Obama's Speech at Saddleback

Christians beware. The left is involved in a very calculated lean towards appearing as a party of faith. They are learning the language and incorporating it into their speech and even their websites. The goal is to draw true Evangelicals away from the Republican party that has so conspicuously dropped the ball on issues that are important to born again Christians. The left is even enlisting help from men who claim to be Evangelicals, like Rick Warren and Jim Wallis and others who speak “Christianese” as my friend Bruce calls it. Don’t be deceived.

A recent example was (the media’s darling) Barack Obama’s invitation to the AIDS conference held at Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church. Here are some quotes from Obama’s speech to the 20,0000 member California congregation. Obama's words are in italics. I have interjected comment on the sections in bold.

“Their (Rick Warren and wife) decision to devote their time, their money, and their purpose-driven lives to the greatest health crisis in human history is not one that's always reported on the news or splashed across the front pages, but it is quietly becoming one of the most influential forces in the struggle against HIV and AIDS.”

Greatest Health Crisis in Human History? Can someone say “hyperbole”? Please. AIDS is an avoidable disease and is certainly not the greatest health crisis in human history!

“For some, the only way to prevent the disease is for men and women to change their sexual behavior - in particular, to abstain from sexual activity outside of marriage.

For some? It’s an almost foolproof system. Abstain from sexual activity outside of marriage and don’t be a drug addict that shares drug needles. That will eliminate your chances of becoming HIV positive by 99%.


Estimated adult and adolescent HIV diagnoses in 2004 by exposure category (Totaled here - you can see the further breakdown here:

Exposure category
Male-to-male sexual contact 18,203
Injection Drug Use 5,962
Male to male sexual contact and
injection drug use 1,372
Heterosexual contact 12,683
Other/risk not identified 335
Total* 38,553

* Because totals are calculated independently of the subpopulations, the values in each column may not sum exactly to the figure in the Total row

"For others, such a prescription is unrealistic; they argue that we need to provide people with the tools they need to protect themselves from the virus, regardless of their sexual practices - in particular, by increasing the use of condoms, as well as by developing new methods, like microbicides, that women can initiate themselves to prevent transmission during sex."

Sounds like we’re rewarding stupid behavior. If laws are being pushed to ban smoking in public because it is a health risk, why aren’t laws forbidding homosexual activity being pushed? Why is it just the opposite – homosexuality is being pushed.

“Let me say this - I don't think we can deny that there is a moral and spiritual component to prevention - that in too many places all over the world where AIDS is prevalent - including our own country, by the way - the relationship between men and women, between sexuality and spirituality, has broken down, and needs to be repaired."

The relationship between men and women? Look at the chart above. The overwhelming majority of AIDS cases in this country are the result of men having sex with men.

"It was striking to see this as I traveled through South Africa and Kenya. Again and again, I heard stories of men and women contracting HIV because sex was no longer part of a sacred covenant, but a mechanical physical act; because men had visited prostitutes and brought the disease home to their wives, or young girls had been subjected to rape and abuse."

What is happening in Africa is horrible and must be addressed, but using this as a way to get sympathy, while failing to address the problem's real cause (rampant homosexual promiscuity) here in the US is an insult and a deceitful ploy.

"These are issues of prevention we cannot walk away from. When a husband thinks it's acceptable to hide his infidelity from his wife, it's not only a sin, it's a potential death sentence.And when rape is still seen as a woman's fault and a woman's shame, but promiscuity is a man's prerogative, it is a problem of the heart that no government can solve."

Where’s the statement that reads “When men think it is acceptable to have hundreds of homosexual partners a year, it’s not only sin, it’s a potential death sentence.”

"It is, however, a place where local ministries and churches like Saddleback can, and have, made a real difference - by providing people with a moral framework to make better choices."

What choices are being offered? Condoms? How about turning from your sin?

"Having said that, I also believe that we cannot ignore that abstinence and fidelity may too often be the ideal and not the reality - that we are dealing with flesh and blood men and women and not abstractions - and that if condoms and potentially microbicides can prevent millions of deaths, they should be made more widely available."

Exactly, and sin is of the flesh, and through the Gospel, millions can be set free from the flesh.

"I know that there are those who, out of sincere religious conviction, oppose such measures. And with these folks, I must respectfully but unequivocally disagree. I do not accept the notion that those who make mistakes in their lives should be given an effective death sentence."

Not only does this sentence disagree with his earlier sentence about husbands that think it’s acceptable to hide their infidelities from their wives, Obama disagrees with Jesus:

“Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.” John 5:14

“…Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” John 8:11

"Rick Warren has also taken the test. Sam Brownback and I took it today. And I encourage others in public life to do the same. We've got to spread the word to as many people as possible. It's time for us to set an example for others to follow."

How ridiculous and how totally politically correct. If there is no sexually risky behavior, there will be no HIV positive results.

“Like no other illness, AIDS tests our ability to put ourselves in someone else's shoes - to empathize with the plight of our fellow man. While most would agree that the AIDS orphan or the transfusion victim or the wronged wife contracted the disease through no fault of their own, it has too often been easy for some to point to the unfaithful husband or the promiscuous youth or the gay man and say "This is your fault. You have sinned."

Empathize: the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another of either the past or present without having the feelings, thoughts, and experience fully communicated in an objectively explicit manner; also : the capacity for this

Sorry. I don’t nor do I want to empathize with those who commit sexual sin.

"I don't think that's a satisfactory response. My faith reminds me that we all are sinners."

Typical Liberal Christian remark. I can't believe he didn't quote Matthew 7:1 right here!

"My faith also tells me that - as Pastor Rick has said - it is not a sin to be sick. My Bible tells me that when God sent his only Son to Earth, it was to heal the sick and comfort the weary; to feed the hungry and clothe the naked; to befriend the outcast and redeem those who strayed from righteousness.”

It is not a sin to be sick. But sometimes sickness is the result of sin. And no, Obama, that is not why God sent His only Begotten Son. Your Bible must be different from mine.

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” I Timothy 1:5

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

“When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Mark 2:17

“I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Luke 5:32

“For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:38-40

Other Obama quotes:

“There's not a liberal America and a conservative America. There's the United States of America. There's not a black America and white America and Latino America and Asian America. There's the United States of America ... We worship an awesome God in the blue states, and we don't like federal agents poking around our libraries in the red states. We coach Little League in the blue states and have gay friends in the red states.” DNC Convention, 2004

There's not a liberal America and a conservative America? I don't believe for one second that Obama believes this. So what is the point of saying it?

"John Kerry believes in an America where hard work is rewarded."

How would John Kerry know anything about hard work?


"For the record, I opposed DOMA [the Defense of Marriage Act] in 1996. It should be repealed and I will vote for its repeal on the Senate floor. I will also oppose any proposal to amend the U.S. Constitution to ban gays and lesbians from marrying."

"Abortions should be legally available in accordance with Roe v. Wade."

(Mrs. Obama boldly referred to partial birth abortion as a “legitimate medical procedure” and asked supporters for $150 to attend the fund-raising luncheon for her husband—the candidate who would fight against the “cynical ploy” to ban partial birth abortion.)

“I was reminded that it is my obligation not only as an elected official in a pluralistic society, but also as a Christian, to remain open to the possibility that my unwillingness to support gay marriage is misguided” Obama's book, Audacity of Hope

Misguided by what or Whom? God and His Word?

“For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,” Hebrews 10:26

Beware of Liberals dressed in Christian-speak.