Lots of articles and posts to call your attention to this week. Though one friend recommended I post something on the lighter side, I think I’m still trending heavy with these. Forgive me.
- A couple week’s ago, I posted about Michael Emerson’s UrbanFaith.com article on “The Redistribution Question.” It generated lots of feedback, mostly negative. Many disagreed with Michael’s perspective on the issue regarding what a Christian vision of economic justice might require of us. Last week, blogger Black Wasp presented a passionate defense of sorts of Michael Emerson’s commentary on redistribution. Needless to say, the topic stirred up a lively conversation over there as well.
- Denise Wilmer Barreto, a Judson College classmate of mine, also posted a provocative commentary last week. In it, she wonders about the motives of some Christians who advise “we really need to pray” for President Obama. Denise acknowledges that she’s treading on delicate ground, presuming to know the true intent behind what some folks are saying. But I think her willingness to “go there” can help us get one of the current evangelical “elephants in the room” out there “on the table” for discussion. (How’s that for mixing my metaphors? Sorry.)
- Did anyone see this article about the Christian high school in Texas that fired its girls basketball coach for allowing his team to run up the score and defeat their opponent 100 to 0? The story raises some interesting questions about competition, sportsmanship, leadership, and character development. I think the reader comments attached to this one are especially fascinating; you can see the “survival of the fittest” mentality in clear opposition to the “mercy and good will” spirit.
- Finally, I can’t resist offering one for Just Meee, who, as I said earlier, suggested I lighten up. Back in November, I did a post about the need for a new Barack Obama impersonator on Saturday Night Live. Well, in case you missed it, here’s one of the follow-up skits to the Obama parody that I highlighted by Jordan Peele from FunnyorDie.com. Be sure to watch it carefully for a subtle dig at one of President Obama’s (hopefully former) habits.
Reconciliation Blog 
I did not hear the prayer requests that Denise Wilmer Barreto mentions, so I probably missed some context of tone or specific words that inspired her post. I grow nervous, though, when even talk of praying for President Obama arouses suspicion of something more sinister.
Many churches, like the Episcopal congregations I have attended all my life, pray for the President, Vice President, Governor and Mayor every week, regardless of party affiliation. Evangelicals typically show still more concern about praying for our elected officials.
Assuming for a moment, though, that some evangelicals feel a greater need to pray for President Obama because they disagree with him, what is the harm in this? If a Christian begins with an agenda-driven prayer — “Change his mind, dear Lord, about [this hobby horse of mine]” — God is likely to use the prayer to soften the heart of the person saying it. That’s one of the great beauties of prayer: We do not control the results.
President Bush often mentioned how he was thankful for the prayers he received. I know that people mentioned praying for him while he was in office.
I’m sure that many people will not have pure motives in saying that they will pray for President Obama, we are all sinners after all.
I guess what bothered me about her commentary was that praying for Obama was somehow racially insensitive. Is there a perception that Evangelicals think we have to pray for him more because he is inherently less capable of being President? I hardly think that’s accurate. I remember people having similar concerns and opinions when Clinton was president. I really don’t think it’s racial.
The sentiment I’ve heard is that people are genuinely concerned with the direction he wants to take the country, thinking that it is morally wrong (like with abortion funding, expanding homosexual rights, and other issues), or just bad for the country with his economic and military philosophies. So I guess they’re praying for a change of heart and mind regarding these issues. I don’t see that as a bad thing.
And I’ve also heard people discuss concerns over his safety, and other personal things like the problems and pressures he faces on a daily basis as things to pray about.
I don’t think it’s disingenuous in any way to dislike someone and pray for them at the same time.