And that does seem to me to be an important point in a pluralistic society. Every time I hear the Mike Huckabees of the world talk about America as a “Christian nation” or suggest that the constitution needs to be brought more in line with Christian principles, even I cringe. I appreciate it when political leaders frame their faith in terms that are honest, but that do not exclude large numbers of people who may not believe as they do.

And the fact that I’m a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat probably plays into it :-)

Certainly drawing a hard line on his “active” and “passive” work (what terrible theological terms those are) would be bad. Nonetheless, Obama’s remarks about his faith sound just like those of every other Democrat.

His “confession of faith” doesn’t really tell me anything interesting about him. Just that he’s a typical Democratic Candidate.

And James does say faith without works is dead. So it needs to be both.

Notice the most important belief is not in the redemptive work, but in the example set. I don’t want to over analyze his statement, but political Democrats do tend to emphasize Jesus’ healings as a religious support for their social welfare plans. And even if I grant that Jesus did give us a great example in his “humanitarian” work, it hardly stands as the most important if it is detached from His cross.