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Subscribe to RSSUpdated Wednesday at 10:25 a.m. ET: Here is the full statement from Franklin Graham apologizing for remarks he made questioning the faith of President Barack Obama:
I regret any comments I have ever made which may have cast any doubt on the personal faith of our president, Mr. Obama. The president has said he is a Christian and I accept that (and have said so publicly on many occasions). I apologize to him and to any I have offended for not better articulating my reason for not supporting him in this election—for his faith has nothing to do with my consideration of him as a candidate.
The Rev. Franklin Graham joins Morning Joe to discuss if the president is or is not a Christian.
In fact, Article VI of our Constitution strictly prohibits any religious test for public office. I believe we should consider a candidate’s values and competence above anything else when considering whom to support for public office. I even reject the idea that we should only vote for a candidate of our own particular faith, for oftentimes that is not an available option.
My objection to President Obama is built on his policy positions on a number of important moral issues, and not on his religion or faith. For example, I believe his positions on abortion and on traditional marriage are in direct conflict with God’s standards as set forth in Scripture. I have determined I cannot and will not vote for him or any candidate in either party whose policy positions on such critical issues violate biblical truths and standards.
My views here are not biased according to political party or religion. For example, I would support a pro-life Democrat over a pro-choice Republican at any level. I would support a Mormon or a Jew who supported the defense of marriage defined as being between a man and a woman over a Southern Baptist or Presbyterian who did not.
In this election season and challenging economic time I am praying for our country and for those who lead it—for we are commanded in Scripture to do so. I am also praying that our nation will return to the God of our fathers and will look to His Son, Jesus Christ as the only real answer to life’s problems and hurts.
Previous story: The Rev. Franklin Graham, the son of evangelist Billy Graham, on Tuesday apologized to President Barack Obama for questioning his Christian faith, Religion News Service reported.
"I regret any comments I have ever made which may have cast any doubt on the personal faith of our president, Mr. Obama," Graham said in a statement, according to Religion News Service.
"I apologize to him and to any I have offended for not better articulating my reason for not supporting him in this election -- for his faith has nothing to do with my consideration of him as a candidate."
Graham, a prominent evangelical leader in his own right and CEO of the international relief organization Samaritan’s Purse, had taken heat from black religious leaders and others for saying he did not know whether Obama is a Christian.
On a panel on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” show on Feb. 21, Graham was asked if he believes Obama is a Christian.
“I think you have to ask President Obama,” Graham responded.
“You have to ask him. I cannot answer that question for anybody. All I know is that I’m a sinner, and that God has forgiven me of my sins because I’ve put my faith in … Jesus Christ," Graham said.
He added that because Obama's father was a Muslim, "under Islamic law, the Muslim world sees Barack Obama as a Muslim." And he said that he was confident that Republican Rick Santorum is a Christian.
The NAACP accused Graham of trying to “use faith as a political weapon.”
“Rev. Graham also seemed to imply that the president may be a Muslim, despite the fact that the president has repeatedly expressed his faith and belief in Jesus Christ,” the NAACP said. “By his statements, Rev. Graham seems to be aligning himself with those who use faith as a weapon of political division. These kinds of comments could have enormous negative effects for America and are especially harmful to the Christian witness."
You can read the full Religion News Service story here. And our previous story on Graham's comments on Obama is here.
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People have been giving Franklin Graham the benefit of the doubt about his religion for many years. After all, we have no evidence other than a person's own testimony that they are a believer, whatever their religion. His comments about President Obama were completely out of line.
Barack Obama decided to choose the Christian faith as an adult and in that respect might know why he believes what he believes more than someone whose faith is the result of childhood brainwashing by adults who tell their children that if they don't believe in impossible events such as immaculate conception and resurrection that they will go to hell and be denied eternal life.
I've got nothing against God, its just some of his Fan club i can't stand....amen
Rw
That is a lot like what Ghandi said ..... " I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. YourChristians are so unlike your Christ. Mohandas Gandhi."
I think he said, "I like your Christ but not your Christians-- they are so unlike your Christ."
Also, when asked what he thought of western civilization, Gandhi said he thought it would be a very good idea.
I've got nothing against "god" either Evans, but then, I've got nothing against Shrek, Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd, Homer Simpson or any other fictional character for that matter.
The Rev. Franklin Graham, the son of evangelist Billy Graham, on Tuesday apologized to President Barack Obama for questioning his Christian faith, Religion News Service reported
And we DO NOT believe your apology to be honest or sincere. It's just PR, so your donations keep on coming. Nice Christians you are!
Lord, protect me from your followers.
There seems to be allot of apologizing flying around Washington lately ....
Franklin Graham is only famous because of his father, Billy Graham, who earned the respect of not only Christians but people of all faiths and even some who are agnostic. I regret to say I do not respect Franklin Graham and I question the sincerity of his apology to President Obama. When will people learn to keep religion and faith separate from politics and government? The two should not be mixed any more than baking soda and water.
I never heard of Franklin Graham before.....but I recall that his father used to use the same sick tactics...throw out inflammatory and untruthful comments to create damage, then when confronted with facts you deny them,say you are sorry to a much smaller audience....a typical Evangelical trick pulled also by Oral(sex) Roberts and Jimmy Swaggert, and (sicko) Pat Robertson etc.
