Jesus and the National Prayer Breakfast

One of the first public acts of our new president was his appearance at the National Prayer Breakfast just a few weeks ago. While other less conservative politicians have seemed uncomfortable in such arenas, President Obama seems to be right at home. He used the occasion to declare that one’s faith should be a force for unity, not an excuse for prejudice and intolerance. He went on to say:

"We have seen faith wielded as a tool to divide us from one another – as an excuse for prejudice and intolerance," the president said. "Wars have been waged. Innocents have been slaughtered. For centuries, entire religions have been persecuted, all in the name of perceived righteousness.

Of his faith-based program, Obama said, "Instead of driving us apart, our varied beliefs can bring us together to feed the hungry and comfort the afflicted; to make peace where there is strife and rebuild what has broken; to lift up those who have fallen on hard times. This is not only our call as people of faith, but our duty as citizens of America.

Now, let me just say up front that just about any politician from any party would have been comfortable making a statement such as that. In fact, as Americans, we expect our presidents to be inclusive and tolerant in speaking of religion. After all, he isn’t just the president of Christian Americans, he’s also the president of Muslim Americans and Atheistic Americans too.

But . . . While our politicians may call for a uniting of faiths and while the politically correct might applaud the equating of one faith with another, they would, to the surprise of some, I’m sure, find themselves at odds with Jesus. You see, Jesus didn’t say that He came to bring people together. Quite the contrary. Jesus said:

Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 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’; 36 and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ 37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

You know, I just don’t know if Jesus would do very well at the National Prayer Breakfast. I have the feeling they might not invite Him back!