Am I the only one who thinks that this is a fishy message to communicate?
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Hey Mark,
You know I support Barack Obama, so filter this through that lens:
I went to the site (having not read or seen anything about this yet), and I had the same reaction you did — at first. It struck me as being a page right out of the “Religious Right” playbook. Perhaps even “Rovian”?
Then I read Brian McLaren’s thoughts on (and whole-hearted endorsement of) the Matthew 25 Network, and I appreciated what he had to say, especially this: “Does that mean that every one of us is in full agreement with every detail of Senator Obama’s campaign? Of course not: we’re electing a president, not a Messiah! Blind, uncritical support is part of the misuse that we’re trying to move beyond. … Learning from past mistakes, we realize it’s not just who we support that matters – it’s how we show that support. … Electing the better president will not solve everything; it will only be a first step in the next chapter of our history, but it is an important step.”
So that’s encouraging to me, anyway.
I’d be interested in hearing more of a detailed analysis/critique of what you think is wrong with the Matthew 25 Network. I think you probably have some good pushback to give. I’ll certainly be interested in hearing it.
Shalom.
If everything on that site were the same as it is now, except Obama weren’t so prominently displayed, I think I wouldn’t react so strongly. But he is prominently displayed visually twice and then on the bottom it reads: “We are proud to endorse Senator Barack Obama for President.”
That is indeed a page out of the religious right playbook.
I’m not comfortable at all with an organization taking its name from a passage of Scripture that I particularly value and using the sentiment of that passage to declare one man as THE candidate that extols the virtues of that passage.
If I had zero understanding of Christianity, I would seriously assume that the quotation of Mt 25 2/3 of the way down the page was actually a quote of Barack Obama.
I can totally see what you’re saying, Mark. Those are things that give me pause, as well.
Perhaps, considering Brian’s statement, “Learning from past mistakes, we realize it’s not just who we support that matters – it’s how we show that support” — the Matthew 25 Network needs to reconsider “how” they are showing their support. It’s one thing to say Obama is “not a Messiah,” but it potentially communicates the opposite message when they show idyllic/iconic images of Obama. Or placing his picture next to a quote from The Real Messiah? Yeah, that’s kind of confusing …
And it’s just weird to say “We are proud” in most situations, I think. Isn’t pride one of those things we ought not to be expressing as Christians? Perhaps it would be better to say, “It is with sincere and deep conviction that we give our support to Senator Barack Obama for President” (or something like that).
I guess I don’t have a problem with the name being derived from the Scripture reference. I guess this is the replacement name for “Josiah Generation” (or whatever it was supposed to be called before the other Christian group threatened to sue them, right?). And I guess I’m OK with them endorsing Obama as THE presidential candidate that has the best shot of fulfilling the goals exemplified in Matthew 25 (I think that comes with enough asterisks attached for me to be comfortable anyway).
Good thoughts. Thanks, Mark.
I first thought this was another of the satire-things (and am still hesitant)… If it´s true, I am very sad and surprised.
Nope…it is true.
Do you think he is familiar with the anabaptist/anarchist option not to vote etc (Jesus for president and stuff), and has chosen to go in another direction, or do you think he is unaware of this perspective?
Is it possible to get in contact with him via email?
I weep, O God I weep. How far we have come from the Gospel. Here are people claiming to be members of the very incarnate body of Christ living in the world (but not of it), “In Nomine Dei” endorsing which should be Caesar according to God in an election of one of the world’s powers who’s power (potens) is based on laws, force and ultimately death! O God how long will this “Christian” insanity keep up. It gets more bazaar every day.
I do NOT vote; never have, as a Christian protest, no, not protest, but statement. At my baptism I “pledged allegiance,” my whole life to Christ. How can I pledge allegiance to a power of the earth and claim to be a child of the Kingdom?
“Leave the dead to bury their own dead,” electing whatever cemetery sexton they wish.