Posted on 11/08/2001 4:35:31 PM PST by TheAngryClam
Three times in his address on 11/08/01 Bush used the words of Todd Beamer- "Let's Roll!" including to close it. Think it's possible to bump him?
As to the Islam question, he is walking a fine line...and it is an uncomfortable one I think. But he has never, ever said that we all worship the same God, as Giuliani said at one point. He has very carefully steered clear of that, and I think that has been very carefully and purposefully avoided. From what I have heard, moderate Muslims believe that they worship the same God as the God of the Christians and the Jews, or at least that's what many of them say to other Christians. However, President Bush has never, ever said that we worship the same God.
I think the intent in his statements about Islam are fairly obvious--keep the Muslim countries that we need in the coalition, keep Americans from attacking other Americans who happen to be Muslims, and also to push Muslims toward a choice between a moderate, peaceful expression of their religion over against the extremist expression of it. By saying that Islam is a peaceful religion, he gives Muslims an "out" if they would choose that peaceful practice of their religion. He pushes them to choose, to take a side in the fight, and offers them a side to take that can still be reconciled with their religion. It really is the only way that their religion can survive at this point...
His statements about Islam, and his inclusion of Islamic clerics in certain key meetings and services, made me a bit nervous at first, and so I was on my toes, looking for betrayals of Christian doctrine, but he has never crossed that doctrinal line. That speaks quite loudly, IMO, that his faith in Christ is firm and clear, and that he understands the verse where Jesus says "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through me."
I think one of the mistakes Christians can make in evaluating this aspect of the President's character is that in all that we see him doing, he is functioning as the President of the United States, not as a religious leader. His faith is an understated but constant foundation. He's the President, not a minister of the Gospel, and he leaves the exhortation and preaching of the Word of God to those who are called to that service.
-penny
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