Travis Griffith
Travis Griffith brings up a delicate topic that is sure to generate passionate response. We look forward to your thoughts!
Sometimes it’s the little things that get me the most fired up.
While driving through the city on my way to a volunteer job where I work to advocate for children with speech delays, I saw a car with white writing plastered all over the windows.
My first thought was: ‘Oh how cute. A teenage girl is on her way to a state volleyball tournament and her friends scrawled good luck messages on her car.’
But no. As I got closer I realized the white writing belonged to an adult and the message was much more disturbing.
It said:
“America needs Jesus, not Obama.”
And it was written on every window except the windshield. This raised my ire for a couple reasons.
First, I don’t believe America needs Jesus. I believe some people in America do, but the country as a whole does not.
Second, to completely disrespect the president by saying his country doesn’t need him is decidedly unAmerican. (Though the right to publicly state that feeling is quite American.)
The guy who wrote that phrase on his car is obviously a religious and Christian person. I wonder if he realizes this: God tells Christians in His Word that we are to pray for those He has placed in authority over us. When God gave that command in chapter 2 of I Timothy, he was not only speaking of Godly leaders but all leaders. Whether you like President Obama or not, Christians, I think, should believe he was put into power by God, and thus need to respect him.
Rather than denounce the president, why not convey a message that asks folks to pray for him?
The message on that car seems so simple and straightforward at first glance, but to me it sums up a lot of what I see wrong with Christianity today.
When exactly did the name Jesus become a term to fling around as a way to defend intolerance? I have not accepted Jesus as any kind of personal savior because I believe humanity has effective been ly taken away everything that had once so beautiful about the person Jesus was.
That’s why I don’t care whether or not our current president (or any future president) accepts Jesus as his or her personal savior or ever even attends church. It doesn’t matter. I’d rather see presidents govern based on what they feel is best for the country, guided not by an archaic set of ignorant, intolerant beliefs but by a strong compassion and love for all humankind.
Isn’t it possible that the real savior of America is not Jesus or the president, but the people who live here? When intolerance and fear are removed and replaced with love, America will move forward.
Until then we’ll be stuck in the dark, trying to scare each other with handwritten messages on our cars.
Do you believe a President of the United States should accept Jesus?
Love… to all.
***
Travis Griffith, who left behind the corporate marketing world, choosing family and writing in lieu of “a comfortable life” financially, is a former atheist trying to define what leading a spiritual life really means. His children’s book, Your Father Forever, published in 2005 by Illumination Arts Publishing Company, Inc. captures only a fraction of his passion for fatherhood.
***
Note from the Web Editor: The thoughts presented within this blog post are those of the individual author and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs of the entire Relief staff. Though there may be some differences between the journal’s theology and that of the author, we believe that the questions this author raises about faith and patriotism are important.
While I do agree that citizens should do their best to help their chosen leaders rather than dissent, I do have to say that there is something to be said for Americans wanting their religion to have a place in the leadership of this country.
It is near impossible to take an early American literature class and not read John Winthrop’s sermon “A Model of Christian Charity.” Within that sermon, Winthrop makes the claim that America/”New England” (a phrase Winthrop coined in that sermon) is going to be watched as a “city upon a hill.” He goes as far as to say that if the Massachusetts Bay Colony fails, the world will see it as a failure of the Christian God; but, if they succeed, it will only be because God has helped them.
Our founding fathers, who were diests, decided that the United States should be a place where there would be religious freedom. When they wrote that into the Bill of Rights, they were more providing people with the freedom to be Protestant or Catholic (or diest) without being persecuted for it, because Protestants and Catholics were being persecuted all the time in England depending on which religion was in the current King/Queen’s favor.
Don’t get me wrong. I personally believe that everyone is entitled to whatever spiritual framework they feel a pull toward. Historically, I believe that this nation was founded with the presupposition that the Christian God would have a strong role in the prosperity department.
Though I would dispute the marketing strategy of the message (the only human who could really and truly pull off such emotionally bald announcements was, ironically enough, Christ; probably has to do with His very God, very man status?)…”American needs Jesus, not Obama” points to a something close to my heart:
Politics (right, left, or otherwise) won’t satisfy an individual’s heart; they simply cannot fill the void of our hearts and grant peace; being, after all, driven by a “iron sharpening iron” type of philosophy: political dialog is intentionally controversial. I’m not trying to say such a tactic cannot be used for good…only to say that I find politics and faith to be some of the most complex apples and oranges life. All our lives we must wrestle with defining both forces in our life.
