- Were Obama to stage another Oval Office address to the American people during which he made a point of establishing once and for all that his faith is indeed Islam, would he, as a result, lose faith with, and support from the bulk of his supporters?
In comments elsewhere it is suggested that we do not understand Islam; at least not as a number of anecdotal missionaries in Morocco do. Across the media spectrum talking heads have led us to believe that Islam is a religion of peace; that it is radical Islam that has departed from the faith. But consider the source. We accept the 'truth' of Islam's suborning from people who know as little-- or less --about Islam than do we reading this post. The bulk of Americans naively accept whatever these talking heads tell them. Why? Because they accept these people as learned and educated on just about EVERY topic imaginable. They are professionals; they have researchers and legal teams verifying every word scripted and scrolled through the teleprompter.
Why do we believe this? Because they tell us things we don't know? Folk in south Alabama wouldn't know of a foiled terrorist plot in New York unless media told them. And even at that, the media merely relays information from other sources in law enforcement, and then analyze said information with the help of 'experts' and 'contributors', whose impartiality cannot be verified. We are
told they are experts, or impartial, but Americans are too trusting. We believe what we are told. And media uses our naivete against us.
What religion claiming to be of peace, has its foundation in hatred, intolerance, murder, and war? Can any religion be considered holy with such a beginning? Perhaps the most dangerous people in this debate are not the Muslims themselves, but the 'Christians' who, out of a misguided and misinformed attempt to emulate the so-called 'tolerance' of Christ-- a tolerance
expected of us as His followers. But what tolerance did Christ display toward unbelievers beside the iron-fisted tolerance of the Gospel; 'believe on me or die in your sins'? Was Jesus tolerant when he said repeatedly to the scribes and pharisees that they would die in the sins if they did not believe He was the one? Was He tolerant when He overturned the moneychanger's tables? Was he tolerant in His parables? Was He tolerant of the rich man who scorned Lazarus, to his own detriment? Was Jesus tolerant when He said, 'depart from me ye workers of iniquity, I never knew you'? Was He tolerant of the rich young ruler who went away sorrowful? Was Jesus tolerant of anyone or anything which was not in strict compliance with God's holy law? Please don't make the mistake of confusing forgiveness with tolerance. They are two wholly different animals.
Jesus said, 'Whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.' This is not the picture of tolerance. And who says the Christian faith is a tolerant one? Sadly, far too many professing Christians do just that.
If Christianity therefore isn't a tolerant faith, why then do so many professing Christians insist Islam is? For a faith that declares lying to be an acceptable practice in the propagation of the faith; that declares Jews and Christians to be enemies should they not be willing to bend the knee to Allah; should be killed if opportunity presents itself... how can it then be said that strict adherents of Islam are in the extreme? That they are extremists? We do not call Catholics who spend every day in confession and prayer,
extremists. We call them devout. So too are Muslims who accept the very Islamic tenets of killing, lying, subjugation, and demeaning of women. They are devout... not radical at all. We in the West have naively accepted the premise that no one who believes such things could ever be part of a mainstream, noble religion. Therefore, the 'peaceful' Muslims must be 'moderate' in their beliefs. And it's the extremists who take Islam's holy book out of context. But in truth, it the West that has taken the Quran out of context.
It's not 'radical' Islam. It is simply, ISLAM. And though Islam is very much an 'intolerant' religion, so too is Christianity-- just not to the extremes devout adherents of Islam exercise theirs.
- Devout Christianity does not advocate deception if it advances the cause of Christianity.
- Christianity doe not incite murder or genocide.
- Christianity does not propagate a belief in war for the purpose of subjugation.
- Nor does Christianity seek to demean and brutalize women.
It doesn't matter therefore whether Barack Obama is a Muslim. Whether he is or isn't misses the point that he does not know God, let alone Christ Jesus.
Reiterating: Jesus said, 'Whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.' But how, you ask, has Barack Obama denied Christ before men?
