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Members of all ages from mainline churches, such as the UMC, could also have an impact on the election. The UMC has been vocal in opposition to the war and helping the needy. The UMC is not a two issue church.

Barack is covering all his bases. Good political strategy. Reversal on campaign finance. Reversal on J-Wright. Distancing himself from comments he likely endorsed in private (see Wesley Clarke). Public financing for faith-based initiatives while his supporters slammed them mercilessly under Bush. He wants it both ways on so many issues.

It is an established fact that Presidential Candidates who are pro abortion, and pro gay, and for same sex mariage,etc.etc, when it commes to seek the Evangelical vote they will always finde some evangelicals witnesses to vouch for their genuine life of faith.
Christian is not everyone that says Lord, Lord,and proclaims is a folower of Jesus.
I sincerely hope that christians will exercize discerment.

Does that mean that Shaun Casey will be his faith advisor
forever? Or could he possibly lose him to another politician at some point in time? Perhaps he should have tried someone from Reformed Seminary or Westminster.

How conflicted I am! How can I read the Sermon on the Mount and not embrace so much of what Barack Obama stands for? But, how can the legal genocide we call abortion not trump most other issues in this generation? This bigger basket has an enormous hole in it. So I will vote Republican with clenched teeth, wishing for the possibility of a third party option that is not rabid.

Obama hired Austan Goolsbee to be his senior economic advisor, but then had to place him under the cone of silence once the Ohio primaries were upon him, and he needed to trash NAFTA.

I predict the same thing will happen with his evangelical advisers. They will be trotted out until they conflict with stategic pandering.

Obama hired Austan Goolsbee to be his senior economic adviser, but then had to place him under the cone of silence once the Ohio primaries were upon him, and he needed to trash NAFTA.

I predict the same thing will happen with his evangelical advisers. They will be trotted out until they conflict with strategic pandering.

Regardless of Obama's trying to "distance himself" from Jeremiah Wright---because Wright's teachings makes Obama look bad to Christians, I think most Christians realize that nearly 20 years teaching under Wright is probably not going to be changed easily or quickly how Obama believes--just because he NOW decides to leave that church and renounce it for political gain.
I think that 20 years of such teaching in such a church as that speaks volumes about Obama's beliefs to Bible-believing Christians.

I am amazed at the number of believers whose ears have been tickled by Obama. This man has the gift to present himself as supporting both sides of an issue, hence some listen to only what they want to believe. This type of character, you have to review his history, and his actions have been no friend to the Church.

Christian faith boils down to living for Christ. All it takes is one issue- abortion, same-sex marriage- to set you to the side and away from Christ. If a person professes to be Christian, yet supports a non-Christian position then he/she is not "one who Christ calls His." Is Casey thinking he has the wisdom and power so strong that he can influence Obama to change Obama's positions? I think I remember my Bible telling me not to be yoked unequally- this is true of marriage and politics...be careful, walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise (Eph 5:15) because "on that day many will say 'Lord, Lord didn't we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name? Then I will announce to them 'I never knew you! Depart from Me you lawbreakers!" Matthew 7:22-23

It is very interesting to me that Christians are so quick to dismiss Obama. Many of these are the same ones who voted Bush in office. Bush has done little to stop gay marriages or abortions in this country.

What he has done is made life much more difficult for low and middle-income Americans. This economy is so bad that many are unable to eat. Soup kitchens and food closets have run out of food because the demand has been so great.

God's agenda is so much bigger than gay-rights and abortions. He's concerned about the entire human condition. These tag line issues are miniscule compared to the issues that challenge every human beings on a daily basis. How many of your friends do you know have lost homes or have mortgages that have escalated within the past year? How many do you know have lost jobs and family income? How many do you know who have lost loved ones in the senseless war? I know people who fit everyone of these catagories. I live in Michigan where the economy is devestated.

Everyday we learn something new about some lie, underhanded or illegal act of the Bush Administration. This is the man evangelical Christians touted as being a Christian. He has violated so many Christian principles it is unbelieveable. Yet you still focus on the two issues that got him into office in the first place.

Do you think McCain is going to promote Christian values more than Obama???? I have yet to hear McCain take a strong faith position yet. BUt, we will vote for him because we are sooo concerned about Obama's position on abortion and gay rights. Let's consider broading our minds and perspectives on what's important to God.

Are we talking about Christian values or right-wing Republican values. They are not the synonomous, you know?

