During the 2008 Presidential campaign, many conservatives and even the John McCain campaign frequently pointed out the seemingly worship of now President Barack Obama from his followers. Stories and video of persons fainting when they saw Obama give a speech or even Obama joking that he wasn't born of a virgin were frequent during the campaign. The mainstream media only encouraged it by taking pictures that made it look like Obama had a halo over his head like a saint or an angel. Obama was frequently viewed as the candidate that would save Washington, save America, and save the world. Many, sadly, saw Obama as the answer to their prayers.Well, months after his inauguration, it seems like the madness has yet to end. Recently in an interview, Newsweeks Evan Thomas refers to Obama as a "sort of god" who is "standing above the country," and "above the world." Thomas has since argued that his words were taken out of context, and I want to give him the benefit of the doubt. I seriously doubt that Thomas considers Obama literally as some sort of god, but at the same time, this isn't the first time we have seen someone (including Thomas), particularly in the media, consider Obama as the greatest politician and hope America has seen (Thomas said this while on Hardball with Chris Matthews who once said that when Obama speaks, he gets a thrill up his leg and has said that the coming of Obama is like the coming of the New Testament).
As an American, I can't help but laugh. I have yet to figure out why persons actually believe that some guy in Washington could ever solve all of their problems. It seems that every election falls for this trap. Politicians promise to fix our taxes, lower the cost of health care, fix the economy, bring world peace, etc. And so we elect them thinking that they will solve all of our problems, and, when they don't, we complain and elect the next politician who makes the same promise. Certainly some elections carry this tendency more than others. Following 8 controversial years of the Bush administration, many Americans were looking for someone quit different. And at that moment, a Senator from Chicago, with good speaking skills and great charisma announced that he was running for the nation's highest office.
And so I find myself scratching my head wondering, "do people really think that Obama will bring peace and tranquility and provide the Utopia we've all dreamed about? And do they think that just because he can give a good speech that nations will cease fighting, the greedy will start giving, and the prejudice will start loving?" The worship of President Obama simply astounds me. Since when did Washington ever make our lives better?
But as a Christian, I am more concerned. Too many Christians have put their trust in politicians rather than in their God and Savior. Both liberal and conservative Christians are guilty of this. We have substituted the gospel for tax reform or new education legislation. And like our non-believing counterparts, we have bought into the notion that all will be OK if only we elect someone who thinks just like us.
Do not misunderstand me, I am not saying that Christians shouldn't vote or shouldn't get involved in politics. I believe the exact opposite. As a minister, I have a responsibility for understanding politics, politicians, cultural trends, ethical debates, etc. However, I do not believe that somehow the Church will grow, persons will be saved, or that the Kingdom of God (both present and future) will be realized as long as the guy or party I like is in power.
Although many believe otherwise, Jesus in the Gospels seems as if He couldn't care less about the politics of His day. He had one mission: to save the lost by shepherding them to the cross. Jesus never fought for social reform or suggests government solutions to any one's problems. Everything He did and said was about the cross. It is at the cross that man finds hope and answers, not Washington or Rome.
To put our trust in a politician or a political party is nothing short of idolatry. Recall the story of Israel in 1 Samuel. They wanted a king, but God had His reservations. God Himself was their King. By asking for a king, the people were revealing their true hearts: they wished to dethrone God and replace Him with someone else. Furthermore, God knew that once the people had a king, they would look to the king for hope and answers, not God. This does not mean that the Jews cease to worship God or make sacrifices towards Him, but it does mean that instead of trusting in God, they first put their trust in the king.
As an American, I can't help but laugh. I have yet to figure out why persons actually believe that some guy in Washington could ever solve all of their problems. It seems that every election falls for this trap. Politicians promise to fix our taxes, lower the cost of health care, fix the economy, bring world peace, etc. And so we elect them thinking that they will solve all of our problems, and, when they don't, we complain and elect the next politician who makes the same promise. Certainly some elections carry this tendency more than others. Following 8 controversial years of the Bush administration, many Americans were looking for someone quit different. And at that moment, a Senator from Chicago, with good speaking skills and great charisma announced that he was running for the nation's highest office.
And so I find myself scratching my head wondering, "do people really think that Obama will bring peace and tranquility and provide the Utopia we've all dreamed about? And do they think that just because he can give a good speech that nations will cease fighting, the greedy will start giving, and the prejudice will start loving?" The worship of President Obama simply astounds me. Since when did Washington ever make our lives better?
But as a Christian, I am more concerned. Too many Christians have put their trust in politicians rather than in their God and Savior. Both liberal and conservative Christians are guilty of this. We have substituted the gospel for tax reform or new education legislation. And like our non-believing counterparts, we have bought into the notion that all will be OK if only we elect someone who thinks just like us.
Do not misunderstand me, I am not saying that Christians shouldn't vote or shouldn't get involved in politics. I believe the exact opposite. As a minister, I have a responsibility for understanding politics, politicians, cultural trends, ethical debates, etc. However, I do not believe that somehow the Church will grow, persons will be saved, or that the Kingdom of God (both present and future) will be realized as long as the guy or party I like is in power.
Although many believe otherwise, Jesus in the Gospels seems as if He couldn't care less about the politics of His day. He had one mission: to save the lost by shepherding them to the cross. Jesus never fought for social reform or suggests government solutions to any one's problems. Everything He did and said was about the cross. It is at the cross that man finds hope and answers, not Washington or Rome.
To put our trust in a politician or a political party is nothing short of idolatry. Recall the story of Israel in 1 Samuel. They wanted a king, but God had His reservations. God Himself was their King. By asking for a king, the people were revealing their true hearts: they wished to dethrone God and replace Him with someone else. Furthermore, God knew that once the people had a king, they would look to the king for hope and answers, not God. This does not mean that the Jews cease to worship God or make sacrifices towards Him, but it does mean that instead of trusting in God, they first put their trust in the king.
The same happened during Jesus' time. John 6 records the feeding of the 5,000. The people responded by trying to force Jesus into becoming their king. Why? Because they believed that if Jesus were their political king, then they wouldn't have to work for food anymore. To them, Jesus could fulfill their Utopian dream. And so rather than embrace the message of the gospel, the people sought to force him to become a king. The people wanted a savior, but the wrong kind of savior.Every nation has fallen for this folly. Whenever the people start putting their trust in a politician instead of the Creator disappointment and folly are around the corner. In the end, Obama will be a disappointment. He might go down as a great President, but he will not succeed in fulfilling the desires of those who elected him. He is already letting a lot of people down (like homosexual activists, anti-war protesters, etc.) and he will inevitably not be the President he allowed himself to be portrayed as during the campaign. Obama has allowed the perception that once he got elected, peace would come, poverty would end, and all will be made new. By allowing this perception to go on, Obama has set himself up for a huge fall.
Obama is no messiah. He is no savior. He is no "sort of god." Rather, he is an elected leader chosen to fulfill a task to the best of his ability. He is human and will make many mistakes. As Christians, it is time for us to be gospel-centered rather than politics-centered. The world will not be saved through a President or through politics. The world will be saved whenever we preach the gospel to every soul and trust in the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.
No matter what may happen in Washington or who occupies its highest office.
For more:
Washington Post: Is Obama a (or the) Messiah?
World Magazine: Obama-worship continues
Video: Evan Thomas: Obama is the Great Teacher
The Point Blog: ’Newsweek’ editor: Obama ’sort of God’
American Thinker: Obama's Messiah Shtick
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