Observations of President Obama’s Speech at the National Prayer Breakfast
President Barack Obama’s speech at the 64th National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D. C. (February 5, 2015) has sparked considerable, but not unpredictable, controversy. For just one example, Franklin Graham, President and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, issued a strong response. Graham asserted that when people have used the name of Christ to do evil they were departing from the authentic teachings and example of Jesus but when people do evil in the name of Mohammed they are being true to his original teachings and example. Graham’s comments voiced objection to the perceived implications of President Obama’s assertion that religious violence is not exclusive to Islam but has also occurred in Christian history. Unlike his father, Billy Graham, who for decades worked with many presidents on both sides of the political aisle, Franklin Graham has shown a propensity to denounce publically those with whom he disagrees personally.
By Tony Richie
The heart of the heated response to President Obama’s address is precisely the point of focus on religious violence. Several questions come to mind. Is it fair to group Christianity together with Islam because both have at times fostered violence? To be more exact, is it fair to compare Christianity’s ancient history of violence with Islam’s present day violence? And of course, to what extent does the global terrorism associated with radical, fundamentalist, extremist Islam represent the Islamic religion as a whole? More subtle but no less significant is the question: What is an appropriate Christian response to radical Islam and global terrorism? In my judgment, answers to all but the last question should be more or less negative; however, the last question should provoke a positive response.
I listened to the President’s remarks delivered at the Washington Hilton in its entirety and then read the manuscript, too. Thus the following is not based on sound bites culled from cable news. However, I did watch coverage by both Fox News and CNN. Thus what follows is not based on partisan media spin. I am writing this opinion piece because several themes raised by Mr. Obama’s speech intersect with my research in Christian theology of religions. My most recent book, Toward a Pentecostal Theology of Religions: Encountering Cornelius Today (Cleveland, TN: CPT Press, 2013), deals with related topics. I’m convinced that Christians should respond to the present crisis of the connection of global terrorism with radical Islam primarily from a perspective informed by our own biblical and theological beliefs and values rather than with mere political rhetoric.
President Obama began his speech with the usual preliminaries, including welcoming the Dalai Lama to the meeting and with some humor. He affirmed an opportunity to slow down for fellowship and prayer, “to come together in humility before the Almighty and to be reminded of what it is that we share as children of God.” The President further affirmed “a chance to reflect on my own faith journey.” (Below I suggest that an overwhelming absence of public reflection in his own faith journey is in fact a prominent problem in his relationship with many American Christians.) He quoted a prayer used by Eleanor Roosevelt that says, “Keep us at tasks too hard for us that we may be driven to Thee for strength.” He confessed that God has strengthened him in difficult times “with power through his Spirit” as he sought divine guidance in both his personal life and in the life of the nation.
President Obama gave several examples of the good that faith can do in the lives of people and nations as it motivates people to do what is right. Then, he gave examples of those who twist and distort religion for evil purposes. Here he included references to the betrayal of Islam by ISIL. Thus he set up what appears to be a basic contradiction. The President said “So how do we, as people of faith, reconcile these realities—the profound good, the strength, the tenacity, the compassion and love that can flow from all of our faiths, operating alongside those who seek to hijack religious for their own murderous ends?” It is impossible to accurately understand the President’s remarks apart from the background of his attempt to wrestle with this disturbing ambivalence. Whether we agree or not with his conclusions is one thing; but, every honest-hearted Christian should wrestle through his questions.
Right at this point is where the controversial comments about Christianity’s involvement in the Crusades and the Inquisition come into play. However, what has been totally ignored by a politicized media and by religious reactionaries is that Mr. Obama spoke in a context of other religions as well. Namely, he referenced his recent visit to India, with its predominantly Hindu culture, and the persecution of religious groups there that would have “shocked” Gandhi, India’s highly revered Hindu liberator. Accordingly, while we may surely challenge the president’s perspective, it would be inaccurate and unfair to accuse him of singling out Christianity as an offender. His point is deeper than that. He wants to claim that all religions can be used as resources for either good or evil, and then to urge us to take steps against the evil in favor of the good.