In fact, the only person who ever seemed to successfully marry the two in conversation was Christ…and no one liked his version of political faith. People wanted him to wield a sword in order to bring about “the kingdom”"–never realizing what Christ brought (forgiveness for sin) was far greater than any earthly kingdom (read: rulers and politics).
We bandy terms about…and yet there are lonely people in every city living an existence where they feel miserable about themselves. The Good News, that they are loved beyond understanding, seems to come in higher personal priority than the country’s current political leader–all due respect to the nation’s Commander-in-Chief. The “godman” (to use Kierkegaard’s term) is the only effective ruler of our unruly hearts.
First response to the matter of does the president need jesus. My first response is “that’s between him and jesus and no one else”. Beyond that, our president the person, personally he does not fit into my agenda of what the position calls for. I recall one his first trips outside 1600 Pennsylvania Ave was to one of my very favorate places “Wiliiamsburg Va.” not the tourist Williamsburg the history of Jamestown and Yorktown and his comment with regard to the stimulus, “What do you think the stimulus package is” I felt it was uncalled for and sarcastic. Sarcastic from the greek meaning to tear flesh. Should the leader of the free world be sarcastic? I have a hard time respecting anyone who uses sarcasm, and respect is importatnt to me. As far as acceptance of christ as savior I say what I always say, “what if your wrong”. To me thats far to big a gamble to waste on eternity. I love jesus and what god did, enough said.
Travis,
Some people are crackpots.
God gave believers the holy spirit–not the holy shoe polish.
Travis,
What matters is that President Obama represents a country that allows each of us to accept what is right for ourselves. When our constitution was written originally, it was influenced by the one religion that was accepted at the time. The United States has grown to include a multitude of beliefs, (or non-beliefs) all which are protected by the very document that some would say is Christian based. We are allowed freedom from religion, if we so choose.
RE: I have not accepted Jesus as any kind of personal savior because I believe humanity has effectively taken away everything that had once been so beautiful about the person Jesus was.
If Jesus is God incarnate as He said he was, how could humanity possibly change anything about His nature? Humans can influence how others perceive Him perhaps, but no matter what humanity says about him or does in His name, He is what He is. He would be what He is if not a single human believed in Him, if there was not a human left on earth, and even if there were no earth. Why would you allow the actions and words of mere humans influence your decision whether or not to believe in Christ?
Hi Travis! I agree with you that we should pray for President Obama and that Jesus asks us to respect others, including our leaders . . .to love one another.Personally, I do pray that he knows Jesus, for the salvation of his own soul and for His guidance in making decisions for our country.
Your statement about not accepting Jesus as a personal savior because humanity has taken away everything beautiful about the person Jesus was . . .please explore that Travis. Seek into that beautiful part of Jesus that you see or saw at one time. He hasn’t changed or gone away, no matter what we as humanity have done.
I don’t think that it should matter WHO anyone believes in. We should judge people on the content of their heart and not seat the small stuff. I think that ANY positive role model would make me appreciate a person more, whether it be Jesus, Buddha, Krshna, Gaia…
“Christians, I think, should believe he was put into power by God” Here you were speaking about Obama.
I don’t think Christians should be under the delusion that God not they put people into power. This is the foundation of separation of church and state. Government, is by the people. Formed by human voting. A zombie could be voted in as President, would you say God placed him into power.
I however, do not think we should hate any president (they are just human). Now some people think that the anti-Christ is somehow a single person with power. Anti-Christ is an idea. To oppose what Christ taught. Not necessarily what Christians teach.
To NOT accept Jesus is not Anti-Jesus. What you are looking for is a president who says, he hates Jesus. Thus, I suggest that a president need not believe in Jesus to be counter Christ.
Your question would be better if you asked, “Do you believe a president should favor a protestant outlook of the world? or Do you believe a president should believe in individualism over communalism?”
These are much more accurate questions.
Hi, Travis. I’ve read and re-read your post to make sure I understood what you meant.
Usually I don’t chime in on discussions that I believe will turn into more President Obama bashing, because I’ve grown tired of having to defend my faith and President Obama’s, who is also Christian.
