On Tuesday, Reverend Franklin Graham gave an interview on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” that created a bit of a stir among the political class. At the core of the controversy is what Graham said about President Obama’s Christianity.
When asked directly if the president was a Christian, Graham said, “He’s come out saying that he’s a Christian. The question is, What is a Christian?” At another point Graham said, “If he says he’s a Christian, I’m not going to say he’s not.” But when faced with this direct statement — “So therefore, by your definition, [Obama’s] not a Christian” – the Reverend Graham answered, “You have to ask him. I cannot answer that question for anybody.”
Except that in the same interview, when asked if Rick Santorum is a Christian, Graham was able to answer that question for somebody. “Oh, I think so,” Graham said. He added there was “no question, I believe [Santorum is] a man of faith.” The Reverend Graham then chimed in, “I think Newt is a Christian. At least he told me he is.” To which Willie Geist said, “So Newt Gingrich is a Christian, but you’re not sure that President Obama is. And you said based on the way they’ve lived their lives.” And just in case Graham hadn’t said enough, when asked if he could say categorically that President Obama was not a Muslim, Graham said, “I can’t say categorically, because Islam has gotten a free pass under Obama.”
The problem here is Graham is judging President Obama’s faith commitment based on a political, not a theological, basis. What Graham seems to be arguing is that Obama is a liberal, he’s wrong on “moral issues,” and so a question mark has to be put over the faith of the president, who has spoken in moving terms about his own journey to Christianity.
This is dangerous territory for Graham to reside in. For one thing, it sounds as if the Reverend Graham is questioning whether one can be a political liberal and a Christian at the same time. Of course one can be and to suggest otherwise is offensive. (I’m tempted to say some of my closest friends are Christians who are politically liberal.)
For another, what exactly are the political issues that are closest to the heart of Jesus? The issue of war? Concern for the poor? The Global AIDS Initiative? World hunger? Creation care? Abortion? Or perhaps divorce? Does Graham believe he knows what Jesus’s political platform would look like? And while we’re at it, should we use the Hebrew Bible or the New Testament as the basis for that platform? Should our stands on political issues be informed by the Sermon on the Mount? The Book of Acts? Or perhaps the dietary laws found in Leviticus and Deuteronomy? What Franklin Graham is doing is what no minister of the Gospel should do, which is to interpret Christianity through a political lens.
Given the Reverend Graham’s tendencies, he might consider the following as a corrective of sorts. Jesus and His disciples demonstrated a profound mistrust of power, especially political power. Regarding a Christian’s place in the world, Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world.” And none of the disciples led anything approaching what we would consider a political movement. In addition, the history of the church offers its own reasons for demarcating Christianity from the sphere of politics. According to the social philosopher Jacques Ellul, every time the church has gotten heavily into the political game, it has been drawn into self-betrayal or apostasy.
There’s also something to be said about creating a little mental distance from the temptations of politics. In 1951, Prime Minister Winston Churchill offered C.S. Lewis the title of Commander of the British Empire, a high and appropriate distinction. But Lewis refused the honor. “I feel greatly obligated to the prime minister,” he responded, “and so far as my personal feelings are concerned this honour would be agreeable. There are always, however, knaves who say, and fools who believe, that my religious writings are all covert anti-Leftist propaganda, and my appearance in the Honours List would of course strengthen their hands. It is therefore better that I should not appear there.”
C.S. Lewis had higher goals and more urgent priorities than politics. So should Franklin Graham.
Values and beliefs have a profound and powerful effect not only on individual but also communal behavior. Franklin Graham is an American citizen and, like you, has the right and he may feel the obligation to speak out. n nFYI I think Barack Obama is a Secular Materialist or Secular Humanist and I am not even sure he believes in a King and a Father who created us all.
Franklin Graham is free to go around pronouncing who is a Christian and who isn't, but no one is listening to him outside the evangelical base that already agrees with him. He's just alienating everyone else.
Obama lies about virtually everything, so it is natural to doubt him on this, too.
Especially since Odrama Queen has not bothered with evidencing any Christian behavior whatsoever.
While I agree with Mr. Wehner that Reverend Graham should refrain from questioning President Obama's commitment to Christianity based upon his liberalism, just as Democrats should leave alone the question of whether Jesus would support tax hikes on the wealthy, I wonder if there is a different basis for Rev. Graham's skepticism? Perhaps it's the type of Christianity practiced in Rev. Jeremiah Wright's church that is unrecognizable to Mr. Graham. n nAs a Jew, and therefore someone wholly unqualified to judge who is truly a Christian, I am untroubled by Mr. Obama's youthful exposure to the Muslim faith and culture. Indeed, I would be a good deal more sanguine about his beliefs, religious and otherwise, had he attended a peace-preaching Mosque for all those years, instead of enduring the often hate-laced sermons performed in Rev. Wright's church.
