Stop Praying For Our President To Die
There they go. The Christians! They’re at it again. They’re praying for Obama’s demise.
First — or at least the first I wrote about — it was Reverend Wiley Drake, former vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention, who was practicing “imprecatory prayer” or seeking a divine curse that would cause the president to die. Then it was Arizona pastor Steven L. Anderson from the Faithful Word Baptist Church in Tempe, Arizona, who said in a TV interview, “I hope that God strikes Barack Obama with brain cancer so he can die like Ted Kennedy, you know? And I hope it happens today.” And now, it’s not even a specific pastor from any certain church, it’s a wave of bumper stickers, t-shirts, and hats, going around requesting that we pray for Obama, giving the scripture reference, Psalm 109:8. Oh wait… praying for Obama using the scriptures, that’s great, right?
Wrong.
Have you read the scripture? Let’s look at it. Psalm 109:8 says, “May his days be few; may another take his place of leadership.”
“Well,” you might say, “that’s not so bad. I mean, what’s wrong with wanting someone else to take his place? Maybe it’s just a jest at hoping it doesn’t get elected to a second term”
And you’re right. Perhaps that’s all it means. After all, there’s really nothing wrong with wishing someone else were in office. But what’s wrong with this idea, is that the scripture wasn’t meant to be used in this way — out of context. Perhaps more importantly, we need to look at the scripture in it’s context, taking into account the surrounding verses. So let’s do just that.
The scripture says, “may his days be few,” but we don’t know who “his” is. Let’s define that, because it’s certainly not Obama that David was referring to here. The “his” in Psalm 109:8 is referring to “wicked and deceitful men” who have opened their mouths against David. They have spoken against him with lying tongues and they’re attacking him without cause. So, while you may not agree with the President, to say that he’s wicked and deceitful is a bit of a stretch. And I don’t think he’s speaking against with a lying tongue, nor is he attacking you for no reason.
Furthermore, when we look at the context from which the scripture was so eloquently ripped, we see that it’s not just that David wishes that his enemy be taken from his place of leadership. Instead, we see that David gives, honestly, a quite impressive list of things he wants done to his enemies. He says, in Psalm 109:9-15, “May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow. May his children be wandering beggars; may they be driven from their ruined homes. May a creditor seize all he has; may strangers plunder the fruits of his labor. May no one extend kindness to him or take pity on his fatherless children. May his descendants be cut off, their names blotted out from the next generation. May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the Lord; may the sin of his mother never be blotted out.”
All that because you don’t like the President? Verse nine clearly states that we wish him dead — his children being fatherless, and his wife being a window only happens when he dies, right? Oh, but before he dies, we’d like the creditors to seize all of his assets and his estate. Then we’re going to wish that his children — Sasha and Malia — become, “begging street urchins, evicted from their homes.” Then after that, we’re wishing death on all his offspring? Remind me why we’re doing all this? Because that’s what, “he deserves since he was never once kind, [and he] hounded the afflicted and heartbroken to their graves.” Really? President Obama did all that? I occasionally disagree with President Obama, but I wasn’t aware that he hounded the afflicted and brokenhearted and that he was never once kind.
Are you serious, people? I’m sick and tired of having to call out Christians because they wish the President was dead. That’s ridiculous!
Why would you, as a Christian, someone who is supposed to be acting Christ-like, wish death on another human being? How quickly we forget that God commands us to love our enemies. In fact, Christ takes it one step further, when, in Luke 6:35, he says, not only to love your enemies, but also to, “do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.” Does that sound like what’s going on here? I think not. Have we forgotten that Jesus, the one we’re supposed to model our life after, came that we “may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10).
While I’m embarrassed far too often because of Christians and their foolishness, I’m more embarrassed for them than because of them. I’m embarrassed because they’re embarrassing themselves. And what’s worse, they’re representing my — our — Savior in a rather unsavory light. And that’s ultimately what’s unacceptable to me.
So next time you think about doing something, anything, think about how it represents Christ and the Christians around you and hopefully I won’t have to blog about this topic for quite awhile. But somehow, I feel that won’t be the case.
[Written by Stuart McDonald for Elev8.com. For more from Stuart, check out his personal blog and follow him on Twitter]
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Now that psalms 109:8 is not christian like to put dat on shirts.you should love every man as you love yourself.especially your enemy because love can cover a mulitude of sins.Even though Obamas name symbolizes the anti christ doesnt not make him the one.Remember the devil is the master of decite this could just to be confusze in tell the real one comes or he could be.just remember every one is human even those possessed with evil purposes.I dont like Obama its something shifty about em but i dont hate him either.Im not saved but i do know whats right my preacher father beat it in to my head every sunday of my young life.Im an adult now and the ways shall part from me not.Let us truly pray not not just out of scorn.This is not the way to fight demons.
