Disrespect for our President

[JonC]

It bothers me to hear the disrespect that many believers today have for President Obama. I have recently heard a fellow believer proclaim in a SS class that he was not her president and she did not have to pray for him since she did not vote for him and did not agree with him. I have heard others say similar things and have read things on this very board that sadden me. I did not vote for Pres Obama and will more than likely not vote for him this fall, but he is still our president and he deserves respect, especially the respect and prayers of believers whose lives have been transformed by Christ.

Good post. While I abhor the policies of the current administration, I do know that God puts our leaders into power for His purposes (I don’t necessarily know that this is good for the nation – but that’s simply reflected in my vote). Sometimes I think that many trade a Christian worldview for one of political activism, but I also know that emotions run high when it comes to politics.

Anyway, I think that you make an excellent point – one that has also bothered me (for the past two administrations).

 

[DiamondLady]

It bothers me to hear the disrespect that many believers today have for President Obama. I have recently heard a fellow believer proclaim in a SS class that he was not her president and she did not have to pray for him since she did not vote for him and did not agree with him. I have heard others say similar things and have read things on this very board that sadden me. I did not vote for Pres Obama and will more than likely not vote for him this fall, but he is still our president and he deserves respect, especially the respect and prayers of believers whose lives have been transformed by Christ.

I do not have time this morning to read all three pages of replies but I did want to throw my 2 cents into the fray.

I did not vote for Obama and will not vote for him this November. HOWEVER, God's Word clearly tells us to pray for our leaders. I do, that they will be lead by God. I pray for our nation, that it will return to God.

I believe God allows whomever He chooses to be president...good and bad, godly and ungodly. Just as he allowed Babylon to bring Israel back to Him, He can allow Obama to return the US to Him.

We spend entirely too much time bickering and arguing over the petty things and not enough time on our faces before God praying that GOD will change things in Washington DC and asking Him how we should vote.

 

[Steadfast Fred]

DiamondLady,

Where is the verse that tells us to pray for our leaders?

... nevermind... I found it.

 

[webdog]

When you make a statement that it is our duty to do something, yes I need a Scripture.

We should brush and floss...can you point to one Scripture telling us to do so?

And you stated I was making a leap.

I believe you are.

I do appreciate the fact that a few of you are proving my original point.

Begging the question.

To respect the President does not mean we agree with him or want him to stay in office. We can disagree with the President. We can want him out of office. But we still should give him our respect and our prayers. Believers should live to a higher standard than the rest of the world.

I agree we should pray for him. What part of the "if /then" proposition don't you get? If respect...then respect. He doesn't respect the office nor those who put him in office. I don't respect what he (as president) has done. It doesn't mean I don't respect him as God's image bearere, but my attitude is that of Jesus. "you go tell that fox...".

 

[Robert Snow]

Amazing how many that despise President Obama will ignore Scripture in order to justify their hatred toward our president. This shouldn't be surprising I guess. During the Civil War many Christians attempted to use the Bible to support slavery.

 

[webdog]

Amazing how many that despise President Obama will ignore Scripture in order to justify their hatred toward our president. This shouldn't be surprising I guess. During the Civil War many Christians attempted to use the Bible to support slavery.

...wouldn't expect anything less from a liberal. If you disagree = you hate :BangHead:

Give it a rest. Try hating evil and not embracing it.

 

[LadyEagle]

Obama called me a "terrorist", his "enemy", and told other Americans to "bring a gun to the fight." By uttering those words, he removed himself from being "my President."

I pray for him that he will be removed from office. I pray that his evil agenda fails. With the argument that we Christians should pray for our leaders, would that apply to Nazi Germany, as well? Hitler claimed to be a "christian" in Mein Kampf.

I pay my taxes. I do not resist authority. I disagree with many of the laws but I submit to them. I respect the Office of President. I do not respect the man. The man is my enemy from his own lips and he is the enemy of life (abortion), the enemy of morality (homosexual marriage) and has declared war on Christians by his agenda. He has taken the words of Jesus Christ and twisted them to justify his desire for a tax increase.

The Bible tells me to submit to the higher powers and I do. But when the higher powers resist the Authority of Almighty God, Who is the Higher Authority, that is when we as Christians must take a stand. And it has nothing to do with the color of skin, it has to do with fruit testing, evil deeds, and sheep in wolve's clothing.

 

[Robert Snow]

...wouldn't expect anything less from a liberal. If you disagree = you hate :BangHead:

Give it a rest. Try hating evil and not embracing it.

