account for the sins they have committed against His very image and commandments of Love!
THOMAS JEFFERSON says it best in this quote: 1786. To a Friend in France.
“What a stupendous, what an incomprehensible machine is man! who can endure toil, famine, stripes, imprisonment, and death itself, in vindication of his own liberty, and the next moment be deaf to all those motives whose power supported him through his trial, and inflict on his fellow-men a bondage, one hour of which is fraught with more misery than ages of that which he rose in rebellion to oppose. But we must await, with patience, the workings of an overruling Providence, and hope that that is preparing the deliverance of those our suffering brethren. When the measure of their tears shall be full, when their groans shall have involved heaven itself in darkness, doubtless a God of Justice will awaken to their distress, and, by diffusing light and liberality among their oppressors, or at length by his exterminating thunder, manifest his attention to the things of this world, and that they are not left to the guidance of a blind fatality. ”
God heard the cries of innocent shed blood in this country! He has answered!
Mr. President, may God Bless you and your family and keep you protected in the shadow of his wings!!
My last comment to this site.
It really grieves me to see such ignorance in the people who respond to this
site. To blame all of the past 8 years on a young President who has walked into a horror story left by George W. Bush! Who do you think he is? I am glad he is establishing policy to set up a dialog with people in every country. Because before the only policy was “No policy” we don’t talk to you whether you want peace and want to change or not. We only plan to destroy you, take your land, make money from it, and spread our ways which we don’t even like through your culture, and we want to accept that, or we will destroy you all!
At least with a dialogue open we may be able to establish better opportunities to preach the Gospel some how.
To say you don’t even see anything good in his family?
What blindness…what illness…to speak terribly of his family. Are his children in office? It seems the real dislike here is not of the support of some issues, but clearly of the man….just the man…who he is as a human…just the
man. Who he is and who some people are use to seeing.
Old words…old sad words from old sad people whom I believed had changed.
Some religious people and I say truly religious, (not Christian) possibly need to go back to the altar and pray.
Pray for the right things to happen in the Presidency and pray for your souls.
i feel that GOD allows disengenuous situations to restore the dignity of the nation> who better than the president to rally the conservatives, christians and independents to b on their knees in prayer of ps 109:8, ps 33:12, 7 chron 7:14 and jer 29:11-14. thanx LORD for one nation under You and in You whom we trust.
I pray heartily for the OFFICE of the President of the United States, and for right and Godly decisions to begin to come from there, if possible. This Country and it’s current President have gone so far from the principles that this great Nation was founded upon, it makes me ashamed. Yet, we, as a people, elected him, (I didn’t) so that I tremble at the possible price that we may all pay as we follow a path forced upon us all.
Yes, we can judge him, the man, and the things we see coming out of his life and presidency, if we judge them FROM THE WORD OF GOD. I see little that is Godly in him, his Czars, his policies, his family, his lifestyle, his beliefs, as evidenced by the things he is allowing and promoting in our Country. He seems bent on taking us into Socialism, Communism, finally into a One-World system and determined to be crowned King rather than President. Is this of Our God? Or of the god of the world?
Obama speaks of God, but it seems this is only as speaking of God can keep him in somewhat good graces of some of the people. Many people believe IN God. How many also BELIEVE GOD? I see no evidence, using God’s awesome Word, which HE magnified above His own name, of anything Godly in this Presidency.
Yes, in the Old Testament, they may have done some things we don’t feel is right, but the Bible says that it was a time of ignorance, and that God winked at that ignorance. Now, we have a Savior, God says He does not want us ignorant of satan’s devices. Jesus said He came to reveal these devices, so that we could judge with better information, and that He “now commands all men to obey.”
With a very heavy heart, I continue to pray and to thank God for His grace and His extreme MERCY for all of us right now.