Obama believes there are many paths to heaven. In a 2004 interview with Cathleen Falsani, Obama said, "I believe that there are many paths to the same place... All people of faith-— Christians, Jews, Muslims, animists, everyone knows the same God."
By this statement alone Obama denies Christ. He is saying, in effect, that the blood of Christ is worthless because, apparently, Christ died for nothing if an Animist or Taoist-- who by such faith rejects the sacrifice of Christ --is getting into heaven without having to resort to His blood.
Obama Denies the Authority of the Bible. In the sermon on the mount, Jesus affirmed that every "jot and tittle' of the Law is true, including the parts that condemn homosexuality.
In an interview with the homosexual publication,
The Advocate, Obama attacked faithful black pastors who faithfully proclaim what the Bible says about homosexuality, declaring, "...most African-American churches are still fairly traditional in the interpretations of Scripture. And so from the pulpit or in sermons you still hear homophobic attitudes expressed."
However, Obama lavished praise on his controversial former pastor and mentor, Jeremiah Wright, for being "very good on gay and lesbian issues." Obama’s former church, Trinity United Church of Christ voted recently to approve of homosexual marriage. And our president dismisses as "obscure," the clear and definitive teaching of the Apostle Paul in Romans 1 that calls homosexual acts both "indecent" and "perverse."
Obama Supports Abortion. Appearing before a 2008 meeting of Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion provider in America, Obama proudly said, "I have consistently had a 100% pro-choice rating with Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice America." He said, "The first thing I'd do as president is sign the Freedom of Choice Act." And at the infamous forum hosted by Pastor Rick Warren said that to know when a baby ought to have human rights is "above his pay grade," but he is very clear that a baby can be killed anytime, even after it is born. On four separate occasions Obama has voted against bills that prevented the killing of infants that are born alive, having survived an attempted abortion.
Obama Affirmed Muslim Prayer. In a New York Times interview in 2007, entitled
Obama, A man of the World, Obama fondly recalled the Islamic evening call to prayer as "one of the prettiest sounds on Earth at sunset."
According to the article, "Obama went on to recite its opening lines with a perfect Arabic accent: "Allah is Supreme! Allah is Supreme! Allah is Supreme! Allah is Supreme! I witness that there is no god but Allah! I witness that there is no god but Allah! I witness that Muhammad is his prophet!" The article said this would "give any one living in Alabama a heart attack."
Christians believe that Jesus Christ is God’s True Prophet, the full and final revelation of God. No true Christian can say the Muslim call to prayer is a "pretty sound" because it is a direct challenge to the truthfulness of Jesus Christ as the Word of God made flesh.
Obama is Associated with Black Liberation Theology through his long association with his former pastor Jeremiah Wright.
According to Black Liberation Theologian, James Cone, racial identity trumps the fact that he is a Christian. "The fact that I am Black is my ultimate reality... it is impossible for me to surrender this basic reality for a 'higher, more universal' reality... Black theology knows no authority more binding than the experience of oppression itself. This alone must be the ultimate authority in religious matters."
Black liberation theology declares that whites are essentially evil and are to be viewed as the enemy. "Whiteness as revealed in the history of America, is the expression of what is wrong with man. It is a symbol of man's depravity... the coming of Christ means... destroying the white devil in us... in white racist society, Christian obedience can only mean being obedient to blackness, it's glorification and exaltation... all white churches (are) anti-Christian in their essence."
By Obama's own account of his essential elements of true biblical conversion are lacking, namely, conviction of sin, repentance and faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of the world. When asked if he believed in sin, Obama said "Yes." But when asked to define it, Obama said sin is, "Being out of alignment with my values."
Obama said he feels most aligned spiritually "when I’m being true to myself."
According to the Bible, when man sins, he sins against a Holy God in the violation of God’s holy law. Sin is not based on any man's standards. Righteousness is obedience to God and his word.
Obama is offended by the notion that all people need Christ in order to be saved.