And yet as a Christian, as a follower of Christ, all these things are exactly what President Obama professes to believe.
I'm surprised that some people aren't speculating that President Obama may actually be a "brother from another planet" -- an interterrestial, x-files style.
Personally, I don't care what religion anybody is. Why? Because this is not a THEOCRACY folks! And thank goodness. Those who flaunt their Christianity have said some of the most hateful things I've heard in a long time.
Billy Graham was a judgmental anti-Semite. This apple didn't fall far from the tree.
i have a question, why president obama did not support Christians minority in the middle east , we sent him a petition to ask him to say in his union speech of supporting Christians minority in the middle east which he did not said in his last speech union, why president Obama bowed to the king Saudi and he is the powerful president in the whole world and I do not want to hear that word respect, respect comes from two president bow to each other not one bow to the other, this is call dominating., In Egypt, why president Obama supported evil Muslim brotherhood in the middle east, what kind of democracy he is talking about from Muslim brother hood dominate the whole middle east which they hate non Muslims and abusing them in general, kidnapping their Christians teenage girls and convert them to Muslims and beside destroying their business and killing them, if this a politics , i call politics is evil.
jkatze...you may want to read Reverend (Billy) Graham's autobiography. He is hardly judgmental or an anti-Semite. His entire ministry is based solely on the love of Christ for all men and God's desire for them to be saved through Jesus.
Beware of anyone....ANYONE!...who makes his or her living selling God to the faithful.
Franklin Graham received media attention by issuing snide innuendos, and now he once again gets air time by apologizing for what he previously said. He is a liar and a fraud. But he'll probably make a very comfortable living.
franklin graham is good person and he said the truth and he did not lie in any word he said, and if you do not like his statement, you entitle to your opinion
knock
Yes, everyone is entitled to their opinion. Sometimes a person's opinion is tainted by bigotry and ignorance. Mr. Graham has apologized and we should all move on. He has destroyed his credibility and good name. He has alot of work to do.
Must have seen a drone flying over his house and had second thoughts.
So far all the comments appear to be lame. I doubt Obama is a Christian or an American. And nothing I have seen indicates such. No interviews with anybody that knew him or his family ever. He just appeared out of nowhere said he was and every believed him. The press really let us down on this.
Damn rogerd, you caught him. You know Obama's secret -- he's Andorian!
What if he is? Do you believe in the Constitution---separation of chuch and state; FREEDOM of religion. But, he is a christian. You are as bad as Franklin Graham.
I have never seen separation of church and state in the Constitution, but, maybe I havent read it enough. Obama (because I gag if I give him the title of President) is not going to give his atta boys to anyone except himself. What a joke. I grew up listening to Billy Graham and have alot of respect for him. While I dont deny anyone the freedom of religion, at least be honest about what you believe instead of lying to a whole nation.
Rogerd: Are you kidding? If you don't believe that Barack Obama was the most investigated, vetted, checked-out, checked-over, examined, inspected, looked-into, looked-over, probed, researched, reviewed, scrutinized, studied candidate in the history of the United States, you really don't understand how things work here. HE'S A BLACK MAN. WHO WANTED TO LIVE IN THE BIG WHITE HOUSE. IN A COUNTRY FILLED WITH HATE AND RACISM.
Wiz -- if that was aimed at me, I apologize for not hitting the sarcasm button. But dude, you really need to catch up on your Star Trek!
tlang -- How ridiculous. Do you have some kind of inside track to the White House so you know that Obama has been hiding a secret religion for years? Seems to me he would have made a slip up by now and, as scrutinized as he is, he would have certainly been caught. Besides, once a Muslim has said they are not Muslim, then they aren't.
How about starting with I apologize for ever trying to use my pulpit and religion and the followers of my religion to influence politics? How about you and your church and your so called tax exempt phoney aid organization start paying taxes? When will we as Americans wake up and quit allowing churches to claim tax exempt status and all the while allow them to influence elections they have made it very clear they are political institutions and no better example than rick santorum. I am sick and tired of them having their cake and eating it to. I may not agree with your religion and you may not agree with mine but we both have a right to worship as we see fit. But when you step into politics and try to influence the vote for or against a candidate based on or using your religion you are stepping on my rights and everyone else to equal representation under the law and freedom from a state recognized religion. Start taxing any and all churches who's preachers priests ministers reverends clergy of any kind or laymen that speak for the church speak on the subject of politics. Are you a church or are you a 501 c? Being a church they get away with direct violations of the election laws that other political organizations have to follow to keep their tax exemption. It may be the law of the land but it is one that needs to change.
Oh bother, here we go with the "founding father's wanted this to be a Christian country" crap...
James Madison...
"Strongly guarded is the separation of religion and government in the Consitution."
"Religion and government will both exist in greater purity, the less they are mixed together."
Ben Franklin...
"I have found Christian dogma to be unintelligible."
Thomas Jefferson...
"I contemplate with solemn reverance the act of the American people which declared that their legislature 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof' thus building a wall of separation between church and state."
