I Don’t Need Him to be My Pastor, Just My President
I have heard countless discussions about whether President Obama has done enough for Black Americans, or whether his views on same-sex marriage will destroy our country. In most of these conversations I have kept silent but there comes a time when you have to speak out.
So he supports same-sex marriage. So now since he has spoken in favor of it, the nation is coming to an end? You mean to tell me the moral disintegration we see in this country has nothing to do with the 50% divorce rate that our nation experiences? The moral decay that we are facing in our country has nothing to do with the glorification of sex and drugs, the child pornography scandals that keep arising in seemingly every other state, the promotion of teen pregnancy, the auctioning off of girls and guys who try to out-date each other to win their bachelor or bachelorette? The moral decay in our country has nothing to do with reality housewives who have to have cocktails, liposuction, and cat fights every few hours to stay sane? Now, all of a sudden the president’s opinion on gay marriage has caused the breakdown of the family? In the words of Bill Cosby, “Come on People”.
The Body of Christ has had countless Christian leaders and television personalities step down, take a sabbatical, or apologize to their congregations for the hurt they have caused because of their extra-marital affairs, tax evasions, drug addictions, and baby mama dramas, but none of this has affected how the Body of Christ is perceived? Yet, you want to blame it all on the President’s opinion of same-sex marriage-an issue that will be decided state-by-state regardless of who’s in office?
Black America, what else can he do? Can he make us value education over entertainment? Can he make us stop watching Love & Hip Hop Atlanta and force us to pay more attention to public policies? Can he make us take responsibility for the music that we have allowed to infiltrate our communities-lyrics that promote sex, drugs, blatant disrespect for authority and God? Is he alone to blame for the weaknesses within our culture? All he has done for the last four years is love his family and provide a positive image for marriage, parenting, and relationships. He has accepted full responsibility to lead our country out of a bunch of messes that he had nothing to do with. He faces disrespect and rebellious opposition from his own congress on a daily basis, and through it all he has maintained his decency, integrity, and professionalism. People like that used to be called exemplary, but I guess he is the exception.
I am frustrated with this pervading attitude that seems to be taking over our nation: Take Responsibility for Nothing, Accept every Excuse that is Given. Right now President Obama is the excuse that everyone can lean upon, but no one wants to talk about what their responsibility is in the messes that have been created in our country and that is tragic because all of us are responsible to some degree.
If you only voted for the president in 2008, but ignored local and state elections, you are responsible. If you are a closet Christian whose worship and service is active only between the four walls of your church, you are responsible. If you watch unhealthy reality shows and listen to degrading and exploitative musical lyrics because it’s “just tv” or it’s “just music”, you are responsible. If you have relied only on the television campaign ads and political talk shows to shape your vote, you are responsible. If you have ever remained silent on an issue when you knew you should have spoken up, you are responsible. If you are sitting on your ideas for small businesses and self-improvement, you are responsible. If the ratio of books to toys in your child’s bedroom or playroom is 1 to 10, you are definitely responsible.
Black America will change when Black America decides to re-prioritize its values and the Church will see revival when it decides to humble itself and turn from its confusing and divisive ways. Then and only then will God heal the land (2 Chron. 7:14).
So, yes you have a choice in this upcoming election. You can vote out the current president since he is to blame for all of the issues in our country and you can vote in his opponent so he can be blamed in 2016, OR you can take some personal responsibility and pray more than you complain, become more educated about the issues that affect your community, improve your lifestyle mentally, physically, and emotionally, and vote for the candidate that best represents this country both at home and abroad as we continue transitioning in an ever-changing, ever-evolving economic and social stratosphere.
If we do the latter, I guarantee we will see change, move forward, and experience the greatest comeback in the history of our nation. But it won’t be because of the president. It will be because of the people.
Danielle Koonce 
Selah …
Let the church say……Amen.
Well said! To many times we desire others to do a job we need to be a part of ourselves. When things go wrong it is always easier to blame someone else. That began in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve. We, Christians, are the salt of the earth and if we band together, no matter our denomination, we could turn things around.
Voting is our God given right and we need to exercise it. As the children of Israel were given a choice to chose or to vote whom they will serve, we are given a choice whom we will vote for in November. Obama has given us a good days work. as a matter of fact many would not be working now had he not done what he did.
Again good job! Well said!
Now let’s pray, get out to vote and watch God move in our favor
Rev. EC
Thanks Rev!
AMEN!!!!!!!
awesome word, great insight.
I completely agree. The change must begin in us. If we are not part of the solution, then clearly, we are part of the problem.
And that is what I hope everyone will recognize, that we too have some responsibility for the current state of our nation.
awesome, awesome, awesome, very thought provoking and having to look at yourself, as you cannot solve the problem if you are a part of the problem.
Very true!
No we can’t blame our president for all that is wrong with this world, or our homes for that matter. But like us all, he is accountable to God. That accountability also applies to the office (Romans 13;1). Also, the president recieves his authority from God to rule (Proverbs 8;15). With that said, should we ignore the pragmatism that causes the president to promote policies that are contrary to beliefs held by our christian faith? I don’t mean to over simplify the subject, just ask a question. Just for the record, I DO NOT believe that morality can be legislated. We see how well the death penalty has worked! But that still doesn’t give me reason to abdicate my moral responibilies as seen thru a biblicial world view. I often see the poster, “WWJD”. As a christian I wonder have I really thought about that question, have we?
As the Scripture says,
There is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony borne at the proper time…For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities– all things have been created by Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything. (1TI 2:5-6; COL 1:13-18)
SOLO CHRISTO!
Good questions and good comments. The president is certainly not exonerated from moral responsibility, but in terms of making the president the target for all of the issues that we see in our country is a bit of a stretch. Ultimately, God has the last say, but God is clear where judgment will begin. That judgment will begin with His house and not the White House (1 Pet 4:17) and we as Christians seem to want to ignore that. God bless you and thanks for sharing. I really appreciate the sharpening!
@Danielle Koonce. First, I must apologize for summiting my comment as anonymous. My name is Robert Martin, you may remember me from your youth at St. Thomas.
We cannot make our president the target, but by virtue of his position, he will be a taget! Just ask any pastor, “professor” or parent, it comes with the territory. What I think we should be doing is comming to the realization that he didn’t cause all of our problems, nor can he fix them! We should not expect worldly solutions to fix spiritual problems! NO election, will change the fact that America, the “church” especially has lost it’s moral anchor. We are afloat on a sea of relativism. And yes, judgement will begin in His house, please let’s not forget that.
Thank you, I love you sister and may God continue to bless you richly. I look forward to your future post.
PS. Tell mom and dad I said hi!
Hi Robert! I will certainly tell them hello and thanks for supporting the blog! Be blessed and keep sharing your thoughts!
Raye
Thanks Danielle! Surely God gave you those words of wisdom! Enough of the blame game! Even from the beginning the blame game only got us separation even the more from God. It never solved anything but more punishment for not taking responsibility for our misdoings and misthinking and certainly our disobedience. Wake up all people of America! We are all accountable!
Yes, we are! Thanks for sharing and supporting the blog!