Rev. Obama’s Revival Meeting

Originally posted at American Thinker.

Although a committed Christian I’ve never appreciated whipped up revival meetings complete with dancing, falling backwards or crippled people being yanked out of wheelchairs. After three decades of voyeuristic research, I possess a heightened ability to spot a snake oil salesman a mile away.  Oftentimes, under bouffant hairstyles, oversized pinky rings and weepy confessions one finds self-absorbed individuals who exploit the Gospel for gain while living contrary to the message they preach.

Yet, year-after-year gullible sheeples continue to support ministries, submit to fleecing, and attend events where flesh and blood is exalted and the credulous place unquestioning faith in fraud.

It was that kind of finely honed discernment that spotted a similar dynamic at work at the memorial service where Barack Obama spoke in honor of Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, 13 severely wounded bystanders, and six individuals, including a 9-year-old girl, all mortally wounded by a madman on a mission.

To the untrained eye, the University of Arizona ceremony appeared to be a well-meaning memorial service visited by a somber President attempting to heal the nation.  However, to an educated onlooker the event closely resembled a tent revival run by a hypster whose pious pontificating was more about furthering a political agenda than consoling the aggrieved.

Was I the only one who recognized that when Obama entered the packed stadium all that was missing was a donkey and palm branches?

The tenor in the room was one of an energized rock concert. In the bleachers were those who came to the memorial to hear the message and catch a glimpse of a superstar. “The university … opened up the football stadium for the overflow crowd. People started lining up at about 6:30 am to get into the event. Many people …brought children.”

On one side of the stanchions, the tiered rows were abuzz with emotion, anticipation and adoration. On the floor, closer to the stage, were dignitaries, the press and wide-eyed family members huddled closely together.

Although the event was intended to be a solemn tribute to the dead and wounded, within seconds it morphed into a quasi worship service where the headliner became the focus of the occasion. In fact, untraditional components were utilized to rev up the audience like tee shirts draped over the seats with campaign-style logos that reminded congregants, in a state Obama is in the process of suing, that: “Together we Thrive.”   Can anyone say Benny Hinn Prosperity Prayer Shawls?

The “memorial service” had all the accoutrements of an energized crusade. A Pascua Yaqui, eight minute blessing was pronounced over the assembly by Native American/Mexican associate professor of medicine Carlos Gonzalez who was recruited to open the diversity-sensitive proceedings.  Gonzalez’ tribal incantation was accompanied by eagle feathers that were a cross between a dusting implement and a quill pen.  Carlos showered the flock with spiritual entreaties that referenced everything from “winged” things to “Father Sky [and] things ‘slither’.”

In lieu of a church organist, entertainment was provided by the Arizona Choir and the University of Arizona Symphony Orchestra, who performed Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring ballet suite rendition of  the Shaker hymn “Simple Gifts.”

Then, in the tradition of adulterous televangelist Jim Bakker, Scripture was read by three individuals, Department of Homeland Secretary Janet Napolitano, Attorney General Eric Holder and President Barack Obama all of whom, when not selectively reading Bible verses before thousands of people, heartily endorse anti-Biblical policies like destroying unborn babies.

Attempting to channel a tempered Billy Sunday, Obama is more like charlatan-man-of-the-cloth, Ted Haggard.  Haggard lived a life-style diametrically opposed to the one he espoused at the pulpit, as does the President who eloquently encouraged the cheering crowd to do a laundry list of what he has yet to do, such as: Refraining from passing blame, choosing not to turn on enemies, acting humble, curtailing finger pointing and carefully listening to others.  Obama said:

What we can’t do is use this tragedy as one more occasion to turn on one another.  As we discuss these issues, let each of us do so with a good dose of humility.  Rather than pointing fingers or assigning blame, let us use this occasion to expand our moral imaginations, to listen to each other more carefully, to sharpen our instincts for empathy, and remind ourselves of all the ways our hopes and dreams are bound together.