We have a tremendous range of opinions about this administration, expressed in our prayers. It is not easy to pray for someone you don’t trust or whose views are polar opposites of your own. But we are not commanded to pray for those with whom we agree; we are not to pray only when our choice is elected. God says that He puts those in authority whom He will, He removes whom He will. That should bring us wisdom and comfort. We do our job of praying for those in authority and God will do His thing. I’ve sincerely tried to do this since the 2008 election, with a mantra from Philippians 4:6-7 (don’t worry, just pray) and you know, it works!
In the very beginning of the Presidency, I had the most difficult time praying for our President. I was totally shocked at the behavior and the socialist agenda being forced down our throats. You could never prove to me that the socialist agenda is what the Lord approves of, nor the taking of innocent lives like the unborn, nor the homosexuals in the military. I believe the president is forcing us under government rule, and as far as history goes, socialism has never been successful. It has cost thousands and thousands of lives. I have known my Savior for 46 years and His heart grieves where this president has taken this wonderful country. The only thing that I can have faith in, is that my Lord has this all under control. Do I pray for the president? Yes. Because he needs a broken heart that he needs to take the Throne of Grace and ask for forgiveness.
I want to thank the President and his family for serving our nation at this difficult time. I will continue to pray for them and ask the Lord to keep them safe and give the President the wisdom and knowledge that he needs for this difficult job.
I am thankful that God is our judge instead of the people and may we all remember Matthew 7:1-2 Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
That, Ward ,is about judgment about a person, and it’s very true, but there is a judgment we must do , and that is to judge right from wrong, and live the right.
We have a large responsibility to pray and seek God so we know how to pray. We are all people on a journey, we can see the wrongs of this administration and we know what will make the wrongs stopped, Revival, Repentance, Acceptance of Gods Word. This is my prayer for Our President, That God would call him to serve Him in righteousness and accept Jesus as his savior. What a lovely family God has given him, may they all receive God’s blessings. Thank You and Amen
I have always seen the hand in God in President Obama’s Election.
Look at the odds….(him) although from a mixed background winning the most
highest office of leadership on the Earth.
How did he become the most powerful ruler of God’s Earth?
Only by an act of God himself was this possible. This is clearly something to look at. This change of God’s will shocked everyone who thought they could do
with God’s people (of every nationality everywhere), what they wanted to do: Make up lies to start wars for ill gotten gain, keeping turmoil going everywhere to make money off of the masses and line the pockets of only their few close friends, not even the people they considered part of their association.
I often wonder what those people said about themselves in secret. Clearly enough for
God almighty to make his own statement which was “He is God, and will have no other God before him!” He woundeth. He heals. He maketh alive!
What a statement He made in these times, clearly shown by taking the most unlikely, unesteemed, of his human creatures, who no one thought would really have any possible opportunity of ever winning such a grand office of leadership such as the Presidency of the United States of America, and doing the impossible, confounding everyone in the world!
You know this is not the first time God has done something like this, to prove his might, and make a profound statement.
As for President Barack Obama,,I don’t really know about his personal Christian commitment. That is something he must work out. For now praying will do. A rooted Christian would have too many obstacles to deal with in that office to be able to keep their estate. It just goes with that job: too many secrets to keep too many heart wrenching decisions to make. If he (The President) continues to be prayerful, and listen to people whom are able to have a job where they can be committed to Christ, and we pray for him, I think God will be able to do His will in this administration.
The President is a beautiful person, taking ridicule, lies, and the horror of hatred of people who should be trying to work with him to find solutions to problems with the grace of meekness. It lets you see he had a wonderful mother.
I profess to be a dedicated Christian of many years, but I am taking pointers from the President. His talent for love and peace is excellent for anyone to model.
Barack and Family will not be able to make a good commitment to God and Christ in the way they would like or should be able to. They will have to tighten up their worship when they leave the grand eye of public office. I believe in their sincerity …God will wait on them.
May the Good Lord give President and his wife the wisdom to make christian decisions all the time. Lord please grant them Your abundance forgiveness and your grace all the time. Please our Good Lord give them understanding. Help them to keep their faith. Lord please send your help to them as needed. Dear Lord please push them to the right direction. Lord please help them to choose right from wrong, Lord grant them help to raise their kids as christians. Dear Lord help them to continue to love their marriage in Jesus Name I pray Amen.
