Mark Driscoll Takes Swipe at Barack Obama's Questionable Faith; Says Presidency a Sign 'Christians' Days Are Getting Darker'
Seattle megachurch pastor Mark Driscoll takes a serious swipe at Barack Obama in his soon to be released book, A Call to Resurgence: Will Christianity Have a Funeral or a Future? by pointing to the president's questionable spirituality and often weak embrace of evangelicals as an indicator that born-again "Christians' days are getting darker."
"On January 21, 2013, Barack Obama placed his hand on a Bible he may not entirely believe to take an oath to a God he may not entirely know," writes Driscoll, as read in chapter one of an advance copy of the book given to The Christian Post. "Jesus alone will judge his soul one day, but in the meantime we are free to be confused by a man who says he's a Christian while ending his speech to America's largest abortion provider with, 'Thank you, Planned Parenthood. God bless you.'"
In the section of the first chapter (Christendom is Dead) subtitled, "One Nation, Under God?" Driscoll points out that one notable omission on the inauguration stage was Pastor Giglio, who was scheduled to give the inaugural prayer at the 2013 ceremony and then withdrew, while some say he was pressured to do so by the Inauguration Committee.
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"He was dumped like a prom date with tuberculosis, although the official report was that he withdrew … Louie is by all accounts a great, noncontroversial guy — unlike some of us — which is pretty much what you'd expect from a guy named Louie who wears scarves," he writes.
Driscoll lists Giglio's humanitarian accomplishments that include raising millions of dollars to help free people from human trafficking and the sex trade. After a website published excerpts from a sermon Giglio delivered almost 20 years ago in which he "had the audacity to point out that, according to the Bible, the homosexual lifestyle is unacceptable in God's eyes," the backlash included his withdrawal from the ceremony.
In the book, Driscoll explains, "…and a guy who could have won 'most huggable' in Bible college became Public Enemy Number One overnight — all because he was God's messenger instead of God's editor."
He adds, "While the nation celebrated tolerance, liberation, and homosexuality, the evangelical Christian was forced into the closet."
Driscoll also points to the fact that Pastor Rick Warren, who gave the inaugural prayer at Obama's swearing-in ceremony for his first term, was not invited to the 2013 ceremony.
"This time around, however, one of the faith's most likeable, well-meaning, accessible representatives was barred from participation," he writes. "When evangelicals can't even land a token appearance at an event orchestrated to reflect the various facets of American society, it's clear that Christian clout has reached its expiration date and been pulled off the shelf."
Driscoll believes that "January 21, 2013, was more than Inauguration Day. It was also a funeral."
"The highest office in the land made it clear: 'inclusion and acceptance for all Americans' no longer includes Bible-believing, evangelical Christians," he concludes in the section. "As far as Western civilization is concerned, Christendom is officially dead."
Driscoll released a video on Wednesday, promoting the concept of his book while driving around Seattle in a Hearse.
"The big idea is this: I don't know if you are aware of it, but Christendom is dead," he says during the video. "The bus is no longer carrying us, it's running over us. Christianity is no longer popular and there are no social benefits to waving the Jesus flag. All you are going to get is persecution, opposition, and criticism. That's the day in which we live. The question is what will we do?"
The video can be seen below.
