PRAYER AND THE PRESIDENT

From My Perspective - - -

The Associated Press reported yesterday: “OBAMA PLANS A SCALED BACK NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER. The White House is planning a muted observance of Thursday's National Day of Prayer, a response that has disappointed both Christian conservatives and an atheist group that wants to end the tradition. Congress established the day in 1952 and in 1988 set the first Thursday in May as the day for presidents to issue proclamations asking Americans to pray. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said President Barack Obama would issue such a proclamation Thursday but not hold any public events with religious leaders as President George W. Bush did. Obama's decision drew a rebuke from the National Day of Prayer Task Force, a private group that promotes prayer events around the country. The task force estimates 2 million Americans attended more than 40,000 events marking the day last year. We are disappointed in the lack of participation by the Obama administration, said task force chairwoman Shirley Dobson…At this time in our country's history, we would hope our President would recognize more fully the importance of prayer.” In USA Today, their report included the White House Official’s statement: “President Obama is a committed Christian and believes that we should be engaging Americans of faith in efforts to renew our country, 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."

There was considerable notice given to a statement by President Obama that the USA is no longer “A Christian nation…” Note: In June 2008 (before his election), Candidate Obama stated: “Whatever we once were, we’re no longer a Christian nation. At least not just. We are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, and a Buddhist nation, a Hindu nation and a nation of nonbelievers.” While many would take issue and umbrage (offense; resentment) with that assessment and opinion, nevertheless 69,498,215 Americans voted to elect Barack Obama to be the President of this nation. In NEALZ NEWZ for June 3rd, 2003, the following appears: “For those of you…who are so fond of insisting that the United States is, in some official capacity, a Christian nation, here's an excerpt from Thomas Jefferson's autobiography:

• The bill for establishing religious freedom, the principles of which had, to a certain degree, been enacted before, I had drawn in all the latitude of reason and right. It still met with opposition; but, with some mutilations in the preamble, it was finally passed; and a singular proposition proved that it's protection of opinion was meant to be universal. Where the preamble declares that coercion is a departure from the plan of the holy author of our religion, an amendment was proposed, by inserting the word Jesus Christ, so that it should read a departure from the plan of Jesus Christ, the holy author of our religion. The insertion was rejected by a great majority, in proof that they meant to comprehend, within the mantle of it's protection, the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and…infidel of every denomination.

Most of the people who would benefit from this Jeffersonian thought will be unable to understand it.”

Consider these things with me - - - Even though this President may not choose to be involved in a public National Day of Prayer event, we are still responsible and obligated to pray for him and his cabinet; to pray for all government leaders regardless of their political affiliation; to pray for all who have authority. To a persecuted people, the Apostle Peter wrote (I PETER 2:16-17): “Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, HONOR THE KING.” In a similar and extended way, the Apostle Paul wrote (I TIMOTHY 2:1-4): “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, PRAYERS, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone -- FOR KINGS (PRESIDENTS) AND ALL THOSE IN AUTHORITY, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” Be thankful we continue to have the privilege of prayer for such a time as this – use it effectively!