I am for separation of Church and State, because I am not foolish enough to think that people of other creeds and religions will not run for The Presidency in the future. I do not want the our government to change policy for the sake of religious gain. what if our president was atheist, buddhist, muslim, and some? what worries me is that in our state we have begun to elect more non-christian candidates not because our state isn’t Christian. I’m in GA. It’s a red state, but voters are growing tired of ill educated people spewing pundit rhetoric and propaganda that in no way, shape or form edifies the Body of Christ, adds to the Kingdom or glory God.
as long as Separation of Church & State remains I don’t care, because we are the ones who voted him or her in.
on another note: don’t let politics of the mass media convince you that Christians are what you see on television, radio or the news. I am in PR. I specialize in Christian PR. Even still it is all smoke and mirrors.
Christ is everything. We are humans, who have fallen short since Adam. If I allowed the nasty crap I hear and see regarding our President, our First Lady, and anyone supports them, then I would be lost. I know Jesus Christ in my bones, my flesh, in my spirit. Christ is love. He died for us knowing we didn’t understand our station and for whom we belong to.
Nice comment Dee.
I just wanted to add one thing. Your main question, “do you Believe the president of the United States should accept Jesus?”, is incomplete.
What you are really asking is Do you think he (the Prez) should accept the same version of Jesus as you believe in?
Everyone interprets this differently. There are many concepts that you attach to this without addressing them. Should he accept the Bible, individualism, basically your whole world view. Evidentially the question eventually becomes, “Is the president your mental twin?”
The answer is no for everyone, because there is somewhere that he will differ.
Now if you meant does he believe in Yeshua the name or the person… Then I know he does. And so does every person on earth (except for the crazies who want to deny everything for the sake of being different).
So what is your question?
To paganistic Gaytive American -
I would have to disagree that who you believe it is “small stuff.” I think who you choose to put your faith in IS what is in your heart. When I was young I was afraid of placing my faith in a deception and spent many years comparing belief systems. After trying various spiritual paths, always trying to avoid Christianity, about ten years ago I realized that the basic teachings of Christianity made the most sense according to what I knew to be true of the world. And as my faith has grown this realization is confirmed.
Of course this stuff won’t matter to you unless you take seriously the search for truth. If you believe that truth exists and care about what it might be like, you will see that whether you decide to place your faith in Buddha, Allah, Krishna, Naturalism, or Jesus does matter – eventually the philosophy you adopt will affect the way you think, way you act, and the decisionss you make.
As for whether it is important for our President to believe in Jesus – well of course it is important, as what any of us believe is important. And it is especially important when the person has the power to make decisions that affect you and me. But I also think it is possible for a morally decent honest leader who has not put his faith in Jesus to lead our country.
No, that is for our president to decide…not everyone else. We cannot have freedom of religion when some want to force their religious views on others. In addition, I don’t really care what the constitution or any other book stated about Christianity, I was born in the US and do not have the same views as “the old folks” that were here before me…the view that because our founding fathers believed in Christiniaty, therefore, we all must is ridiculous at best…if we want to be like our founding fathers, maybe we’d all still be killing indians and having slaves…
So exactly what are those who were born here supposed to do if they don’t believe in Jesus? Leave the country?
The question of course is, “Does it matter if the president believes in Jesus?”
Yes it does. The reason it matters is a person with life [Jesus is life (John 14:6)] in his or her heart is more likely to choose life. Where have I heard THAT phrase before? “Choose life,” catchy, hmm.
Travis wrote in part:
““America needs Jesus, not Obama.” …was written…This raised my ire for a couple reasons. First, I don’t believe America needs Jesus. I believe some people in America do, but the country as a whole does not.” After reading this I realized that this same point of view is shared by a particular wedding guest in the parable in Mathew 22:1-14 especially Mathew 11 through 14. Reading it might change you but it will give your idea a chance to defend itself. Iron sharpens iron. [Proverbs 27:17.]
It sounds like I disagree with Mr. Travis because I do.
Who is Jesus? Jesus said of himself: “I am [‘I am’ is the name God spoke to Moses from the burning bush. (Exodus 3:2)] the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by me. [John 14:6]
Who is Mister Obama? President of the United States, formally a community organizer, and also a lawyer and handsome and well spoken too.
Who you going call; Ghost Busters? In their movie they delivered New York from a demon; not too shabby. They were messy but that was part of the humor.
