National Prayer Breakfast Breakdown, Part 1: Obama on the Role for Faith in Politics

By Matthew Santoro

The intersection of Christianity and American politics was on full display at yesterday's National Prayer Breakfast, where President Obama delivered remarks that were equal parts piety and policy.

His speech in many ways reflected the core values of the progressive Christian movement within the United States, describing Christianity in active and missional terms. In a short, three-part blog series, I wanted to break down some elements of the speech that I felt really resonated.  This afternoon's topic ...

Obama on the Role for Faith in Politics

Passion 2012 Calls Young Christians to Rise Up Against Modern-Day Slavery

By Matthew Santoro

Image from Passion 2012.  Photo by: Kenny Hamilton,
11Alive News, used with permission.

Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? – Isaiah 58:6 (NRSV)

A pervasive criticism of modern Christians, both from outsiders as well as concerned Christians, is that people of faith are not taking seriously Jesus’ call for us to serve “the least of these.”

Thankfully, we may be turning a corner.

Last week in Atlanta, more than 42,000 Christians packed the Georgia Dome for four days to participate in Passion 2012. Spearheaded by Passion Conferences founder Louie Giglio, Passion 2012 is another in an ongoing series of conferences intended to engage the “university moment” with Jesus’ compelling message.

What made Passion 2012 so compelling for so many wasn’t the impressive list of popular Christian speakers, including Francis Chan, John Piper, and Beth Moore. It wasn’t the popular worship music of Chris Tomlin, the David Crowder Band, Charlie Hall, and Kristian Stanfill. Nor was it the presence of 2011 Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne.

It was the call to action — the invitation to make Jesus’ message of social justice a reality in this world.