Should A Christian Support Obama?

By LT Horton
6/13/2012
Look! A Black Catholic! Blog (lookablackcatholic.blogspot.com/)

I'm sorry, friend, but I cannot sit by in silence and approve of an individual's choice to continually strip dignity and humanity away from innocent human children

Dear Friend, I know we disagree on politics. We don't have to agree on political issues, but since you chose to reprimand me by stating that as a Christian I should not say the things I say about Obama, I must firmly disagree. Respectfully, I must prove that you are wrong in your assertion that being a Christian means you must like everyone.

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(This article originally appeared at Ignitum Today. It is reprinted here with the author's permission.)

Recently I posted this. Well, following its publication, I engaged in a conversation with someone very close to me, who did not think it very "Christian" of me to dislike our current POTUS. The following is a letter I wrote to this individual. My intent was never to post this but after much thought and prayer, I realized what I said needed to be heard. I've edited the letter to remove this person's name and any identifiers.

Dear Friend,

I know we disagree on politics. We don't have to agree on political issues, but since you chose to reprimand me by stating that as a Christian I should not say the things I say about Obama, I must firmly disagree. Respectfully, I must prove that you are wrong in your assertion that being a Christian means you must like everyone.

I once read:

St. Paul writes to Timothy (2 Tim 4:2-4), Proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching. For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but, following their own desires and insatiable curiosity, will accumulate teachers and will stop listening to the truth and will be diverted to myths..

At no place in the Sacred Scriptures does it say: Be nice! However, popular portrayals of Christianity would lead us to think that the first and greatest commandment is niceness.
I was originally going to focus on three things in this letter. 1. Abortion 2. Same-sex marriage 3. Religious freedom

However, I realized that each of these issues is very detailed and therefore to ensure that I can fully relay as much information as possible, I decided to center on one issue; and to be quite honest, all I need is one, to make my point.
Your belief system regarding this issue is essential to whether you are a Christian. The term Christian refers to all that is good, noble and Christ-like.literally meaning, "to follow Christ." Because you identify as a Christian I will make the assumption that the Bible is important to you and that your adherence to it is in accord to the Will of God. Because you do not believe in the Magisterium of the Catholic Church I will not reference the Catechism or any doctrines aside from what can be found in the Bible.
Let's discuss Abortion..

In reference to pregnant women, the term "with child" occurs twenty-six times in the Bible. The term "fetus" (which is Latin for offspring) never occurs once.

Luke 1:36 "And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren."

Luke 1: 41 "When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb."

In these two verses, God does not say that Elizabeth conceived a "non-viable thing" in her womb, or that a "fetus" leaped in her womb! He says she conceived a SON and the INFANT leaped. "Infant" was also the word used to describe Christ in the manger AFTER He is born (Luke 2:12). According to God, an unborn infant and a newborn infant are the same.living human beings!

Jeremiah 1:5:"Before I formed you in the belly I knew you. Before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you."

Isn't it awesome that God KNEW Jeremiah in the womb; that he appointed him a prophet before birth? God does not wait to view you fully human at birth. He knows you as human at conception. God says that life begins at conception, and the unborn child is a human being, so as a Christian, wouldn't you agree?

Let's continue.

Proverbs 6:16-17: "There are six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him; haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood."

Deuteronomy 27:25: "Cursed be he who accepts payment for slaying an innocent man!"

Psalm 127:3: "Children too are a gift from the Lord, the fruit of the womb, a reward."

Psalm 139:13-15: "You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother's womb. I praise you, so wonderfully you made me; wonderful are your works! My self you knew; my bones were not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, fashioned as in the depths of the earth. Your eyes foresaw my actions; in your book all are written down; my days were shaped, before one came to be."

Galatians 1:15: "But when God, who from my mother's womb had set me apart and called through his ...

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1 - 10 of 48 Comments

JoAnn
10 months ago
Rob: OMG, I don't believe I'm going to say this, but I TOTALLY agree with you. I must have a fever or something. God bless.
Rob
10 months ago
JoAnn, I'm just so sick of the politics already. We are letting these guys fight ideologies while the country is falling apart. I do love how senators and representatives like to point out how Obama has failed as if they didn't have a role in it. They seemed to have forgot a basic civics lesson that we have three equal branches of government. If things are in the crapper, they all are to blame, and quite honestly after what I have seen these past three years, should all be fired. They have done very little to help the American people and should lose their jobs for it.
Brooke
10 months ago
Dear LT Horton: Clearly you are very passionate about the abortion issue. What is unclear, at least to me, is why a Christian should not vote for Obama based on abortion laws. In love and respect, and to ensure your efforts are not in vain, I'd like to highlight how laws are enacted and repealed in the United States.

The US President does NOT have the power to repeal laws. The Senate makes laws. It starts with a bill. The bill may originate in the House or Senate - but the Senate has final say. The Senate passes it to the President, who can either veto it or send it back to Senate with proposed changes. As you may know, democrats hold the majority in the Senate.