And, my personal favorite, from the Treaty of Tripoli, written by John Adams, and ratified by congress...
"The United States was, in no sense, founded on the Christian religion."
Banning a Nativity scene outside a court house, in NO WAY, infringes on your free practice thereof. You're more than welcome to post Nativity scenes all over your private property, be it residential or business. However, since the court is government property, ran by the government, owned by the government, paid for by the government, and cared for by the government...
And don't even give me that 10th Amendment, Mike Huckabee, crap. The 14th amendment applied the Bill of Rights to the states. Ergo, the 1st amendment to the states. Argument that the 10th gives the states the right to name a religion would of been valid in, oh 1860 or earlier. In fact, the 14th basically makes the 10th almost null and void. An issue regarding the 10th hasn't even come before SCOTUS since the '60's when they tried to use it to stop desegregation.
The founding fathers may have had religion in their PERSONAL lives, but they did not want it in the public realm. And yes, some of you are right, they didn't want NO religion held above ANY religion, but than you have to ask yourself, what does government neutrality pertaining to religion look like?
It looks like nothing! And, as we've said a gazillion times, nothing doesn't equal something.
I got a cool word for you guys. "Taqiyya" -Google it. Politics are no longer just politics when a religious institution is threatening to overtake western society and making good on their threats. I am only sorry that Mr. Graham is apologizing for saying what is on his heart and mind. Obama has proven himself a liar and an enemy of this country and if you believe him you have proved yourself gullible as hell. By the way, Obama's Kenyan Birth Certificate looks just as real as his U.S. Birth Certificate. In fact, it looks better because it doesn't have all those pesky problems like using a hospital name that didn't exist yet or being chronologically out of order with other births of the time. Oh and Kenya didn't assign him a Social Security number from a state he never lived in either. You should read his book "Dreams From My Father". It lists all the ways in which Obama wishes to change America into a Socialist/ Marxist Society and more than a hint toward his acceptance of his Muslim father's religion. YOUR President is a liar, a criminal, an illegal alien and Muslim.
Oh my! Liars, and illegals, and Muslims, oh my!
And you, my friend, are paranoid.
AlienMartian
Ah yes! The great deception. Tell me, is Keith Ellison also a deceiver, liar, criminal, illegal alien? Also, I noticed that you stated "YOUR" PRESIDENT.... Are you an American?
God hates Jews, Christians and Muslims equally ... get over it, you are all in the same sinking boat of Dogma.
ideologyspoilstheview
I thought god was love for all mankind. Is that not true? That's what the so called christian right keeps telling us.
Mike-2260639
Mike, show me a day when the above mentioned three are not out there killing each other all the while singing `let the light from Your lighthouse shine on me.` I do not believe He is particularly happy with His spawn.
If you have the hubris to think that God is on your side, then He is definitely not.
ideologyspoilstheview
Well, I can't deny that. But I also can't condemn them all because not ALL of them do it. I think the Creator should separate the "wheat from the chaff" so to speak. Until he does, we'll have to do it ourselves. It's a life-long endeavor.
Come on Alien. All this foolish talk about birth certificate nonsense is hurting the Republican Party. You have some of the most respected members of the party saying please cut the rhetoric. It comes off very racist and ignorant.
Ideology,
If there is a God, I'm guessing what he does love, is a good dirty martini with some blue cheese olives. Who wouldn't have to hit the sauce after hearing all the crap that people say "for" him?
Mike-2260639
Who is more guilty, the person who pulls the the trigger or the person who watches silently?
I would have to say the shooter is more guilty. However, the watchers are complicate and should be punished as well.
Sarah-3043284
The Exalted One is hanging out at some bar with the likes of Henry Miller and Oscar Wilde ... the Marquis de Sade, etc.
Bottom line: Some folks just cannot accept the fact that this country actually has a black president, so they have to convince themselves that he is not an American and not Christian.
And so freaking what if he weren't Christian? Why do we have such a sick obsession with religion in this country?
Tina,
Yes, yes we do.
Mike-2260639
It is silence in the face of transgression that is most guilty ... it absolves the shooter from guilt in his mind and hence we have an Holocaust.
Can't believe people haven't read at least The First Amendment. I know the words may be old and complicated for some or just plain boring but it's still a good thing to read them all.
Freedom to practice any religion by the way is what it's all about, not the freedom to cram your religion down anyone's throat.
The First Amendment (Amendment I) to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights. The amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceably assemble or prohibiting the petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances.
rogerd,
RE: your post #1.19
My friend, YOU are the one who 'appeared' out of nowhere! Obama's life can be documented IF you take 5 minutes to google his name. I know you can do that boy! Give it a try!
http://www.biography.com/people/barack-obama-12782369
http://www.barack-obama-timeline.com/
http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/presidents-day/barack-obama/timeline.html
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2007/12/29/us/politics/20071229_OBAMA_TIMELINE.html
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2008/08/the_lives_of_barack_obama.html
If you want more and more and more just keep digging -- IT IS ALL THERE FOR FREE, IF YOU LOOK!
http://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/feb/23/obamas-pseudo-religion/
knock: you do know the Washington Times is an ultra-rightwing paper owned by the Moonies, don't you? Not exactly a credible source of information on religion.