It is with a heavy heart that I write this. I see no evidence from Pres. Obama that he is not in total opposition to Christianity (pushes abortion and homosexuality plus many more things). Based on how our founding fathers relied on God and used the Bible in writing our constitution Pres. Obama is NOT an American Pres. in heart. He is a radical Progressive that wants to move this country toward Europe’s Socialism and is more aligned with Hugo Chavez then the government of the U.S. His inexperience and lack of wisdom along with his arrogance is apalling. He has made it quite clear that he leans toward the Muslim faith rather than Christianity. Contrast the recent testimony of Brit Hume and his faith in Jesus Christ vs. that of Obama. He has surrounded himself with the most evil czars that one can imagine and constantly lies to the American people. Actions speak louder than words. How can Rev. Jim Wallis assert that Obama is Christian?? My wife and I can not imagine how to pray for Obama other than for him to be convicted by the Holy Spirit to know Jesus Christ as Savior.
I don’t believe he is a Christian……………..I cannot believe how so many people actually believe in and support him. It’s a sad time, but as in biblical times……….God gave the people the Kings they wanted……..history repeats itself. May the Lord have mercy on this country and may the people wake up and turn to the Lord and flee from their evil ways and He will heal our Land
I believe God is using President Obama to spread His Will of reconciliation and progress. I can see Christ’s perspective in so much that Obama stands for. Where there needs to be improvement, I look for Obama to be open to God’s Will. I pray for him regularly.
Joan, I share your thoughts. We should be looking to see what God is doing and where he is working for Kingdom purposes. His “agenda” is so far above ours. His ways are NOT our ways, nor His thoughts our thoughts. It is possible that like so many times in his word He is doing things HIS way, which may make NO sense to man until He gives the spiritual eyes to see. I pray for sincere prayer warriors to pray God’s words in God’s Spirit (not the flesh), and it will be done accordingly.
It is really hard for me to believe that Pres. Obama is a Christian, because his words and actions say
otherwise. Only God knows Obama’s heart, and I do pray that he and his family would have a personal
relationship with God through Christ.
Pres. Obama told the international leaders that the U.S. is no longer a Christian nation but made up of many religions INSTEAD of saying that we tolerate other faiths but we were founded on Christian values by leaders who started their meetings with prayer and looked to God for guidance and we will continue
to be a Christian nation. If he is praying to my God, I wonder is he also listening? Why would he think
partial-birth abortion is acceptable to God?
I joined the Presidential Prayer Team the year it was conceived. I pray for President Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and actually, all of our elected and appointed leaders. I ask the LORD to give me wisdom to pray according to HIS will. But, it is very hard for me to do this when I see them ignoring the will of the people and going their own self-centered, power-hungry way. I see them consistently telling lies, consistently wasting tax-payer money on frivelous life styles while the American people suffer. But God’s Word tells me to pray for our leaders and to obey them. One consolation I have is that HIS Word also tells me “they are accountable to HIM for everything they do.” I hope they read HIS Word and know this.
One thing that really bothered me is what President Obama said about not wanting to spend so much on security so he could go to church. Does’t seem to bother him to spend that money to go to New York for a weekend of recreation.
It also bothers me that the name of JESUS CHRIST is never mentioned by him but that he gets inspiration from “other” faiths when my God says “Thou shall have no other gods.”
Kristine: The Presidential Prayer Team is a place to pray for our country & all of it’s rulers & authorities, & normally NOT a place to “CHAT” about opinions. Yet, I couldn’t let yours go unanswered re: abomination, love, judgement, & prayer.
Abomination IS the translation into English. The DEFINITION from Webster: “Something worthy of disgust or hatred; DESTESTABLE; to loathe intensely..” of what God thinks of homosexuality & abortion.
