Democrats may frown on Jon Voight’s comments at the 2009 Republican Senate-House Dinner Monday night, at which he referred to President Barack Obama as a “false prophet.” But if they want to point a finger, they should start with their own Oprah Winfrey, who first introduced Barak Obama to America in 2007 as “the One”. And just this past Friday, Newsweek editor Evan Thomas referred to him as “God” on MSNBC. Several prominent figures have had their moment on the soapbox declaring Obama’s eminence, in one light or the other. As Randy Jackson often said on “American Idol”: “I’m just keeping it real.”
Some might say it’s an overreaction to be concerned about such titles. After all, President Obama is not calling himself “Jesus” or “Lord”. Furthermore, no one can threaten the sovereignty of the Almighty God. He is not threatened by Obama’s power. In fact, God has allowed Obama to come into power for this season. None of us know why, although many would claim to know. How prideful. We are to continually seek the mind of God, but to claim to know it fully is not only arrogant, it’s ignorant. Instead of trying to figure out why God allowed something, we’d be wiser to focus on how He wants us to respond.
In Matthew 24, Jesus speaks of people that will arise in the end times, people he refers to as “false prophets”, who will “mislead many”. Whether or not Obama is some sort of false prophet is not as important as the larger implication of this passage. Jesus is promising that many will be led astray, and not just by one leader, but by many leaders. He is warning his disciples then and his followers today not fall prey to poor leadership which would take them off course. Jesus presents this as fact. Many will lead many down the wrong path, which means few will take few down the right one.
On Monday, after former House Speaker Newt Gingrich inspired Republicans to regain the White House and Congress, Voight thanked many members of the media who are standing against the tide, refusing to be led astray by the biased, liberal left. He said, “Let’s give thanks to them for not giving up and staying the course to bring an end to this false prophet, Obama.” A strong statement to be sure, perhaps even hyperbole, but encouragement and praise should be offered to those who courageously attempt to lead the masses on right pathways.
Individually, we must be careful not to get caught up in negativity, pessimism, accusations, and name-calling. God does not charge us to spend our time identifying “false prophets” and criticizing them from our armchairs. He tells us to be careful who we follow, indicating he knows and expects us to be putting one foot in front of the other in some direction, preferably his.
Let’s keep to the right road and encourage each other to do the same. Let’s give praise where praise is due, and warn others where warning is warranted. But let’s not get distracted in the mire. Let’s keep moving forward, staying on the lighted path, and bring as many people with us as will be wise enough to follow.
Karyn, what is that “right pathway” that Voight was speaking of anyway? I didn’t catch that part. The implication is that Obama is somehow taking our nation down the wrong path, how so? Obama is far from perfect, he would be the first to admit as much. However, I don’t see how Voight deserves any praise for his rather empty and yes, negative remarks. In one breath you say, “Many will lead many down the wrong path, which means few will take few down the right one…” (quite a leap but that’s beside the point), then in your closing remarks you urge us to stay on the lighted path, and to “bring as many people with us as will be wise enough to follow.” Christians follow the path that God puts before them, not Voight, Karyn Brownlee, or Obama. However, Obama’s policies… seeing to the needs of the working class, seeking an emphasis on diplomacy in foreign relations, respect towards other religions and cultures, and trying to mend any and all fences in general… this is all very consistent with my Christian perspective. Your blog is an example of why people should not politic via religion. Karyn Brownlee… your false prophet of the day! (Hyperbole admittedly, but you see my point.)
We should ask not if God is on our side but if we are on the side of God. You state that we should not point the finger or judge. You insinuate that we are not the ones but it is God that knows the true character of a person. Then why do you in your blog continue to insinuate (although in a veiled way) that Obama is not a good man or a good president. Have you considered that perhaps the Republican elite are the false prophets. The last time I looked if Jesus had a platform it (with minor exception) didn’t even come close to tha to of what Republicans are today.
It is so sad for people who says they follow Christ but hold hate in their heart. It is easy to follow false prophets if a person is not studing for their own salvation. There have been years of separation of this country whether it is in this country or our neighboring countries. Now there is talk of coming together, having peace, respect others as well as loving thy neighbors what’s the problem? So how can so many still want to bring a stop to that? We need to think before we judge. For those who discourage others or just having a hard time, there was a sermon that I heard and it was titled “Victory in darkness” read Exodus 13:17-22 & 14:19-20 and know that there’s a cloud of God that follows you even in a mist of darkness. Encouragement is what we are to do. I love you all!!
A couple of comments, first on the article itself, then on the comments above. It is tough to address a story such as this one, because of the division it’s sure to create, as evident in the comments. So I applaud you Ms. Brownlee for addressing a difficult subject. However, one issue I would like to point out is that we cannot offer praise to one person for attempting “to lead the masses on the right pathways†yet declare that individually we “must not spend our time identifying false prophets.†Which way should we have it? Biblically it’s the former. This doesn’t mean that we start throwing out names of everyone we believe to be a “false prophetâ€, instead it means that we are to constantly be on alert with sharpened discernment of the Holy Spirit, to follow the charge of Jesus in Matthew 7:15-16 to “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits.†It’s their fruits that will identify them. Are we observing the fruits of Mr. Obama in order to make the declaration that Mr. Voight has pointed out? For the comments: Cjsks2009: You are correct, Christians follow the path that God puts before them, which is the Word of God. Psalm 119:105 God’s word is very clear on the “policies†of abortion, same-sex marriage, and the dependence on God for our needs, not the government. It does not declare that we should “respect†other religions, but instead states that Jesus is the “Way, Truth, and Life†that “no one comes to the Father†except through Him. John 14:6 This is the Truth by which all other “religions†are measured and fail. It is a “stumbling block” to those who do not believe. It is impossible to separate Religion from Politics, as we can trace this alliance even further back than is Biblically evidenced through the life of Samuel who served as Prophet, Priest, and King. However, as you point out that “people should not politic via religion†did not our own president do this very same thing by reaching out an olive branch to the Muslim people? A political leader addressed a religious body, not another governing body, but the Muslim religion specifically. What are we to make of this as Christians? ChuckMeck: It seems as though you are maybe caught up in the right vs. left, Republican vs. Democrat debate. As Christians how do we decide which to be? Should we not vote at all? Or should we cast our lot with those whose values most closely identify with our own? While it can be argued that neither side conforms its values 100% to the Bible, how am I to side with a party that endorses abortion and same-sex marriage? Two policies that blatantly contradict Scripture. As I alluded to earlier, let’s look at the Presidents fruits to determine his character, not to judge him personally, but to determine if he seeks the will of God. Throwda1ststone: The peace that you speak of is unattainable and has been since the Garden of Eden when Satan attacked the Truth of God by questioning Him to Adam and Eve. As long as people continue to oppose the Truth that is Jesus Christ, there will continue to be a lack of peace. As Jesus stated in Matthew 10:34-36, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’†By no means does this mean that Christians are to be warriors in the physical sense, but instead it enforces the fact that their will be no peace until Christ establishes His Kingdom on earth forever. Biblical prophecy emphatically warns against “false peace†as evident in Daniel and Revelation. I praise God for His Word that provides us the Truths against which all the lies of this world can be measured. Sola Dei Gloria