Hank Williams Jr. Claims Barack Obama is Muslim

A new poll came out on perceptions of Obama’s faith:

21 August 2012

Hank Williams Jr. just made it pretty clear which presidential candidate he’ll be voting for come November…After finishing the song, “We Don’t Apologize For America,” the audience started chanting “USA, USA…” According to the Des Moines Register, Williams then told the crowd, “We’ve got a Muslim president who hates farming, hates the military, hates the U.S. and we hate him!” http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31749_162-57497290-10391698/hank-williams-jr-obama-is-muslim-who-hates-the-u.s./

While there are reasons to question Barack Obama’s declared faith, it is totally wrong to declared “we hate him” as Hank Williams Jr. reportedly did. We are to love one another (Romans 13:8), not hate (Leviticus 19:17). And whether or not one supports the positions of the USA president, one should pray for him (1 Timothy 2:1-3). Hank Williams Jr. should publicly apologize for what he stated.

As far as Barack Obama himself, notice something that came out in the news today:

President Barack Obama says it’s not his job to defend his Christian faith against doubters who suspect he’s Muslim. His GOP challenger, Mitt Romney, says religion is “integral” to his life, even as often he avoids mentioning his Mormon faith by name.

In interviews published Tuesday by Cathedral Age, the magazine of the Washington National Cathedral, the candidates responded in writing to nine questions about their faith…

Asked about people who question the sincerity of his faith, Obama responded: “You know, there’s not much I can do about it. I have a job to do as president, and that does not involve convincing folks that my faith in Jesus is legitimate and real.” http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/lifestyle/54738269-80/faith-romney-obama-religion.html.csp

Despite his statements, of course, many have wondered, “Is Barack Obama Muslim?”

And my answer has long been no, not if one needs to proclaim Islam to be one. Barack Obama’s publicly proclaimed religion is not Islam. He also does not pray five times per day at the prescribed times or do many of the things that practicing Muslims actually do (I will not attempt to go into what, if any, religion, is truly in his heart as that is not something that is provable).

Notice what his old “Fight the Smears” website claimed:

The Truth About Barack’s Faith

Barack Obama is a committed Christian. He was sworn into the Senate on his family Bible. He has regularly attended church with his wife and daughters for years.

But shameful, shadowy attackers have been lying about Barack’s religion, claiming he is a Muslim instead of a committed Christian.(http://fightthesmears.com/articles/3/baracksfaith viewed 11/29/08)

While I do not believe that he is committed to true Christianity, Barack Obama does not seem to be a secret Muslim. Hence, in that sense I do not believe he will fit prophecies that indicate that a committed Muslim will do anything. Yet, however, some have argued that since his father was considered as a Muslim, that Barack Obama is considered to be one too by birth, even if he never embraced Islam. Thus, in that sense he may be considered as some as a Muslim (there is a sort of similar concept within Catholicism as well).

Furthermore, notice the following news item:

Barack Obama joined Muslim prayers at school, teacher says

The Australian – Nov 8, 2010

AS a schoolboy in Jakarta, Barack Obama attended Muslim prayer sessions with his classmates against the wishes of his mother. The US President’s former grade three teacher said that Mr Obama – who was known as “Barry” when he attended the Menteng One school in Jakarta – studied the Koran and went to classes on Islam, despite the objections of Ann Dunham, a Catholic. (The Times.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/barack-obama-joined-muslim-prayers-at-school-teacher-says/story-e6frg6so-1225949239614)

Whether he attended prayer sessions to learn about Islam or to fit in, apparently Barack Obama was more involved in Islam that his mother wanted him to be.

Is Barack Obama a Muslim sympathizer?

The answer to that question is that he seems to be. Since he did grow up in Muslim Indonesia and had more early Muslim contacts than anyone else ever elected as President of the United States, he would probably have more reasons than most U.S. presidents to have sympathy for Muslim perspectives. Here is some of what Barack Obama’s “Fight the Smears” website quotes about this:

Newsweek…Obama’s only personal contact with Islam came as a boy when he moved to Jakarta, Indonesia, with a stepfather who mixed his Islam with Hindu and Animist traditions…

Boston Globe…His Kenyan paternal grandfather and Indonesian stepfather were Muslim…

Thus, while the selected quotes seem to have been intended by the Obama campaign to minimize his ties to Islam, Barack Obama had more early ties to Islam than any ever elected to becoming President of the United States. He also repeated his full name, Barack Hussein Obama, the 2 times I heard him on his inauguration as USA president (seemingly emphasizing the common Islamic name “Hussein”).

President Obama’s support of the Muslim Brotherhood (see Obama Administration supporting objectives of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt) is a major concern as the goal of that group is to have an Islamic caliphate from Spain to Indonesia. This is not something a real Christian would think should be supported. I am not saying that he is a Muslim, but his approach towards them differs than all past USA presidents.

And of course, Barack Obama has made public gestures supportive of Islam (like participating in Ramadan-related activities) and the Hindu faith (he carries and monkey-god charm and in November 2010 danced at a Diwali celebration). This suggests that he is neither Muslim or Christian as one true to either of those faiths would not carry a pagan deity as a good-luck charm (see also Barack Obama Carries Hindu Monkey God).

What faith is Barack Obama?

Barack Obama seems to be a supporter of a Constantinian religion (comes out of the Greco-Roman tradition, not the real Church of God) which claims Christ. Yet, he does not seem to be highly involved with it. For example, in the first few weeks after the election, he did not attend any church service according to an AP story (Obama skips church, heads to gym. November 23, 2008). He ended up not joining any church, but makes public church appearances on occasion (a couple times a year). Whether he makes the public appearances to give the impression he is Christian or this is what he believes is not clear to me.

