Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Nation & World

God and Country by Dan Gilgoff

Why Is Obama Skipping a Prayer Day Event?

May 07, 2009 12:25 PM ET | Dan Gilgoff | Permanent Link | Print

Reader Comments

Hello, I'm ChrisPark

Hello. My name is Chris. I'm from USA. I'm new to this forum, i was hoping you could maybe teach me some stuff.

This is me-> http://lmageshack.us/img/chrisP.jpg - Just so you know who i am! feel free to post your own photos. Allways best to know who you talk to!

Prayer is not for political gain

PR events to support prayer are self serving and hypocritical. Christians have no business doing it, and no one else seems to have enough bad taste to show off like that. Showing off and CLAIMING piety isn't the same thing as genuine faith.

There is a difference between private prayer or prayer in fellowship with other believers and putting together a state event, with a PR team, and cameras. The former is a sincere and individual outpouring of belief. The latter, often, is for the sake of being seen. (And that's the difference between the Bible quotes about praying together in a group, and praying like the hypocrites - Matthew 6:5-6)

People shouldn't be using Jesus to further their political, financial, and social aspirations in this manner. If you tried to claim Oprah's endorsement without her permission, you'd be sued out of existence.

Sanctimony

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. - Jesus

(Matthew 6:5)

Day of Prayer

The National Day of Prayer was instituted to counter and politically correct the World Day of Prayer of the World Council of Churches which occurs in October. It is good to pray for America; it is very good also to pray for our global neighbors. Isaiah 56:7b ...for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. Thus says the Lord God, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, I wil gather others to them besides those already gathered. And Mark 11:17b ...But you have made it a den of robbers.

If deeper confessions accompanied our Days of Prayer, maybe both participation and audiences would be wider.

Rev. Allan Ross

Forgoing National Prayer Day

President Obama is still learning what Christians already know, that prayer works. Rather than write him off or declare that he is a Muslim, lets see if he reinstates the gathering next year. At least he is not pandering to us Christians. His first 100 days were the easiest. He and God are going to get a lot closer if he is to succeed.

WOW

Obamanites are crazy devoted to this guy. I mean Dan Gilgoff didn't say anything bad or negative about Obama in his article at all. He just wrote about possible reasons as to why Obama would not participate in this National Day of Prayer. It's just a few facts and some speculation, but since it's not out and out praise, tear your clothes off, throw yourself on the ground and worship this man the writer all of the sudden "hates" Obama? Weird. That is out there. Obamanites: Calm down. Take a deep breath and try to become your own person apart from a man you've never met and who really couldn't give a rip about you.

D Bell/ charles Pickard

I hope you aren't as nasty as you present. You just sound like angry old WHITE REPUBLICANS::God does see all--particularly such hate!!I see our President as a gift from God--to level the playing field::I don't think he had anything to do with the crooked behaviors driven by the Bush dynesty and the Blandiberg group. My advice beware of anybody with the word Yale on their resiume!!Recommend you see more movies, since you obviously don't read!!

intelligent Obama

is definitely not superstitous

To Linda of IL

It is hardly a fair assertion that because the president has stated that the United States of America is not a "Christian Nation", he is not a Christian himself. He has embraced Christianity for all of his adult life, and publicly professes his belief in Jesus.

Perhaps he does not espouse the brand of Christianity you prefer. On the face of things, it would seem his is the more merciful and tolerant branch of the tree.

As to the National Day of Prayer, what is wrong with people observing that in their own way, or not at all? that is what a truly free society is all about.

Christianity is not about hatred. It is sadly apparent that you hate Barack Obama.

prayer

because he is muslim.Duh.

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Dan Gilgoff covers religion for U.S. News & World Report. He is the author of The Jesus Machine: How James Dobson, Focus on the Family, and Evangelical America are Winning the Culture War, and is a former politics editor at beliefnet. E-mail Dan at godandcountry@usnews.com.

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