It is unchristian for Driscoll and Piper to judge the validity of Obama's faith from a distance. Indeed, they are calling him a liar. What right before Jesus Christ have they to poison the minds of their many uncritical followers? And what would Driscoll have tweeted about Romney's oath of office had he won?

It is a nonsense to say it is 'unchristian' (sic) to judge someone's faith. If a tree is claimed to produce apples and its fruit is anything but, pointing out that its boughs are heavy with cherries is simply a statement of fact.

The Church must speak truth to power and hold up those who would publicly claim Christ but whose actions are alien to Him.

UE

Jesus had no tolerance of those who were hypocrites of His time. Obama references God when it's convenient. He chose to play golf on weekends instead of going to church. He chose not to protect the innocent unborn even though he knew God created them.

I agree with Utar.

I cannot judge his eternal destiny, but I can judge his stances. His stances on abortion are the most extreme,and deny humanity made in God's image. His stance on homosexual marriage is so extreme that not even pagan empires of the past have recognized them. Neither of these stances are Biblical. Thus Obama either disregards the Bible as a Christian to his peril, or Obama is not a Christian and the Bible means little to his peril. Either way he is in a perilous position.

I think his stance on the value of life is enough evidence that he does not know the God of the Bible. He is the most pro-abortion president this country has ever seen. I am glad that Driscoll and Piper are speaking the truth.

As previously stated, if a tree bears fruit differently from what it claims to produce, then the lie needs to pointed out. More so in our elected officials. Most of all the President. Driscoll's tweet echos the truth of Matthew 7, every good tree bears good fruit and every bad tree bad fruit. It offended people when Jesus said it, too.

I agree with Jim. First, what would be said about Romney and the Bible, given that he has been a Bishop and continues to worship in a church that up until the election most evangelicals have called a cult? Second, just as some claim Obama's positions on abortion and gay marriage "prove" he is not a believer, others might say a Republican president's preference for war, torture, and favoring the rich over the poor "prove" he is not a believer. Which Bible verses do we reference when we judge someone's salvation? I am embarrassed by fellow Christians who destroy each other publicly in the name of Christ. How will that draw unbelievers to the throne of grace? As James 4 says "There is only one Lawgiver and judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. Who are you to judge your neighbor?" Let us all work out our own salvation with fear and trembling.

Since Piper's statement was not fully quoted, I can't really speak to it, but Driscoll's statement is really about himself anyway. . . "look at me as a I publicly tell you I am praying for someone as I lob unfounded accusations at the poor sap. Aren't I so holy myself." I"m sure Driscoll didn't mean it that way (at least I hope not) but that is how it sounds. If we are going to judge people's hearts without any personal knowledge or interaction with them, I can take pride and gossip into account as much as any other measure.

Nearly 50 years ago, one of my Seminary Profs said that there is a vast difference between Judging and Fruit Inspecting!!!

Regardless of name or position, a person's stand against God and His Word is under His judgment. He is not a pastor and he rules this country as God has allowed. "When the wicked rule the righteous groan." His promotion of immorality in regards to religion, pre born children and marriage has revealed his heart. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is what is needed for each of us and we as believers in Christ have a great opportunity to be a light in an ever growing dark United States of America.

As the Bible clearly states, the demons also believe in the redemptive death of Christ and in His resurrection. We don't get to simply self identify as Christians. We don't get to pick and choose what parts of the Bible we wish to follow. We will be known by our fruit. I don't care for Driscoll, but in this case, he's right.

Those opposed to the statements made by Driscol and Piper are typical of the postmodern, latter-day, everything-all-about love church leaders. They are simply afraid to confront with the gospel. Obama, being the chief leader of a country should be held to the highest accountability. He should be reproved in the public that he publicly leads. I laud the courage of Driscol and Piper and hope that others like them will follow suit.