However, because his religion is of the Constantinian variety, Barack Obama will likely not understand end-time prophecies and this will lead him to be more accommodating to the rise of the Beast than one who understands end-time prophecy would likely be.

While the secular media believes that Barack Obama is Christian, because he claims he is, the biblical definition of a Christian is one who has God’s spirit. True Christians have the Holy Spirit of God:

9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you (Romans 8:9-11).

True Christians have repented of their sins, accepted Christ, have been properly baptized, strive to live as Christ did, and possess God’s Holy Spirit (Acts 2:39; Romans 8:9-11). While Barack Obama claims to have accepted Christ, his actions and policy statements appear to be in conflict with a variety of biblical principles.

Here are some reasons that thinking, biblically-oriented Catholics and Protestants, may conclude Barack Obama is not a real Christian:

He stopped regularly attending outside church services after becoming elected President of the United States (except for some public events; cf. Matthew 23:6-7)–so his sincerity is doubted.
He has pushed the homosexual agenda. “Though President Obama opposed gay marriage during the 2008 election” (http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2012/02/five-best-tuesday-columns/48958/) he now supports and advocates it (see also Obama Announces He Wants to Repeal Defense of Marriage Act and Increase Debt).
One of his first acts after taking office was to increase international funding for abortions. He makes various public statements supporting abortion (notice, for example, Obama’s Latest Defense of Abortion).
On an international trip, he referred to the Muslim book as “the Holy Quran.” Real Christians do not consider the Quran as holy.
While in office, he attended the first “feeding” for Ramadan at least one year. Christians are not supposed to observe holy days of other religions.
He has been found to carry a Hindu monkey god (see Barack Obama Carries Hindu Monkey God). No Christian intentionally carries around pagan idols.
His initial, fairly clear sounding support, for the “ground-zero” mosque.
His two US Supreme Court appointees are both believed to be supporters of on-demand abortion.
He seems to support “freedom of worship” as opposed to “freedom of religion” (Obama Administration Changing Freedom of Religion?). This has carried forward in his stance on forcing the paying for various forms of contraception, including abortive pills, as he seems to feel that his form of morality should trump those who have religious beliefs to the contrary. And even though the beliefs of those in the genuine Church of God on family planning are closer to those held by the Eastern Orthodox, than Roman, Catholics, I believe that the President has often crossed a line that should concern all who profess Christ.
He seems to claim that political forms of covetousness are consistent with his “Christian Faith” values (see Obama Claims His Economic Policies are Linked to His ‘Christian Faith’).
He seems to advocate class warfare (see Obama: ‘You Can Call this Class Warfare‘).
He has increased the regulatory burden on some Americans excessively (cf. Jesus’ warnings Matthew 23:4-5).

We in the real Church of God could add many other items to the above list, but the dozen reasons above should give all concerns about Barack Obama’s faith.

It is basically because Barack Obama’s own statements and practices that have caused many to think he not a real Christian. Furthermore, his relatively close relationships with Muslims (having a Muslim father/grandfather and growing up in predominantly Muslim Indonesia) in his early years, his statements in Cairo and elsewhere, and his distancing himself from the State of Israel, etc. have had some wonder if he had remained a Muslim despite public denials.

Those who are not biblically-oriented, those who do not believe that they have to live their lives by what the Bible says, etc. seem confused, that many doubt the President’s claimed faith.

But irrespective of what faith he may actually hold, it seems that his policies may lead to greater cooperation between the Arabic and non-Arabic Muslim nations which at some point in time must end up with a leader (which the Shiites call a Mahdi) that the Bible shows will be the Future King of the South.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Barack Obama Carries Hindu Monkey God Unlike some of the odd stories about Barack Obama, this one is apparently true.
What Did the Early Church Teach About Idols and Icons? Did Catholic and Orthodox “saints” endorse or condemn idols and icons for Christians?
Prophecies of Barack Obama? This article has eight reasons why Barack Obama is apocalyptic and eight reasons why Barack Obama is not the Antichrist. It includes many biblical and non-biblical prophecies, from around the world, that seem to discuss Barack Obama. Did Nostradamus predict Barack Obama dealing with the Antichrist? Might Barack Obama set the stage for the kings of the North and South as at least one Shiite prophecy suggests? This is the longest and most complete article at the COGwriter website on Barack Obama prophecies. Read it and decide for yourself if President Obama seems to be fulfilling various prophecies.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States Some claim that Barack Obama is the prophesied “son of Kenya”. Might Bible prophecy be fulfilled since he is to be the USA president?
COGwriter Position on Other Churches and Religions What is the fate of those who do not know Christ? What about those who profess Christ outside the Church of God?
Do You Practice Mithraism? Many practices and doctrines that mainstream so-called Christian groups have are the same or similar to those of the sun-god Mithras. Do you follow Mithraism combined with the Bible or original Christianity?
Hope of Salvation: How the Genuine Church of God differ from most Protestants How the real Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants, is perhaps the question I am asked most by those without a Church of God background.
LCG: Homosexuals Gaining Ground “Same-sex marriage” for “gays” and lesbians is becoming more acceptable to many. What does the Bible teach about homosexuality? Can homosexuals change?
Abortion, the Bible, and a Woman’s Right to Choose Do you know what the Bible teaches on this?