Tuesday, September 30, 2008

High tea with a Mr. Ahmadinejad - addendum

In Friday night's debate, Senator McCain expressed that he would never meet with Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (or other "rogue" leaders) without preconditions and painted Senator Obama as naive for saying he would do so. Obama, in defense of his position emphasized the preparation that should precede such a meeting and the manner in which such a meeting might be conducted. "It's not as if," he said to illustrate his point, "we're inviting him over for tea."

Some skeptical viewers, however, might be looking at their bracelets and wondering, "What would Jesus do?" Would he sit down for tea with Ahmadinejad?

The idea of a high tea with the Iranian president may have been presented as foolish hyperbole, but it is actually a lot more realistic than many might think:

http://mcc.org/news/news/article.html?id=395

Blessings in Christ.

Monday, September 29, 2008

High tea with a Mr. Ahmadinejad

John McCain and Barack Obama matched wits, traded barbs, and touted their records as they both sought creative ways to not quite answer Jim Lehrer's questions in Friday night's debate. Political analysts seemed to agree that the two battled this one to draw in a debate focused on foreign policy, which McCain was expected to win. Obama supporters thus considered a draw a victory, but the "Obama for Jesus" campaign was left wondering if the senator was beginning to betray his true calling.

While Obama was the more intelligent and sensical speaker of the evening, both were guilty of seeking politically savvy but irrelevant ways of answering questions. When asked how the consequences of a financial bailout plan would affect the things they want to accomplish as president and which programs would be the first to go if the budget shrank, both danced around it with Obama stating which initiatives were priorities and wouldn't be cut, and McCain stating that we need to find ways to cut "wasteful spending." In one of the better comical displays of the evening, McCain finally blurted out, "What about a spending freeze on everything but defense, veteran's affairs, and entitlements?" I'm not sure if it was a question, a suggestion, or a statement of intent. To this Obama deftly replied, "The problem with a spending freeze is you're using a hatchet when you need a scalpel."

Of all the amusing things that McCain did repeatedly (including telling us three times that he was never voted Mr. Congeniality of the Senate and turning the phrase 'Obama just doesn't seem to understand' into a mantra) the most ridiculous was stating "facts" that were false. Obama frequently had to put his foot down and say, "hold on, this simply isn't true." The most egregious of these was when McCain, with a tone of astonished incredulousness over Obama's apparent lack of sympathy for American soldiers, stated that Obama voted against funding our troops. Obama countered intelligently, saying that he voted against a funding bill that gave the president free reign to continue the war as he saw fit and that McCain himself voted against a funding bill that included a time-table for withdrawal. "We had a legitimate difference about time-tables," said Obama, "and I understand that difference." The question remained, however, did America understand the difference, or did McCain's deceitful rhetoric win out over Obama's reasoned explanation?

Obama, in my opinion, did deliver a stinging blow on the "supporting our troops" front later in the debate. McCain more than once used stories of meeting soldiers to demonstrate the importance of staying in Iraq until "victory" is won, including a dramatic and emotionally convincing story where every soldier in the room said, "Give us a chance to win, we don't want our children coming back here." The unattentive viewer would have heard that "the vast majority of soldiers want America to stay in Iraq indefinitely until the war is won," but close attention to detail shows that the meeting was with soldiers who had volunteered to reenlist and stay in longer in Iraq; God bless them for their courage and determination, but that's not quite what I'd call a representative sample of troops. Then later, McCain described meeting a mother of a deceased soldier who told him, "Don't let it be that my son died in vain, make sure that we win this war" and gave him a bracelet in memory of her son, which he agreed to wear with honor. It was the height of McCain's "I understand the military and the military understands me" image, and viewers waited for Obama to cripple under the heat. But Obama calmly replied, "You know what John, I'm wearing a bracelet too;" he went on to describe another mother of a deceased soldier who told him, "Don't let it be that another mother has to go through what I'm going through." Obama continued with his most poignant counter-punch, saying confidently that no American soldier ever dies in vain, because they are faithfully following the orders of their Commander in Chief.

Both Obama and McCain pulled out convenient lines to express humility while touting their good judgement. Obama, in regard to his original opposition to the Iraq war on the grounds that it would embroil us in an unwinnable, prolonged conflict of unknown complexity, said, "I wish I was wrong for the sake of this country, but I wasn't." Later McCain, speaking about another situation where the country did not heed his advice and his predictions of dire outcomes came to bear, said (with heavy, sorrowful emphasis on the first word), "Tragically, I was right."

The two candidates engaged in a humorous exchange over the issue of negotiating with rogue leaders "without preconditions." McCain belabored an unconvincing argument that "sitting across the table" from a leader gives credence to their policies, as he tried to paint Obama as ridiculously naive. Obama attempted to explain the difference between "without preparations" and "without preconditions," finally clarifying that meeting without preconditions "doesn't mean we invite them over for tea." The exchange was filled in with useless arguments over what Henry Kissenger (and other advisers) actually said and what Ronald Reagon (and other presidents) actually did, etc.