Also, Christ followers TRY to follow God’s will. There are NO OTHER GODS but the One God, & some who think they are Christians who say “Lord Lord…” do not KNOW Him. Christians, including “(my) Christian when he was in office 2000-2008,” CONFESS JESUS CHRIST without embarrassment.
“Against love there is no law” was spoken to illustrate GRACE & speak against JUDGEMENT. Christians can love homosexuals but vote against it to show that they do not condone & promote their open life-styles. No “stones cast” here.
Prayer is a definite responsibility for Christ followers / Christians, & judgement is not. Prayers are always needed for our President, & for all Christians to know God’s will.
Bottom line: stay clear of anything that would be an abomination to God…it’s not an eyesore, it’s JUDGEMENT by God Himself. Pray to know God’s will & PRAY for President Obama to seek to know & do God’s will for our country while he serves us.
I prayed for your Christian when he was in office from 2000-2008 even though I thought he was taking the country down the tubes (I often prayed he would get a clue with utmost respect and a few tears!): I’d appreciate the same commitment from you, no matter what you think of President Obama’s politics. He is, after all, a Brother in Christ. Jesus knows that and knows him,so please let Him deal with him. Nobody’s perfect, but Obama is certainly giving it the old college try with everything he has. A decent respect for the office of the Presidency itself is all a peron needs to know that all of our Presidents need all the positive prayers we can send their way.
I have been very impressed by the way he has conducted himself. Do I agree with every one of his policies? No. But I agree that “against love there is no law” and so do not view homosexuality as being any worse than adultery (and since homosexuals are not entitled to marry in most states, they are forced into adultery by US, Christian society). The translation of “abomination” is “eye sore.” Eyesores are not damnable. Judgment is.
Let he who is without sin cast the first stone…
Sorry for the mini-rant, but really… sometimes my fellow Christians embarrass me with their “holier-than-thou” Pharisee-like exclamations and commands. Good grief — are we not living in days of GRACE (unmerited favor)? Let’s spread some of it around, shall we?
St. Paul exhorts believers in 1 Timothy 2:2-4, “first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and GIVING OF THANKS BE MADE FOR ALL MEN, for KINGS AND ALL WHO ARE IN AUTHORITY, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and REVERENCE.. who desires ALL MEN to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. Paul wrote this during a time of great hostility to the gospel (under the vicious and cruel Roman dictator Emperor Nero, no friend to Christians!), to remind us that God is in control, that “the kings heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes. (Proverbs 21:1)
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Let’s spend more time praying for President Obama and less time criticizing. Let us refrain from using our voices to curse men who are made in the similitude of God, but rather use them to bless, speak the truth in love, and give thanks we still live in a democracy where we can openly disagree with policies.
Men look on the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.
Nonetheless, I pray for him and his family to KNOW Whom they have believed, if believers they are, and to follow Him more intentionally.
I would like to know just how to pray for the President. I do pray for him, his family, cabinet, staff and advisors often but would like some guidelines just how to pray for a president that says he is a Christian but one of his first acts of office was to legislate world wide support for abortion. I don’t understand why he is so adamant about abortion. I am supposed to respect him but how can I? I am in a quandary about how to specifically pray for him. It would be great if the Presidential Prayer Team would provide daily suggestions like they did in his first 100 days. D Torgerson
Sir your concern is understandable. However, Pres. Obama is not God. When he says he support abortion, that is only part of his decision. It would depend on circumstances surrounding it. I was a reg. Nurse for 30 plus years, and I do understand what he means. If your wife of x number of years was pregnant, and suddenly was taken by an illness that meant you would loose the baby and your wife; if you had a choice, which would you choose? Also it is an opinion. It really does not make it right or wrong. In the Bible, Moses, David and so many more chose to take lives for other reasons, but God sure kept them and David became a man after God’s own heart. My advice to you is to pray for the President, and leave the rest to God. Let God’s will be done. Pray that he does the right thing for the country, which includes you. If your child did somehting that you don’t agree with, would not pray for him. All of us need prayer, regardless. In the end, God has the final say. Just Pray. God loves you.
