Henley: God Chose Obama. For Something.

November 20, 2012 by Ed Brayton

Wallace Henley, associate pastor of the Second Baptist Church in Houston, has an article in the Christian Post admitting that, if the Bible is to be believed, God has chosen President Obama as our leader (don’t ask how, of course, because that would reveal all sorts of contradictions with that free will stuff they like to use to get out of the problem of evil). But he’s sort of an evil leader who will bring about…well, something.

There’s only one thing to say to the mis-prognosticators and the folk who prayed earnestly and fervently for Obama’s defeat: Barack Obama is the President of the United States, and he is the chosen of God for that high office in this period of our history.

Obama is not chosen like the Apostles, but chosen like Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, whose insane capriciousness enlarged the voice of godly prophet Daniel in the midst of a godless culture. Obama is chosen like Cyrus the Persian, a power-worshipper who had no idea he would be the instrument of God to issue a decree that would lead to the restoration of Jerusalem and the Temple.

Neither of them were conscious they were being used by the living God to shape history and advance the Kingdom of God – the Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy. Politicians who try to see their place in history always miss the full picture.

So he says Christians should thank God for Obama’s reelection as an “act of obedient faith.” Doesn’t seem likely.

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tsig

Just think, the electors will be acting out the will of god.
holytape

It may be a while before we will know why God chose Obama. After all we are still trying to figure out why God chose Millard Fillmore, and that was 160 years ago.
machintelligence

God didn’t choose Obama, we did. Wallace Henley should try Occam’s razor sometime (of course he would probably cut his throat with it.)
kraut

Man, that saves a lot of money. If god chooses, why even have elections and all the primary stuff?
matty1

Obama is not chosen like the Apostles, but chosen like Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, whose insane capriciousness enlarged the voice of godly prophet Daniel in the midst of a godless culture. Obama is chosen like Cyrus the Persian, a power-worshipper who had no idea he would be the instrument of God to issue a decree that would lead to the restoration of Jerusalem and the Temple.

Correct me if I’m wrong here but neither Nebuchadnezzar or Cyrus was actually godless. Marduk and Ahura Mazda have just as much supporting evidence and logic as the God of the Bible and there is no reason to recast their worshippers as atheists.

Also if memory serves the order to rebuild the Jerusalem temple was not the result of Cyrus being puppetted but part of a deliberate policy to secure the empire by linking the monarchy to local cults. Similar orders were issued covering the deities of other areas, did all those gods use Cyrus as an instrument too?
cottonnero

A guy like Wallace Henley, presented with Occam’s Razor, will say “God did it. That’s the simplest answer.”
Who Cares

Off topic:

Mabus has been arrested for his parole violations: link.
DaveL

Correct me if I’m wrong here but neither Nebuchadnezzar or Cyrus was actually godless. Marduk and Ahura Mazda have just as much supporting evidence and logic as the God of the Bible and there is no reason to recast their worshippers as atheists.

Well, if they think Obama’s godless for being a Methodist, I don’t think they’re going to recognize Marduk or Ahura Mazda.
laurentweppe

Obama is not chosen like the Apostles, but chosen like Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon […] Obama is chosen like Cyrus the Persian

I’m pretty sure both Nebuchadnezzar and Cyrus were chosen because they were their fathers’ eldest sons. Also, how does comparing Obama to ancient head of states who led their respective civilization to the height of their powers qualifies as an attack?
Didaktylos

Maybe it shows that there’s hope for God, yet – though he’ll have do a lot better than just preventing one @rsehole, in particular, from winning an election …
Marcus Ranum

Yep, because god acts in mysterious ways: namely, indistinguishably from chance and cause and effect.
democommie

“Henley: God Chose Obama. For Something.”

Until I read a little further, I thought Don Henley had gone around the bend.

Or that he was bringing him on for the next tour.
fifthdentist

Sounds like some of them have at least reached the bargaining stage of grief. Although most seem still to be stuck on a combo of denial and anger.
matty1

they think Obama’s godless for being a ~~Methodist~~ Democratic president

Fixed
dugglebogey

Can someone explain the logic behind Christians hating Obama for trying to get health care for poor people?
matty1

@15 As the saying goes logic can only take you so far then you have to get out and hop.
thalwen

Their God is a huge troll. First, he goes out and tells the craziest of the crazy of the GOP that they’re all chosen by him to be president. Hilarity ensues. Then he gives them visions of baseball mitts convincing them that their outdated robot of a candidate is definitely absolutely going to win. And then the coup-de-grace, he picks Obama and watches his flock fall all over themselves calling for the end of the world.