Now Obama is going to a right direction? Come on! Considering the UMC ideological background, this is the change I can’t believe in. As of Obama’s believes, he still have to open his Bible.
In one of his speeches Obama said:
“You go into some of these small towns in Pennsylvania, and like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing's replaced them... …And it's not surprising, then, they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them…”
Just to think: guns are put on a par with religion (apparently Christianity) and the both are considered negatively.
In other speech Obama said: "I am confident that we can create a Kingdom right here on Earth" http://edition.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/08/obama.faith/ Period. What other evidence we need? This is a 100%-communist thinking.

If Obama has even a vague, inchoate belief in the Trinity, he's Christian. If he at least thinks about the Golden Rule from time to time, and referencing the Sermon on the Mount suggests that he does, he's adequately religious in my book to be President.

Obama is a smart man, and I'm sure he took from Wright what is sound, and let the rest go in one ear and out the other, which is how I listen to my minister. She's human, I'm human, we will disagree. I respect her leadership in the church and respect her council, but...I'm my own man.

Rev. Wright is often accused of "hating whites," which is to suggest that Obama does as well, never mind that some of his relatives are of European descent. But, I don't see it. What Wright hates, IF he hates something, is "whiteness," a caste system of unwarranted privilege and vile exploitation. The problem with hate is that you're in danger of becoming in some way what you hate. Wright would seem to me to be exploiting his hatred of whiteness, it he does hate that caste system, from a position of religious privilege.

"Whiteness" should be exposed as the evil it is and criticized as openly as possible, I think. But people of European descent are just people, good, bad, or more likely, everything in between as well.

I would suggest instead, respect the adversarial thing for what it can teach you about what good and evil can be, rather than hate it. Don't hate the sin, you then become a hater, after all. Just don't do it.

I always say that sin is what I do, not what you do. What you do could be thought by me to be foolish, callous, irresponsible, illegal, ignorant, hateful, if not dangerous, if you should happen to ask my opinion, but I'm sure you have your reasons. If I do what you do, however, it might be a sin for me to do that. Think of Lot's daughters. Foolish, ignorant, arrogant and possibly dangerous to their offspring and future mental well being, but...they did what they thought had to be done for mankind's future. You can roll your eyes at them for something so arrogant and outrageous, but you will forgive them.

I think many Caucasian evangelical Christians tend to overlook a

key fact in their tendency to equate Christianity with the

Republican party. Namely that the issues of abortion and gay rights

will be decided by the legislative and judicial branches of

individual states and/or of the Federal government. Not by the

executive branch unless it would come down to a veto which is an

unlikely scenario. It will not be up to one person to decide these

issues. If Barack Obama or any candidate were to be strongly

against abortion and gay marriage it would still be the law of the

land unless it is changed state by state or constitutional

amendment.

By the way where was the church forty or fifty years ago when the

disturbing trends of premarital sex, extramarital sex and

homosexuality were becoming mainstream acceptable behaviors?

Burying our head in the sand as we are doing even now over what has

been called the church's dirty little secret--pornography? Why is

the divorce rate among Christians so high? Doesn't that also

impact the sacred institution of marriage? How many of our churches

have comprehensive programs for unwed mothers? The answer not

enough.

Other than telling Gays they will burn in hell for the (one among

many)biblically condemned sin of homosexuality what does the

AVERAGE church in AVERAGE TOWN U.S.A. offer in terms of healing

ministry to them? Amswer: nothing. Someone said that Barack Obama

is not running for Preacher of the United States he is running for

President and he is the best candidate to lead this country on the

national and international arena.

Let's face it,no matter how much Obama's message is in keeping with evangelical thought, he will not win their vote. Who sounds more like an evanglical than Alan Keys or Jimmy Carter? White evangelicals will vote for a white utilitarian Christian like Reagan or a plain old white atheist long before they will cross the color line. It is the history of the church and the reason for all of their coded language...racism in the church. And the only type of blacks that evangelicals appreciate are ones who do not remind them that racism still exists, the ones who keep a sunny disposition despite obvious white hatred.

"Christian faith boils down to living for Christ. All it takes is one issue- abortion, same-sex marriage- to set you to the side and away from Christ. If a person professes to be Christian, yet supports a non-Christian position then he/she is not 'one who Christ calls His.'"

The problem with such a simple minded approach is, which one issue turns a believer away from Christ? Lying about WMD? Torturing prisioners? Waging war for oil? Stealing votes to tip an election? Conservatives can throw out their tried and true wedge issues, and liberals can counter.

It is truly fascinating to read the repeated citations of Matthew 7:22-23 while Matthew 7:1 is forgotten as aspersions are readily cast. So readily would we alienate those who most need our message. It is wonderful young evangelicals are more broad minded than their predecessors, more open to dialogue that will spread the Good News further than will dire threats and angry name calling.

who picks the one issue? the Bible speaks of poverty much more than abortion, yet somehow the religious right doesn't seem to care. there is a basket of moral issues and how convenient to pick and choose what bothers you. much more adultery and failed marriages in the church by Christians compared to same-sex marriages by those that don't even claim to be Christians.

