TomPaine.com – Co-opting Obama

Some reactions to some conservative blogs about Obama’s speech:

As for the “Awesome God” line, there’s nothing conservative about citing God (unless Republicans are ready to welcome Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson into their fold). Conservatives want to inject religion into public life. Obama doesn’t. It’s that simple.

I’m not so sure this writer really “gets it” like I think Obama does. This writer is thinking of the Theocratic version of consevative religion (of which I am alarmed at their growth — not becuase they’re religious, but becuase of the way they USE it). “Inecting” makes it sound like some disease, some foreign body. It’s not that at all (when one truly seeks to “embody” the gospel, and be faithful to a CALL to implement the good news, it is out of true compassion, and deep desire to see public life become more life-affirming, uplifting, and just. This element is sadly missing from a very large percentage of people who invoke God in their politics).

God IS omniscient. NObody, not even the Relgious Right can stop that. God is already INJECTED. God is at work. Many of the Churches today have set themselves in opposition to that movement. In a myriad of ways, the Democratic platform espouses (and seeks to implement through policy —– POLICY — there’s that word GW hates—-never wants to discuss—- insists that staffers give him nothing longer than half a page to review —- POLICY— implementation and not talk—-) the Democratic platform espouses and takes action on things which my faith says that God is deeply concerned about, and constantly calling on the people to respond. To take the opposite side of the public posture that Jesus clearly did — that of being — well, if he wasn’t who he was I would call it “obsessed” with the poor, with the “least of these” , with “loving enemies” , with “loving your neighbor as yourself”) and instead not only side with, but TEAM UP with the top rung of society, and filter all of the biggest benefits to them. This is about as close as you can come to ANTI-CHRIST. He even said “Not everyone who says Lord, Lord will enter the Kingdom”. And I’m not talking here, and neither was Jesus, about “heaven” after you die. The Kingdom of God is what Clarence Jordan called “The God Movement”. It is a REALITY at work today. It is here. (Jesus said that too: “The Kingdom of God is among you”)