Biblical Ignorance

 Barack Obama, one of the Democratic candidates for that party’s nomination for the Presidency, responded Sunday to a question posed by a pastor about Obama’s views on homosexuality.  Obama stated, “I don’t think it [a same-sex union] should be called marriage, but I think that it is a legal right that they should have that is recognized by the state,” said Obama. “If people find that controversial then I would just refer them to the Sermon on the Mount, which I think is, in my mind, for my faith, more central than an obscure passage in Romans.”  This is a clear instance of someone who claims to be a Christian not knowing what the Bible says or what in the world he is really talking about.  After making statements supporting abortion and homosexual marriage, Obama stated,

“In terms of my faith, there has been so much confusion that has been deliberately perpetrated through emails and so forth, so here are the simple facts,” he said. “I am a Christian. I am a devout Christian. I have been a member of the same church for 20 years, pray to Jesus every night, and try to go to church as much as I can when they are not working me. Used to go quite often. These days, we haven’t been at the home church–I haven’t been home on Sunday–for several months now. So, my faith is important to me. It is not something that I try to push on other people. But it is something that helps to guide my life and my values.”

Obama is a politician and is pandering for votes, but he is doing that at the expense of basic Biblical knowledge.  He claims to be a Christian, but his words indicate that he does not have the slightest notion of what Christianity is about.  This is an instance of a high-profile public official doing the same thing that many other “professing” Church-goers do.  They claim to be Christians, use much of the lingo, phrases, and names, but use them out of context though in such a way as to look like a Christian, feel good about themselves, and appear credible to other gullible people, but in fact are nothing more than confused at best, or liars at worst. 

The “obscure” passage Obama refers to is founding Romans 1, in the section from verses 18 through 32 regarding God’s wrath against the rebellious and ungodly, and the consequences of their rebellion as manifested in their lives.  You can read my commentary on this section here and here.  Essentially, though, Paul’s argument goes something like this:  God, as creator, has placed knowledge of Himself in every person’s mind, since we are all created in His image.  However, man is rebellious and sets himself up as god, in order to run life his way instead of being reverent, submissive, and honoring to God.  Man in his rebellion suppresses this knowledge, and therefore has no excuse when the time comes for God to hold him accountable for his rebellion through the execution of His holy wrath.  Because man dishonors God, so God allows man to dishonor himself.  How does He do that?  Let’s read.

²⁴ Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, ²⁵ because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

²⁶ For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; ²⁷ and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.  Romans 1:24 – 27. 

God allowed man to dishonor himself through homosexual acts that are contrary to nature, that are shameless, and dishonorable.  Homosexuality is neither natural, nor honorable.  It is detestable in the sight of God, just like any other sin such as lying, stealing, gossip, and others.  Many of these are listed in Romans 1:28 – 32.  This is not an obscure passage, but it is very clear in its meaning, and at the beginning of one of the most well-known books of the Bible.  Hardly obscure.

The Sermon on the Mount is another story for another day, but his misinterpretation is just as bad.  Using the term doesn’t mean that one knows anything about its contents, unfortunately.

Obama, like many other professing Christians in this country, claim adamantly to be a devout Christian, yet hold ideas and views that are clearly contrary to clear Biblical teaching.  No one is perfect, and all Christians do this to some extent, because we are depraved and imperfect human beings.  That said, when the Biblical texts are clear on certain things such as lying, stealing, and homosexuality, then Christians must yield their own views to those of the Bible.  The Holy Scriptures are for Christians God one and only revelation to mankind about everything associated with faith and life.  Yes, faith AND life!  True Christians are not perfect, but they are submissive to the Word of God out of love and devotion and holy reverence.  Much of what the Bible teaches is contrary to the current cultural shift and direction, but Christians are not called to be mirrors of the culture, but to be doers of the Word.  To be Doers of the Word, one first must be thinkers of the Word! 

Christians do not need to judge the world for doing things that are completely in line with the world.  Those who are not followers of Christ only do what is in accordance with their nature.  That is why Christians must not judge the world for doing wrong in one sense, because they are only doing what comes natural to depraved man.  Yes, God put His Word and His law in the hearts of all people, and that is why in the end they will have no excuse when they stand before a Holy God.  However, once one claims to be a follower of Christ, a Christian, then it is required of other Christians to rebuke, correct, encourage, and teach each other in the ways of the Lord.  Once Obama declared himself to be a devout follower of Christ, he automatically opened himself up to judgment by fellow Christians according to the Word of God.  Now, again, this judgment should be done in love.  Rebuke and correction are not to be done in a hateful manner, but done to correct the Christian when his path is obviously contrary to Biblical teaching.  A Christian is by definition under the submission to the authority of God through His Word, and under those of authority around him, including brothers and sisters in Christ. 

When one claims to be a Christian, and holds views that are clearly counter the Word of God, then that person needs to be corrected.  If they submit and repent to the correction, then we can all praise God because the brother or sister has been restored.  However, if they are unrepentant and rebellious, and all other disciplinary action such is stated in the Bible is ineffective, then that person must be put out of the fellowship.  They must be held accountable.  Obama, for instance, by publically holding and professing views counter to Biblical Christianity, is either confused about what it really means to be a Christian, or is blatantly deceitful.  Unfortunately, he is like many others in the visible church that say one thing, and do something or think something else. 

The greater point is this.  I believe that the visible church is in need to strong and Biblical exhortation and teaching that holds Christians accountable to the Word of God.  Many people who profess to be Christians really have no idea what that means.  Most of them do not know the grand overarching story of the Bible, and why Christ had to come, what sin is, and why God will judge those that are unrepentant.  Most people who make silly statements like Obama are, I believe, truly deceived because they have not been taught what Christianity really is.  They have a false notion that Christianity is a social cause, or the gospel is love your neighbor.  I have heard that the gospel is the same as the golden rule.  When pastors and teachers do not teach the Word of God in all of its glory, and perhaps even hold false notions themselves, they breed sheep that may think they are in the fold, when indeed they are outside of it.  This is the case with many in the churches of this country today.  It is sad, and troubling.  Eternity for many is at stake here.  Obama’s comments should be a clarion call not against homosexuality itself or some political cause, but to a greater understanding and call to accountability of Christians to the Bible as the Word of God.