My husband and I pray for Mr Obama every day. We are bewildered that he has chosen advisors that promote principles and practices that are so FAR removed from a living out of God’s Word. If his friends and the advisors in his administration are so far away from what God says, and he is comfortable with them and relys on them, it gives a picture of someone with a divided heart and life. Is someone else chosing his Tzars and he doesn’t have a solid grid of God’s standards to judge character in accepting them? We hear Mr. Obama is a smart man. We pray he will beome a wise man as well. May God have mercy on us!
God’s Word tells us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as some do, but to exhort one another: and so much more as we see the day aproaching. By being in fellowship with other Christians, we stay “accountable.” And everyone of us need accountability.
Merciful Father: I pray that You will give our leaders wisdom and the courage to uphold our constitution which established a republic based on YOUR absolute laws, not a democracy based on the changing whims of man’s reasoning. O Lord, may our leaders cast down every law, policy and personal example which weakens marriages, families, or YOUR moral standards. May they realize that all authority comes from YOU, not the voters, and that one day they will stand before YOU to give an account of the power YOU gave to them. Open their hearts to the TRUTH of your Word. In the name and through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray.
The article was informative which I appreciate. I love to pray for others and this kind of information helps to know what to pray. Church is important for Christian growth, fellowship with believers and pleasing God when we worship and gathering together in the name of Jesus. There are more reasons but our personal relationship with Christ should be a priority. The closer we draw to Him the more we understand our Lord and how to be Christlike. Thank you and I will continue in prayer. Amen
Gal 5:22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Clearly some of the angry, judgmental, hateful comments below transgress against the very words they are accusing against the President. Many having prioritized Commandment #6 over ALL others and judging any “persons” as a murderer if taking a “pro-choice” political position. Yet, per Jesus Christ in Matt, they are “murderers” themselves for the ANGER in their own hearts. Clearly and example of Matthew 7:3-5 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” Yes, they will know WE are Christians by our LOVE (patient, kind, does not envy, does not boast, is not proud, is not rude, not self-seeking, not easily angered and keeps no record of wrongs). Many prefer NOT to believe the President’s profession of Christian faith because it provides an “excuse” to not treat him with brotherly love in Christ and sincerely pray for him because of his “politics”. Yet even in that Christ says we should love and pray even for those we consider our enemies. Therefore, there still is “no excuse”. Those Christians who have decided to withdraw from PPT and not pray for our president have revealed areas in their own hearts that are not in alignment with the words and commands of our Father. Significant areas and opportunities for Christian maturity and growth, just as there are many areas and opportunities with our presidents. They need to turn their critical eye to themselves for choosing to be disobedient to the commands of the very Christ they say they represent. I will continue to pray joyfully and sincerely for this president and his areas of weakness as I did for past Presidents. I pray Phil 1:5 6 “being confident of this, that HE who began a good work in (our President) will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” I also pray for the Body of Christ, for God to soften hearts, increase LOVE and reveal His Sovereignty as the ONLY righteous judge of who is Christian & who is not.
James 3:9-11 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. AMEN.
I believe that all Christians are bold about their relationship with God. I believe that we are not ashamed to stand up for the word of God.I understand that God’s word proclaims that “whatever is in a man will come forth”. We associate Jesus with Godliness because of His word that He always says and does what the Father tells Him. I don’t see our President doing any of the above, however; I pray for him as 1Tim.2:1-2 commands. God only knows his heart. Let’s continue to pray for him and his family. Let God reveal what is done in the darkness.
Truth:
This is what the Lord Jesus Christ said (not man) If you deny him before men he will deny you before his Heavenly Father God.
Also to speak the words “I am not ashame of the Gospel of Jesus Christ”.
Its settled by Jesus Christ himself.