While this was a fun and interesting debate to watch, it was difficult to see a man so obviously fit to be Jesus trying to forcefully adapt himself into someone fit to win a presidential election. I mean, you can put lipstick on a pig, a pitbull, or even a hockey mom, but for goodness sake, you've still got yourself a pig, a pitbull, and someone not quite ready to be vice-president of the United States. Honestly, who really believed Obama when he said we needed to "capture and kill" Osama Bin Laden, or that we needed to "crush Al Qaeda?" When push comes to shove we all know that Obama is not a pusher, a shover, or even less a capturer, killer or crusher, and it's saddening to see him depart embarrassingly from his divine calling to be Jesus and act like a Commander in Chief. I know there are those of us who believe that if Barack Obama is president and if we blindly believe in him, he will surely lead us miraculously to an instant salvation, but I beg to differ. Let's be honest with ourselves: the conflict in Iraq will not be solved by pulling out American troops and pressuring the Iraqi government to take more responsibility; and the threat of terrorism will not be vanquished by shifting our military focus to Afghanistan. At best, Barack Obama is offering a more responsible and strategic way of trying to destroy our enemies and secure our position in the world by force. In truth, we need a savior who inspires us to live up to our highest ideals, who challenges us to resist violence peacefully, and who teaches us God's ways rather than espousing the ways of this world. I hope that Senator Obama can live up to this calling, which he has shown signs of doing. May we all pray that God would lead him from temptation and deliver him from evil.

Friday, September 26, 2008

Give McCain a break

As the shake up on Wall Street begins to resemble more and more the chaos to precede Jesus' second coming, presidential hopeful John McCain declared that he intended to delay the first presidential debate of the season in order to focus on a Congressional response to the financial crisis. Barack Obama rebuffed McCain's request to delay the debate with uncharacteristic smugness, saying that a president needs to be able to focus on more than one thing a time. Ouch, Obama, why don't you just heap burning coals on the guy's head? But honestly, let's take it easy on McCain; he's a decent, hardworking American, but it's not as if he's destined to be the savior of all humanity, so we shouldn't expect too much. It is easy to wonder though if an unprepared McCain wasn't just trying to capitalize on an opportunity to seem "above politics" while buying himself some time to prepare for Obama. Of course, if Obama wasn't incapable of any wrong then I might say he was trying to play the political card as well and wonder if he really should be working harder to address the concerns on Wall Street. But Obama knows that if God provides for the birds and lilies, so too will he provide for us. By the way, in the parable of the talents, where was the dude who squandered his in a risky, greedy investment and would he have been bailed out when he came back empty handed?

In any case, McCain finally relented and will debate Obama tonight at 6 PM. I'm looking forward to a good show. Blessings in Christ.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

For in the same way they persecuted...

When Obama saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

"Blessed are the single mothers working two minimum-wage jobs, for they shall receive health care.

"Blessed are the homosexual couples committed to a life of faithful monogamy, for they shall receive the same rights and privileges as heterosexual married couples.

"Blessed are the soldiers, for they shall not be sent out to fight stupid, useless, unwinnable wars.

"Blessed are the teenagers, for they shall be given a fair opportunity to get a higher education.

"Blessed are the hunters in Alaska, Michigan, and other places, for their right to bear their hunting rifles shall not be taken away even as we find ways to keep dangerous weapons off the streets of our inner cities.

"Blessed are the Christians, Muslims, Mormons, Jews, etc, for their right to practice their religion freely shall not be taken away.

"Blessed is the middle class, for their taxes shall be cut.

"Blessed are the nations of the world, for they shall be respected, engaged and listened to, even as America stands firmly for its own rights and powers.

"Blessed are the Americans, for they shall be one nation, under God, indivisible, unified by the ideals of liberty and justice for all.

"Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."


Senator Barack Obama, in his quest for the United States Presidency, continues to draw huge crowds of people who listen to him speak and are astounded at his teaching. For Obama teaches them as one having authority, and not as one of their scribes. I ask you, is he not the Messiah sent from God to save our people? Of course the prophets of God who speak the Truth always come into friction with the establishment. If we are to consider Obama for our next Jesus, we must not forget the intense opposition our original Jesus faced as he spoke God's word. Presently, the Christian Coalition has ridiculed Obama for "trying to woo" the votes of Evangelical Christians. To Evangelicals he has highlighted his "Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships," which will extend and overhaul President Bush's federal faith-based initiatives. But are these evangelicals expected to believe that a black man, who has attended a radical Christian Church for decades after having a powerful conversion experience to Christ and who frequently uses Christian language to express his ideas, is actually not a Muslim who believes in the virtue of killing unborn babies? Certainly not! As the Coalition points out, Obama is in favor of overturning the Defense of Marriage Act and is only the second presidential candidate in American history to be endorsed by Planned Parenthood. What a threat to "God's" Kingdom on earth! Evangelical Christians will not be swayed by Obama's "spin," which tries to say that he doesn't believe in gay marriage even though he is against laws that specifically deny gay people the same rights as married couples. Honestly, Obama, how can you be against something and not want to write a law to enforce its prevention? I know that I want to outlaw gas-powered automobiles, store-bought tomatos, "the wave" at baseball games, and excessive enthusiasm for Coldstone Creamery, Great Harvest Bread, Starbucks and Jamba Juice. You're either with us or against us.

