8.16.2012

You Should Pray for Obama

Here is another dialogue with someone on my Facebook.  I normally don’t respond to negative comments, but sometimes I just have to do it!

Misty said:
I think it's wrong to use your art to pick on one person. Even if you don't like what he does I don't think this does anything but cultivate resentment & hate. Would this help lead Obama or anyone else to Jesus? Why don't you pray for his salvation instead of painting these pictures against him?


McNaughton said:
Misty, most Christians do just that; they mind their business and pray. You are correct that the painting cultivates resentment, and among some even hate.  If I was alive at the time of the War of Independence with Britain should I have only prayed for King George’s soul? What was the intent of the Founders when they signed the Declaration of Independence?  Fortunately, we still have our rights and a voting process.  I will do all in my power to awaken as many people as possible to the dire situation we face.  There are a lot of “good” things in this world that do not lead a person to Jesus that are important none the less.  I have prayed for Obama and our country many times, but God requires us to do all we can after we pray.  "If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed all things are possible." This painting is my way of calling out Obama and his administration. Can you think of a better way?




16 comments:

  1. You are most wise, Jon,,,Indeed I pray for Mr. Obama especially for his salvation and at the same time, I have asked the Lord to either change him or remove him from office(and this is not hate),,,the man is destroying our nation from within as Khrushchev said would happen,,,Your Paintings show Truth, not hate!...

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  2. Praying = good idea. Doing nothing = stupid idea. Act for yourselves. Don't be acted upon! God wont send a plague to get Obama to change his mind. He is in a position where the peoples voice will change his mind. People need to WAKE UP!!!! Read Ether 8 in the Book of Mormon.

    24-25: "Wherefore, the Lord commandeth you, when ye shall see these things come among you that ye shall awake to a sense of your awful situation, because of this secret combination which shall be among you; or wo be unto it, because of the blood of them who have been slain; for they cry from the dust for vengeance upon it, and also upon those who built it up.
    For it cometh to pass that whoso buildeth it up seeketh to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries; and it bringeth to pass the destruction of all people, for it is built up by the devil, who is the father of all lies; even that same liar who beguiled our first parents, yea, even that same liar who hath caused man to commit murder from the beginning; who hath hardened the hearts of men that they have murdered the prophets, and stoned them, and cast them out from the beginning."

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  3. I feel that as a Christian it is very important to act, instead of passively pray 'everything works out alright' God gave us an able brain and body, it is our job to do his bidding, not just wait for Him to handle everything for us. This mid-set that everything happens for a reason, and God will provide over-looks the fact that we are expected to DO his bidding, which is love each other, spread his message, and take care of our fellow man. Sitting back and praying isn't enough, we must ACT. The truly faithful of this world must do their part in protecting the innocent, calling out the evil-doers, and be part of the solution. God gave us the ability to solve every problem on this earth, to ignore our responsibility to our fellow man, and the earth he has blessed us with, is a sin unto it's self.

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  4. I agree with Mr. McNaughton. We are called to pray for those in authority over us...we are not called to agree with them or support their poor decisions. This painting does one thing- it causes the viewer to think. It speaks for itself but does not cause others to be hateful.
    People form their opinions before they set their eyes upon things. We decide within our hearts and then react outwardly.

    One could make a list of the most hateful people in the Bible or from any century and they will find a myriad of evil leaders that God's children strode against; many lost their lives because they stood against the evil and ungodliness of their day. Did that mean they did not also pray for the lost soul of their leaders? I dare say not because their are too many proofs to dictate otherwise.
    If we are to be candles on a hill, are we only to shine when it is convenient or when our light offends no one? No. We are called to do all that we can to save the lost and to stand for righteousness while it is still day; to neglect our Godly calling is sinful.

    If standing idle is the expected stance for Christians, all that is necessary to see how effective it has been is to look back over the last sixty years of U.S. history. Measure the slow erosion of moral standards to determine if playing by the rules of men has been beneficial to the forward movement of the Gospel and the livelihood of men; only when the church decides it is should not be involved in politics or government does society decline. Then, one must decide whether they will stand idle or stand for the cause of Christ and His righteousness.

    Charley Clements, The Eagle Cross Alliance, states it every eloquently:
    "We are commanded by the scriptures to "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you…" and we are told that we are to be "the salt of the earth" and "the light of the world."
    Not only are we instructed to "teach all nations" but we are also admonished not to suffer teachings contrary to God’s word, as in Revelations 2:20. "Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols."
    If we read Revelations 2:20 again, and replace the name "Jezebel" with the words "U.S. Government" it becomes glaringly obvious that the church in America is just as guilty as the church in Thyatira, to whom Revelations 2:20 was addressed."
    Retrieved from http://www.eaglecross.org/Should2.htm.

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  5. You are right on target. That picture states the Truth and even G-d tells us to speak the Truth in season and out of season.... when it is acceptable and when no one accepts it. Sometimes the Truth is not always dressed up and looking pretty when she must go outside her walls of comfort....but she is always the Truth. Give the Truth, for is it not said that He is Truth, and that Truth sets us free. Go right on painting what G-d places on your heart and let those who oppose be silent in prayer as they so desire. You are blessed... L'Shalom

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  6. Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act. ~Dietrich Bonhoeffer

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  7. Very well said everyone. I pray daily that our world society will become better in which to raise my children.
    We do have to act against those who stand in the way to achieve our god given rights. To sit by idly is the same as turning your back on the Judeo-Christian morals and values that brought us this wonderful nation.
    Though he does not appear to believe in a higher power due to his ideological mindset, we can all pray but take action so that we are not led in a direction from whence society can right itself.

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  8. Everyone is right on target! God gives us all free will and Obama is exercising his free will but making all the wrong decisions. We, as Christians, must exercise our free will and stand up for our rights or they will be taken away. I don't believe God wants us to just pray--he gave us a brain to use and not just sit back and expect Him to do everything. I too have prayed for Obama--either change his mind or get him out!!

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  9. Thank you for doing all that you do.

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  10. My prayer has become, "Deliver us from evil." This way I'm praying for my president AND for my country.

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  11. I have struggled with this question as a christian. I have agonized over this and I can honestly say I cannot bring myself to pray for evil in any form. Barack Obama is more dangerous and evil than Saddam Hussein, Osama bin Ladin, Khaddafi and the rest of the gangsters of the world. Just because Obama has a custom suit on and is all spit and polish does not diminish the evil inside him to those of us who can beyond the cover. Obama is an extremely dangerous man and I pray that the ALMIGHTY saves us from this madman, I do not pray for Obama and his evil heart to change...it is a waste of time

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  12. Afraid to speak? Fearful to go against what the media is praising? Fearful to speak against Ob ama? if the answer is yes, then this people will not agree with your painting. If the answer is NO WE ARE NOT AFRAID then we are going to see that you are a true artist, unafraid, Filled with courage to say what other are afraid to think.

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  13. "inflammatory" would be an accurate way to describe your anti-Obama artworks targeting him ... it plays to a narrative of what are called "low-information" people already want to believe ... first, as an atheist, it is always makes me chuckle how arrogant and smug religionists like you get when you make your pronouncements and judgements - they are just your opinions through the your personal lens of your religious indoctrination into a particular set of theological mumbo-jumbo and have no basis in fact ... but you seek power (attention and influence through the messages in your art) and you shoot with very high-caliber attacks at your target - it is EXACTLY the type of imagery and demonization of a person that can push an unhinged mind into violent action - it is almost like you want that to happen. You are sick.

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  14. If I Were the Devil - Paul Harvey (Warning for a Nation)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=FR_kltU6NCo

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