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.

National Prayer Breakfast Breakdown, Part 2: Obama on Christian Responsibility

By Matthew Santoro

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.

U.S. President Barack Obama listens at the National Prayer Breakfast
February 2, 2012 in Washington, DC. (Pool/Getty Images North America)

On Christian Responsibility

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).