A black Southern Baptist pastor has asked his denomination to acknowledge the importance of President Barack Obama's election, despite the convention's opposition to many of his policies.
The Rev. Dwight McKissic of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas, has proposed a resolution that would celebrate the election of the first African-American U.S. president "as a significant contribution to the ongoing cause of racial reconciliation."
McKissic has submitted a draft to a Southern Baptist committee, which will decide whether it should be put to a vote at the denomination's annual meeting June 23-24 in Louisville, Ky.
The Southern Baptist Convention was formed in 1845 so slaveholders could continue to serve as missionaries. In 1995, Southern Baptists formally sought forgiveness from African-Americans.
By 2007, the convention's minority membership, including African-Americans, Asians and Latinos, had grown to about 18 percent, said the Rev. Richard Land, head of the denomination's public policy arm. But like many other U.S. denominations, the 16.2 million-member Southern Baptist Convention remains overwhelmingly white.
Southern Baptists are staunchly anti-abortion and have consistently supported Republicans.
President George W. Bush regularly addressed the denomination's annual meeting, and the convention often supported his policies. Still, a past Southern Baptist president, the Rev. Frank Page of Taylors, S.C., serves on the advisory council for Obama's Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.
McKissic did not respond to requests for comment Friday.
Earlier this week, the Rev. Wiley Drake, a former second vice president of the denomination, told Fox News radio that he was practicing "imprecatory prayer," or seeking a divine curse, that Obama would die.
"If he does not turn to God and does not turn his life around, I am asking God to enforce imprecatory prayers that are throughout the Scripture that would cause him death," Drake said in an interview with Fox's Alan Colmes.
The denomination's leaders have denounced Drake's comments and said Southern Baptists have been praying for the president as Scripture instructs them to do.
"Wiley Drake is far out of the mainstream, in fact he's in a drainage ditch somewhere," Land said.
Drake, who leads a Buena Park, Calif., church, said Friday that he stood by his remarks.
Source: AP
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If the SBC is serious about the New Baptist Covenant, and the totality of its vision, it should not have a problem with honoring its country's president. The convention should also be vigilant in publically "distancing" itself from the inflamatory and outrageous remarks of Mr Wiley Drake, one of its former leaders.
Unfortunately Mr. Drake speaks for a large number of misguided individuals within these yet to be united States. Did Mr Drake call on God for the death or Mr Clinton who held similar views on SBC lighting rod issues? Or for that matter,the death of most democratic party representatives who share similar views? For as much as President Obama"s presidency does for the hope of improved relations in America, it will continue to be a means of exposure of the lengths we must go to truly move forward.
I have no trouble praying for Barack Obama, for his safety and protection, and most of all for his salvation.
President Obama believes Jesus Christ is just one way, of other ways to get to Heaven. Being the President of the US, he will influence many to believe as he does.
I see a dilemma:
Some think that Our Nation has done a wonderful thing and it is to be celebrated because a "Black Man," "representing every Black's dream, ambition and desire for equal acceptance and position," has been elected to the Highest Office in the Land. Imagine no more, a Black Man IS President of the United States of America! Wow! Praise the LORD!, say some.
But among others, the celebration of the election of our New President is tempered with much concern because President Barack Hussein Obama carries too much baggage with him.
There is, to many, the still lingering question of his official birthplace . There are his reported past ties with those who were anti-American and who were even implicated in bombing government buildings. President Obama wants to legalize abortion. He is raising taxes. He is minimizing Christianity's role in America, and maximizing Islam's presence and practice in Christianity's place. And he is leading America in the direction of Socialism--at break neck speed!
Now, one group says that the President is being criticized because of that ugly, can't-seem-to-ever-get-rid-of-It, Racism.
The other group says that because the President is Black, or at least half-Black, those who support him are "Color Biased"--in a new application of the phrase--because they refuse to see the President's Liberal, unhealthy, alarming, anti-American, and anti-Christian Policies leading us to Socialism. Again, just because he is Black, and the first Black to hold the Office of the President of the United States, at that.
Now, is there Truth on both sides? The ones who want to be gracious and loving and kind and have that "Let's get along so we can get along, attitude," would say, "Yes. That sounds feasible."
But, alas, it just ain't that easy is it? Emotions run high and feelings get hurt, and most of the time, God and His Word just get's pushed aside.
"Well, BCNN1 Fan," I hear some of you say, "Are you going to set us straight?"
Well, I'm writing this ain't I? :-) But I doubt I'll "set anybody straight"--I have a hard time myself walking that line, much less helping someone else to do it.
But at the risk of "treading where Angels fear to tread," I'll share with you my humble opinions and you can judge for yourself...
Dr. Drake is a man of many words, but if what I know of him is true, he is sincere without any fanfare. His Church has, and does, minister to all people, and he has paid a price for it via harassment by local authorities for letting the Homeless have a place of refuge on his church's premises. Please do not overlook that he qualified his controversial comments, quoted in other reports, with, "'If' the President doesn't repent, 'then'...".
While "spiritually redundant" (God will wrathfully judge all the unrepentant), and maybe lacking in a little sincerity, Wiley is not being hypocritical. His argument is not an issue of Race. If I recall correctly, he was just as outspoken against President Clinton. Many are aware of the email that floated around the Internet quoting Psalm 109:8, and was "applied" to President Clinton: "Let his days be few, and let another take his office." I can't speak for Dr. Wiley, but I think he would have sympathized with such at the time.
I also find that the Fine Brother, Dr. McKissic's comparison of Dr. Wiley to Rush Limbaugh, regrettable. I listen to Mr. Limbaugh and can tell you that he wishes the "POLICIES" to fail--so America won't! I think every "thinking Christian" does, too--that is, the Present Administration's policy of legalizing abortion; higher taxes; printing money and the unaccountable "bail out spending," the high unemployment, and the drastic turn toward Socialism, should fail. It will be America's downfall if it succeeds. I don't care who is in the Highest Office, or what color his skin is, I don't want any of these kind of policies to "succeed!"
I do believe every Christian should recognize the Office of President, and pray for all those in authority (1st Timothy 2:1-8). And this was written by Paul during the Roman Rule of government of the day, and the Romans weren't that supportive of Christians, if I recall my History Lessons correctly.
Also, there is a wonderful candidate for the Office of President who regrettably and wickedly is always ostracized by the Liberal Media, because he is pro-Life, speaks more eloquently than any of the candidates or Office Holders, is for limited and Constitutional Government, and is "100% Black,"--for whatever difference that makes to some--and is more qualified as a Christian and Presidential Statesman than any candidate since Lincoln, in my "humble" opinion.
I've voted for him in primaries. I'm speaking of Dr. Alan Keyes (http://loyaltoliberty.blogspot.com/). Yet our Black Leaders seem to ignore his "Loyal to Liberty" call, and Christian Principals in application to Government. Why?
I'm a Southern Baptist and I can acknowledge the Office of the President and the One Who Holds that Position, and I believe the Southern Baptist Convention should also. But I also believe that I, and the Southern Baptist Convention, has every right to hold the President, and all others, to accountability according to Biblical Truth.
The Church is not the Slave of the State; nor Its Master; but Its Conscience.
In my humble opinion, "May the Church rise up as our Nation is falling down."
Blessings
BCNN1 Fan
Typical racist position to "honor" a Socialist American hater pro abortionist just because he is black. You should be ashamed.