One major trouble I have from you statement is that you write, "often" hate-laced sermons performed in Rev. Wright's church. For someone who has preached 52 plus times a year for over 20 years, even if one does label his sermons "hate-laced" (which of course I disagree with) it is a stretch to say "often" based on a few snippets from the internet. Rev. Wright has aired for several years on public television in Chicago and was hardly labeled as hate-laced until the President rose to power.
Wright was not labeled as a hatemonger until the mainstream took notice during the 2008 presidential campaign. n nOnce Obama saw what the mainstream reaction was to Wright's fringe views, he distanced himself from the church. It seems like a cynical, politically expedient thing to do. n n
Too bad, Wright was and is definitely hate-laced. You can dress it up any way you want to. He isn't fooling anyone.
WHY should any Christian REFRAIN from questioning the conduct and veracity of a person claiming to be a Christian who cannot be bothered to ACT like one? nHave you never read the Corinthian Letters? We have no obligation to allow someone the benefits of the REPUTATION of Christianity, when their goals in using it for their own ulterior motives is only evil towards Jesus and His goals and motives. n1 Cor 5 nEsp. 1 Cor 5:9. I wrote you in my [previous] letter not to associate [closely and habitually] with unchaste (impure) people– n 10. Not [meaning of course that you must] altogether shun the immoral people of this world, or the greedy graspers and cheats and thieves or idolaters, since otherwise you would need to get out of the world and human society altogether! n 11. But now I write to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of [Christian] brother if he is known to be guilty of immorality or greed, or is an idolater [whose soul is devoted to any object that usurps the place of God], or is a person with a foul tongue [railing, abusing, reviling, slandering], or is a drunkard or a swindler or a robber. [No] you must not so much as eat with such a person. n 12. What [business] of mine is it and what right have I to judge outsiders? Is it not those inside [the church] upon whom you are to pass disciplinary judgment [passing censuring sentence on them as the facts require]? n2 Cor 1,2 nWe do not owe an immoral person "Cover" for their conduct by taking up for them if they FALSELY claim to be Christians and try to hide behind the Church's skirts with their evil deeds.
I like what you said about Jesus demonstrating a mistrust of power. I think the misbegotten wedding of the GOP with the Christian right had bad and long lasting effects on both. Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's…and nothing more. n nThe more power we give government, the less freedom we have. Stand fast in the liberty wherein Christ has set you free…
It isn't what people say that make them Christian, it's what they do (Matthew 7:16).
I'm so tired of the media parcing everyone's opinion of Obama's faith. It has become a litmus test for the critic's own credibility, which is totally unfair. If someone questions Obama's faith, the syllogism seems to go, then that person must be unhinged and therefore not credible. This is pure nonsense. n nObama's religious views are his own. Are they open to reasonable doubt? I would say yes, because he has been all over the map in his relatively young life. n nIs he a Christian? Nominally, yes, but his sincerity is certainly open to doubt. The most telling detail, to me, is that since cutting off Rev. Wright in 2008 and becoming POTUS, he and his family have reportedly not attended any church. The association with Rev. Wright, I have read, was always one of convenience – a necessary gesture to establish a newcomer's street-cred in black Chicago politics. Is Obama capable of such cynical behavior — to regularly attend a church for nearly 20 years simply out of political expediency? That's a judgment call. It does not seem out of the realm of possibility to me. n nIs he a closet Muslim? From what I've read, Islam forbids such masquerading unless there is personal danger to the individual in question. Practicing Muslims must actually practice their faith — that includes praying five times a day, shunning alcohol, eating halal, fasting during Ramadan, and making the haj at least once in their life. Based on these criteria, it is ludicrous to suggest that Obama could be a Muslim in any meaningful sense of the word.
Closet Muslim? Actually, Islam PROMOTES lying if it promotes the goals of the movement and can be considered an act of heroism. nThe same exact tenet is found in Marxism/Socialism as well. n nIn this case, Odrama Queen has made powerful strides for the causes of Islam in every quarter, which he could not have been positioned to do if he had before acknowledged Islam as his religion. nEspecially in the cases where he directed telling powerful forces to aid the Muslim Brotherhood revolutions of this past year in the Middle East, in spite of the connection he made between himself and the Ground Zero Mosque and several of their personalities.
Your evidence is purely circumstantial. It would require an elaborate conspiracy for Obama to be a "secret Muslim," and I reject all conspiracy theories.