Still, thaa't better than Fox, Rush or Bill o'.... best I can tell is they just make stuff up (fresh "news entertainment" - manufactured for you daily to fit the mood).
Finally - One can only hope that Rush exhausted his 15 minutes of Shame (Fame). With a few more complaints, dropped advertisers, he can follow Gleen Beck to the Isle of Irrelevance... one can "oinky" hope,... oinky hope, oinky... hope?
Let's see the President wants to promote the education of our children, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, provide shelter for the homeless, see to it that there is adequate healthcare for all people, is against bigotry and racism, seeks peace in the world without turning to bombing women and children first . . . and mr Graham questions the faith of the President - but he supports candidates who give to the rich, the powerful and those who big fat mouths even more? And they want to go to war? I think Mr Graham it is your faith that ought to be questioned.
yeaahhhh.......remember when he supported The Donald? i used to support Samaritan's Purse (donations), my family went to Africa as medical volunteers thru Samaritan's Purse, self-financed. when i found out that a few yrs back Graham was paid 1.2 mil (yup, 1.2 mil.....this was verified by Charity Navigator) betw SP and his father's evangelical association i cut all ties to the organization and Graham.
i am of a Buddhist father, but i chose Christianity. A Christian is defined simply as one who follows Christ, has The Franklin forgotten that?
For a minute thought you were talking about Obama.
Could not be said any better tregun. I am increasingly tired of all these fake Christians who only see religion as a business, only seek fame and power and manipulate people into believing that they are people of God. I'm sure there will be a special "reward" for them in the next world.
These people believe that Jesus will physically return to earth. Remembering that their Savior was a very simple man who owned nothing and dealt primarily with the poor, I wonder if they sincerely think Jesus is going to hang out with the chauffeured crowd with suits or costumes that cost thousands of dollars. Franklin, your Jesus did not own a home, you think he'll be comfy in your multimillion dollar home?
glenda: human nature hasn't changed in 2000 years. If Jesus does physically return to earth, surely we'll kill him again, just like we did the first time.
If Christ were here there is one thing he would not be--a Christian.
- Mark Twain's Notebook
There has been only one Christian. They caught him and crucified him--early.
- Mark Twain' Notebook, 1898
"It ain´t the parts of the Bible that I can´t understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand."
Mark Twain
"I bring you this stately matron named Christendom, returning bedraggled, besmirched, and dishonored from pirate raids in Kiao-Chow, Manchuria, South Africa, and the Phillipines, with her soul full of meanness, her pocket full of boodle, and her mouth full of pious hypocrisies. Give her soap and a towel, but hide the looking-glass."
Mark Twain
"Loyalty to a petrified opinion never yet broke a chain or freed a human soul."
Mark Twain
"Christianity will doubtless still survive in the earth ten centuries hence- stuffed and in a museum."
Mark Twain
fubo: You might like Kierkegaard's Attack Upon Christendom.
Precisely! The fear mongers are the ones on the right who keep trying to make all sorts of egregious claims about the president and surely don't live up to the ten commandments they want to have posted everywhere there are public buildings..
Man, Clemens was a genius...
Clemens a genius? Not if he didn't know Jesus is an observant Jew.
I think you're missing the entire concept of satire, Katze...
SOunds like the actions of a Muslim to me... and what's wrong with that? Besides why does anybody aplogize for exercising free speech. Get a grip America and a thicker skin. All any of these people who feel insulted are attempting to do is stifle free speech. This is what a communist country looks like. If Obama doesn't want to have a god that's fine. He didn't get elected Preacher-in-chief.
JeromeM: Nobody has to apologize for exercising free speech. But that nobody was behaving like a hypocrite with his comments. As someone above said, it's all about the money and donations, so Graham saw the light and made the decision to apologize. It's okay, tho; none of us believe the apology was genuine.
The rest of your comment is garbage. But you have the right to say it.
DeboraH, You have right to say that Mr. Graham's apology was no genuine, you don't know him. You are being judgemental and that is garbage.
Promote the education of our children by issuing waivers to states for the No Child Left Behind Legislation and lowering test scores so more of them have to do even less to be mediocre. Feed the Hungry by forcing those of us who have jobs, don't defraud the government and pay taxes to pay for the groceries of those who do not. He seeks peace by enacting war in Libya without ever going before Congress and abusing Presidential War Powers like no President before him. He is against racism and Bigotry as long as you are not a God fearing White Christian. He believes it is the responsibility of those citizens who work hard for the betterment of their families to work even harder for the betterment of everyone, despite the millions of able bodied men and women currently on perpetual welfare programs, abusing drugs and reproducing without the ability to care for their young. It is a FACT that Republicans donate more money to charity than democrats and always has been. It was the Democratic National Convention that created the KKK. Martin Luther King Jr and Abraham Lincoln were both Republicans and Democrats like to lie and say that the "Parties swapped" somewhere in the 60's, which is ridiculous. Welfare and social programs are methods used to control citizens. Welfare is nothing more than the latest form of slavery. It is specifically designed to keep people defendant upon it while masquerading as helping them...All so you vote "Democrat" at the voting booth. Republicans want nothing more than less government involvement in every day life, Personal responsibility, and social programs ONLY for those who actually need it like the disabled, elderly and those who have fallen on rough times UNTIL THEY CAN BECOME SELF SUFFICIENT. Unemployment was designed specifically for this, making Welfare a useless tool of socialism and government control. To vote Democrat is a vote for ignorance.
