Posted on 12/25/2008 6:43:35 PM PST by gscc
If you didn't wince a bit while President Bush attempted last week on national television, no less to give an account of his Christian faith, well then maybe you too ought to go back and take a refresher course in Christianity 101.
I take seriously the testimony of friends who have worked closely with the president, who speak of the sincerity of his profession of faith in Christ and of his personal commitment to walk in biblical obedience.
But let's face it. Bush, based on what he told the folks on ABC's Nightline, wouldn't have passed a basic membership interview in most churches I know. "What do you think faith gave you that you needed?" the reporter asked. "It gave me strength and strength and understanding. There's love, universal love. My faith at this point in my life has enabled me to accept people's prayers and this made a huge difference in my life. There's a lot of dramatic moments and pressure. There are calm moments. How do you know? It's about prayer. For many people, it's a crutch, but for me it is it's the realization of a power of a universal God, and recognition that this God became manifested in human. And then died for sins."
(Excerpt) Read more at worldmag.com ...
The president has had breakfast with Tim Keller (of Redeemer PCA in nyc) and read his book “The Reason for God” a few times. While I agree with the article, there’s no one better than Keller for President Bush to spend time with.
No, he must not be accepting prayers for the hundreds of thousands who have earnestly praised for the pardon of the two imprisoned former border patrol agents.
Leave the man alone!
I strongly disagree.
Bush’s thoughts are profound and liberating. They express the highest sentiments of Christian principal and unlike so many other Christians, he has lived a life which has produced much good fruit.
This nation is addicted to Bush bashing.
Its sad that an allegedly Christian journalist cannot stand up to the angry mob and state the truth about this good man.
I strongly agree with you.
That said, it doesn't excuse the action. PLEEEEEEEEASE FREE THESE TWO PATRIOTS...END THEIR NIGHTMARE, SIR!
Can I get an amen?
How does one gainsay Pres. Bush’s faith? He has expressed more faith, and taken more flak for it, than any president in American history.
A bunch of mush written by an Obama voter that is trying to rationalize his decision. Nothing else.
Belz:
“those who harp on abortion, homosexuality, and marriage have never given thought to issues like poverty and economic justice, to racism and minority rights, to war and international fairness, to healthcare and environmental issues.”
You said — “A bunch of mush written by an Obama voter that is trying to rationalize his decision. Nothing else.”
That writer wasn’t writing to praise Obama, but to question the understanding that Bush has about Christianity and the basis for his salvation. I run across the very same thing in talking to supposed Christians. You ask a few questions, listen to their answers and you gain an understanding if they *really* know the *basis* for their own salvation or not. If they don’t, then it pays to make is clear from what the Bible says, so that they aren’t mistaken in what they believe and in missing out on a “saving faith”.
In addition, I have to question Bush’s understanding of who God is, if he says that the Muslims and Christians worship the same God. That raises serious questions for me, because the god that the Muslims worship has the “attributes” of Satan and not the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Therefore, if one says that about Muslims and their false god, in comparison with Christianity and our Creator God, then we’ve got some real serious problems with understanding what the Bible says and who God is.
Furthermore, if Bush thinks that “dividing the land of Israel” is something God approves of — then he is seriously mistaken. This will result in serious judgement upon the United States. This is another big lack of understanding that Bush has.
So, there are several areas of question here...
Sheesh. Do you guys think about anything else? Ever?
I frankly do expect him to pardon Ramos and Campion (sp?) but it won’t particularly put my panties in a twist if he doesn’t. I’m even the guy that usually gives the cop the benefit of the doubt. I’m happy to see these guys get a decent break, but damn... They are in fact guilty. They got their day in court and it’s just not the be-all and end-all of the Bush Administration to settle it. Some people get pardons and lots more people that should... don’t. It’s a big world out there and there’s other things happening, believe it or not.
“wouldn’t have passed a basic membership interview in most churches”
Well if he wants to join our church he won’t have to “pass” anything.. If the man says he is a believer then no one I know of on this earth should be judging his walk.. Judge yourself and leave the rest of us alone
Amen!!