I think your Christianity has shown it's value in your labeling of the President Odrama Queen. You need not say more. Conspiracist. Ugh.
I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.u201d r n Mahatma Gandhi quote
Jesus made it plain He feels the same way about many Christians – however, He is NOT likely to prove to be disapproving of many that unbelievers disapprove of – after all, the fact is, they also disapproved of Jesus Himself, so those who act the most LIKE JESUS are likely to most offend and enrage non-believers. nJesus Himself said, nJohn 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before [it hated] you. nJohn 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
Franklin Graham is a publicity seeking mediocrity who is mendacious to boot. (No doubt he has “daddy issues.”)
Here’s all that needs to be said about Obama’s faith: nothing.
Those that dwell on it disparagingly or questioningly reveal their own inability (racist?) to take the man at his word and to tamp down their personal dislike and rejection of him. They make the political personal.
Later, much, for all that jive. Plus you will never see Romney engaging in that nonsense.
You cannot take Odrama Queen at his word when he does so much to prove himself such a liar in all respects. n nFranklin never did interviews except as it concerned news about his father which he knew millions were sincerely interested in – un til he got tired of being bombed by Muslim Governments while he was inside hospitals he built with their permission – and the American Govt knew of it and did not extend the protections of a Citizen to him or in his behalf before those muslim govts at all, and even less so before the American media, and he came out and began speaking to tell the American people the truth about what American missionaries were facing in those foreign lands. n nI consider Franklin to be excruciatingly RESTRAINED in his comments about the Govt Bureaucrats who work WITH our ENEMIES.
Wow…where do I start? n nFirst off, Mr. Wehner is not qualified to measure Reverend Grahams credentials in his position as a journalist. The Scriptures give specific instructions on how to judge someones qualifications as a mature christian (You shall know them by their fruits…) and I am very sure that Reverend Graham was acting accordingly nIt is true that President Obama has given unprecedented access to our way of life to the MB and everyone seems to know it but the MSM. Either that or they choose to ignore it entirely. nAs a nation, if we continue to ignore these facts and allow Sharia to creep into our lives one measure at a time, it will be far too late for any of us to escape by the time we collectively awaken. n nSecond, Mr Lewis was a specialist in literature and especially mythology. Yes there is no denying that he wrote some fine allegorical pieces, e.g. "Mere Christianity", but he was NOT on par with Reverend Graham at all. Educated? Yes. Theologian? No. Christianity was his "side" job as it were. The reverend is full time reverend. (You shall know them by their fruits) nAnd insofar as the reverends questioning of President Obama's faith, did you know that Hitler was considered by those who knew him to be a DEVOUT Christian? n nI would encourage Mr. Wehner to find out all he can about the real reason that the administration chose to ask the MB on how to conduct itself on such matters as foreign policy and to find out all he can on the real objective, the final objective of the MB. n nAs a final point, just as you go to school to graduate years later, Christianity is no different. You do not become a mature Christian just by coming into the faith (You shall know them by their fruits) and the "fruits" explanation can be found in our most Holy Book, the Bible. nTry reading it sometime before lashing out at something you know little about. n
Who cares what a person's religion is, so long as he or she lives a good, moral life? n nPeople who wrap themselves in a righteous mantle of religiosity are holier-than-thou and very suspect in my book. n nI despise that church Obama attended, for its openly anti-Jewish and anti-American preacher, and because of that I have low regard for Obama. But I don't require him or anyone else to be "Christian" or for that matter "Jewish" or "Muslim" or Hindu etc. I just want a decent, exemplary individual to be in that office, leading this country out of its current mess.
Dennis Prager's forthcoming book will elaborate on a theme that he has long held on his radio program: there are 3 competing value-systems in the contemporary world – Judaeo-Christian, Leftist and Muslim. n nWe in the West are divided by the first two, which are not complementary. They are antagonistic. n nGod vs the State nThe Gospel vs the social gospel nJustice vs social justice nConscience vs social consciousness nAmerica vs Europe n nThat is the distinction that Graham – and Rick Santorum – are making. You can't have both; you have to choose one. The division in value systems in the West is the proximate cause of Islam's rise. n nLiberal Christians are liberals first. Liberal Jews are liberals first. If you don't believe me, conduct a simple test: n nCriticize their faith. Then criticize Obama and the Democrat Party. n nSee which criticism they respond to more passionately.
Franklin Graham is a hidebound, scrofulous charlatan who dishonors his father. He lacks grace, humility, wisdom, and compassion for others less fortunate. It seems to me he is a disciple of the AntiChrist, and hopefully in the not too distant future – he will meet his Maker and I doubt he'll be able to wriggle out of that one.
