Obama's Sermon On The Mount Reference

In his speech at Georgetown University Tuesday, President Obama used a Biblical reference to explain his comprehensive economic policy.

"We cannot rebuild this economy on the same pile of sand," he said, invoking Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. "We must build our house upon a rock. We must lay a new foundation for growth and prosperity a foundation that will move us from an era of borrow and spend to one where we save and invest, where we consume less at home and send more exports abroad."

In his sermon, Jesus admonished listeners, "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand." (Matthew 7:24-26, New International Version)

It's not the first time Obama has invoked the Bible. In his inaugural speech, the president said, "We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things." It's a reference to Corinthians (King James version): "When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things."

Comments

[rsprags]

Remember, the previous Administration had a direct pipeline to God, so, how did all you RIGHT WING nuts with all your prayers allow Iraq to happen, AFG, 9-11, WS corruption, Katrina disaster, etc...The list can go on and on. Previously, I heard from all you that God choose the President, so, what 's wrong this time - did God get his signal wrong! How could you say God choose the President Bush but NOT President Obama. I've heard we should pray for our President regardless of whether we agree with all his policies are not - God call that we pray for our leader; yet you are condemning this President out of hand. Now we have a President that you all don't agree with NOT because he has done anything yet that is against your God's believe. He is following the current laws as it comes to Abortion, Taxes, and human right laws yet you all have your *underwear* in a knot.

[williamrhodes]

http://www.pubrecord.org/commentary/830-obamas-search-for-a-moral-compass.html

Obama's Search For A Moral Compass

By Melvin A. Goodman/former CIA Analyst

Some countries never acknowledge their crimes. It has been 95 years since the Turkish genocide against its Armenian population, but the Turkish government will not confess to any role in crimes that were committed. The Japanese have never admitted the terrible crimes committed throughout Northeast and Southeast Asia during World War II. And Israel has refused to acknowledge its numerous crimes against the Palestinians, most recently in Gaza, where Israeli soldiers committed grave violations of international law by deliberately attacking civilian targets and failing to protect the civilian population.

We know that the United States has committed crimes that violated the 8th Amendment of the Constitution against “cruel and unusual punishments;” the War Crimes Act of 1996; the Convention Against Torture of 1984 (the United States is a signatory); and of course Common Article Three of the Geneva Conventions. President Obama’s handling of the war crimes of the United States in facilities in Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia, Iraq, and Afghanistan is particularly troubling because his administration has admitted that crimes were committed. He has condemned torture and abuse, closed CIA secret prisons, and ordered the closing of Guantanamo within the year.

[GYRainforest]

An interesting speech written by Favreau. The Bible reference of the ROCK is used for convenience in this speech . The ROCK is a strong Biblical reference, it also refers to the Lord Jesus Christ himself. Many true Evangelicals believe and are praying, that the ROCK will crush the errors in Obama's current economic plans, and rebuild and establish America on the true ROCK. Bush it is felt, in those very Evangelical circles, even though he claimed to be a 'born-again' Christian, had built his administration and the American economy on the sand.

Christians are praying that the ROCK which Barack Obama uses for convenience will instead use him, inspite of himself to accomplish God's glory. The next eight (8) years will be about the tale of the ROCK using Ba-rack to accomplish His will. Looking forward to eight (8) exciting years.

[Hopalongpoppyseed]

You "true Evangelicals," have an answer for everything. "We must repsect the other fellow's religion, but only in the sense and to the extent that we respect his theory that his wife is beautiful and his children are smart."
-- Henry Mencken

[minimalist syntax]

The rock is Peter. Jesus is the cornerstone. Please don't claim to speak for Christians. In my church (Not an fundamenta­list/evang­elical church) we pray for the President that he might succeed in every good deed.

[JBoy]

What makes you think you know what all Christians are praying for?
...and 8 years?...a little presumptious don't you think?

[rsprags]

First we had the real American in real town by Palin... now we have the real Christian using the ROCK of Jesus to to crush the error in Obama's current economic plans according to You. It was interesting on Nov 04, 2008 that the Rock of Jesus came crushing down on Bush and the Repurg agenda. It seem God had enough of a political party exhorting his name for political gain; you use the name of God and Jesus the the hat*** you display to the poor, the underprivileged, and any one that is not like the party, does not resemble the character or nature of Jesus.
It has been interesting to watch you rt winger play religion rather relationship their is a difference. I'm a Christian you see and I can read with understanding the Word of God. I'm not a clone that need a political action committee to tell me what Jesus represented now and while he was on the earth. You all really will be in for a shock when you finally get to see heaven and Jesus is nothing like you think he is going to be with your exclusive mantra. If you don't get in touch with who Jesus really was you will be in shock and disappointed when the end does come.

[tisfilm]

GOP= GREED OBJECTION PEA-BRAINED

[OkayLady]

obama got a double play in there.... he also mentioned 5 pillars..as in the 5 pillars of Islam.

Anyone want to go for the triple? the full speech is on cspan :)

[write2bheard]

To the fortune-tellers and prophets who posted here with such certainty, just curious about where you posted your predictions about the economic collapse we suffered recently. I am sure your clairvoyance is not a newly-begotten gift, so I would be interested in seeing a history of your predictions and prophecies that have come true.

[Coinyer101]

this parable has been used as a metaphor for business and building plans in, like, forever.