Caution, Ramius, this one is a fraud, a poseur at Bible knowledge. [http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2154244/posts?page=372#372]
The president has had breakfast with Tim Keller (of Redeemer PCA in nyc) and read his book “The Reason for God” a few times. While I agree with the article, there’s no one better than Keller for President Bush to spend time with.
...........
I think the border policy enforced by Bush is effectively murdering the USA.
Tim Keller is Great and a good influence on anyone as to christian doctrine. That said, NYC has more in common with London Berlin or Hong Kong than with Buffalo Plattsburg or Albany or Pittsburgh or Des Moine for that matter..
It’s not my place to judge. But even so I’ve seen nothing in The President’s words or deeds that give me any pause about his personal walk. There are plenty of The Saved that have a great many misunderstandings about a great many things. This forum alone contains plenty of evidence of that. Someday perhaps we can all sit at the table and laugh with the Lord about those things.
And me too.
Of course he could benefit from an intense study of the Bible. Who couldn’t?
You said — “You question the understanding of others when you make boast over the story of the Good Samaritan and didn’t even know which was whom?”
The Bible speaks for itself and it’s the Word of God. If you don’t want to take it or pay attention to it, then you do so at your own peril. If you persist in thinking that it’s okay to ignore what Jesus said about how to treat a person as one would love oneself — then, again, you do so at your own peril.
Those who choose to ignore the Bible, the Word of God and do so against whomever is in political power and which has nothing to do with politics and policies — but rather about how one “treats” another person — they do so with judgement coming down upon them, at the hand of God, Himself.
You do whatever you want to do — because I have nothing to do with it, other than referring you over to the Word of God, and urging others to follow that same Word of God.
If this country continues in the type of thinking that *you* exhibit here, then we are in for a long duration of the judgement of God upon this nation — thanks to Obama voters, along with you (and whomever else persists in ignoring God)...
Roger that. I’m not unfamiliar. :-)
I think that President Bush has sincerely accepted Jesus as his savior.
He may not be a biblical scholar for goodness sake, but God knows what is in his heart.
I do not doubt that for a second. He is the real deal.
I agree. Well said, NordP.
I sure hope so for the sake of whomever may or may not understand the basis of their salvation. In terms of one’s salvation, I’ve heard many preachers say that many of their church people come every Sunday, but, they know that a goodly number of them do not understand what it means to be saved — but they are there in church every week.
Wouldn’t it be sad to think and say to those people — well, we’ll just trust that you really do know about the salvation that Christ offer, and then find out later that they actually didn’t!” That would be tremendously sad, indeed.
It pays to really go over these things with someone you doubt does know — just to make sure they are going to be talking with you and the Lord when the time comes.
—
Now, aside from the issue of salvation of an individual (and I’ve seen and talked to many who think that salvation is something different than the Bible presents) — there is the issue of what a person supports (in the way of a policy that our government enforces), and also in what a person “asserts” as true in a public speech.
For one thing, if a person has something to do with our government’s policy on the dividing of the land of Israel — that is going to bring the judgement of God on this entire nation for us enforcing that. That’s serious and something apart from that person’s salvation.
And then, on the other matter, if one says that the god of Islam is the same God as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob — that’s an evil lie — if there ever was one. Either one is totally ignorant — and is therefore misleading a lot of people — or they are purposefully deceiving people, which is even worse. I would hope that Bush is not purposefully deceiving people, because then I *also believe* that will bring the judgement of God upon this nation as he is a leader of this nation. If he is woefully ignorant, that’s not going to do us too much good, either, as he will lead a lot of others astray and he will be responsible for many thinking that if they worship the god of Islam (which is of the devil) that they are “right with God” in the matter (a really, really serious problem)....
Few men of faith have been tested as President Bush has been tested.
It seems silly to suggest his faith is immature.
As I said before, we are addicted to Bush bashing.
Its sad. Any negative biblical commentary on Bush is going to sound more like Job’s friends than anything we could all prosper from as wisdom.
One of the marks of salvation is a hunger for the word of God.
That usually leads to some spiritual
“[Mr. Bush, with respect] . . .wouldn’t have passed a basic membership interview in most churches I know.”