You sound exactly like King Ahab discussing Micaiah. The end of that story is delicious – one of my alltime favorites. 1 Kings 22
I do not like any man who spends years in a church where the minister in a sermon says, "goddamn America!"
Mr. Wehner, nYour article is way off base. Franklin Graham lives his faith as evidenced by his actions…one of which is the founding and support of the charitable organization, Samaritan's Purse. A close observation of Obama, however, reveals a man who prides himself on being a chimera. He is a narcissist who truly believes he can fundamentally change America if only people will believe in him and willingly cede their vision of America to his agenda-driven ideology of the progressive liberal left. Obama's actions proclaim loud and clear that his utterances of being a Christian are merely tools in his arsenal to deceive light-minded individuals who are unwilling to use common sense in evaluating truth from falsehood and true substance from trickery. Graham lives his theology; Obama merely uses his to suit his own purposes and the audience at hand. Can't you see that?
When President Obama was a Senator in Illinois he championed late term abortions. In case you don't know what this means, I'll explain it here: The practice, euphmistically termed "intact dilation and extraction", is used to kill an unborn baby at five to six months, by removing the infant from the womb feet first, until only the head is undelivered. Scissors are then used to make an "incision" in the back of the head and a suction catheter sucks out the brain until the skull collapses. n nNo Christian would ever embrace such a heinous procedure. n n *** n nIf you don't like Franklin Graham, don't listen to him. Personally, I think the man got it right.
"Christain", to simplify can simply mean"kind,generous" or it can mean belief in Christian dogma,the central points of which are the virgin birth of Jesus, his crucifixion, his rising from the dead, and an ultimate resurrection for the saved. How many "public" Christians with the title of "Reverend" believe these parts of Christian dogma? Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, Jeremiah Wright? What of Barckk Obama, Rick Santorum, and Mitt Romney? Maybe none of them accept the heart of Christian dogma.
Wehner misunderstands what Graham is saying, Graham's theology, and the biblical position on Christians in politics. n n In the interview, Graham hesitated about Obama because Obama had apparently equated being a Christian with joining a church. Graham, correctly, understands that Christianity is a spiritual cleansing based on faith, not some "good deeds" like joining a church. But Graham apparently has had similar interaction with Santorum and Gingrich and got what he considered to be more biblically accurate answers. I'm not sure Wehner gets this. n nAs for Christians in politics, the Bible says Christians are to be "salt" and "light" in all areas of society, not all areas except government. None of Jesus' disciples started a corporation, either. Are Christians, therefore, not to take their faith into the business realm? n nSo I just think Wehner's analysis is flawed, simplistic, and uninformed. Unusual for him.
Tweener is not the problem if he is a tweener between secularism and being a Christian. After all, anyone who calls himself a Christian in the real sense of the word, will all his life be that to some degree or another.. (Never reaching perfection…) nThe "Tween" we all are worried about and an awful lot of us believe, is that Obama is a tweener between Muslame and secularism and/or Christianity. Don't forget that it is perfectly acceptable to lie if your a Muslame if it is to further the faith. Maybe, just maybe, even a modern day version of the Trojan Horse. Bowing to King Saud was telling also. Giving access to our way of live to the MB via foreign policy is also telling. Look around you, Sharia law is creeping into our system a little at a time. You really believe that Obama Drama has nothing to do with it? nInstead of shooting from the hip in any kind of response, take time and look around you and you might very well see what the rest of us see that is so alarming to us.
To be a Christian (rather than acting like a Christian) is above all marked by loving Jesus Christ. n n"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength." n nYou can be a Buddhist and do kind works to your neighbor; and you can be a Muslim and believe that Jesus was sinless. Neither is proof. Rather, a Christian puts Jesus first above all else in their life. n nIt is very hard to be Christian and a narcissist, which is why liberals have such a hard time with Christians, because liberals think THEY are God's answer to the world (Viz: oceans rising, planet healing.) A Christian is sure he/she is NOT the answer. Only Christ has the answers and we are not smart enough to run everyone's life for them (hence democracy vs. utopianism). n nHope that clears it up.
It isn't up to Mr. Graham to determine President Obama's Christianity, so the question is irrelevant. The same holds true for Mr. Santorum and Mr. Gingrich, or any other person Mr. Graham is asked to discuss. God looks on the heart. Anyone can claim to be a Christian, and anyone can say, "He/she must be a Christian because they act like I expect them to act." If President Obama is a Christian, God knows it. Either way, he, and every human alive, will be judged by Almighty God alone for the actions done each day.
What is your religion? How about “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” n nI could quote a long list of Bible verses about how Jesus instructed us to live, what the Bible says about words that come out of our mouths, etc.