To respond to K Le Vern,
What would you say about the 'Christian' Goerge Bush going to war for Oil but under the pretext of 'Weapons of Mass Destruction'? Or even the support of the National Rifle Association, something that kills the same as abortions do? If you do not believe, open your eyes to what is going on in the inner cities today. I am just curious as to how far your "unequally yoked" verse goes? I am in total agreement with all that you said as i am a Christian but I just do not know how you can apply it to one President and not the other???? This has baffled me for years. I have not seen a President stand for Christ yet and I am still waiting. A sin is a sin, one is not weighted more than the other as we will all face judgment one day.

I,just want to say something about the comitments about obama.We will never have a perfect man as president.About Rev Wright,I think many people that have never been in a black church don't understand africanamerican churches. Blieve it or not they preach to what ishappening with racism and the problem black still face today.What happem to looking at the hole picture,white'IN Some churches taught some of the samethings.

I would like to give advice to everyone. Standing for Gods laws changes happenings and it worth millions. There is basis to Gods laws. Peer presure, desires stop us from standing for Lord God. For example a basis is our body is our temple. Another is to treat others as you would have them treat you. Neg and positive. I think Mr. Obama wants to be boss and also please his buddies not God. Does a person give up Gods law to save lives. No. Dear Shaun, Mr. obama and everyone say no to abortion.Say no to evil desires. Say no to aristocracy. Say no to devils. Thank you for your time. Go sedgewick,KS area! Psalms 99:9 - Hill pray!

The Bible doesn't say that "homosexuality" is a sin. The concept of "homosexuality" wasn't invented until the 19th Century, and is generally obsolete now, as sociology and psychology have moved on to a deeper, more nuanced understanding.

In any case, even in the Bible, sin is relative...it's what distances us mentally from God. Who is encouraging that distancing today, Gay people or the anti-homosexualists using the Jim Crow political tactics, racist like theology and pseudoscience of my childhood, only with a different scapegoat this time?

The clobber verses in the Bible have an antipathy to MSM activity (males who have sex with males), but...it doesn't have an antipathy to slavery (though it does towards slave traders, who had a stereotype niche similar to shady used car salespeople today.). Not to mention that MSM activity isn't done solely by people in the Gay community...some of whom may be celibate for some reason or another, but who are still "homosexuals?"

How are we to read that? If you're anti-"homosexual," you're pro-slavery" The clobber verses don't have a modern understanding of "identity," heredity, environment. They also often have a broader reference to idolatrous practice that is missed now when we read the Bible, as well as an agrarian bias. The Bible doesn't think much of urbanites, and most of us now live in urban areas. I was born in a very rural, depopulating area, now I live in an ever growing, metropolitan area. And...there aren't many clobber verses to begin with, so what are we to make of that? It would seem that a gay identity was...what? Not possible, but they had other explanations for what people do or don't do.

Except that sex has consequences, the Bible's sexology is, well, weird. Starting with: the mammalian egg wasn't discovered until the early 19th century.

Urban areas have always provided a diverse social space for many things untenable in rural areas.

When I read the Bible, it doesn't make moral sense to my post modern self unless I read it through the lens of the Golden Rule; then, it's wonderful.

Saints, this issue is about Barack Obama being a Black man and running for President. White Christians(some)are not prepared for this. For some reason, White Americans have portrayed God as a White male who is pro-White. This is not the God of the Bible. God loves Black people as He does White. Dr King said, "The most segregated hour is 11am on Sundays"
Don't vote for Senator Obama if you don't want to, but please, not because of homosexuality or abortion. He did not invent the sin. Abortion was legalized in 1973 under a Republican administration. Ghandi once said, "I would be a Christian, if it were not for the Christians". Shalom!

Anyone who really wants a good introduction to Obama's faith position should read the chapter on "Faith" in his book, THE AUDACITY OF HOPE. In that chapter, Obama is remarkably clear and honest about his faith journey and his faith stance, and he is even willing to admit that he sometimes struggles with doubts. I think such candor and honesty is all too sadly lacking in many of us.

It would seem that just as some Evaqngelicals have practically equated Republicanism with Christianity, others are now being induced to equate Democratism in the form of Obamaism with Christianity. In neither casa are they using their Christian beliefs to judge those of the modern world.
The fact that Obama is serving up Democratic Party doctrine using Christian language should not make issues of life and death and basic sexual morfality cease to be important.

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