Obama Twists Scripture to Support His Liberal Works Righteousness Theology

Obama's shameless campaigning was not his most serious lapse in judgment at the National Prayer Breakfast. He twisted Scripture in order to pretend that his socialist policies have something to do with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Laura McInnis, "Jesus's Teaching Inform My Economic Policy, Obama Says" (National Post)
- she reports on Obama's words at the National Prayer Breakfast where he says his liberal Protestant theology guides his actions as president (Is the ACLU listening?)

Money Quote:

U.S. President Barack Obama sought to emphasize his Christian faith on Thursday, telling a key election-year voting bloc that he prays every morning and has crafted elements of his economic policies in line with Jesus’ teachings.

Obama, who rarely goes to church and speaks far less about his religion than his White House predecessors, told about 3,000 people at a National Prayer Breakfast that the challenges facing the United States required him to listen to God, avoid “phony religiosity,” and pursue “bold action” in the face of resistance or indifference.

“I wake up each morning and I say a brief prayer, and I spend a little time in scripture and devotion,” Obama told the annual gathering at a Washington hotel, also saying that pastors periodically stop by the Oval Office, phone him and send emails so they can pray together.

“I don’t stop there. I’d be remiss if I stopped there, if my values were limited to personal moments of prayer or private conversations with pastors or friends,” he said. “I must try to make sure that those values motivate me as one leader of this great nation.”

Tina Korbe, "Biblical Principles Prompted Me to Push for Dodd-Frank and Obamacare" (Hot Air) - she gives Obama a little lesson in exegesis

Money Quote:

"Obama maintained that his call for the wealthiest to give up their tax breaks, he’s doing so out of economic necessity, but also in line with biblical teachings.

“And I think to myself, if I’m willing to give something up as somebody who’s been extraordinarily blessed, and give up some of the tax breaks that I enjoy, I actually think that’s going to make economic sense. But for me as a Christian, it also coincides with Jesus’s teaching that ‘for unto whom much is given, much shall be required,’” Obama said, noting Jewish and Islamic teachings say much the same thing.

It surprises me to encounter the president using this tactic. In the first place, the specific example he cites above is misapplied. When the president establishes a policy direction — and Congress follows it — his decisions don’t just affect him. When he promotes increased taxation of “the rich,” he’s not merely giving up his own tax breaks as he implies — he’s also suggesting the government should be able to force others to pay more in taxes, as well. That’s just obvious — and to say otherwise actually makes the president look more confused than anything. Here, we seem to have an out-of-water Obama who wants very desperately to pander but doesn’t quite know how."

Breanne Howe, "Give Me Your Money in the Name of Jesus" (Red State)
- she continues with the exegesis lesson and makes the important point that Obama's liberal works righteousness theology is more like Islam than Biblical Christianity

Money Quote:

"While Obama may have been correct in saying that government mandated, shared responsibility is equal to the Islamic belief that those who’ve been blessed have an obligation to use those blessings to help others, he is incorrect to group in Jesus’ teaching, “for unto whom much is given, much shall be required.” Aside from the fact that Jesus was discussing requirements from God, not the government, he was actually teaching his disciples that they were stewards of God’s gift of Revelation. Their requirement was to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. It’s the crux of Christianity that Obama seems to miss. Jesus came because we are imperfect. We could never fulfill all the requirements that the pharisees loved to lord over the people. Jesus’ coming ended the rule of law and the began the acceptance that our only way to God was through Him. Yes, Jesus very much emphasized the importance of giving to the poor, but as a reaction in joy to what we’ve been given; not because of a law. Giving out of obligation is not truly giving, it’s merely following the rules."

What is most troubling is the statement that the Christian Gospel is the same as the teachings of Islam and Judaism on good works. This shows that he is a liberal Protestant in the sense of being apostate, not in the relative sense of being "to the left" of someone else. His idea of the Gospel seems to be that we should all do good works and love each other and that if we do then we are Christians.