While it is true that our Lord tells us to submit to the governing authorities our society has it a bit backwards. We the people of the United States of America are the “leaders” of our country. It is by no accident that our civil servants, from the President on down are just that….”Servants”. If President Obama is our servant then we are his master. He is to legislate the will of the people whom he serves. Our system of government is unique from most in our world. We were creatively set up by our founding fathers to govern ourselves with the help of institutions that are in place to “serve” us. The conclusion being that our servant leaders are to help “We the people”, “We the leaders”, “We the authority” legislate OUR will. After researching recent polls, the majority of the American people are not in favor of the health care reform of this administration. We are not in favor of homosexual marriage. We are not in favor of abortion. (See recent Gallup polls on their site). While some of these polling results are close, the majority of Americans are clearly in opposition to the current administrations agenda. This means that our President and his staff are not representing the will of this country’s leaders. (Remember, we are the leaders) What can one do that is in line with God’s will regarding our current state of affairs? Well, of course we should pray that our current President wake up and listen to those he is to serve. Also, to pray for his salvation which is in question since he does support liberal agendas that are in clear opposition to God’s will such as abortion. (While it is true that many Christians behave sinfully and get divorced etc. we are not to support agendas that promote it) Mostly though, we are to ask our Heavenly Father what we can do (take action) to make sure that consecutive civil servants do serve the will of the people. Many Christian brothers and sisters shirk their responsibilities as free citizens of our great country and do not vote or get involved in our political arena stating the old cop-out of separation of church and state. From ages old God’s people have clearly been involved in community affairs and it is our lovely right and responsibility to be educated about the political agendas of those we vote into power. If we do not like the actions of our current servants then it is still our right to fire the as is the right of any employer.
A call to Christian Americans: Voting and being involved in government affairs is your God given right as free people. In November you have an opportunity to change things in favor of God’s principles. God has given this job to us and He leaves it up to us whether we take the responsibility seriously or live with consequences of not taking it seriously. Currently we are living with the consequences of not acting in favor of righteousness. I am not speaking of self righteousness, but supporting good and righteous legislation that will serve the betterment of mankind.
So…. pray for Obama. He needs prayer the same as all of us do while we are here sojourning on this planet, but also pray that a man or woman would be raised up who will run for the job of Presidency against Barack Obama in 2012 that is more interested in “SERVING” on behalf of the American people. One who will listen to God and His principles. In the mean time, pray about who to vote for this Nov. regarding the open Senate positions. Ask God for direction and then take action.
To all who read this forum: please remember Romans 13:1-2, which states “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. Consequently, he who rebels agains the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” The bottom line is – we should all just do more praying!
I cannot believe that President Obama is a Christian and the reason is because hewants a homosexual czar to be thje head of schools in the U.S. and the czar wants the children to learn and possible practice homosexuality.. As we know homosexuality is an abomanation to the Lord.. yes I will pray for him but I will pray that God will bother him so much that he becomes a Christian and that he will be honest with the people about his birth records…
To Carol MD: I think we Christians use homosexuality and abortion as yet another way to feel self-righteous. Jesus was way more specific about the evil of divorce than he was about either homosexuality or abortion, yet plenty of Christians get divorced, multiple times. Your attitude toward President Obama is not at all Christ-like.
To PresidentialPrayerTeam.com: Thank you for publishing this.
I would not presume to judge the President or his wife. We do have the scripture that says by their fruits we shall know them. It also says in the Bible that the world will know Christians by the love we have for one another. God is our judge and He will judge us all by His Word. All we can do is lift the President up. God will be his judge.
This article had this quote from President Obama,
“My Faith and Neighborhood Initiatives director, Joshua DuBois, he has a devotional that he sends to me on my BlackBerry every day,” Obama said. “That’s how I start my morning. You know, he’s got a passage, Scripture, in some cases quotes from other faiths to reflect on.”
This article also quotes a Rev saying that “Obama is a Christian”, but you couldn’t tell that from the quote above directly from the President himself. I believe alot of people speculate what religion Obama is, does anyone really know?
There is the appearance of faith you get into office with and there is the faith that is actually in your heart. Obama is very vague regarding his foundational beliefs and I am always trying to hear his pronouncement of Christ but after all his many many tv appearances I still don’t think it is evident which religion Obama truly is. So I my prayer is that he will come to a full knowledge of our Lord Jesus.