But I tell you, do not be afraid. Running for president may require some tricky political wrangling, but when you run for Jesus it's okay to have some enemies. In fact, if you didn't have enemies you just might not be speaking God's Truth accurately. You might be sugar-coating it just to pacify those who would oppose you. May God give us the strength to stand for Truth even as we humbly confess our sins, seeking forgiveness and wisdom.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Oust the current Jesus

I guess the first question I must answer as a spokeman of the 'Obama for Jesus' campaign is, "Why not just reelect the incumbent?" Sadly, most American's have become complacent when it comes to Jesus politics and prefer accepting the status quo to engaging in what they see as a hopeless struggle. It seems that the common American has given up on electing a new Jesus in the face of the suffocating power of interest groups such as The Christian Coalition, The Liberty Alliance, and Focus on the Family. I say that we cannot allow these lobbyists to dictate again and again who gets to be Jesus. It is a travesty of our faith that anything but the power of the people and good, old fashioned truth would decide that. We need a Jesus like the Jesus of our forefathers and foremothers, back when our religion was new and pure, and its ideals prevailed in their truest form; we need a Jesus like the original Jesus, Jesus of Nazareth.

The current Jesus is out of touch with the past, incompetent in the present, and reckless with the future. Like a President who seems nice for having a beer with, the current Jesus deceives us with a comforting image of security. He plays to our greatest weakness: our desire to feel self-righteous; and in doing so condemns us to a perilous future. The current Jesus diverts us from truly worthy callings like living simply, fighting oppression, making peace, and turning water into wine, by giving us a handful of token movements (of dubious merit) to support like the pro-life and anti gay-marriage movement. How easy is it for the middle-class born Christian who was married at 19 and enjoys a natural desire to have sex with their spouse of the opposite sex to vote once a year for the candidate who supports these interests?

We don't need a feel-good Jesus who caters to the self-interest of a lucky few. We need a Jesus who challenges us at our very core, a Jesus who upends all those conceptions of righteousness that have given us the comfort of an easy salvation. Cannot God raise up from the stones children of Abraham? And yet still with great pretent we try to claim Abraham as our ancestor. We need a Jesus who befriends the leper, the fisherman, the tax collector and the prostitute alike; one who sees beyond what's before him and unveils the dark Powers that rule systemically over us, causing individuals to fall into sin. We need a Jesus who loves unconditionally even as he ruthlessly unmasks the sins of the powerful. Yes, indeed, we need a Jesus like we once had long ago. Perhaps, even, it is time for Jesus to be black again.

Barack Obama is the candidate who can bring the needed change to the office of Jesus. Here he comes, riding on a donkey, preaching that the Kingdom of Heaven is near, that our hope is stronger than our fears. He invites us to come freely to him. And yet he has acquired his enemies; they feel threatened by him; they spread lies to turn the people against him; they will surely use their power to crush him. But how will he respond? How will we respond? Only time will tell.

Until then may we pray humbly for God's wisdom and rest soundly in God's grace; amen.

Welcome to "Obama for Jesus"

Welcome to this, hopefully, up and coming blog. As you probably know, the Democratic senator from Illinois, Barack Obama, is running for president of the United States. As grand and crucial as the position of president is in this country, this blog is devoted to the idea that, though he is clearly the best candidate for president, Senator Obama is better fit for the position of "Jesus" in our society. I hope that Christians all across our great land will consider voting for Barack Obama to be our next Jesus. It's time for change that we can believe in!

While I wish Senator Obama the best of luck in his quest for the presidency, I cannot officially endorse his candidacy due to my opinion that a person cannot, in good faith, hold the positions of Jesus and president of the United States simultaneously. This blog will attempt to interpret the events of the presidential election season (and potentially the events of post-election America) from the perspective that Barack Obama should really be running for the position of Jesus. Thus, while it is clear that I am very impressed by Senator Obama and do not in any way support a John McCain presidency, my position is nuanced in that I cannot, as already mentioned, officially support Barack Obama for president.

I hope that this adventure proves fruitful and that you will enjoy it as much as I will. Feel free to send me any commentary of your own for potential publication. Stay tuned for my first "real" post and blessings to you in the name of Christ.