Is Obama a Christian?

Are we even allowed to ask that question about people who claim Christianity? Pastor Matt Slick answered a similar question this way - "Is Glenn Beck a Christian?"

"It would not be possible to ascertain if he is really a Christian outside of a direct interview with Glenn Beck where I asked him specific questions about his understanding of Christianity and Mormonism. However, we can look at what Mormonism teaches and compare it to the Bible. ... It may be a shock to many people, but just saying you "believe in Jesus" doesn't make a person Christian. There are many religious groups who have contradictory concepts of who Jesus is. In fact, Jesus warned us that in the last days many false christs and false prophets would arise and deceive many (Matt. 24:24). So, we have to be careful because groups can teach a false Jesus."

In the same way, we can look at what the bible teaches and see if someone is bearing fruit of a regenerated Christian life, and thus determine how to pray for that person.

The man currently occupying the Oval Office, Barack Obama, claimed once again in his speech to the troops on Christmas Day that he is a Christian. Is he? How can we know for sure? Well we can't know the heart for sure but the bible tells us to watch for fruits. James talked about dead faith, which is profession with no Holy Spirit behind that profession. Empty. (James 2:17, 20, 26). Paul warned that in the last days people would adopt a form of Godliness but deny its power. (2 Timothy 3:5).

John MacArthur asked the question "By what criteria do we determine true from empty faith?" and he answered it by listing 7 conditions that do not prove genuine faith and listing 9 conditions which do. I recommend the article.

Obama talked about Jesus in his speech, saying, "For my family and millions of Americans, it's a time to celebrate the birth of Christ, to reflect on His life and learn from His example," Obama, a self-professed Christian, stated. "Every year, we commit to love one another. To give of ourselves. To be our brother's keeper. To be our sister's keeper. But those ideas are not just part of our faith. They're part of all faiths. And they unite us as Americans."

There are several statements in that section of his speech to the troops that are false. We are not to learn from Jesus's example but to submit to His authority as Holy God. There is a difference between intellectual submission to good ideas espoused as philosophy, and obedient submission to a Holy God because He is worthy.

Every year at Christmas we commit to honor Him who came to earth to live a sinless life so He could put away our sin. Yes, we commit to each other, as Christians, but first and foremost we commit to Jesus as Savior. the day is a recognition of the most dramatic moment in the universe, equalled only by the resurrection 33 years later.

Third, the notion that the ideas of brotherly love and commitment to that love are part of all faiths is also false. Buddhism denies love by aiming for release from attachment, including love. (Four Noble Truths). Islam denies love by saying it is all right to lie as long as it advances Islam. (Qur'an 16:106). Muslims are allowed (expected) to kill unbelievers (Quran (2:191-193, 2:216) and anyone who does not join in the killing is called a hypocrite and warned that Allah's wrath is upon them. Mormonism denies love by promoting polygamy. Hinduism emphasizes love as pleasure as one of the four aims of life.

Obama is incorrect when he says that all faiths commit to love one another and be each other's keeper. This is an example of using biblical terminology as a form of godliness but denying its power. That statement uttered by Cain after murdering his brother and disobediently flung at God is ripped apart from its proper context in Genesis 4:9, and thus it is stripped of meaning and devoid of Spirit. They are godly words with no power.

The bottom line is that all other faiths deny love because they deny God, who IS love. (1 John 4:8). The concept of Godly love does not unite us as Americans. It unites us as only as Christians, because brotherly love through Christ is non-existent in all other faiths.

Additionally, in the past, Obama has said that the Muslim Koran is 'holy'. No Christian names a book of satanic lies 'holy'. Only the bible is holy because it was inspired by the Holy Spirit. Obama has mocked the bible, satirically denying the authority of several scriptures in the Old Testament and casting doubt on the truth of the word. What a person thinks of the bible is an outward indicator of what he thinks of God.

