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August 21, 2012
Obama, Romney Share Their Favorite Bible Verses
Washington National Cathedral magazine offers fresh look into presidential candidates' religious beliefs.
In an interview published by the Washington National Cathedral, President Barack Obama and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney answered new questions about their personal faiths, favorite Scripture passages, and religious diversity in public life.
Both candidates agreed that their personal faiths help ground their convictions and their politics. They also agreed that faith motivates citizens to act in love and service to society. But their answers differed when they described the exact form that action takes.
An excerpt:
Cathedral Age: How does faith play a role in your life?President Obama: First and foremost, my Christian faith gives me a perspective and security that I don’t think I would have otherwise: That I am loved. That, at the end of the day, God is in control -- and my main responsibility is to love God with all of my heart, soul and mind, and to love my neighbor as myself. Now, I don’t always live up to that standard, but it is a standard I am always pursuing.
My faith is also a great source of comfort to me. I’ve said before that my faith has grown as president. This office tends to make a person pray more; and as President Lincoln once said, “I have been driven to my knees many times by the overwhelming conviction that I had no place else to go.”
Finally, I try to make sure that my faith informs how I live my life. As a husband, as a father, and as president, my faith helps me to keep my eyes on the prize and focus on what is good and truly important.
Governor Romney: Faith is integral to my life. I have served as a lay pastor in my church. I faithfully follow its precepts. I was taught in my home to honor God and love my neighbor. My father was committed to Martin Luther King, Jr.’s cause of equality, and I saw my parents provide compassionate care to others, in personal ways to people nearby and in leading national volunteer movements. My faith is grounded in the conviction that a consequence of our common humanity is our responsibility to one another -- to our fellow Americans foremost, but also to every child of God.
Both candidates have faced questions regarding their personal faiths throughout their campaigns. Critics have attacked Obama for his purportedly Muslim beliefs, while Romney’s Mormon faith - about which he has not been vocal - has raised questions of its own.
The magazine offered both candidates the opportunity to respond to critics who "question the sincerity of your faith." Obama defended his beliefs as “Christian,” saying "I have a job to do as president, and that does not involve convincing folks that my faith in Jesus is legitimate and real.” He cited Isaiah 40:31 and Psalm 46 as scriptural passages that offer him encouragement.
Meanwhile, Romney emphasized his belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and noted, “Every religion has its own unique doctrines and history. These should not be bases for criticism but rather a test of our tolerance.” He quoted Matthew 25:35-36 in the King James Version, which states, “For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me.” Romney has yet to quote the Book of Mormon in his campaign.
According to Cathedral Age, both candidates received the same questions and emailed their responses, which were printed in the quarterly magazine in full.
CT has previously written on how Christians think about President Obama's faith, as well as on why Romney's Mormonism does matter.
Comments
It is sad that neither one of these fellows knows Christ savingly. Our President only likes passages that seem to confirm his Marxist ideology. Mr. Romney sees evrything through the eyes of his Mormonism. Mr.Obama is still trying to decieve the Christian public that he is some kind of believer even though he holds Biblical orthodoxy in contempt. Sadly there are too many who Profess faith who are not saved and fall for his charade. Romney on the other hand has far more respect for true evangelicalism then his adversary does. Mr.Obama was silent when his former confidant acted with such open malice for a Christian business man! Few find the narrow road which leads to life! God have mercy on both of these gentlemen.
Posted By: mike falsia | August 21, 2012 3:06 PM
To you who said: "It is sad that neither one of these fellows knows Christ savingly." I quote Jesus:
"For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Matthew 7:2
Posted By: KCHU | August 21, 2012 4:53 PM
The Bible is clear when it informs us how to test whether a person is a Christian or not. A true Christian is able to say the Jesus Christ is the True Son of God. One cannot be a Christian without believing by faith the Word of God which is the Holy Bible.
Posted By: Janet | August 22, 2012 8:42 AM
For the past 4 years, partisans opposed to President Obama's presidency have suggested that he is not a citizen the USA, that he is a secret muslim, and that he is not a good patriotic American. Is it any surprise that some of your readers are now using his Biblical quotes to question whether or not he is really Christian enough. I don't know why it is necessary to remind these folks that the basis of Christian morality is the Golden Rule. How many of these critics---seemingly inspired less by facts than ideological meanness and ignorance--- would like to have their essential character questioned in these ways? President Obama deserves better and this certainly apples to those who will hold Gov. Romney's Mormonism against him.
Posted By: Gerry Goffin | August 22, 2012 1:14 PM
How I thank our merciful Savior and God of love that he ALONE determines who is a "Christian." If left up to some mean-spirited believers, heaven would end up virtually empty (only the select of the elect admitted), while the vast majority of humanity would be on the outside looking in. I'm satisfied to let the scriptures tell us who's in and who's out. This is going to make some of the 'Elder Brother' types mad as hell, but here goes:
1 Corinthians 15:22 (NIV):
"For as in Adam ALL die, so in Christ ALL will be made alive."
Posted By: Van | August 22, 2012 3:23 PM
Unbelievable how twisted our society has become. On one hand we have folks who can affirmatively accuse the Bible of containing Marxist ideologies, and on the other we cast our beliefs as some kind of master filter that will somehow clean our own conscience by pointing from our Pharisee over others through the Word.
