National Prayer Breakfast Breakdown, Part 3: Obama on a Faith of Action

By Matthew Santoro

This is Part 3 of an three-part series on President Barack Obama's speech at the National Prayer Breakfast. Read Part 1 and Part 2 now.

President Obama speaking at a church,
Source: Reuters/Faithworld

Part of President Obama's enthusiasm for a role for faith in public life is no doubt rooted in his understanding of Christian responsibility. Let's return briefly to the Biblical passage with that concluded Sunday's blog post (and from which Obama quotes in his speech):

We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us--and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. —1 John 3:16-18 (NRSV, emphasis added)

Doers of the Word

For Christians, our knowledge of God's love compels us to have compassion for those in need. In quoting 1 John, Obama demonstrates the Biblical basis for Christian compassion that surpasses intellectual concern and becoming a compelling force for action. Through faith, its intended that Christians will become active stewards of their community and their world.