Obama has said that the prettiest sound on earth is the call to Arabic prayer. In a NY Times interview in 2007, "Mr. Obama recalled the opening lines of the Arabic call to prayer, reciting them with a first-rate accent. In a remark that seemed delightfully uncalculated (it’ll give Alabama voters heart attacks), Mr. Obama described the call to prayer as “one of the prettiest sounds on Earth at sunset."

He recited the prayer in that same interview. The prayer states that "Allah is most great, there I bear witness that is none worthy of being worshiped except Allah."

The prayer itself may sound pretty, but the God-hatred behind it in its words is blasphemous in the extreme. No Christian can call that pretty nor would even recite it unless to state immediately afterwards that it is a lie from the pit of hell and that there in truth is none worthy to worship except Jesus.

For example, the Ave Maria is a beautiful aria especially when it's sung by Luciano Pavarotti. But I can't listen to it any more because it is a Catholic prayer which says, "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and in the hour of our death. Amen."

Mary is not a prayer intercessor in heaven for us. Only Jesus is. (1 Timothy 2:5). If I was to sing it I'd be blaspheming the true Intercessor. The words are what is important. How can one call a particular song or prayer pretty, even though it sounds good, when the words are saying the worst things against God?

He uses scripture when it suits him (Sermon on the Mount) but knocks it when it suits him. (Leviticus)

He has never mentioned his conversion testimony. (Psalm 18:2; Matthew 5:16; 1 Peter 3:15). He doesn't speak of sin, submission to a resurrected Jesus, or Jesus as the only way. When presented with an opportunity to let the name of Jesus shine behind him on a pediment from which he was speaking at Georgetown University, Obama instead asked for it to be covered over before he would agree to speak there. Matthew 10:33 says that 'whoever denies Me before people I will deny in heaven.'

Obama believes in and encourages abortion and homosexual marriage. Babies in the womb are people whom God formed and we are commanded not to kill (Jeremiah 1:5, Psalm 139:13-16, Exodus 21:22-25) and marriage defined by God is a sacred institution designed by God in order to bring Him glory. Whenever marriage is mentioned it is always between a man and a woman. (Genesis 2:24, 1 Corinthians 7:2-16, Ephesians 5:23-33)

He does not attend church, saying it would be a distraction to others. Yet both Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter worshiped regularly when they were President. While a person’s church attendance or involvement does not determine their entrance into heaven, the Bible does emphasize the importance of Christian fellowship in a local church. (Hebrews 10:25).

Does a Christian cover the name of Jesus, call the Koran holy, recite an Allah prayer without accompanying refutation of it as untruth, twist scripture, support abortion and homosexual marriage, mock the holy bible, and equalize all religions?

Is Obama a Muslim? I don't think he is that either. But that's a post for another day.

Ultimately we can use the resources above as guideposts for our own faith. I read Dr. MacArthur's list with myself in mind before I wrote this essay about Obama. We will never know another person's heart nor what the future may bring for them (conversion?! one can hope). The main point here is that just because a person calls himself a Christian, just because they cite Jesus, does not mean that they are a Christian.

We will all have to account to Jesus for every careless word, (Matthew 12:36-37) including any words we spoke that used Jesus as a vehicle for personal, political, or professional glory. So here is a synopsis of the list so you can check your own self, and if you go to the link there are several other resources there too. Check yourself to see if you are in a saving faith of belief in a resurrected Jesus. As for the others whom you suspect are professing an empty, dead faith, pray for them.

Dr. MacArthur's 'Seven conditions that do not prove or disprove genuine saving faith.' I recommend you read the essay for the explanation for each and supporting scriptures.

1. Visible Morality
2. Intellectual Knowledge
3. Religious Involvement
4. Active Ministry
5. Conviction of Sin
6. The Feeling of Assurance
7. A Time of Decision

Nine conditions that prove genuine saving faith. Again, please refer to the original essay for explanation of each and supporting scriptures.

1. Love for God
2. Repentance from Sin
3. Genuine Humility
4. Devotion to God's Glory
5. Continual Prayer
6. Selfless Love
7. Separation from the World
8. Spiritual Growth
9. Obedience