Who you vote for for President has no impact whatsoever on abortion laws.

Consider these facts:

Roe v Wade was upheld in the US Supreme Court by justices appointed by the republican party.

Being republican doesn't automatically mean you are pro-life. Since you cite Obama's prior record in Senate, I must point out Romney's prior record in Massachusetts. Romney was quite clear and outspoken about being pro-choice.

Changing the law will never change abortions. It is that simple. Laws don't change drug use, for example, and they won't stop abortions, it will only make them unsafe, back alley practices.

So, what can be done? It appears education and community outreach are having a positive effect - the 1990 abortion rate per 1000 women was over 27. In 2008, it was down to 19. There are more options and programs available to these women. For example, some private organizations house, feed and clothe the women while they are pregnant and considering adoption. This takes a huge responsibility off their shoulders, the ones who think "I cant even take care of myself, how would I take care of a baby?"

Adam transgression was responsible for bringing freedom of choice into the world and, of course, the world's population; but mankind is responsible for the choices their new found freedom provides. It is not our place to judge the actions of others, that is Gods job. He alone will judge the soul of those who have had an abortion, and of those who provided them. Our job is to love thy neighbor.

James 4: 11 Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it. 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?

Science supports the fact that life begins before birth. If we truly want abortion to be a thing of the past - we need to apply effective methods of doing so - and who you vote for for president is not one of them.

What is unsettling to me is Romney's faith, mormonism. They view the bible as a distant third to the Book of Mormon and their primary source of "scripture" - which is anything their prophet has spoken or written.

Mormons do not believe in the trinity. Instead, Mormons believe that the "Godhead" is made up of three distinct beings who are "one in purpose" but not in being.

They believe Jesus to be a product of physical sex between Elhoim and Mary:

"The birth of our Savior was as natural as are the births of our children; it
was the result of NATURAL ACTION. He partook of FLESH AND BLOOD--was begotten
of his father, as we were of our fathers." (JoD, vol. 8, p. 115)

Who is Elhoim? According to Mormons, he is the Father, he is God. They also believe that he is resurrected being from another planet who through eternal progression became a god, our god. In other words, God is not the creator. He is an alien from another planet.

Mormons believe Catholics to be the whores of Babylon, as noted: Both Catholics and Protestants are nothing less than the "whore of Babylon" whom the Lord denounces... Apostle Orson Pratt The Seer, Vol.2, No.4, p.255

For these reasons, I think a christian should not vote for Romney.

Thank you for your time and consideration.
Theresa H
10 months ago
I'm not so sure that Ryan's "55 cut off block" is just pandering to the votes of the elderly. It seems to me one practical, helpful solution addressing our near 16 trillion dollar debt. My understanding is that if the Medicare deduction from my paycheck would be optional (for people under 55) and I choose to keep the deduction amount and buy private insurance--from any of the available alternatives (including new ones?)--that would cut the healthcare debt of the government. Yes, federal healthcare costs are not the only thing that has to change, but it is one of the problems. I think the federal government needs to become a lot smaller. States and local governments are, and need to get even more--closer to the people. Then, there would be less corruption in government because the word would spread and the people would vote locals out if they don't act wisely....There is so much abuse in Washington! Washington needs to focus on National Security and a few other truly national interests.... That's it--no more! We can and should figure out how to do all the rest that needs to be done....Must run to work!
JoAnn
10 months ago
Rob: Hey, I pretty much agree with you too. We must be coming down with something. God bless. : )
Rob
10 months ago
JoAnn, believe it or not, I don't disagree with a majority of what you say. I am no lover of the parties or their ideologies. But what I sense from people who are either hard right or hard left is that they are willing to research the opposition, oppose everything they stand for etc, but fail to do that for their own side. There is such a lack of honesty and humitly in our discourse today where we refuse to call things as they are but instead prefer just to demonize the other. It's no wonder we can't fix anything. It's easier to point out the flaws of the other while never being expected to produce results. And the sad thing is we've accepted that. About the only standard our elected officials are held to is just not being the other guy. We often fail to accept that we didn't get where we are overnight and some of these guys have been serving for decades. Our political bodies have lost a sense of service and the American people ceased long ago from holding anyone accountable. We keep sending people to Washington that are more interested in their jobs than serving this country. That is why bad laws just stay on the books forever. Like your kids JoAnn, I too recognize that something needs to be done to fix our entitlements, but it will never be done if we don't stop the politics. Ryan's fixes are, I'm sorry to say, are nothing more than that. 55 for the cutoff just didn't materalize out of thin air. He's basically protecting a voting block while simultaneously pulling the wool over the younger's generation's eyes. But I will agree, at least it's something, which is more than Obama can say in this regard.
Mary Lee Gault
10 months ago
I just read your article about Obama. I love it. I too have learned that the truth is in the Bible and have been trying to educate some of my friends who still support Obama. I really just can not believe that they defend him. I did find that the word of God is very strong and they do not have anything to say after I quote scripture..