"The difficult thing about... Christianity, is that at some level there is a call to evangelize... There’s the belief, certainly in some quarters, that people haven’t embraced Jesus Christ as their personal savior that they're going to hell." So, if Jesus is not a Savior who rescues from hell, then who is Jesus to Obama?
"Jesus is an historical figure for me, and he's also a bridge between God and man, in the Christian faith, and one that I think is powerful precisely because he serves as that means of us reaching something higher." This is not the testimony of a true Christian.
For Obama, Jesus is merely a historical figure not the risen and living Lord. For Obama, Jesus is merely "a" bridge in the "Christian faith," not the only bridge for all mankind. For Obama, Jesus is a means to some vague "higher" thing. To the Christian, knowing and experiencing Christ is the highest attainment of the Christian life.
Obama venerates doubt, which is contrary to the assurance of eternal salvation and truth which Christ gives his people. Asked if he was "born again," Obama answered, "Yeah... [but] I retain... a suspicion of dogma... I think that religion at it's best comes with a big dose of doubt... I don't presume to have knowledge of what happens after I die."
Asked to describe the day he was converted Obama denies that there was any kind of supernatural enlightenment or an epiphany or a specific moment when he finally "got it... I think it was just a moment to certify or publicly affirm a growing faith in me."
Obama's testimony does not have the marks of a
bona fide biblical conversion.
Jesus gives his assurance that "He who believes on me has everlasting life," and "I go to prepare a place for you!"
When asked where he finds inspiration, Obama does not mention a relationship with Christ. He does mentions a lot of things church, but not Jesus.
When asked who was his role model he mentions Gandi. "Gandhi is a great example of a profoundly spiritual man who acted and risked everything on behalf of those values but never slipped into intolerance or dogma. He seemed to always maintain an air of doubt about him." No mention of Christ.
Without the public admission that you are lost in sin and that you have turned from your sin and put your faith in Christ and his shed blood as the only remedy for sin, you are not truly converted.
The tenets of Christianity are every bit as strict as Islam, but only one faith can be true, and that faith is Christianity. Because only Christianity offers a solution to the problem of sin.
But it has been demonstrated over and over again, that Barack Obama is not a Christian. He...
- believes there are many paths to heaven
- denies the authority of the Bible
- supports abortion
- affirms Muslim prayer
- is associated with Black Liberation Theology
- has no bona fide Christian testimony
It doesn't matter whether Obama is a Muslim or not. The deeper issue here is the fact that he is not Christian. Yes, I'm concerned for this country, and Obama's coziness with Islam and demeanor toward and rejection of Israel is deeply troubling. But in light of eternity, Obama will burn like every other sinner not covered by the blood of Christ Jesus.
And THAT is the intolerance of Christianity. Not that Christianity excludes people from heaven. But that Christianity excludes everyone unwilling to accept the free gift of HIS grace, and HIS righteousness [and not trying to 'get there' on our own merit]. God is intolerant of sin. And unless the sinner accepts that good and perfect gift, he is doomed, for, as Peter put it...
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. --Acts 4:12
I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst... All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. --John 6:35, 37-40
I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. --John 8:12
Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. --John 10:7-10
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep... I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. --John 10:11, 15-18
I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? --John 11:25-26
He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. --John 12:44-48
I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.--John 3:18
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. --John 1:12-13
The intolerant faith of Christianity. There is no other way. Whatever Obama believes, whatever the talking heads tell you. Islam is not a peaceful religion. Nor is it radical. It merely is. If it seems radical at times that it is simply because the true face of Islam has emerged, from the hands of its more devout practitioners. And that we judge 'radical' by the standard of our own faith.
It doesn't matter if Obama is a closet Muslim. What matters is that he is NOT a Christian, and doesn't have the truth. If he had the truth he might have still failed his faith, his God, and this nation. No one is perfect. But Obama is NOT Christian. And that puts his very soul at risk.
And yes, his soul is worth more than the combined wealth of the universe itself. YOUR soul as well.
And so... I've considered this question as much as I have time for.