GREENSBORO — Christians who denigrate president-elect Barack Obama should be ashamed, said the president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
While Danny Akin said he disagrees with Obama on a number of issues, he has been embarrassed by what some Baptists and evangelicals have said since Obama was elected Nov. 4.
BR photo by Steve DeVane
Danny Akin, president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, took issue with people who spoke harshly about President elect Barack Obama.
Akin said he’s heard people say that it wasn’t God’s will for Obama to be elected and or that Obama will not be their president. He said he’s even heard some refer to Obama as “nigger.”
“Shame on us,” Akin said. “I’m not talking about secular people. I’m talking about people who say they’re a Baptist, who say they’re a born-again believer.”
Akin said that according to the Bible, God ordained the election’s outcome.
“God did not wake up Wednesday morning (Nov. 5) and say, ‘Golly, I didn’t see that coming,’” Akin said. “If you think that, you’re a heretic because you have denied the omniscience of God.”
God raised up Obama to be president, just like God raised up every other president since he’s been able to vote, Akin said, including Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, both Bushes and Bill Clinton.
“If you don’t believe that, you don’t know the book, you don’t know the word,” he said. “He has His purposes and He has His reasons we may not understand, but God is not in the business of being caught off guard by who steps into the White House.”
Christians have clear commands in scripture to pray for, submit to and honor Obama, Akin said. The Bible also tells Christians to ask God to take Obama’s heart and change it.
If Christians aren’t careful, they’ll make the government and the White House an idol, Akin said.
“I’ve got news for you, my Savior is not on Capitol Hill, He’s on Calvary’s hill,” he said. “That was true with the present administration as it will be in the next administration.”
Akin said he is sometimes proud of who Southern Baptists are and what they stand for, but at other times he wants to run and hide.
“I’m begging us as Southern Baptists, let’s don’t act in a way that brings shame to the name of Jesus and harms our ability to extend the gospel to every man, every woman, every boy and every girl regardless of the color of their skin.”
Akin said he will cooperate with Obama when he can and confront him when necessary.
“I will always respect the office I believe was ordained and raised up by God,” he said. “I’ve been preaching the gospel the same way for 30-plus years regardless of who’s in the White House. That’s not going to change on Jan. 20, 2009 one whit.”
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