My Bible teaches me that I am not the Judge of others. It is enough that I remain true to God, His Son Jesus Christ and abide in the Holy Spirit.
I will continue to pray for the leaders of my Nation and also for nonbelivers but will never judge them; I leave that to the all knowing God and Judgement Day.
God teaches us not to complain or be grumblers; if you are guilty talk it over with God.
To the Obama’s stay true to yourself and God the father of Jesus Christ who gave His life that we might have eternal life.
Prayerfully, Pastor Anita Brown
Only God knows the heart. We can only know a Christian by his fruits. The Bible says “Let not your heart be hardened”. God will give us a new heart if we ask Him….I will continue to pray for our President and his family even though I disagree with many of his beliefs. Praise God for his prayer breakfast speech. It was his best. But be aware, only prayers offered up to God in the name of JESUS will get to Him. The others are for naught. Judy Walters
Personally, I’d have to say that I would not want the President (any president) to worship in my church. The security measures would be thoroughly disruptive and not at all conducive to worship.
It seems to me that, based on this article, it has a been quite a personal sacrifice for the Obama family to not be part of a church community.
Previous presidents have used their church attendance as the opportunity for cynical photo ops.
I marvel at the negativity in the name of God expressed in this forum.
Doesn’t it seem odd (if not heretical) that political ideology should trump faith, prayer and civility?
Not once is there mention of the Name Jesus Christ. Faith in Who? God ? What God? Remember, even the devil believed. I am with the fruit side of this issue.
And we know that all things work together for good those who love God, to those who are the called, according to His purpose.
With God, all things are possible. And God holds and directs the purposes of people, so that His Good Will will be accomplished. —that was mine
I continue to lift up the Obama household, so that God’s Wisdom would be poured forth on their decisions, His Mercy would be known through their actions, and His Will be accomplished here on earth, as it is in Heaven.
Father God, please protect this family from ALL harm, both internal and external. Surround them with angels – they and those sworn to protect them.
Through Jesus, our Mighty Eternal Saviour – amen
President Obama is anything but a born again christian. What God does he pray to? He is taking our country in all the wrong directions. God the King of the universe would not tell him to tear down and destroy everything the people of the United States of America has strived for all these years. He should be for America the home of the free and the brave not against her. His actions and works are not from the God in heaven that I know. The Bible says Ye shall know them by their fruits (Matthew 6:16).
I will continue to lift up our President and his family and pray that the
Holy Spirit will guide and lead him as he makes decisions that are best for the American people. As I listen to the jokes and bashing of our leader, I will pray that I will not be a part of this but will follow the leading of my heart to lift up our leaders – no matter who they are or where they worship or don’t worship – I pray I can do what is expected of me as an American and a Christian and always pray for those God has allowed to lead our nation.
In Christ, (God has the whole world in his hands – all nations, not just the USA, and all nations will one day bow to him) it’s important to remember He has it all in control.
julie B.
By his fruit we know him.
I was very blessed to read this article about the Presidential family and their desire to keep the faith without benefit of organized church. “Without faith it is impossible to please God. “Being still” is knowing and communing with God. We are living sanctuaries, and as Christians have been given everything we need in God and Christ. We are complete in HIM. I’m sure the President would prefer to attend church, but given all the hoopla involved he has chosen to keep it private and within the confines of his family. The job he has is tremendous and in the end it will be reflected that he kept his eye on the sparrow and God is leading. My prayers are with him and his family. He needs our support and prayers.
Thank you, President Obama and family. I appreciate your service and sacrifice to our nation. You are in my prayers for guidance, wisdom, peace and strength.
I have difficulty believing this president is a Christian. His actions, character and behavior are not consistent with the teachings of Christianity or the Holy Bible. This article seems to be grasping for any indicator that President Obama is a man of faith. This president needs guidance from God. Unfortunately, I think he believes himself to be infallible.