Theologically speaking, that’s a very good point! Frankly, as a Christian theologian I am forced to admit the validity of the President’s point in spite of my overall personal objections to most of the President’s political policies. However, it is just here where I suggest he makes a most serious error as well.
Yes, it’s true that Jesus warned against those who would persecute and kill in the name of doing God service (John 16:2). Yes, before his conversion to Christ and subsequent ministry as an apostle, Saul was a devout Jew who persecuted and terrorized Christians out of misguided religious zeal (Acts 9). Yes, in the fourth century A.D. Christianity was elevated to the status of the legal religion of the Roman Empire after Emperor Constantine claimed “the sign of the cross” gave him in victories in war. Yes, the bold leader of the Protestant Reformation, Martin Luther, railed against the Jews and urged retaliation against them for their rejection of Christ. I could go on. Such regrettable history is well known and unchallenged. But I don’t think a dispute over religious history is really what is behind the vitriolic upheaval regarding President Obama’s remarks.
The problem probably is not even President Obama’s understandable attempt to affirm some element of good in different faiths. Any thinking American realizes that the President of the United States must relate to and represent all of the nation’s citizens. Of course he must affirm people of all faiths. As far back as the first American president, in many ways foundational for those that follow, George Washington, American political leaders have been going out of their way to welcome and respect those beyond the Christian faith.
Biblically and theologically treating those of other religions with respect is not problematic. After all, Moses teaches that all human beings are created in God’s image (Genesis 1:26-27) and John’s Gospel asserts that God gives loves everyone in the world (3:16). Further, John Wesley, historically speaking the “grandfather” of the Holiness/Pentecostal movements, openly admired the morals of many Muslims, comparing them favorably with many Christians in 18th century England. And the popular Christian apologist C.S. Lewis used Taoist imagery and terminology to argue for universal natural moral law in all humanity.
Then what is behind the furor against the President’s remarks regarding Christians? More than anything, I think, it is his personal and political history and attitude regarding religion—including, or perhaps especially, his own. To be candid about it, Barack Obama has a history of downplaying his Christian faith to the point of diminishing it altogether. And that is a problem.
Note that after his remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast the President is being accused (again) of slighting Christianity. I suspect that much of this reaction is not rooted in the speech itself but in an impression garnered from years of listening to Mr. Obama publicly play down his alleged Christian commitment. Even in his remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast the name of Jesus only occurs once, in telling a joke, and the name of Christ only occurs in quotes or in reference to evil done in his name. No wonder many are confused about Obama’s confession of faith in Christ! Later in his remarks the President does clearly indicate commitment to social justice in terms of identity as “children of God”—as generic as that might sound.
Devout Christians are convinced that being ashamed of confessing Christ invites judgment on the integrity or validity of one’s confession of faith. If we are ashamed of Christ before this world, Christ will be ashamed of us before his Father and before the holy angels (Mark 8:38). We should never appear ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ and its saving power (Roman 1:16). If we are ashamed of anything it should be over our past sins (6:21)—not over our Savior from the power of that sin.
Admittedly, it takes great courage to confront this world with unashamed hope in Christ (Philippians 1:20). Yet our testimony to the saving power of the gospel is boldly demonstrated before a watching world when we are unashamed to be identified with Christ and with our sisters and brothers in Christ’s service (2 Timothy 1:8)—even if that identification may include becoming co-sufferers with Christ and other Christians throughout history and around the world today. After all, our Lord is not ashamed to identify with us, though we are a sinful, fallen race (Hebrews 2:11; 11:16). For many, Mr. Obama’s timid testimony is tantamount to denial.