Who you [really] going call?
President Obama is doing his level best to enforce his policies on the USA. You will receive his answers whether you ask a question or not, whether you have a problem or not; just like FDR. The President is a politician; duh.
Jesus of Nazareth is God.
Dee wrote: “Christ is everything. We are humans, who have fallen short since Adam. If I allowed the nasty crap I hear and see regarding our President, our First Lady, and anyone supports them, then I would be lost. I know Jesus Christ in my bones, my flesh, in my spirit. Christ is love. He died for us knowing we didn’t understand our station and for whom we belong to.”
Miss Dee [and all the rest of y’all, (I’m from GA too)], if Christ is everything, then why would you be lost is you came to believe the evil things that are lied about President Obama?
I believe the evil things said about Mister Obama and I still have Jesus and I ain’t lost. Rather I am saved and all the rest of that good Jesus stuff IS MINE. There is no bad Jesus stuff. [James 1:17]
If anyone needs an example of a president openly confessing [saying that he belonged to] Jesus: just remember Mister [President W.] Bush.
Whoever wrote “to completely disrespect the president by saying his country doesn’t need him is decidedly unAmerican” should check out a little American history.
Saying that the president is chocked as full of stuffing [other words have been chosen by other authors] as a Christmas turkey is historically a fact of American life. It is most American to say the country would be better off without [fill in the blank with the name of the current president] in office.
What is truly un-American is the “emperor worship” that some give President Obama. Doubtless the man, our president, would say that while it is nice to be wanted, it is dangerous to be worshiped; unless of course you happen to be a god.
Jesus is God and by definition more desirable than a man or woman.
Barak Obama is president of the United States.
If you need help with forming ideas for your prayer on behalf of our President Obama see any newspaper, any news broadcast, or see The Book of Common Prayer. Appropriate reference follows:
Page 820 section 19 [a prayer for] the President of the United States and all in civil authority. [About wisdom and strength to know God’s will]
Or if you really-really don’t care for the man:
Page 816 section 6. [a prayer] For our Enemies [lead them and us from prejudice to truth;] this hints we may be the problem and not the president.
The guy with the message on his car windows is right biblically speaking. Salvation comes from God not the current leader of any nation.
The word “Jesus” means ‘Jehovah saves,’ it means salvation. So would I rather my country have salvation or have Mister Obama?
I chose Jesus and you should too. To be a Christian without Jesus is to be the wedding guest in Mathew 22:11-14.
let go of your ego, for it lives in your mind, and hides your soul. Religion was founded to appeal to the egoic mind, where thought lives. But YOU are the awareness behind it all.
“This is the egoic mind. We call it egoic because there is a sense of self, of I (ego), in every thought–every memory, every interpretation, opinion, viewpoint, reaction, emotion. This is unconsciousness, spiritually speaking. Your thinking, the content of your mind, is of course conditioned by the past: your upbringing, culture, family background, and so on. The central core of all your mind activity consists of certain repetitive and persistent thoughts, emotions, and reactive patters that you identify with most strongly. This entity is the ego itself.”
“See if you can catch, that is to say, notice, the voice in the head, perhaps in the very moment it complains about something, and recognize it for what it is: the voice of the ego, no more than a conditioned mind-pattern, a thought. Whenever you notice that voice, you will also realize that you are not the voice, but the one who is aware of it. In fact, you are the awareness that is aware of the voice. In the background, there is the awareness. In the foreground, there is the voice, the thinker. Awareness and ego cannot coexist.”
“a Bible prophecy that seems more applicable now than at any other time in human history. It occurs in both the Old and the New Testament and speaks of the collapse of the existing world order and the arising of ‘a new heaven and a new earth’. We need to understand here that heaven is not a location but refers to the inner realm of consciousness. This is the esoteric meaning of the word, and this is also its meaning in the teachings of Jesus. Earth, on the other hand, is the outer manifestation in form, which is always a reflection of the inner. Collective human consciousness and life on our planet are intrinsically connected. ‘A new heaven’ is the emergence of a transformed state of human consciousness, and ‘a new earth’ is its reflection in the physical realm.
”
Peace to you.
I like you enlightenment. Are you Gnostic. Either you know how wise your statement was, or you are scattered everywhere. Please tell me you recognize the wisdom in the admission of one’s own delusionment. And how it is counter ego.