Now that psalms 109:8 is not christian like to put dat on shirts.you should love every man as you love yourself.especially your enemy because love can cover a mulitude of sins.Even though Obamas name symbolizes the anti christ doesnt not make him the one.Remember the devil is the master of decite this could just to be confusze in tell the real one comes or he could be.just remember every one is human even those possessed with evil purposes.I dont like Obama its something shifty about em but i dont hate him either.Im not saved but i do know whats right my preacher father beat it in to my head every sunday of my young life.Im an adult now and the ways shall part from me not.Let us truly pray not not just out of scorn.This is not the way to fight demons.
Now that psalms 109:8 is not christian like to put dat on shirts.you should love every man as you love yourself.especially your enemy because love can cover a mulitude of sins.Even though Obamas name symbolizes the anti christ doesnt not make him the one.Remember the devil is the master of decite this could just to be confusze in tell the real one comes or he could be.just remember every one is human even those possessed with evil purposes.I dont like Obama its something shifty about em but i dont hate him either.Im not saved but i do know whats right my preacher father beat it in to my head every sunday of my young life.Im an adult now and the ways shall part from me not.Let us truly pray not not just out of scorn.This is not the way to fight demons.
I am glad to see that we have 3 people here on the same page.
*stands up and applauds _A_* Damn I love my people! ESPECIALLY my conscious people!!!!
I love when someone responds to a post with a rebuttal, but then when the original poster comes back and absolutely murders the one making the rebuttal, he then resorts to using terms like “mindless rhetoric” Dr_Beat_it_up, you asked the man a question, and he answered you. Instead of showing us where you think he may have erred, you decide to call it unsubstantiated. What is the basis for that? Moor_Beauty, those jewels you have dropped WILL NOT be understood by Obamaites who feel having a Black president is a true sign of progression, even if he turns out to be worse than his predecessor, which he has a very real shot at doing. He certainly hasn’t changed anything, in terms of global and domestic policy from GWB and the way he is going, it will probably be worse in these 4 years than in the past 4. The thing is, most of these Obamaites are new to the political scene anyway. Most of them probably didn’t even pay attention to it, until PDiddy came out with his ridiculous Vote or Die campaign. So you hear a lot of these misguided ones talking about “give the man a chance” or “it hasn’t been long enough” meanwhile, Obama hasn’t made any reversals in terms of policies set forth by the Bush Admin, and in many cases, has continued some. That’s not the change you sheep voted for, is it? How would you know? You’re still not paying attention to what’s going on in the world, just going about your daily routines, more blind, deaf and dumb than you ever were!
From http://www.gotquestions.org “Ephesians 4:29 tells us, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” First Peter 3:10 declares, “For, whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.” James 3:9-12 summarizes the issue: “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.”
My, but the conspiracy theorists are coming out in droves tonight….!
Christians??? What is a christian in the first place? Hmmm ..let me think about it ..well no! I already know too much and these people dont even know the meaning of christianity let alone speak of such paganism.
smh Dr, I really come to fulfill you, not destroy you, its people like you who i fight for every day, it is obviously not your time yet to open your eyes and elevate your conciseness…but im not mad at you, because i overstand that you have been conditioned, and they thrive for our people to stay dumbed down. its all good though, *sings* you might win some but you just lost one….
ROFLMAO Well alright… That sums it up. No facts no substantial information. Moor Beauty… Ma I gotta say you are BEAUTIFUL… crazy girl lol Nuff respect ma I hope that works out for you.
wowwww, let me tell you something, this has nothing to do with black and white, thats what THEY WANT YOU TO THINK!!! if you REALLY want to go there this is a HUMAN vs MANKIND thing…we are men of HUes, 17 to be exact, “they” are mankind, a KIND of a man, at the end of the day it doesnt matter if you are an upper middle class white person or a black born and raised in the hood! you will be sharing the same fema camps inspired by the holocaust as well as the same rfid chips that has your barcodes stamped to the back of your necks! THEY ARE IN A CLUB AND YOUR NOT IN IT! STUPID AMERICANS! IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHITE OR BLACK!!!!!!
Dr_Beat_Itup, we can argue about this all night, but it won’t change the fact that Obama is nothing more than a puppet for white people.
LOL Yes cause you’re gonna get so much farther than most spelling Wine whine or what ever correctly lmao. It is clear from your unsubstantiated post that you’re a bone head. No need to continue entertaining your mindless rhetoric (Make sure you check my spelling real well this time).
His response was: Ohh Nooo the black people are gonna riot lets elect a black president? roflmao. Lord help this guy…
first of all, thank you Moor_Beauty for saying what I’ve been telling black people all along. Now, on to Dr_Beat_Itup(your name alone shows how ignorant you are). Don’t you know that whites fear blacks would one day riot? Don’t you know that whites live in fear that one day blacks will unite together and take over this country if they continue seeing things not going their way? I think you’re too busy fantasizing about “beating it up” to realize what is actually going on around you, my man. This country is ruled by whites. Those whites know that blacks are very strong and if united, they can take over. So, they say to themselves, “let’s shut these n*ggers up by having one who looks like them, acts like them, and one they can call their own to be president. He’ll just act like them, but will obey each of our commands and will do every damn thing we tell him to do.” That’s where you get your Barack Obama. Now, you can call my logic flawed(at least I can spell whine the right way) but in the long run, you’re the one who will be hurt by believing that Obama is on your side. Not me. And as far as my name goes, I only date black women from other countries, because they are more rational.