Well played, God, well played.
Raging Bee

Okay, we’ve heard from Wallace Henley (whoever the fuck he is). What does Don have to say?

“This is the end of the [ridiculously over-extended pretend] innocence.” One can only hope.
Stevarious, Public Health Problem

So he says Christians should thank God for Obama’s reelection as an “act of obedient faith.” Doesn’t seem likely.

Since everything that happens is, by definition, god’s will, aren’t they supposed to thank god in humble obedience for every single thing that ever happens?

House burns down? Thank you god for giving me this test of faith! Thank you god for giving my friends and family a chance to demonstrate their generosity!

Pastor coerces your 13 year old daughter to have sex and knocks her up? Thank you god for this gift of a beautiful grandchild! Thank you god for teaching our daughter valuable life lessons about trust!

Atheist muslim brown person gets elected? Thank you god for this… this… well I’m sure there’s a reason! Um, yeah, thank you god for destroying my home and country, just like you did to the Jews, your chosen people, over and over!

Since everything god does is by definition good, and everything that happens is decreed by god, everything is always perfectly good, no matter how much people suffer! There’s no more bad things! YAY!!
laurentweppe

Can someone explain the logic behind Christians hating Obama for trying to get health care for poor people?

You’re reding it wrong: it’s Whites hating Obama for trying to get health care for black & brown people who say Jesus Jesus Jesus because they can’t say Nigger Nigger Nigger anymore
raven

Maybe god wanted a christian for President of the USA instead of a nonchristian Mormon.

It really does look odd when the leader of god’s chosen country with his hand of protection over it isn’t even a…christian.

Half of all xians and 3/4 of priests and ministers do not consider the Mormons christians. Up until Romney was nominated the Southern Baptists official position for decades was that they were Fake xians and all going to hell. The SBC even sent missionaries to Utah to save them.

There are always loose ends when they change their eternal truths and sacred core doctrines, which they do often.
raven

William Henly:

Obama is chosen like Cyrus the Persian, a power-worshipper who had no idea he would be the instrument of God to issue a decree that would lead to the restoration of Jerusalem and the Temple.

Typical.

How does William Henly know what god wants? He doesn’t.

All faith claims reduce down to voices in someone’s head. Millions of people claim to hear from god. God says different things to all of them. They can’t all be right. But they can all be wrong.

If you look at xianity, it looks about as fake as something can get.
heddle

It may be a while before we will know why God chose Obama. After all we are still trying to figure out why God chose Millard Fillmore, and that was 160 years ago.

Hah!

Can someone explain the logic behind Christians hating Obama for trying to get health care for poor people?

I can’t. It is very odd. And it is a peculiarly American phenomenon, at least in the west. I know many European conservative Christians–they are almost always politically liberal. I have no idea why there is such a strong positive correlation between theological and political conservatism in the US. I am guessing that it has something to do with what used to be called the Protestant Work Ethic–but I’m no sociologist. Calling Max Weber.
matty1

I know many European conservative Christians–they are almost always politically liberal.

My Grandad was a Christian Socialist, part of me still does a double take when I see Christianity linked to right wing politics.
feralboy12

It may be a while before we will know why God chose Obama. After all we are still trying to figure out why God chose Millard Fillmore, and that was 160 years ago.

Even weirder was God’s choice of William Henry Harrison in 1841 which he rescinded 30 days later, when he rescinded William Henry Harrison.
fifthdentist

@25, Bible-monster is allowed to change his mind. Or it could be he was otherwise occupied on election day in 1840, maybe helping his favorite British bowling team win the national championship? And when he turned his attention back to America had to perform an emergency impeachment.
John Phillips, FCD

Matty1 says:

November 20, 2012 at 9:51 am

@15 As the saying goes logic can only take you so far then you have to get out and hop.

I am so stealing that.
grumpyoldfart

Wallace Henley writes: “Obama is not chosen like the Apostles.”

Just as well. Within a few hours of Jesus’ death the appointment of apostles had degenerated into farce. According to Acts 1:26, Matthias won the position in a lottery. Not a vote – a lottery!
democommie

“Up until Romney was nominated the Southern Baptists official position for decades was that they were Fake xians and all going to hell. The SBC even sent missionaries to Utah to save them.”

Has anyone checked to see if that cease-fire still holds?