OBAMA: Why he's not the Anti-Christ

In a recent letter to the Press, Ron Spencer crossed the bounds of propriety and decency when he referred to the current (American) government as the “Anti-Christ” and “Progressive.” I assume he was referring primarily to President Barack Obama.

As a person who has read the Bible several times and studied it for over 60 years, I believe there needs to be a clarification about the term “Anti-Christ”.  The way I interpret Revelations, the Anti-Christ would be someone who speaks as the epitome of Christ in Christ’s name, as a messenger of Christ, purportedly with the same authority of Christ; a “real Christian”.  The Anti-Christ would be someone who speaks as a Christian but his actions would be the complete opposite of everything Christ preached; such as giving to the rich, bombing innocent civilians, removing the right of habeas corpus, signing statements, condoning torture, suspending due process, confining people for years without legal proceedings, starting wars without justification, etc.

From everything I have read and heard, President Obama does not represent himself in any way to be the messenger and the voice of God. Altogether, it seems that Obama is very much in the center of American political and religious beliefs.

From reading Obama’s words in speeches and the newspapers, the term “Anti-Christ” would not refer at all to President Obama or the current administration.  In Obama’s book The Audacity of Hope he states that he is against gay marriage and against abortion.  In last week’s Newsweek magazine, he is quoted as believing in the second amendment.   He is trying to provide health care for all Americans.

Let’s examine the label “progressive.” The Progressive movement was started primarily by Christians who initiated such progressive ideas as the 40-hour work week, the end to child labor, minimum wage, unemployment insurance, social security insurance, etc.  Read the recent biography on William Jennings Bryan for a good perception of how Christian people in this country voted in these “progressive” reforms as being consistent with Christ’s teachings.

You can tell when someone has lost an argument when they resort to name-calling. In future letters I would like to read what specific behaviors have occurred that are illegal, unconstitutional, immoral, unethical or treasonous. This type of factual debate would be more informative than many of the recent vitriolic and unsubstantiated letters to the Press.

GARY A. EDWARDS

Coeur d’Alene