Hello World,
When is enough enough? A new president of this country will be elected on Nov. 8, but some politicians still feel the need to covertly or not so covertly condemn President Obama. On Friday, Sen. David Perdue of Georgia reportedly began his speech at the Faith & Freedom Coalition’s Road to Majority conference by encouraging those in the audience to pray for President Obama by quoting Psalm 109:8 to the laughter of the audience. This verse reads, “May his days be few; May another take his place of leadership.” Citing this verse may seem innocuous until you read the rest of Psalm 109. The chapter is somewhat lengthy, but here are the next two verses. ” May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow. May his children be wandering beggars; may they be driven[from their ruined homes.”
Whoa! Of course, his words caused a media firestorm once the implication of using this particular verse was scrutinized. In a Daily Beast article written by Betsy Woodruff, she referred to a November 16, 2009 Christian Science Monitor article in which the use of Psalm 109:8 on bumper stickers in reference to President Obama was explored. Perdue addressed the criticism through his spokesperson with the following statement according to Woodruff’s article:
“Senator Perdue said we are called to pray for our country, for our leaders, and for our president. He in no way wishes harm towards our president and everyone in the room understood that. However, we should add the media to our prayer list because they are pushing a narrative to create controversy and that is exactly what the American people are tired of.”
I find it hard to believe that Perdue meant to openly express Psalm 109:8 but not imply the rest of the passage, particularly since this verse has been used to “pray” for Obama since 2009. So no one has bothered to read the rest of the passage since then and realize the rest of the passage is not the most Christian way to pray for those in power? Also, this particular Faith & Freedom Coalition’s Road to Majority conference is not the first time that President Obama has been the butt of jokes at the conference. In 2014, President Obama showed up in the most unlikely way at the The Faith and Freedom Coalition’s Road to Majority Conference. According to TIME Magazine, “small figurines of Obama’s head, first spotted by the Huffington Post‘s Igor Bobic, were placed inside the urinals in the men’s restroom outside the conference hall.” One has to wonder what faith these attendees have if they allowed such a degrading depiction of our nation’s president to be a part of the conference?
Adam Jentleson, a spokesman for Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) wisely noted in a tweet that Perdue’s “prayer” is why the Republican party now has to contend with Donald Trump, according to thehill.com. “On stage next, did [Senate Majority Leader Mitch] McConnell [R-Ky.] condemn Perdue’s prayer for Obama to die? Of course not. This is why they have Trump.”
Now, I do not think that any political party is above criticism and I don’t believe that God is either a Republican or Democrat, but if you call yourself a Christian, which is above any allegiance to a political party by the way, your behavior should be governed by all of the words of the Bible and not a select few. So here are a few verses for Senator Perdue and others who pray Psalm 109:8 for President Obama, who again will be leaving the presidency in less than a year.
“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:7-9
And by all means, read the rest of the chapter for context!
Throughout President Obama’s presidency, all manner of dissension and disrespect was sown by certain politicians and Donald Trump is the robust harvest of those seeds!
I don’t know who will be elected on Nov. 8, but here are two more passages that we should consider no matter who God allows to be elected…
“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings 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.” 1 Timothy 2:1-3
“For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.” Romans 13:3-4
Any thoughts?