It is truly bizarre to me how fixated evangelical Christians are on President Obama and how they seem insistent that everyone needs to be frightened of him. It makes me realize what a truly limited view of their faith most people have. I am an evangelical Christian. I did not vote for Obama, I do not agree with his position on many issues and I would not vote for or do something that directly contradicts with what the Bible tells me. But the Bible makes it pretty clear that we are to respect those placed in authority over us. It doesn't say . . ."only if they are saved." It doesn't mean we agree with them or worship them or do things personally that God specifically demands us not to. But God has saved us all a lot of panic and worry by assuring us that HE will judge them accordingly for their life and the things they did while in positions of leadership, just as He will all of us. Many presidents have failed us "morally" in office. Many presidents have displayed less-than-Christian behavior while in office. We need more people truly praying for our president and country in private - not hopping on Facebook and Twitter with passive aggressive status updates that they're "praying", when their attitude is anything but prayerful. If you really care about his eternal salvation than you will get down on your knees and share your concerns with God - not your Facebook friends or Twitter followers.

In defense of Piper his was a quote from the article he linked in his tweet. He was probably more interested in sharing the dichotomy created by the article, to let people consider it without making a judgment call himself.
Is Obama "spiritually blind" or an "evil hypocrite" is the question being raised but the question does have an assumption in it's basis that Obama cannot be a model Christian due to his views.
But, I really don't think Obama's a model Christian for more than just abortion and homosexual issues. What about drone strikes that kill thousands of innocent people?
As for all of this "don't cast the first media stone" talk, you should just go ahead and disconnect yourself from the internet now if you don't view it as a tool by which we can hold each other accountable.

It's amazing to see from afar (Australia) the ways in which American evangelicals are choosing to obey what Jesus said was the Greatest Commandment of all: `You shall love the Lord your God ... and you shall love your neighbour as yourself.'

Stanley calling ANY POTUS, "Paster in Chief" is disgusting and n less dangerous than calling Obama a Muslim. He is NOT a preacher nor a pastor and making that statement is certainly unbiblical. A pastor is a shepherd and no POTUS is a shepherd let alone being called a shepherd in the biblical Christian sense which carries expectaitions and character requirements that Obama (nor any other POTUS) does not meet.

I've liked Stanley's thoughts and teachings for over a decade but this is disgustingly unbiblical.

For those blasting Driscoll and Piper, I wonder how you would have responded to John's preaching against Herod, Elijah's against Ahab, or Steven's sermon to the Sanhedrin. Or Jesus' harsh words for the Pharisees. Neither men yesterday said anything that four years of service inthe WH didn't warrant by both his record and public statements. Quit mistaking zeal for being perceived as the Nicest Guy in the Room with being like Jesus.

I cannot judge a man's heart. We are told, however, that we know a tree by its fruit. Read the gospels. How many times does Jesus speak frankly to those who think they are believers? How do they respond to Him? What does their response evidence concerning the condition of their hearts? Was Jesus being cruel in His intolerance? Please read the gospels and then ask yourself, isn't it more merciful to tell someone their life doesn't evidence the Spirit than to let them believe they are saved? Again, only God knows the condition of Obama's heart....but Obama's actions and words suggest that there is little deference for God's will in his life which is most dangerous for Obama!

It is pathetic when men treat the gospel as they want, hoping to change it to promote their beliefs.

I cannot judge the President but I can judge the destiny of a nation, and I can say that if Americans would not rise up and pray against what is not right, a plague is not far off, because Americans through their 'Pastor' President have said "Gay is Okay."

Common prostitution is treated with disdain throughout the USA because prostitutes do not have the political clout gays have, why won't the white house reach out to prostitutes in the same manner.
For a leader to publicly support what is not right brings the judgment of God upon a nation.

All the people in a nation have a common destiny which is largely controlled by the destiny of its leader, and that is why each time the Kings of Israel sinned the whole nation was held accountable.
Those close to the President should advise him not to publicly endorse what is not right.

Gays were also created by God and loved by God but they need to simply accept that homosexuality is sin just like stealing and every other vice, and they should fully explore the salvation of our Lord Jesus Christ and receive the power to overcome that strong manifestation of the fleshly nature.

Whenever leaders try to pervert the right ways of God through their views and acts, plagues and their consequences replace the goodness of God in a land.

