The White House on National Day of Prayer: A Proclamation, but No Formal Ceremony
By Dan Gilgoff, God & Country
The National Day of Prayer Task Force, which is run out of the conservative Christian group Focus on the Family in Colorado Springs, Colo., has been eagerly awaiting word from the White House about plans for next Thursday's National Day of Prayer. Specifically, the group wants to know if President Obama will issue a proclamation observing the National Day of Prayer next Thursday and whether he'll host a formal White House event to mark the day—the latter being the practice of the Bush White House.
The White House tells me that there will be a proclamation but no White House event—which is how administrations prior to George Bush's marked the event. Bush had been in the habit of inviting National Day of Prayer Task Force Chairman Shirley Dobson and her husband, James—founder of Focus on the Family—to the East Room at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue for the event.
"President Obama is a committed Christian and believes that we should be engaging Americans of faith in efforts to renew our country," said a White official of White House plans. "He is following the tradition of Presidents Reagan, George H. W. Bush, and others by signing a proclamation honoring the National Day of Prayer, while continuing to work with communities of faith to improve our country."
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Tags: White House | Barack Obama | religion | Bush administration | Obama administration
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Reader Comments
National Day of Prayer
Yes, the Bible says to go into our closets to pray. However, does not Jesus also say that whoever denies Him before men, He will also deny him before His Father in heaven. (Matt. 10:33, also I John 2:23) The photo ops of our esteemed President that I have seen lately seem to have little to do with confessing Jesus before men, and more of bowing to all other beliefs. All roads do NOT lead to heaven. As Jesus himself said, He is the Way, and no man comes to the Father but thru Him.
People Pleasing?
President Obama is all about "American" equality. He chose not to or was "advised" not to make a big deal over the National Day of Prayer (NDP) because it would send the message that he is exalting God, Christianity, and Prayer to God. Even though the NDP is supposed to be inclusive of all faiths, it is headed by a Christian organization
To the Christian, like me, of course I WANT TO exalt God, Christianity, and the importance of prayer and I WILL.
The question is what is more important to Obama? Are Obama's political policies in harmony with his faith?
There comes a place where one must decide if he/she is going to please God or man.
"Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ." Galatians 1:10
This of his recent press conference in the middle east where he stated that the U.S. is not a Christian state. Ok, we understand , but what the reason behind him saying this? Middle Easterners hate the U.S. because of our large Christian population and because we back up the Jews. So, Obama is trying to pacify them by saying that we are not considering a Christian nation, but are made up of all faiths. I personally don't think they care at this point. They want us all dead because we are all infidels/unbelievers and our freedom is our biggest sin. So, I don't know if Mr. Obama's strategy is going to work with haters. You can't trust terrorists.
So bringing it full circle, his not participating in a NDP event is in step with his plan/policy to try to "talk" with the terrorist nations (Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, etc.). I think it's a waste of time and it's just giving them more time to regroup and come after us again, while we're sleeping, while we're the weakest, while we think everything is okay.
How about a National Day of Reason?
Come on folks--let's put this superstitious nonsense behind us! Reason, not prayer: http://www.nationaldayofreason.org/
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