More on Obama’s National Prayer Breakfast Speech

Jacques Berlinbeau, writing at Brainstorm, thinks Obama’s speech at the National Prayer Breakfast was politically savvy, but uncomfortably Christian.

Here is the conclusion to his insightful article:

While the president thankfully steers clear of “Christian Nation” rhetoric there was simply too much of Obama the Christian yesterday.

Come to think of it, the National Prayer Breakfast often has this effect on politicians. Senator Joseph Lieberman, an Orthodox Jew, sprinkled so many references to the gospels at the 48^th National Prayer Breakfast in 2000 that he made George W. Bush look like a desk officer for Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

Obama may earnestly believe that Republican Senator Tom Coburn is his “Brother in Christ.” But such a sentiment sounds odd coming from a president who once reminded his Turkish hosts that ours is not “a Christian nation or a Jewish nation or a Muslim nation,” but  “a nation of citizens who are bound by ideals and a set of values.” 

Such a nation, one would hope, would be led by a person who understands that this type of rhetoric can be deeply troubling to those who don’t believe in Christ. Just as it may offend those Christians who believe that Christ’s teachings tend to become distorted when they are mouthed by the worldly powers that be.

I did not think that there is any tension whatsoever between what Obama told his Turkish guests and what he said yesterday in his speech at the National Day of Prayer.  When Obama told the Turks that the United States was “not a Christian nation,” he was right.  The United States is a nation based on religious freedom As a result, people of all faiths or no faith at all, including a Christian president, can share their beliefs publicly. 

Obama was talking about his personal faith yesterday.  He was not interpreting the first amendment, promoting public policy, or speaking on behalf of the country.  The guy is a Christian.  He was invited to speak at a Christian prayer breakfast.  And he spoke truthfully about how his faith shapes his life.

I hope some day that a Muslim president or Jewish president or Mormon president may have the opportunity to do the same.

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