What Obama Communicates about God

On this inauguration day, spirits are high. Polarizing rhetoric takes a break. Our country's first African-American is inaugurated as President. Truly historic stuff, and I will be watching with great attention. And surely President Obama will have great expectations thrust upon him- some might say godlike expectations. Interestingly, I've come across two pieces this week that insinuate as much. Or rather, they both note that Barack Obama says something about God.

This article in Time notes how African-Americans (James Earl Jones, Martin Luther King Jr., etc.) have taken their place in the American consciousness as THE authoritative voice, almost the voice of God. And in a way, Obama takes on the "voice of God" as a great orator.

Plenty of white or white-sounding actors could say "THIS [pause] is CNN" as well as Jones. Most people who have heard that phrase a hundred times don't know whose voice it is and — unless the question is raised specifically — they aren't even consciously aware that the person is black. They relate to the voice on a subconscious level, and they associate it with power and authority...When God turned into an African American, it became less unthinkable that the President might be African American as well.

On the complete opposite side of this view of God, John Piper claims Obama to make Christ a minister of damnation. That's because Obama openly used Gene Robinson (first openly practicing homosexual priest in the Episcopal church) to give the invocation to the opening inaugural ceremonies on Sunday. By openly promoting Robinson, Piper asserts, Obama is acknowledging and promoting sin in supposed "leaders" of the Christian faith.

On a proud day like today, it might be prudent to ask who our God really is, and how he's different from all leaders that have gone before and all that will come in the future. Are some leaders better than others? Yes. But do any come close to the virtue of the character of God? No (none of us do). Let us never forget that politicians make political decisions, despite how they may inspire us or motivate us to greater good.