I do believe that Satan is working very hard to keep them blinded from the truth. Last year I began praying daily for the Holy Spirit to move the spirit with in all politicians that they would recognize the strong holds which Satan has on them and humble themselves, asking for forgiveness. I often remember the story of Niniva and Jonah. I know that our God is strong and if enough of us will pray then he will hear our pleas and come to our aid.
Theresa H
10 months ago
Vance, I doubt, too, that Romney will "fix everything" IF he's elected; I doubt anyone could--so divided are we as a nation and so corrupt have we become in so many ways--from government operations to family life, and everything else in between. As JoAnn indicated, there IS, indeed, a lot of "change'" that needs to happen--but it is not of the "Obama" type! Over the past 40-50 years, we have created an anti-American culture. Ultimately, I'm thinking in terms of returning to the Constitution and Declaration of Independence. Otherwise, I fear we will see fulfilled the last part of the axiom: "United we stand, divided we fall" fulfilled. In fact, if we don't honor "our Creator" and put the fear of God ("the beginning of Wisdom...") back into the American-conscience/culture, we certainly will fall--like every other nation before us. Some people call this a "gloom and doom" view--and I hope I'm wrong, too!
JoAnn
10 months ago
Rob: You are right. We will just have to agree that we disagree. I'm sorry, but I don't believe the Federal Government should be in our healthcare. Period. They shouldn't be in a lot of things. They need to sit down and shut up and do the job our Constitution and Bill of Rights allows them to do and get the he-- out of our personal lives. These "rights" that the Progressives, over the last 100 yrs. maybe even more ( Andrew Jackson comes to mind) have done nothing but make slaves out of the American people. The Progressives have created the "entitlement monster" to where people can't even blow their nose without help from the government. Personally, I hope Romney DOESN'T replace the ACA. People need to grow up and stand on their own two feet.. People have always gotten healthcare one way or another without the government being involved. Don't we all have families that we can rely on, and Churches, and soup kitchens, and clinics. We have become a nation of "namby-pambies and can't or won't do anything for ourselves. If people want government run healthcare, then let the states do it own their own. (10th ammendment) One size doesn't always fit all. The Federal Gov. needs to butt out. The way I read the Constitution, the government is only supposed to protect our rights to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. The government cannot give us rights. Rights ONLY come from God. They are to run the military (protecting our lives from enemies, foreign and abroad) AND UPHOLD the Constitution. THAT'S IT!!! Healthcare, education, jobs, living quarters, etc. are not among the "things" the government is supposed to give us. Remember, what the government gives you, the government can also take away. All those things come under our right to the Pursuit of Happiness. The government is only supposed to create an environment that would make it easier for people to live those God given rights. I guess I feel this way because that's the way I was brought up. To depend on myself and not rely on anybody else. I was always taught that I could achieve anything in life that I want, if I put my mind to it. And you know what, I did. That's what our children should be taught. But no, they were taught by the Progressives that they should be taken care of by the government. SLAVERY! We fought to free the slaves for years and now, all we are doing, is voting ourselves right back into it. We are on the "Road to Serfdom." How stupid can we be? As far as SS. My children are in the same place you are. They are under 55. One is 50 and the other is 48. They have worked since they were teenages and have contributed quite a bit of their hard earned dollars into it. BUT, at least they realize that something has to be done to save SS. We wouldn't have had to worry about it if "Progressives" didn't take it out of it's trust and place it into the Fed. budget. PLUS, remember , 50+million perspective citizens have been aborted that could have contributed to the SS Fund. Before Roe V. Wade, 13+ citizens were contributing to SS to every one person living. Now, it is only 2 1/2 persons contributing for every one person. At least Ryan has put forth a plan that can be tweeked into success. Where is the plan from the left? NONE! Go back in history. Just about everytime we have had a crisis in this country, it was the Progressives that caused it, It was the "left" that killed MLK, It was the left that killed JFK, it was the left that killed Lincoln and it was the Ieft that killed McKinley. It is the left that is always violent. Radicals, socialists, communists, Marxists, OWS, the useful idiots in Wisconsin and all over this nation. It's the left "useful idiots" from the 60's that have harvested the left "useful idiots" of today. Only this time it's all over the world. It is the left that gave us abortion, homosexual marriage, embryonic stem cell research, euthanasia, and the loss of our religious freedoms. We need to get down on our knees everyday and before the Blessed Sacrament and plead with God for mercy and His help to get us out of this mess that we created. Because I'm convinced He is the only One that can help. Also, it is the left that displaced the Native Americans, it is the left that started the Civil War, it is the left that were the KKK and it is the left that is still trying to make slaves of us. God bless.
Rob
10 months ago
Theresa, I do agree that Obama is responsible for what has occured these past three years. It's pretty obvious that the Congress will not work with him on anything. That may not be a bad thing. My only hope is that if Romney get's elected that people start working for the betterment of the country. We can't spend our way into prosperity but nor can we burn the whole house down either. I'm sick of only having those options. I keep praying for politicians to come forward that respect life, and care about the well being of people rather than money. I'm not sure we are going to get that.

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