His answers in that interview would have disqualified him from membership in our church, not out of hatred — simply because we believe that the Bible is absolutely true from ‘kiver-t’-kiver . . . includin’ da’ kiver.’
Mr. Bush would be welcome to attend our meetings, and he ought to attend a Bible-believing church (for a change). But actual members of our church must be Bible-believers, and hold it as the absolute Final Authority in matters pertaining to . . . . all matters.
Just a side thought: I wonder when the day will come when people will take churches to court in law suits stating that churches must “provide services” to anyone, and cannot restrict their membership to those in doctrinal agreement.
Thank you !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love Bush. There.
he has kept me and my pupster safe for eight friggin years.
Maroons that Bash Bush should go to DU where they have plenty of company...
we all know he is not perfect, but what these maroons want is a “Daddy dictator” or a Presidential Santa!
there , I feel better. ha. And BTW, I know that the flamers are just trying to be “ Honnnnnest”. yeesh.
opps spiritual maturity
LOL
Bush could use some disciplined study of reality. (smirk)
“[Mr. Bush, with respect] . . .wouldn’t have passed a basic membership interview in most churches I know.”
His answers in that interview would have disqualified him from membership in our church, not out of hatred — simply because we believe that the Bible is absolutely true from ‘kiver-t’-kiver . . . includin’ da’ kiver.’
Mr. Bush would be welcome to attend our meetings, and he ought to attend a Bible-believing church (for a change). But actual members of our church must be Bible-believers, and hold it as the absolute Final Authority in matters pertaining to . . . . all matters.
Just a side thought: I wonder when the day will come when people will take churches to court in law suits stating that churches must “provide services” to anyone, and cannot restrict their membership to those in doctrinal agreement.
So you give your little daddy GWB credit for keeping us safe,ey?
Funny, I thought it was the American military and the alphabet agencies. You think Bush is actually running those? Bush couldn’t run a hot dog stand without bankrupting it and giving his customers food poisoning.
GWB and the GOP have handed us Obammi on a silver platter and we shall never again in our lifetimes get rid of the nanny state. We are all slaves to it now.
Thanks George.
Yes and Amen!
...maybe he was trying to “dumb it down”, you know, for the media;)
saltnlemons
You cant be serious
Bush named highways after abortion doctors in Texas
Bush praised Islam as a great religion, instead of the false religion that the Bible plainly states it is
For ANYone to claim that Bush represented Christian Faith, they either dont know who Bush is or dont know what the Christian faith is
When Bush first got innaugurated there were several tales of just how his conversion came about, and one account said he had a light enter his room and he felt a peace with God. Not one mention of the Holy Spirit convicting him of sin or the need of a Saviour, and there is NO way anyone becomes a Christian without some sense, and a clear one at that, of sin and the need to be saved in the first place
Bush Basher.
You coming on here this year just to complain and whine.
go over to DU...you sure don’t help the conservative cause...take your anger to moveon.org...they will love your posts.
I agree with your articulate and thorough post.
and yes, there are a few more things to worry about, though I too wish they would get a pardon.
And it happens here too sadly.
talk about a fifth column on Freep...we don’t need the DU to do that, we have our own “pure conservatives” to do that..they are legends in their own minds.
give it a break.
so now YOU have the inside track and can judge -—and you do-—who is saved and who is christian or not?
give it a break. so glad that I am not ‘qualified’ for membership in your church. Yeesh.
You said — “give it a break.”
Well, take a look at who “followed” whom to what thread...
I sure didn’t follow “MHGinTN” around to other threads like he likes to do... :-)
—
Good FReeper etiquette would be to not “chase” other FReepers around on different threads... LOL...
AMEN. It IS getting rather tiring at this point. He deserves a rest from continual bashing and hatred.
OOHHH, that tells us a lot right there. Christians are supposed to care more about these things than about abortion and gay marriage. Yeah, riiiight.
I heartily agree about the dividing of Israel. Any president who gets that to happen is putting our nation in big trouble with God.
With all he’s had to put up with and he still won’t say a word about it shows me his Christlike qualities.
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