Here is where I think the President went wrong. When President Obama speaks negatively of Christianity it is not perceived as an honest and humble (to use a word he stressed in his remarks) admission from an insider, from a participant, that is, from a friend. It is perceived as a sharply barbed attack from an outsider, and a hostile one at that, perhaps even an enemy. However, this is an unnecessary conundrum.
Respectfully but without reserve I say, “Mr. President, if you really are a Christian (only God knows for sure about any of us!), say so openly, unashamedly, and without embarrassment. Say so boldly and publically. Political expediencies do not negate the essentiality of your own faith confession. Look at the Jewish prophet and public statesman, Daniel. Under indescribable political pressure he nonetheless maintained, and therefore retained, his own authentic faith. He did so in an open and honest manner. So must you. So must we all.”
The New Testament warns against uncertainty or timidity in our life of faith (1 Corinthians 14:8; 2 Timothy 1:7). There’s simply no excuse for failing to stand up for what you believe in—if, in fact, you do believe. (Without diverting into a distracting aside, I must admit that my fear for political leaders in the United States, including the President, and across party lines, is that they may be becoming more pluralists than anything else. As such, they would actually adhere to little more than a relativistic civil religion that is an insult to honest-hearted devotees of any real religion, at best, and a modern form of persistent and pervasive idolatry, at worst.) Plainly put: any political philosophy that interprets the Separation of Church and State as requiring citizen leaders to deny their own faith while pretending to uphold Freedom of Religion is hypocritical. It is to be rejected outright.
Additionally, Mr. Obama is accused of slighting Christians in order to placate Muslims. In its most vehement form the suspicion is that Mr. Obama is himself a “closet” Muslim and that as such he does not have the best interests of Christian Americans at heart. That’s an often implicit and frequently explicit undercurrent in reactions to his stance on religion. The accusation may be rooted in his ancestry, which on his father’s side includes some Muslims, but is really driven by the President’s aversion to admitting the patently obvious connections of global terrorism with extremist elements of Islam. Thus he seems to go overboard in avoiding any offense to Muslims.
It may be true that President Obama’s position is further fueled by commitments to a politically correct, left wing ideology which denies the importance of religion in the public square, particularly the majority Christian religion. In any case, it has created an antagonistic environment between his administration and many American Christians, especially conservative Christians, many of whom affirm the role of faith in public life. To them, he often seems to go out of his way to offend Christians. The result is an antagonistic relationship with Christians who perceive almost every public statement of President Obama on Christianity to be an all out assault on their faith.
For years I’ve been working in Christian theology of religions and doing interreligious dialogue. I can certainly appreciate sensitivity to the complex religious constituency of the United States. In fact, I avidly affirm it. That being said, I doubt that I can say too strongly that President Obama and his administration need to speak and act straightforwardly regarding the evil undercurrent of religion motivated violence. Call it what it is!
The Hebrew prophets, such as Isaiah and Jeremiah, pronounced stern rebuke on those who sought to hide their greed and lust for power under a religious cloak. Jesus pronounced horrible woes on those who hid evil deeds behind religion (e.g. see Matthew 23). And Paul the Apostle did not mince words on perpetrators of evil religion. “You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?” (Acts 13:10 NIV)
In my interactions with those of other religions, I’ve found that most of their adherents appreciate and respect authenticity and honesty in others. If you’re a Christian, say so—and then show it by your actions. If something is evil, call it what is—and fight it with all you’ve got. Mr. Obama is of course entirely correct in urging us in his remarks to embrace humility in our attitudes and actions toward religious others. (Interestingly, I found his tone a bit condescending as he spoke about us getting “on our high horse”.) But humility is not frailty any more than meekness is weakness. Mr. President: Be straight. Be strong.
If President Obama comes out in the open regarding his Christian faith, if indeed it is real, then I think it is likely that Christians who are not ashamed of their faith in Christ will be more inclined to listen. But criticisms and corrections from outsiders don’t go over well. They haven’t earned the right. As has already been discovered by rich and powerful leaders well before our day, one can get away with being a secret disciple just so long (John 19:38-40).
