Faith and politics…
In a recent debate (read the full transcript here), Alan Keyes pointed out a difference between himself and Barack Obama, which also is common in many political races around the country…
When it really comes down to it, though Senator Obama professes faith when it’s convenient to get votes, at the hard points where that faith must be followed and explained to folks, and stood up for and witnessed to as folks who were martyrs in the early church said, he then pleads separation of church and state, something found nowhere in the Constitution, and certainly found nowhere in the Scripture as such.
Another disturbing issue this debate brought up is how some Christians feel that their faith and beliefs are not absolute, leaving open the possibility of salvation through a faith in something or someone other than Jesus Christ.
Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.
And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
Note the following statement by Barack Obama…
But, what I don’t think is appropriate, as a public servant, is for me to assume my faith is absolute and to, therefore, presume that people who are of different faiths, and have different perspectives, are somehow evil, or wrong, or that I can’t have a dialogue with them and arrive at common ground.
Further clarifying the spiritual nature of this issue, Obama lashed back at Keyes when presented with a summary of how his positions differ with those of Christ in the Bible.
I don’t need Mr. Keyes lecturing me about Christianity. That’s why I have a pastor. That’s why I have my Bible. That’s why I have my own prayer. And I don’t think that any of you are particularly interested in having Mr. Keyes lecture you about your faith. … I’m not running to be the minister of Illinois. I’m running to be its United States Senator.
While there’s nothing wrong with looking at the issues he mentioned (jobs, health care, and education), it is dangerous to focus on them apart from the moral foundation on which they depend.
Here are 5 minute video clips of Obama and Keyes from their campaign websites…in their own words:
Sources:
http://www.obamaforillinois.com/
http://www.keyes2004.com/
Tags: Politics