The camera didn’t scan the crowd, but I bet if it did, in honor of a former Reverend Jeremiah Wright Sunday service, quite a few attendees would have been seen waving affirmative handkerchiefs, hollering “Amen,” and swooning backwards into their seats.

As in every fraudulent tent meeting, the run up to passing the collection plate is always peppered with words and images that tug at heartstrings, incite tears and prime pockets for emptying. In hopes of filling the basket with renewed momentum, revived poll numbers and positive public approval, Reverend Obama did not disappoint. As the audience wept, the President chided the nation with flowery language that implied Americans fail to live up to the expectations of a murdered child’s vision of democracy.

While there were no political hallelujahs and exhortations to “Turn to your neighbor and say ‘hope and change,’” there were inferences that Americans don’t give enough, care enough or do enough, which is the type of exploitative rhetoric that successfully fills coffers at sports arenas hosting miracle crusades.

Then, like a shameless pastor fallen from grace, after robbing future generations blind by placing the nation in insurmountable debt, in memory of little Christina Taylor Green, Obama beseeched the financially hamstrung to do: “Everything we can to make sure this country lives up to our children’s expectations.”

After all the hype and false religiosity, sanctimonious fakery, manipulative exploitation and acceptance of accolades from an arena supposedly gathered in somber tribute to the dead and wounded probably the most shameful exhibit came when Barack Obama intimated his presence was a catalyst to healing.

“In an electrifying moment, the president revealed that Giffords, who…was shot point-blank in the head, opened her eyes for the first time shortly after his hospital visit,” Obama’s comment was obliquely suggestive of Jesus saying “Talitha koum!” (Which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”).

Like a faith healer working the crowd with stirring images, Obama painted a picture of his presence in a room stimulating a response from a woman in a coma.  The crowd and the nation was so taken by the whole affair that in one sentence Obama went up in the polls, sent tingles up the leg of pundits both on the right and the left, probably settled the Arizona lawsuit and quelled any further opposition to health care reform.

Nevertheless, as a person who prides herself on recognizing the genuine from the counterfeit, it appeared as if Vicar of Veracity Barack Obama, in Christina’s stead, was attempting to “jump in rain puddles” by quoting from Job. Unknowingly, Obama revealed the underlying spirit of the service with words from Job 30:26 that, when spoken in context, say: “Yet when I hoped for good, evil came; when I looked for light, then came darkness.”

13 Comments

  1. I want to thank you,Jeannie, for writing this. I watch tv, listen to the Obama apoligists both left and right and am in total disbelief.

    Why more people can’t see through this man I’ll never know. Perhaps it does have to do with discernment, but, boy there sure are a lot of people out there with blinded eyes.

    God bless you

    • jeannieology

      Don’t apologize Fancy – and thank you for reading the article – I’m honored. It is kind of stunning how easily it is for people to be mesmerized by showmanship and disingenuous emotions – don’t you think?

  2. Skandia Recluse

    Jeannie,
    A young couple I know are having a minor (we hope) power struggle, and your article with the Obama quote seemed to fit the situation so perfectly that I clipped the quote and sent it to them. They know I am not a fan of Obama, but the quote seemed so perfect. We’re hoping it took some of the fire out of the conflict.. We all had a good laugh, since the quote was appended to their facebook page immediately following a some what pious and perhaps self righteous bit of advice from meddling inlaws.

    Thought you might like to know how your work has a good effect in areas far beyond what you might imagine.
    thanks for you insight.

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  4. The first paragraph speaks volumes about this man. He may not like “whipped up revival meetings” and that which transpires at them but he sure does love a whipped up audience of Obama worshipers dancing, falling backwards and the crippled receiving their legs during one of his, “forsake mother and father, your convictions, your ethics, your integrity, your liberties, your freedoms and follow me meetings”. Sure he can spot a snake oil salesman having wrote the book. His whole upbringing was influenced by snakeoil salesman. This “committed Christian” is committed to gaining one thing, and that being the Christian vote. And if I’ve ever heard a snake oil salesman exploit the Gospel of Christ it is this man… time after time.

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