2 Chronicles 7:14. Something for the President to meditate on as he decides the direction of this nation. As he pushes forward his agenda, maybe with some wise “church going” Christians, he will receive some clarity on what God wants him to do and how God wants him to lead. God gives generously to all who ask and seek His face. His policies on abortion especially need to reviewed. In Deuteronomy 30 there are blesses and curses for all of man’s decisions. Although it says not to forsake the meeting of the breatheren, we can certainly understand the difficulty, but he goes through the trouble to meet other people. If he can not meet in public, I am sure there are many pastors and friends that would meet him at the White House for prayer and worship to fill that void.
Seeking Him,
Diane
Barack Obama is not a Christian
Christian is being ChristLike
& he acts like what he is
a person trained to destroy
America from inside.
Disgraceful. The leader of our country and he cannot go to church once a week? He keeps the faith on his Blackberry? This can be a great aid to faith, but not the sole method. His policies completely contrdict Christian beliefs.
Obama is anything but a true born-again Christian and his actions prove the point. His agenda regarding gays and abortion are completely contrary to scripture and his egregious display of contempt for those that differ with him with his characteristic arogance indicate anything but Christian character.
To print this kind of stuff is simply appalling and I for one will disengage from this organization as a result of reviewing it. This demonstrates a clear lack of discernment.
Dear President and Mrs. Obama,
Thank you for serving our country. When things do not perform as expected
in my life, I have noticed my privilege to draw closer to Christ Jesus.
I wonder if that is why God allows difficulty and a lack of this world’s
expectation…as if to say…come draw nigh to your God, to his steadfast love. (Psalm 106:1) We are blessed
to find our confidence and rest is in our God.
Blessings and thanks for your lives, Richard Matthews
Dear President and Mrs. Obama,
It is encouraging to note that personal faith is important to you and your family. It surely is difficult for you to go out to a worship service regularly. God appreciates time spent in conversation with Him, which can be at any given time, not just on Sunday morning. While corporate worship is important to God, He knows you personally…has known you since before the world was created (prevenient grace)… and understands the logistics involved in the presidency. In the words of an old hymn, “Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy,Lord”, let us all do just that!
You will continue to be in our prayers. Thank you for your service to our great country.
Blessings,
Anne B. Shepard
Please know that you are in our prayers.
From the beginning of his campaign until now, I see in President Obama’s behavior and hear in his words a faith at his center that could only be a belief in God. This gives me confidence that truth about any situation, love for others, and justice for people of our nation motivates his actions. No, I do not think he is perfect, but I trust him. I pray that God will give him strength to take the barbs, but heal the hurts, and give him wisdom to handled the unpredictable twists and turns of fickle politics. Psalms 37 4-6 states: Trust in the Lord, and do good; . . .Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. . . He will bring forth your vindication as the light, and your right as the noonday.” God Bless America and President Obama and family.
I have been a part of the Presidential Prayer Team since it was begun after Sept. 9, 2001! I wanted to pray for our leaders, and our country, and particularly our President! (even though I was not of his political persuasion, I certainly didn’t doubt that he and our country needed every American’s prayers)! I am a loyal
American, and the fact that we have some ideological differences among our people is going to be a CERTAINTY, because that’s why people want to be in America (for freedom of thought, religion, and expression of those thoughts). Just because another American doesn’t have exactly the same Christian beliefs as I do, does Not make them evil and Muslim and intent on destroying America from the inside.
My prayer is that we will all pray for all of our leaders, no matter what their political persuasion, and that civility, and kindness , and God’s great Love for all mankind will be evident in how our citizens live our daily lives.
I want to thank President Obama and his wife, Michelle, for their wonderful example of marriage and family life. It is difficult to imagine the sacrifice they are making in their personal lives.I wonder why anyone is willing to take the slander and abuse that is often meted out, just so they can serve their country! Neither do I agree with every decision he makes…I wouldn’t expect to…but that doesn’t mean I’m necessarily right, or that I won’t continue to Pray! GOD BLESS AMERICA—LAND THAT I LOVE!