[BillMelater]

There is a lot of wisdom in the Bible.

[Hopalongpoppyseed]

I really do agree, but I think it is accurate to say that there is also a lot of ignorant evil bad advice in the bible. Come now, let's be honest.

[Renee27]

Here is the speech in its entirety. One of his best, in my opinion -

http://cspan.org/Watch/watch.aspx?MediaId=HP-R-17417

[rbarry647]

Thank you, I missed it and can't wait to watch it

[GeoLee]

Well, it is easy fo r Democrats to use Biblical references of what Jesus said and did. Nobody could read the Sermon on the Mount and subscribe to 90% of the Republican party agenda. I found out Jesus was a democrat one Sunday before the 1992 election when our priest merely recited the Beatitudes (the appointed New Testament reading for the Sunday) as the homily and then later in the announcements of the week reminded members that it was the responsibility of every citizen to go to the polls on Tuesday and vote (while at no time ever suggesting who to vote for) and one of the richest men in the United States who attended our church standing in line ahead of me leaving the church not only refused to hake the priest's hand, but informed him that he would never return as he did not appreciate his priest given a pro democratic party sermon the Sunday before a national election. The priest merely replied that he was sorry to hear his interpretation as he merely read the words of Jesus Christ directly fromt he Bible as his sermon and he assumed all members of the congregation knew those words were spoken by Jesus himself. The man never returned, but I learned right there and then that Jesus was a democrat thinking manifestation on earth. Dems are New Teestametn, Pubs are Old Testament.

[BillMelater]

You almost have it. Dems are New Testament, GOP = Grand Ole Pharisees. Republicans are the hypocrites.

[GeoLee]

Really good!

[JBoy]

How can you suggest that Democrats are New Testament & not hypocrites when a large sector of their party is anti-religion & anti-creationist?

[mtdem4ever]

Amen and excellent story!

[JBoy]

How on earth you can connect Jesus Christ with a political party that didn't exist in his time makes absolutely no sense at all.

If you are suggesting that his teachings mirror the current democrat party more than any other political party, you clearly haven't studied the Bible. If that is what you are suggesting then it is truly sad that the democrats generally appear to be hypocritical in that a large sector of the party is anti-religious & anti-creationist.

That being said, as a Christian, I am very pleased to hear Barack recite a passage from the Bible.

[BillMelater]

Your statement is what makes no sense. Just because the Republican Party did not exist in the days of Jesus does not mean there were not people who were similarly aligned politically.

The whole battle going on here between Democrats and Republicans is the same age old timeless battle of the rich against the poor. The Democrats are the common people and the Republicans are the rich.

[AZterritory]

When he speaks this way it is authentic, when the gop (Bush, Palin others) beat their holier-than-thou drums, it was pathetic and insincere.

[MacQ]

Mr. Bush really didn't you know. He answered honestly when asked, but never touted religion the say Mr. Obama does. He walked his walk though.

[Diogenis]

You are in our prayers President Obama!

[amazingdays]

This was WAY more than a reference. This was a secular sermon. And I loved it.

From the publicly available transcript:

"There is a parable at the end of the Sermon on the Mount that tells the story of two men. The first built his house on a pile of sand, and it was destroyed as soon as the storm hit. But the second is known as the wise man, for when “the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house…it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.”

"We cannot rebuild this economy on the same pile of sand. We must build our house upon a rock. We must lay a new foundation..."

[and then he came back to it at the end:]

"...[America] It is that house upon the rock. Proud, sturdy, and unwavering in the face of the greatest storm. We will not finish it in one year or even many, but if we use this moment to lay that new foundation; if we come together and begin the hard work of rebuilding; if we persist and persevere against the disappointments and setbacks that will surely lie ahead, then I have no doubt that this house will stand and the dream of our founders will live on in our time."

[wordvarc]

Yes!

[Trogenhorse]

I like the comment. He is inspirational

[watchTVgetSTUPID]

Sadly, the reality of Obama's plan is built on sand ... and Wall Street Con Men


Cap and Trade will destroy American manufacturing jobs
Obama' auto plan will destroy a million good American jobs
Obama's plan to continue to make good on Wall Street's Hedge fund bets will destroy the dollar

[dcree77]

And what pretale is your plan? Let me guess..."Cut taxes on wealthy people and one day soon those wealthy people will invest money and hire the middle class and the benefits will trickle down onto the masses." It's been tried; it doesn't work. Next...

[LCRover001]

Oh brother.

Maybe you had your eyes closed the past 8 years, tax cuts to out source has almost destroyed all American manufacturing jobs, there are a few left but the rights world trade will be good and sending jobs over seas will too.

The out sourcing of American jobs is teh root cause of this whole mess. Well I guess the true root cause is greed, greedy manufacturing stock holders, greedy bankers, and greedy rich people who scammed and schemed and when they finished sucking all the true value out of everything it all came to light right before old GWB could get out.

What did GWB propose bailouts with no over sight.

News flash the day GWB and the GOP controled government opened up free trade with China and India was the end of the American Manufacturing base.

[mtdem4ever]

Eyes closed, ears plugged with fingers, saying nyahnyahny­ahnyahnyah in a sing-song voice.

[IslandGyal]

Me, personally, I am an agnostic and believe the bible to be a novel, but if the allegories help people be better people, that works for me, although we have to admit, that's not the case most times.