It is not about what we think and a Pastor who leads his people to sin against God will be held accountable.

What conclusion does one make about THE MOST Anti Christian Administration in the history of the U.S? Mark Driscoll is right...and he would have said something provocative about Mitt Romney also.

I can't believe the number of responses here which directly state that the position a person holds on abortion or on homosexuality prove whether or not his/her faith is authentic. Argue the issues and defend truth as you understand it, but when you add these things to the non-negotiables of the Gospel, it has to make God weep.

For years, I've told my students the following: "unless you have sat down with someone on the other side and earnestly asked, 'help me understand why your position makes sense to you,' unless you've done that, you haven't earned the right to be heard, because you haven't demonstrated your commitment to make sure your viewpoints are the truth." I pray that the day we remember that God gave us two ears and one mouth to be used in that proportion becomes reality soon for the church.

So the "wrong" public policies make you a non-Christian, or anti-Christian. Such bitterness, even hate, for Obama and other leaders who support the "wrong" policies. Too many people here seem to worship the Elephant instead of the Lamb.

Some should read 1Cor chapter 5 and John 7:24 which says: John 7:24 - "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment." We can judge the murder of live-born infants as immoral, fetuses as immoral, and also putting a 16 trillion dollar debt, with no end in sight, onto the next generation as immoral.
It didn't take a mental genius in Corinth to know that the believer who was sleeping with his mother-in-law was doing wrong. And it doesn't take a genius to know that supporting abortion and even infanticide here and around the world is immoral and unbiblical. One of the first things he did as president in 2008 was to put partial birth abortion back to being legal, after President Bush had made it illegal to do so. While in the Illinois senate, he voted 3 times to allow physicians to kill any infant that survived an abortion. We are also sending money to China to help them enforce their one child only policy. If you don't believe it, please check it out. These are not the actions of a Christian. You should also read the interview of Obama in Christianity Today. He does not believe that Jesus is the only way to heaven, and he believes that he is sinning when he does something that HE thinks is wrong, not what God says is wrong.

"These are not the actions of a Christian". No Christian acts perfectly consistently with what he believes, even if his beliefs are without error. And no Christian has has error-free beliefs, either. We can judge (that is, discern), whether actions or beliefs are consistent with Scripture, but we cannot condemn -- only God has that right.

I see part of the problem here as people viewing these criticisms as judgement. These two pastors were not passing judgement, they were making observations. If the fig tree's not bearing any figs, what can you say about it? Do you keep going on about how it must be a fig tree because it claims to be one, even when there are no figs to prove it?

Matthew, Driscoll's statements were most certainly NOT observations. You cannot observe if someone believes the Bible or knows God without interacting with the man himself. We all display bad fruit at times that would belie our supposed belief in the Bible and knowledge of God. Driscoll, elevated himself by telling us how he was praying for such a pathetic soul as the President. It would be the same if I said right now about Driscoll, "I am praying for a man who believes he is better than others and publicly spreads gossip about those he doesn't know." I don't care if Driscoll believes that Obama's policies or actions are wrong, he is entitled to and supposed to figure out what he feels on those issues, but to claim to know the mind and heart of another is a power claimed and reserved for God alone.

The arrogance inherent in questioning someone's personal faith ("God he likely doesn't know") when we all know that it is a relationship with Christ that truly identifies a Christian is, itself, evidence of "bad fruit" by Mr. Driscoll. We as Christians need to focus on saving souls and helping the "least fo these" in spite of culture and not on reforming the hearts and thoughts of those with whom we disagree politically. Remember that we are not meant for this world but the next.

My observation is that, in general, there is little reason to trust the judgment of conservative Evangelicals on the morality and godliness of others.

This was the proof text tossing authoritarian movement that was accusing radical abolitionists, most of whom were also Evangelicals, of not believing in the Bible and of being anti-God.

Fast forwarding... and accusing people like me of the "sin of miscegenation" back when I was young. The American conservative Evangelical movement has always been primarily about comforting the comfortable, silencing minorities and preserving unearned, conservative Evangelical privilege. It's obvious that they are still about that, since they are treating the social construct of "homosexuality" in much the same way they use to(?) treat the social construct of "race."

