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.