When are we going to grow up? Grow into God's Words and keep its principles alive first? Turn that other cheek into the face of danger, remember to remove that stumbling block, stop in the traffic of our greed to help our neighbor? It seems so ironic that we can find fault at every corner, and yet, when we are ourselves in need we can readily put our hand out expecting no condemnation. Lost we truly are.
Posted By: Citizen America | August 23, 2012 10:58 AM
There seems to be an assumption that a President can only be a good President IF s/he is a saved Christian. That is a false assumption because the State is not the Church, where such a pre-condition for leadership is essential. Good Christians can make bad Presidents (cf. Frederick Chiluba ex Zambian President who came to power with his famous commitment to make Zambia a Christian nation, but who succumbed to corruption and left Zambia to a Jehovah's Witness who was a better President; and a succession of Nationalist Party Prime Ministers/President in South Africa, who openly professed to be Christian but embarrassed the Name of Jesus by their apartheid oppression.). Non Christians can make good national leaders, (cf Lee Kwan Yew ex Prime Minister of Singapore who lifted his nation out of chaos by unwittingly implementing God's requirements in Jeremiah 9:23,24). I urge Americans to choose the better candidate on scrutiny of whether they uphold Kindness (the welfare of the common people); Justice and Righteousness (Moral Standards in private and public) in a spirit of Humility modeled on God's Sovereign characteristics, to whom every earthly ruler is accountable. Jer 9:23,24 exemplified in Josiah Jer 22:15,16
Posted By: Hugh G Wetmore | August 26, 2012 1:30 PM
Obama put nice emphasis on being a Christian "My CHRISTIAN", I find this strange. I srill believe that he is not a true Christian, too many of his mentors were Muslim. Also he was a member of the Demoscratic Socialist Party of America, an organization which does not follow Christian beliefs. He supports gay marriage, which goes against the Gospel.
Now for Romney. Being a Mormon is still being a Christian. The Gospel as we know it was "Closed" by Emperor Constantine, as the Roman Government was very good at organization. The works in the Gospel are not the only ones used in Early Christian Churches; the limiting of teaching is only a newer thing. The Book of Mormon is Another Testamony for Jesus Christ. This was Jesus with the Native American. Why do people have such a difficult time accepting that Jesus could have come to a far country and lived with people? The answer is simple, people do not research something, they take what other people say and make a judgement.
Romney is a Christian through and through. He has sound biblical beliefs and good Christian ethic.
Posted By: Jacob | August 28, 2012 12:37 PM
Is it possible that God is giving Americans a choice just like He gave apostate Israel a choice in the days of Jeremiah. Obama may be a modern day Nebuchadnezzar raised up by God to systematically dismantle America as we know it. Romney with his appeal towards saving the constitution may be equivalent to the Jews who refused to accept that God was taking down the status quo of Jerusalem. Those people were blind to their idolatry and dug in their heals and stayed in the city where they were destroyed. The Jews who agreed with their adversary (Nebuchadnezzar) were temporarily taken captive, yet lived on with the promise of hope (Jeremiah 29:11). There is no doubt that America is between a rock and a hard place. The question of who is the lesser of two evils is not so obvious.
Satan comes as an angel of light (just as Joseph Smith's "Moroni" did) with a different Gospel. What's more important?
Saving the constitution or keeping the Gospel of Jesus Christ pure from Mormon false teaching? I guess it depends on how you view the importance of truth. Born Again Christians who are loyal to Jesus first and America Second, will stand firm for the purity of the Gospel. Oh, but how can the gospel continue to flourish if we don't have the permission of Caesar to allow it? (obvious sarcasm) Nonsense, history has shown that the Gospel is strongest when under persecution. Just ask Paul as he was in chains.
Maybe our current "liberty" combined with U.S. luxuries has softened us into this apostate situation. We need to think critically about this coming storm (I mean election), and ask God for his mind and His ways that are higher than ours. Remember that the Kingdom of Heaven is run by a King and not a Democracy. What we are experiencing right now is simply a Democratic "Experiment" set up by man. Do not love the things of this world because in it's present form it is passing away. Let's be sure we're not fighting against what God is planning. He is the one who sets up nations and tears them down. We know that before Jesus comes back to set up His Kingdom, the kingdom of Anti-Christ must appear first. Well-meaning Zionists and or Patriots that are trying to democratize the earth (to establish peace), may very well end up enabling the Anti-Christ's One World religion. We must protect the purity of the Gospel at ALL costs. Let's educate ourselves about the idolatrous doctrines and agendas of the Mormon religion. (former Mormon Church Member)
Posted By: Jeff | September 4, 2012 9:40 PM
I must say I am terrible disappointed by articles pretending to know prophecy when the bible clearly says nobody knows the hour or day of his coming and also about Obama being an Antichrist when he has not fulfilled any bible credentials to make him one.
This clearly shows that people are bent on misleading the world and are working for the evil one, the enemy of souls, I urge all to return to
the bible and not be lazy to read the word of God which is full of truth.
For all we know God maybe a few years,days, decades,or centuries away for so many things still need to be fulfilled before he comes and the most important is that we should preach the gospel of the kingdom to all nations
Posted By: thulani | November 10, 2012 10:35 AM
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