Thats right cause the first black president happens to be the devil himself!! Thats right!!! Roflmao
We can’t have sh*t because of us. Isn’t that sad? Listen to that. Does that make sense? You can’t get the respect or the resources that you need as a people and you (we) are the cause of it lol. That’s f*ckin sad but funny. All the other races/cultures/ nationalities get it and they laugh at us. The more we progress the more we try to dispprove and dissuade ourselves from our own progression.
Obama must be doin something right because the “elite” are saying and doing everything they can to stop everything he tries to do. If he was such a puppet why is there so much opposition to his movement?
Just cause you read a book doesn’t mean you read the right book. Sorry but I don’t buy the jail house conspiracy theory. If you want to learn the truth watch the politicians and the way they act react and for whom they react for. Truth be told all politicians are puppets. Stop hating yourself.
PEOPLE NEED TO WAKE UP! JUST BECAUSE OUR PRESIDENT IS BLACK DOES NOT MAKE HIM A GOOD PRESIDENT!!!! OPEN YOUR EYES AND TRY PICKING UP A F’N BOOK FOR GOODNESS SAKE! HE IS NOT YOUR FRIEND!!!!!!!! OBAMA IS A PUPPET! THE ELLITE SAY JUMP AND HE SAYS HOW HIGH!!!! WHEN THERES TROUBLE IN POLITICS THEY PUT A BLACK MAN IN CHARGE! GOOGLE JOHN HARRIS, THE REAL FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT!!!!
Idon’tdateblackgirls,
Heres a question or two since you are so well versed on this subject:
Why would whites even care if we wine about equality or not? Why would they even care to go to such to merely stop this “wining”. How would such a thing profit a white person? Wouldn’t they be more concerned with hispanic opinion because of the increased stake they have in this country as a political and socioeconomic force?
In short,I think that your logic is flawed and your conspiracy theory is ridiculous to say the least which is probably why you don’t date black girls, which is great cause that leaves more for me lol. You be easy.
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and on another note, Stuart, if you want to become a real writer you should learn not to use double negatives. “nor is he attacking you for no reason” should be “nor is he attacking you for any reason” “a honestly…” should be “an honestly” and did you really write “thing” instead of “think”????
If you need some help with grammar and spelling, hit me up on bp with a note, Stuart.
p.s. this was informal writing, so don’t tell me that I didn’t use the correct capitalization or punctuation. But either way, write me a note and I’ll help you become a great writer. I agree with your views on the topic though.
first of all, i thought this is bp, not church. secondly, I’m not gonna pray for Obama to die, because that would be bad, however, you guys actually trust Obama??? Get the hell out of here. Obama is a liar to everybody that puts trust in him. Call me an “uncle tom” or whatever, but I still gotta tell it like it is. He(Obama) was set up by whites so that we(black people) would stop whining about how this country is unequal and how there will never be a “black president.” Anyway, after he got elected, he is following their agenda, 100%. So, in summary, praying for Obama to die is WRONG, however, trusting him is DEADLY.
So-called “Christians” are part of the reason I am agnostic. They are hypocritical, judgmental, small-/closed-minded, presumptious, & tend to clothe their imperfections and insecurities in the cover of “Godliness.” I’ve “Christians” brazen enough to them tell me “You need Jesus,” when no one who is neither perfect or better than I can tell me what I “need.” But at the same time tell ME that “You’re not ‘freaky’ enough,” “You don’t drink/smoke or know how to ‘relax,’” or “You think too much.” Personally, I think THEY’RE the ones who are beneath ME.
The Devil takes his own, and GOD takes care of his own…How about dat? lol We know GOD is da alpha n da omega, da beginning n da end!
it is crazy and them ‘right wing’ Christians are the fake-st ones out there… wishing death on ppl… but just wait til judgment day comes God knows all and sees all…
Well apparently if we do pray for deceitful and wicked men to get their just desserts, apparently the people who are so wicked and deceitful as to use this method will be calling down upon themselves exactly what they deserve. So they say, so it shall be done!
First of all, to say that these people who want the President to die are “Christians” is a very bad misconception. I mean anybody with common sense knows that isn’t what True Christians stand for, so u might wanna rethink ur disposition on that one. Secondly, they white people, I mean do we really have to get into what white people think from a majority standpoint, im sure u can relate.
Lastly, Bark himself claims to be a “Christian” although I am very aware that he isn’t by biblical terms, so what does that say about u in explaining that the same people who wants to kill him, he is apart of… Right I know it doesnt make sense to me either