A Judeo Christian Nation

Post Scripts ^ | 5/7/09 | Tina Grazier

[OneVike]

President Barack Obama said in Turkey : "We do not consider ourselves a Christian nation or a Jewish nation or a Muslim nation. We consider ourselves a nation of citizens who are bound by ideals and a set of values."
Do you know the Preamble for your state?

Alabama 1901, Preamble We the people of the State of Alabama , invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish the following Constitution.

Alaska 1956, Preamble We, the people of Alaska , grateful to God and to those who founded our nation and pioneered this great land...

Arizona 1911, Preamble We, the people of the State of Arizona, grateful to Almighty God for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution.
Find the quote on God from your states preamble

[OneVike]

I agree, not that baptism is what you are saved by, but baptism is your statement to the world that you have nailed the old man upon the cross with Christ and you are now a reborn as a man of Christ.

Anyone who does not want to get baptized does not believe in following the example of Christ.

[editor-surveyor]

"I also believe Obama isn’t religious period."

Dan 11:37 "Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all."

[silverleaf]

I think you are thinking of the Declaration of Independence?

The preamble of the Constitution is brief and religiously neutral

[NoPrisoners]

Not listed at the above link, but found in the Constitution of the State of Colorado:

We, the people of Colorado, with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, in order to form a more independent and perfect government; establish justice; insure tranquility; provide for the common defense; promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this constitution for the "State of Colorado".

[OneVike]

thanks, I’ll ad it to my personal list.

[NoPrisoners]

Good question, e-s. It's dangerous to put your faith in absolutes, isn't it?

[TheOldLady]

Thank you for the ping, OV.

On my way to the store this morning, I heard Jim Quinn read about half of the preambles. Very impressive, and a great argument against the Godless Commies who are trying to turn the nation atheist or moose limb.

[Always Independent]

Probably why he passed on national prayer day. He didn’t want the public to see him roll out his rug.

[nbhunt]

A big AMEN to your every word...

[nbhunt]

HE was not baptised, his death paid for our sins....besides HE was the SON OF GOD, HE did not need to be baptised.

[Nathan Zachary]

"Who baptized the thief on the cross? "

He was baptized with the blood of Christ, Literally.

[editor-surveyor]

Yes, just as we all are!

[itsahoot]

Who baptized the thief on the cross?

Maybe he got a special dispensation from He that hung next to him. I think He had the authority. This old saw comes up regularly among self aggrandizing church factions. There are plenty of stories in the Bible concerning unbaptized people who were saved, by Grace.

[ga medic]

Do any of the preambles mention Jesus? I would think that would be the determinate for whether this was a Christian nation. God applies to Jewish, Christian and Muslim people.

[ga medic]

“HE was not baptised, his death paid for our sins....besides HE was the SON OF GOD, HE did not need to be baptised.”

I hope you aren’t talking about Jesus. If you are, then you need to re-read your Bible. jesus was most definitely baptized.

[highlander_UW]

I also believe Obama isn’t religious period. When Obama said that he didn’t hear Jeremiah Wright’s racist remarks, I think he was ashamed to admit that he’s not a regular churchgoer.

I think you're entirely correct. I'm sure he heard some of it and is lying about that, but I bet he didn't attend nearly as often as he wanted people to believe because he figured no one would pay attention to the content he was listening to and he'd get credit for being "religious".

[Shadowstrike]

Now that is ART!

[Shadowstrike]

Christ did.

[Shadowstrike]

and yet He was baptized by...John the Baptist.

[OneVike]

HE was not baptised, his death paid for our sins....besides HE was the SON OF GOD, HE did not need to be baptised.

Oh contrare my friend nbhunt, Jesus was baptized. It was so important that all four Gospels record the historic event.

"John Baptizes Jesus" (Matthew 3:13)
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?" 15 But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him. 16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

While you are correct the He is God and did not need to be baptized, He was baptized to show obedience to the Father. Also the thief on the cross was not baptized to show that baptism is not the way you receive salvation. You receive salvation through Christ and only through Christ.

That being said, we as Christians do get baptized because He did Himself. There are two reasons we as Christians should get baptized, but neither one has to do with salvation.
1.) We get baptized because we do what Christ did to show obedience to him. As Christians we are to mimic Him, and if it was not below Him to be baptized, then it should not be below us to follow His example.
2.) We get baptized is to show the world that we are a new creature in Christ. Baptism is a public declaration to the world that the old man is dead and we are now reborn a new man in Christ.

If we are not ashamed of Him, then we will do as He told us we should. As good Christians we should want do as we are told to by His teachings. I speak of course of the the great commission in the Gospel of Matthew.

The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20)
18And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen
Now, if Christ commanded His disciples to baptize us, then why would you not do as Christ said to do? Remember what is written in the Gospel of Luke about Jesus warning to those who call Him Lord, Lord, but do not do as he said taught.

Build upon the Rock (Luke 6:46-49)
46 "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say? 47 Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. 49 But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great."

So in conclusion, we are not saved by baptism, but it is a command of Jesus to be baptized as He was Himself by John the baptist. If it is good enough for God to humble Himself before men to be baptized, then we should also.