Since the only two issues that seem to have any significance for Graham and the "Christian" Right are abortion and homosexuality, doesn't it seem a little odd that Jesus, at least in His recorded words, never mentioned either topic??? Not saying He would have endorsed either but just noting. While there is plenty in the Bible on homosexuality, I have been unable to locate any direct reference to abortion with the possible exception of Jesus' comment that it would have been better for him if Judas had never been born.
Bull buster...sorry to make your point invalid but there is plenty mentioned in the Bible about the sanctity of life. God deems all life as precious (as a matter of fact He created all of it). The Bible tells us about Him knitting us in our mother's womb...don't you find that interesting that MANY years before anyone would have known how we were connected in our mothers womb it was written?? Coincidence...no, God formed us and He knew us before we were born. That is amazing and we should nevr do away with something so precious as unborn life.
thefabf: "MANY years before anyone whold have known how we were connected in our mother[']s womb"? Anyone who has ever witnessed a birth knows about the umbilical chord and the placenta; it was never a mystery. And I see no evidence that I was knitted together at any point.
Explain why all men have a seem from their ass to the tip of their.....
looks like it was knitted together to me...lol.
The anatomical name for it is "rafe" which is indeed Greek for "seam." It's presence is the result of the fact that, as a male embryo develops, the urethra is originally "outside the body" which grows around it and seals at the edges.
Hollow words from hollow man!!!
I do not care for this man Franklin. He Gives Christians a terrible, terrible name..
'Christians' give themselves a terrible name; this one is just a lot more public with it. I used to think I was a Christian, but now I'm not so sure. My beliefs have not changed, but 'Christain' seems to have a different meaning these days.
Look at obama's fruit. You can make a decision on his faith by his fruit. No fruit no faith.
What??????
don97524, I think Philip is saying Obama is "nuts" or a "fruit basket" either way he is correct.
Dave, Don, let's all thank God for President Obama. Our country turning into a theocracy would be a terrible thing.
The "fruit" that Obama's presidency has born now includes: saving the US automobile industry from extinction and returning it to profitability; withdrawing US troops from Iraq; managing the Arab Spring pretty well; extending unemployment benefits for workers who have lost their jobs in the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression; getting the Senate to ratify an arms reduction treaty; bringing the Dow-Jones average up 5000 points from its low under G W Bush; repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell; helping to oust Qadaffi; offing bin Laden and al-Awlaki; eliminating ridiculous superstition based restrictions on stem cell research; deporting more illegal immigrants in three years than G W Bush did in eight; turning an economy that was bleeding jobs into one that is (still far too slowly) adding them. That's pretty good fruit there.
Matthew 7: 15-20, in case you want to know what Philip's talking about
Personally, I think it's great advice. Too many people judge based on a person's word and not their works (fruits).
y'all might say you hate Obama, but right now, he's the only thing between you and a Theocracy that wants to take over America and destroy it from the inside out. I suggest that unless you want a President that is going to push his so-called beliefs on you that you ride out Obama's second administration. I can tell you this about Rick Santorum, he did not EVER act this ultra-religious when he was running for any office in Pennsylvania, and when he was in office in PA, they kicked his carcass out because he mucked up so royally. Go look at his past offices in Pennsylvania. I'm not sure which bothers me more, his act of being ultra-religious to get the votes, or his attacks on someone just because he's a different party.
the headline read "evangelist apologies for questioning obamas faith" before I clicked it I thought they were talking about Rick Santorum
I do not think that Mr. Graham should be apologizing. The Holy Spirit speaking thru the Apostle Paul stated there would come in those days wolves in amongst you that would try and lead you astray. Wolves, in the form of Christain leaders and false apostles, would come in to decieve you. Do not be lead astray. Obama is no more a Christian than Satan his father is.
And you know this how?
What an idiotic comments RJW.
Sad to see the crazy is still so prevalent in USA.
Right, false leaders...like the prior "christian" presidents that have lead to thousands of dead Americans. They lead us astray, but thank GOD we have Obama here, a real christian.
The father of the President of the United States is Satan? This is a new low in discourse.
RWJ please remember that to be a Christian you only have to prove it to GOD not to everyone else and by the deeds you do in your life. With that being said ONLY Obama can say that he is a Christian and ONLY Obama will know in his heart that he is a true Christian. Also, another thing to remember is that as a Christian YOU are not supposed to JUDGE! There will come a time when you are dead and gone that God will ask you why you made this comment, because everything you do is written in the book of life, and you will not have a CHRISTIAN answer. Why on God's green Earth would you risk your SOUL in order to make someone look bad is beyond me but hey do as you will I can not stop you. Just remember that every action has a consequence and some consequences can be avoided by pausing one minute and thinking about what you are about to say about your fellow brothers and sisters. By speaking without thinking is the devil's way and even though it is a whole lot easier to go this route it is still wrong and evil in God's eyes.
Seems obvious that Graham is the wolf posing to take advantage of these sheep who cant or won't think for themselves. To take advantage of people, and in the "name of Jesus" must be the worst sin of all. He's just a con man who never has to pay taxes because he's considered a "religious group." Republican politicians seem to be the worst about this. They claim to be christian to get votes. None of them walk the walk or do as the bible teaches. Remember- "the meek shall inherit the earth" the Bible
He should NOT have been making those comments in the first place.
Why not speak the way you feel. Don't be a liar like Obama, speak the truth..
It's our own fault for putting a Muslim in the White House.
Why? When you speak "what you feel" , you end up doing exactly what this evangelist is doing.
T
Nibor,
It's our own fault for letting uneducated poops like yourself blog freely on the internet.
Obama is a Christian. Read up.
Obama came to faith and was a member of a UCC congregation for 20 years. The UCC is a combination of Congregationalists, Christians, German Evangelical and German Reformed. The UCC is a mainline denomination that believes in freedom of religion, separation of church and state, and seeking justice for the oppressed of society. The great UCC/German Evangelical theologian was Reinhold Neibuhr - spiritual advisor to FDR and according to Time Magazine the most influential man of the first half of the 20th century.
In the UCC, churches are responsible for their own ministries and witness. Which means that some churches choose ministry to AIDS sufferers, African Americans, Immigrants, the poor, homosexuals and etc. Obama's church, focused on ministry to African Americans in the inner city, and from time to time, gave voice to the suffering of a people treated unjustly by the nation in which they live.
Unfortunately, Obama's pastor handled his 15 minutes of fame very poorly, and so Obama was forced to sever his connection to his church.
Obama's attempts to provide health care for all, to support women's issues, immigrants, regrow the middle class, respect other people's religious traditions, and even seek to dialogue with his enemies, is a reflection of his Christian faith and his religious tradition. He truly believes he is a president for all Americans, and is seeking to do the best he can for all Americans - even when they don't agree with him.
In God's word it says we will know them by their fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. If Anyone can call themselves a Christian and their fruit does not bear witness to their salvation through Jesus Christ then there are questions one should ask themselves.
One can go to a church, call themselves a Christian never knowing Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Being a Christian is acknowledging Jesus as the Only begotten son of God who came here to this earth, born of a virgin and died for the sins of all humans. Once you acknowledge that you are a sinner and ask Jesus to forgive your sins and Save you, your life will truly be different and Jesus will begin to create in you a new creation within you. You will turn from your old ways and seek Jesus guidance in your life, you will be different. Not perfect, different
I don't know if Obama is a Christian or not. I don't like that he bows before the muslim god. A man who follows Jesus Christ (the God of all creation, the only God (as God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are one)) cannot bow to the muslim god.
Jesus says: "I am the way the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father except by me" Luke
Debora: When did you see our President bow before the muslim god? By the way, the Bible spells your name with an H at the end. Change it, or god won't know you're a christian.
DeboraH, if you would look it up you will see that when he visited a muslim country Obama did bow before their god. It was all over the news. Just one more piece of information, the muslim god is not the God of all creation because they don't believe that Jesus Christ is Immanuel. (God with us)
The God of all creation doesn't care how I spell my name. There is more than one way to spell all of the names people give their children.
Debora can you please post a link to a page showing a photograph of Obama bowing to Allah? And, btw, the God of the Jews, the Christians, and the Muslims is the same God; they just believe different details about what He did and what happened after about 5 BC. Just fyi.
@dslsca No, The God of the Bible is not the same god the muslims serve. If you don't believe Jesus is the Son of God then you serve a man made god.
doulos63, I don't see anywhere in the UCC beliefs that you must be saved to go to heaven. This is definitely not a Bible following organization.
Who gives a rat's ass if he DID bow before the Muslim god, anyway?
Don't people have anything better to do than worry about someone's religion?
Debora: the God of the Old Testament is the same as Allah. If you don't know that, then you're worshipping some other God.
Tina-293371
You forget! This is America post 2010. It's time for fascism to take hold in our once free country. The fascist right is firing all guns in all directions like the last moments of the Bismark before being sunk by the British fleet.
I am most distrubed by the fact that Dr. F. Graham did not stand firm about what he belives. I am not to judge if President Obma is Christian or not. I just know that the Bible says by their works you shall know them. On thing he has done is refuse to proclam a Christian day of prayer but shortly after declaired a Muslem day of prayer and prayed at Muslem prayers. The Bible says you can not serve 2 masters. So I think he may have shown who he worships. As for God being a God of love it is true HE SENT HIS ONLY SON TO SAVE THE WORLD HE LOVED.
Polly: you really need to check your facts. President Obama has proclaimed and participated in the National Day of Prayer every year he's been president just as his predecessors did. Just because some rightwing website or email mill has told you otherwise, doesn't make it true.
Mormons Latter day Saints, seem to say, much like Muslims - that Jesus was merely a magician, who was a prophet - like many before and many who have come after. Not the son of God as the bible claims.
What say you?
Beow: I say I wasn't there then and would have been statistically unlikely to have seen for myself even if I had lived then and that none of the documents from the period are historically reliable (as, for instance, the Gospels were all composed after 90 AD--two whole generations after Jesus' death-- and were written as proselytizing documents, to convince people to convert, and thus not as "historical" or "journalistic" accounts of events; and Paul's letters, though chronologically earlier, are suspect as he never met Jesus, feuded constantly with those in Jerusalem, like Peter and James, who had known Him as they thought Paul was distorting Jesus' teachings, as Paul admits that those close to him doubted his sanity, and Paul's preaching is very much like what he already thought before his Damascus Road conversion). So what I say is that I have absolutely no way of knowing.
There is only ONE GOD, He is the God of all times. No one can serve the God of the Old Testiment and not serve the same God who is of the New Testiment, Jesus Christ.
Jesus is the Only Son of God no matter what the mormons say. The mormons don't really understand what they believe because their books continue to change. If they would throw away the book Joseph Smith wrote and read only the Bible they would understand that Smith lied to them. Jesus said no man would see him again; once he assended into heaven, until He came to claim His own in the last days. Smith Lied and his followers still lie. Smith says Jesus came down and talked to him personally. NOT The mormons also take a death oath if they ever reveal what they have seen in the "temple". I know all of this because I have friends who came out of that mess.
Jesus is the only begotten Son of God not a magician.
Debora: I don't know the Mormon story well enough to have an opinion. I like and respect the admittedly few Mormons I personally have known. Theologians of all stripes are pretty well agreeed that the God of the Old Testament and Allah are one and the same; somehow I suspect they've given more study and thought to the matter than you have. You write, "Smith says Jesus came down and talked to him personally" and you characterize that as a lie. Assuming you are correct in reporting his claim, I'm not sure I see why that bothers you. G W Bush made the same claim (i.e., that God wanted him to be president and told him to invade Iraq) and no one seemed to bat an eyelash about that. Billy Graham (the father of the subject of this thread) said last year that God had personally assured him he would live through the year; no one batted an eyelash about that either. I don't wish to cast aspersions on those who claim to be the recipients of God's communications. IF (and I capitalize the if because I have no way of knowing whether what I experienced was just something going on in my brain or had some source outside of my brain) I have ever "heard from" God, the message was just "I'm here. I know."
dslsca, Bush never said Jesus Christ/God ever came down and talked with him personally. If we listen closely; God tells us in the Bible, we will hear a still small voice in our hearts/mind when God speaks to us. We will also hear from Him if we read His word. Sometimes, "I'm here", is good enough.
As for the people who say that the God of the Old Testiment and Allah are they same, they haven't looked at the fact that; in the Bible, God says that He is the same Yesterday, Today and Forever. Meaning that Since God is the Creator of all and the Father of His only begotten Son Jesus Christ, Allah cannot be anymore than a man. You cannot throw Jesus Christ away and believe in God.
Debora: I doubt you've personally spoken with the theologians (not just "people") who posit that the Old Testament God and Allah are the same, so you don't know what facts they have or haven't looked at. It is widely agreed that the "peoples of the Book" or the "children of Abraham" (and by this is meant Jews, Christians, and Muslims) all worship the same God. Do you think somehow that the Jews in the Old Testament aren't worshipping the same God as the Christians do in the New Testament just because they didn't know about Jesus?
I was very much at the time under the impression that Bush was saying that God had spoken to him personally and I'm absolutely quite sure Billy Graham said that God did speak personally to him.
Debora and polly, your posts are gibberish, and ill-informed to boot.
"Allah cannot be any more than a man"?
Allah is simply another name for God.
Tina: it's even simpler than that. Allah is simply the word for God--not a name like Jehovah, but simply the word God in another language. Claiming that Muslims don't worship God because they worship Allah is like saying the French don't worship God because they worship Dieu.
Exactly.
I myself worship Gott.
Good question. Obama is a Christian. If under Islamic law Obama is considered a Muslim because his father was a Muslim then would that also make him an apostate under Islamic law and therefore subject to the death penalty if he were to travel to certain countries were this law is enforced? Like Saudi Arabia for example.
Can anyone with knowledge of Islamic law chime in with an answer?
The statement that Franklin Graham made about "being considered a Muslim because his father is a Muslim" is completely false.
That doesn't surprise me, christians are often ignorant.
In Islam, they believe that all children are born Muslim. Meaning you are born in submission to the creator. However, we must at some point chose our faith. This means a young child who has reached the age of reason must at some point accept their faith in their mind and their heart. So, in their world belief we are all born Muslim but may be fooled into choosing another faith through the false teachings of others.
The only way to be labelled an apostate is to have accepted Islam and then rejected it. A child born to a Christian family and raised in a Christian household would never been considered an apostate. Obama's mother was Christian, his grandparents were Christian and he barely knew his father who was an ATHIEST.
Under Islamic Law, Obama's father was the apostate and committed the most grievous of sins. Obama would not be considered Muslim. The second most grievous sin in Islam is to ascribe partners to God. (ie, the Trinity) Shirk they call it. And its punishable by death. Obama simply stating he believes Christ is the Messiah and Son of God is Shirk. He cannot be Muslim for that alone, notwithstanding the previous disqualifiers.
Graham knows about as much about Islam as he apparently does about Christ. Which is pretty much nothing.
Well, it will all be a moot point after the Mormons baptize him into Mormonism some day.
feliznavidad-
LOL
Then why make these types of stupid comments in the first place dumbazz.
Who cares what this nutjob thinks? The only thing that makes him in any way relevant is his daddy.
His daddy probably made him apologize ....... and he has probably made him apologize for statements throughout his life.
He controls a well funded ministerial empire and knows that some of his followers will simply follow him into the voting booth, though I don't think that many will or should. If he uses a religious venue to support a political campaign, he might lose applicable tax exempt status in addition to having lost the confidence of many people who very much preferred Billy. I guess I'd have to agree that he probably isn't very relevant.
His daddy died in 1991.
Tina: I'm sure Billy would be surprised to learn that he died in 1991. I distinctly remember being hospitalized last year.
xvet
Sorry: I read that he had died and didn't check any further.
I guess it was an erroneous report.
My mistake.
RWJ,
Look at Tregun's note. It looks like Rev. Graham is the wolf.
why are u doin dis wit a muslim? he is a illegal alien an a muzlim? r u stupit?! u r dady dnt do dis @!$%#e wit da king dickerd fronmd a 70z, wy ar u diuoin dis todayZ?! stan up for my rights dude, and do not let da muznig prez phuck wit u. we the people are alls aroun u. do not be afraid, might is right. dun be a blkass wit a witefacebook, lklik da prez. he talk lik dis wen u aint listening dude. try an git a visit to da harum house sumday.
CHUCK: Brain dead since birth or did you get this way from a long history of sniffing glue???
BTW, consider yourself reported for blatantly racist comments. I have zero tolerance for dirtbags like you.
Franklin, Franklin, Franklin...please take a page from your father's (and your Father's) book and be a little less judgmental of others.
This guys religion is money!!!
So was his dad's. It's truly a family business. Why do these men who supposedly live for God buy multimillion dollar houses with donations that were meant to help the poor and impoverished?
Greed!!! One of the 7 deadly sins.
Why does the American president need to be associated with any faith? With the way voting has gone in the States, it'd almost seem mandatory for anyone to proclaim a Christian faith to have any chance at all. This seems rather backwards.
Personally, I don't care if a person is Muslim, Mormon, Hindu or Zoroastrian if I think he would be a good leader. I would NOT vote for an evangelical under any circumstances- I fear what they will do to personal freedom in this country.
That's the reason I don't want to be a Christian. I don't want to become an intolerant bigot.
Larry, looks like you've already got that base covered, anyway.
I dislike any religion or religious person who is necessarily ignorant enough to claim to possess the exclusive truth.
Bad mistake on Mr Graham's part and now he's getting the heat he deserves. Hopefully he'll just go away and let people choose the President on something that we as voters should. That's the economy and the way our lives are going!! My situation is getting better everyday and I hope everybody from both the right and left feel the same optimism.
I suppose my belief in Santa Claus counts me out???
Anyone else as tired as I am of listing a persons beliefs to qualify them for office? I think we should look for someone who can do the job rather than having to hear about who they pray to.
MURRAY: I really think religion may be the very last hurdle to pass insofar as politics is concerned, even moreso than gay rights. I doubt very much a presidential candidate could make a public announcement that he or she was an atheist and have a chance in hell of being elected.
Murray-
Exactly!
graham is a racist you call your self a rev
First, Franklin had no business making the statement he did. Second, Franklin should go back on Morning Joe and make his apology. How many people read the religious news service?
Sorry, but that was NOT an apology. He did not say he believed Obama is a Christian, he just said he could not support Obama for re-election and that it had nothing to do with his faith.
Dirty Franklin also said he believed Gingrich was a Christian because he said so, but even though Obama has also said he is a Christian, Dirty Franklin won't acknowledge it. How two faced is that? If Jesus were here He would probably kick his dirty butt!
It is disappointed for Mr. Graham made that statement. His father, Dr. Billy Graham, has seldom made any political statement against any present/current U.S.A. presidents and their administrations. Dr. Billy Graham has been actually participating many sworn-in presidential ceremonies for so many decades and for being their spiritual counsellors, and he has never questioned or challenged anyone's faith. But he preached, he proclaimed, and he taught the Word of God and he did give counselling.
I have utmost respect for Dr. Billy Graham. Franklin, you are no Billy!
I find it amazing that the theocratic right honestly believes that they can make such obviously un-Christian statements and the simply brush them off by apologizing and reminding everyone that they have placed their faith in Jesus and are therefore forgiven and hold no responsibility for the statements.
What is a Christian? One who is a follower of Christ. How do you know if you are a follower of Christ, by abiding in Gods word,by his Grace.
You are wrong. God does hold Christians accountable and responsible for their actions.Some hear on this earth and some here after.