This is Part 2 of an three-part series on President Barack Obama's speech at the National Prayer Breakfast. Read Part 1 now.
Having established a role for faith in politics, Obama explains how his faith affects his politics. His remarks paint a picture of a progressive and missional approach to Christianity, one that involves not just a personal relationship with God, but also personal responsibilities to your fellow neighbor as an intrinsic part of fulfilling that relationship.
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U.S. President Barack Obama listens at the National Prayer Breakfast February 2, 2012 in Washington, DC. (Pool/Getty Images North America) |
I know that far too many neighbors in our country have been hurt and treated unfairly over the last few years, and I believe in God's command to "love thy neighbor as thyself." —President Barack Obama at the National Prayer Breakfast (February 2, 2012)President Obama traces his vision of Christian responsibility through both Old Testament and New, a responsibility with roots in Jesus' commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves (Mt. 22:34-40, Mk. 12:28-34, Lk. 10:25-28).