Again, physician heal thyself!

 

[webdog]

Yea, like I'm going to take your advice.

Wouldn't expect you too. I'm not a bleeding heart liberal.

Quite telling that you won't take "do not embrace evil" advice, though.

 

[JonC]

The rulers that God puts in office are terrors to the evil and not to the good.

Thus far, Obama has been a terror to the good... proving that God did not put him in office.

How then, you may ask, did Obama get elected if God did not put him in?

Simple... God gave the people their king even though God did not want that king ruling... as He did in the Old Testament when the people did not want a righteous judge to rule over them. God allowed the people who wanted a "change" to put Obama in office. Obama brought a change all right... but it sure wasn't the change he promised.

Obama deserves no respect from God's people. God doesn't want His people serving a godless man.

Why, then, did Christ suggest submission to Rome? While it is apparent that Rome was not kind to Christians – and certainly not a righteous administration, it was very much pagan – the persecutions solidified the faith and were used by God to strengthen the Church. But it seems by the reply here that Jesus should have told His followers to oppose Rome.

Don’t get me wrong. I do respect the President as the President. As far as the man, I don’t know him. I do disagree with his politics – but no more than anyone else who holds those views. Insofar as God willing His people to be subjects under ungodly rulers – this is readily apparent throughout Scripture.

When Paul told his audience that everything works out for the good of those who love God, he was dealing with people (including himself) who would be persecuted and die for their faith. Your premise would indicate that God had nothing to do with the powers of Babylon, Persia, Assyria, or Rome. Yet Scripture and history demonstrates the contrary.

We are to respect our leaders in that we remain submissive to their authority. We stand, however, for Christ which may mean being persecuted (and accepting persecution) for that faith.

 

[LadyEagle]

Amazing how many that despise President Obama will ignore Scripture in order to justify their hatred toward our president. This shouldn't be surprising I guess. During the Civil War many Christians attempted to use the Bible to support slavery.

Hate is a pretty strong word. Should we not be distinctive between hatred of the man as a person and hatred of his policies and sin? There were Christians on both sides of the Civil War, which was about States Rights or control of the government.

 

[FR7 Baptist]

Why is racism always brought up when people claim not to appreciate him as a president?

It's just odd that our first colored President is the one who gets disrespected more than any other. There's no way McCain would get half of these attacks Obama gets. He wouldn't get them from me; I have a lot of respect for John McCain. It's just crazy to say race plays no factor in the way the President has been treated.

 

[LadyEagle]

Moderator Note: Reminder of the posting rules:

#3: Show grace to the other posters

and

#4: Personal attacks will not be tolerated.


Just a reminder here before things get heated up!

Lady Eagle :flower:

 

[JonC]

It's just odd that our first colored President is the one who gets disrespected more than any other. There's no way McCain would get half of these attacks Obama gets. He wouldn't get them from me; I have a lot of respect for John McCain. It's just crazy to say race plays no factor in the way the President has been treated.

I don't know that President Obama has been attacked more than President Bush - so I don't see that you have a valid argument with the race aspect (not denying that some may hold racally motivated objections - just that the objections are for the most part based on legitimate political/moral differences). Another example would be to look back at posts during President Clintions terms.

 

[Scarlett O.]

It's just odd that our first colored President is the one who gets disrespected more than any other. There's no way McCain would get half of these attacks Obama gets. He wouldn't get them from me; I have a lot of respect for John McCain. It's just crazy to say race plays no factor in the way the President has been treated.

From the porch where I am sitting, George W. Bush received far more vile treatment than President Obama could dream of.

And you are the one who is using the word, "colored". :flower: I thought that was a no-no today.

 

[mandym]

It's just odd that our first colored President is the one who gets disrespected more than any other.

This is pure hogwash and nothing but Sorros talking points. The disrespect shown to Bush far outweighs anything Obama has seen.

 

[TadQueasy]

The moral of the story is that as long as you justify what you say in terms of having respect for the office of President you can say or feel however you want in regards to our President.

 

[targus]

The moral of the story is that as long as you justify what you say in terms of having respect for the office of President you can say or feel however you want in regards to our President.

"Respect" is a relative term.

How do you define "respect"?

What words are out of bounds as it relates to "respecting the President"?

 

[LadyEagle]

"Respect" is a relative term.

How do you define "respect"?

What words are out of bounds as it relates to "respecting the President"?

Excellent point.

 

[TadQueasy]

Yes good point as well, playing semantics with the word respect is a good way around having respect for the President as well.