What is the matter with us? We disparage our elected president as if he were the anti-Christ. Why? Have we held such hatred for the many other elected leaders who are pro-abortion? I know the reason isn't his stance on homosexual rights because the hatred was there before he changed his position to total support. We don't support the president, so who do we give our votes to? In the last election we supported a Mormon who believed the poor and the sick did not need any help from the larger society. He was with us on abortion and homosexuality, but are these issues really more important than feeding the hungry and healing the sick? How can the followers of Christ be for robbing the poor to pay for tax breaks for the rich? What kind of witness is this for the rest of the world? We are seen as hateful bigots--anything but the loving example we should be if we are to draw the world to Christ. God help us.

I stand with Driscoll and Piper, John the Baptist lost his head because he told the truth about Herod. No Christian could stand for what Obama stands for and call himself a Christian. Obama has fallen to a false gospel if I work hard enough and "steal" and give to the poor I will be excepted by God. In fact Jesus took from the one who ONLY had ONE Talent and gave it to the one who had ten (started with five). Obama has murdered more children then all the kings of Israel put together (can't wash his hands, ask Pilot). Years ago we had a problem with legalism in the church and there is a small problem still, but a much bigger problem is cheap grace that has entered the church. Just say you believe in Jesus and do good works and you'll be fine. This is a false gospel. One must see they are a sinner and at war with God and REPENT in order to receive forgiveness and peace with God. I don't know what Stanley said but if he's like most mega-church preachers he probably wanted to make him happy and tickled his ears. Obama needs to know he is a sinner standing in judgement of Gods wrath and that God loves him and wants peace with him. But Obama is an arrogant prideful man and sure his "good deeds" are enough. He needs the bad news and conviction so he can receive the Good News. Unfortunately to many cheap gracers call what is truth stones. They misinterpret the story of the adulteress woman. Jesus gave her grace told her before he left go and sin no more (truth). The woman at the well (religious woman) Jesus hit her with her truth about all her husbands and men, some might accuse him of throwing stones, then he shared with her grace. Obama has had some religious teaching. He needs hard truth, then grace. Driscoll and Piper as usual have it right.

Two comments for all the self-righteous "spear throwers" out there:

1. Judge not, lest you be judged.

2. Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.

Shame on you preachers of the word of God John Piper and Mark Driscoll !!

It is so sad to see recognized Christians like Mark Driscoll and John Piper display their apparently Sanctified Knowledge of God in such a mean spirited way - one which would cause one to doubt their own profession of the Christ they say the President has no knowledge of. After all, it was Jesus Himself who said "Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others!"

Perhaps these two" gentlemen" have received some direct communication from God to sanction this? For the rest of us, certainly, The injunction is "Love one another as I have loved you"

Andrew, right after the verse you quoted about judging in Matthew, it says the following, how would you explain these verses? I suggest you read CT's interview with Obama. He does NOT believe Jesus' own words that following Him is the ONLY way to heaven. Obama has Oprah Winfrey religion where many paths lead to heaven. Obama defined sin as going against his own values, not God's. You miss the entire meaning of that verse when taken out of context.
This is immediately following the judging verse. So obviously Christians know whether someone's fruit is "good" or not.
6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
And in the same chapter, Jesus says:
"Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

True and False Disciples

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

The Wise and Foolish Builders

24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

And John 7:24
"Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment."

Andrew, right after the verse you quoted about judging in Matthew, it says the following, how would you explain these verses? I suggest you read CT's interview with Obama. He does NOT believe Jesus' own words that following Him is the ONLY way to heaven. Obama has Oprah Winfrey religion where many paths lead to heaven. Obama defined sin as going against his own values, not God's.
This is immediately following the judging verse. So obviously Christians know whether someone's fruit is "good" or not.
6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
And in the same chapter, Jesus says:
"Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit YOU will recognize them.

True and False Disciples

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

The Wise and Foolish Builders

24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

And John 7:24
"Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment."