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Why are So Many Christians Supporting Obama?

That's a question I've seen people asking lately.  For example, here's a conversation I had on Facebook:

Christians-Obama

Below are some links that might help for anyone else asking that same question, but first here are a few of my reasons:

  • I desire a foreign policy that is less bellicose and more reliant on international cooperation and diplomacy
  • I support generous treatment of immigrants
  • I believe that the policies of the Democrats are more likely to reduce the abortion rate
  • I believe that we need to protect the environment and can't depend on "the market" to do it for us
  • Though I realize this is a gross oversimplification, I feel more kinship with a party whose focus is on the poor and powerless rather than on the rich and powerful
  • I am confident that Obama has a first-class intellect and temperament, qualities that are highly desirable for the job of president

How a Christian Can Vote for Obama (link)
Henry Neufeld

Frank! As A Former Pro-Life Leader How Dare You Support Pro-Choice Obama? (link)
Frank Schaeffer

I'm Catholic, staunchly anti-abortion, and support Obama (link)
Nicholas Cafardi

Pro Life - Pro Obama (link)

Interview with Donald Miller (link)

On the Campaign Trail in MI, IN, NC, VA and OH This Week (link)
Donald Miller

From Reagan to Obama, a brief Political History (link)
Donald Miller

Endorsing Obama (link)
Doug Kmiec

My Support for Obama (link)
Mark Love

Why I'm Voting for Obama, and Why I Hope You Will Too (link)
Brian McLaren

Why I'm Voting for Obama (link)
Ryan Bolger

If you're a Christian planning to vote for Obama, tell us why...

Comments

Let's discuss whether I want to be labeled a "Christian" instead... even though I have used that term do describe myself out of convenience it's increasingly more frustrating to be associated by that term because it means so many different things to so many people these days - and they aren't all positive. In fact it was meant as a derogatory term to the early church.

Anyway, I am pretty sure my vote doesn't line up with either of the major 2 candidates. Many will say I am wasting my vote by choosing a third party, but that's all right. I say all this because for simplicity sake, I am Christian and I'm not voting for Obama or McCain. (Sorry to hi-jack your question) Why?

Hmmm...one of the items on my list is that I don't believe either the D or R candidates shares completely my desire for less government. Related to that issue I don't think I can support the largest two parties who make up the majority.

What about his tolerance for Homosexuality?
http://www.teamtruth.com/articles/art_theaztec.htm
When I read Romans 1, I wonder if our country is judged right now

Walter, now that you mention it, I've also noticed that he tolerates greed, gluttony, materialism, gossip, and many other practices that the Bible condemns. If you're talking about matters of public policy, I'm one who thinks that our laws should be based on something more universal than the holy text of any one religion and should err on the side of individual liberty. Therefore, I do not think that the government should discriminate against its citizens based on sexual orientation. If your concern is about his personal religious view, I'm not particularly concerned about the fact than he and I may differ about whether or not homosexual relations are contrary to God's will. It's not unusual for me to disagree with my brothers and sisters in Christ, and that's not particularly relevant to his role as president anyway.

What do you think about Homosexuality persuasiveness as symptoms of God's Judgment upon our nation, as based upon Romans 1?

I assume you meant pervasiveness, not persuasiveness. I don't have the impression that it is pervasive, for example, in comparison to ancient Rome or compared to heterosexual fornication and adultery today. Some of the other stuff mentioned in Romans 1 (envy, strife, deceit, slander, arrogance, disobedience to parents, etc.) are much more prevalent.

I guess I have no idea if God is or soon will be bringing judgment against our country. He could, though I don't believe that our country is uniquely the object of greater divine favor or disfavor compared to others. I think that if we were judged, I would tend towards examining myself and my own sin rather than pointing at others.

Regarding the homosexual matter: I believe that homosexuals should have the same rights heterosexuals do (marriage, insurance benefits, visitation rights etc), not because they are homosexuals, but because they are human beings - and I believe these to be basic human rights (or would like to see them become so). We don't prohibit atheists from getting married, getting on the same insurance, visiting each other in the hospital. How is homosexuality worse than atheism? Why are homosexuals the "biggest" sinners when there are people perpetually sinning all over the country everyday? If we are going to try and restrict one group for doing something non-biblical, then we have a lot of groups whose rights we need to restrict... including ourselves. Although I do not agree with the moral choice, I have no right to vote to restrict their constitutional rights - as Americans and as humans. Today I voted for Barak Obama. I am a Christian.

I just can't spend any time today procrastinating on the ol' inter-tubes but anyone who wants to know why I as a Christian am supporting Obama as presidential candidate can head over to my blog and surf. I've been writing about it off and on since January, when I finally officially declared that 'cynicism sucks. I'm on board.' So I'll just say two words here: cyborg candidate. (There, that should pique curiousity, yes?)

Sadly, Frank is not his father, whose legacy is better found in these words:

"Faithfulness to the Lordship of Christ means using the constitutional processes while we still have them. .... The Lordship of Christ means using these processes to speak and to act on the basis of the principles set forth in the Bible. .... We implore those of you who are Christians to exert all your influence to fight against the increasing loss of humanness--through legislation, social action, and other means at your disposal, both privately and publicly, individually and collectively, in all areas of your lives. .... On the basis of an unweakened Bible, we must teach and act, in our individual lives and as citizens, on the fact that every individual has unique value as made in the image of God. This is so from a child just conceived in the womb to the old with their last gasping breath and beyond . . . ."

C. Everett Koop and Francis Schaeffer, Whatever Happened to the Human Race, pgs. 132-34.

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