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At a press conference in Greece yesterday, soon to be "former" President Obama did what he generally does, he scolded America, warning we should not become "too America first," but rather put our hearts and minds toward global unity.
"The future of the world is going to be defined by what we have in common," he said, "[not] those things that separate us and ultimately lead us into conflict."
Ironically, by most all accounts, America is more divided and conflicted today than it was 8 years ago when he took office.
UPDATE: Results from yesterday's WA. State Supreme Court hearing on the Barronelle Stutzman case.
The Stutzman case was heard yesterday at a packed theater at Bellevue College.
Barronelle and her lawyers are arguing that the lower court's ruling is unlawful government coercion and that the creative expression of floral arrangement deserves the same expression as free speech.
Attorney Kriston Waggoner told the court, "A Muslim graphics designer should not be compelled to create designs promoting a Jewish Friends of Israel group., a gay public relations manager shouldn't be forced to promote the Westboro Baptist Church, and a Christian floral designer shouldn't be forced to create custom wedding designs for a wedding that is not between one man and one woman."
That lit up the court. Justice Susan Owens brought up the state's first and only black justice, Charles Smith, recently deceased, who had to stay in separate hotels from other attorneys when he traveled the country working for the Justice Department in the 1960s.
"How is this different?" she asked.
Justice Mary Yu asked, "What's next...landscape architect? Bartender?"
Justice Steven Gonzales wanted to know why a business could refuse a gay couple but not an interracial couple? Waggoner said her client's objections were based on a message---her opposition to same-sex marriage---rather than about targeting people for who they are, as the "unique evils of racial segregation" did.
Justice Sheryl McCloud interrupted, "So racial discrimination would be based on a bad religious belief. Doesn't that task the courts with what's a good religious belief and what's a bad religious belief?"
The tone and aggressiveness of the court suggests they are not sympathetic to Barronelle, however, this is a case that is being watched nationally and the court is very aware of that national attention.
Washington State A/G Bob Ferguson even weighed in---something he rarely does in these kinds of hearings.
He has been very adversarial toward Barronelle and her Christian beliefs.
Pray for Barronelle and Kristen Waggoner. We will keep you posted.____________________
President Obama, one week after the election of Donald Trump and his "Make America Great Again" emphasis, warned the US and the world against nationalism.
He simply can't bring himself to even hint at the notion that America is an exceptional nation.
The president said, "Separate and apart from a particular election or movement....We are going to have to guard against a rise in a crude sort of nationalism or ethnic identity or tribalism that is built around an 'us' and 'them'. And I will never apologize for saying that the future of humanity, the future of the world is going to be defined by what we have in common, [not] those things that separate us and ultimately lead us into conflict."
This is true in one respect.
The future of the world is indeed going to be "defined this way."
Scripture is very clear that at God's appointed time there will be a coming together, a modern Tower of Babel---a new world order that results, for a brief moment in time, in the formation of a one world government, a one world religion and a one world economy---or at least the appearance of such.
These talking points are, in that sense, correct. That is essentially the talking points of the Anti-Christ who will claim to "unify" the world, thus solving the issues of global conflict.
Obama highlighted Europe's bloody past, namely WW I and WW II, as a reason to avoid a path toward nationalism.
He said, "We all know what happens when Europeans start dividing themselves up and emphasizing their differences and seeing a competition between various countries in a zero-sum way. The 20th century was a bloodbath. And for all the frustrations and failures of the project to unify Europe, the last five decades have been periods of unprecedented peace, prosperity, and growth in Europe."
Allen Smith, writing for Business Insider suggests the president may be creating some parallel between despots in Europe's past with the Trump presidency and Trump's chief strategist Steve Bannon.
All who know Bannon say Obama is dead wrong---politically motivated---not speaking in the best interest of our country, nor speaking truthfully about a man he doesn't even know.
And this from a man who sat under the "ministry" of Rev. Jeremiah Wright for 20 years and launched his political career in the home of admitted terrorist Robert Aires.
Turning his focus onto the US, Obama said, "We know what happens when we divide ourselves along the lines of race, religion, and ethnicity."
"This," he said, "prevents the country from reaching its potential."
Ironically, President Obama with his globalistic ideologies has deepened the divide among Americans, not only racially---even though he claimed he would bring about racial healing and restoration, but he has assaulted, not strengthened religious freedom---particularly in regard to biblical Christianity.
His administration has led in the assault of those who hold biblical beliefs on the sanctity of life and the biblical model for marriage.
As Barack Obama proclaimed the "virtue" of globalism yesterday, a 73-year-old florist and grandmother stood on trial in Washington State because she believes that marriage is between a man and a woman, and couldn't in good conscience provide flowers for a homosexual "wedding."
She was arguing before the State Supreme Court that the government cannot force Americans to promote messages and participate in events with which they disagree.
Secular progressive globalism has torn the fabric of our most important "God-given rights" and has created even more division in our country.
It has done so because it stands in direct conflict with God's plan for nations with borders.
There is much said about borders in the Old Testament, particularly following the first failed attempt at globalism in the matter concerning the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11).
The New Testament book of Acts (17:26,27) is abundantly clear about the importance of national borders and why they are to exist.
"And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; "
Be Informed. Be Vigilant. Be Discerning. Be Prayerful. Be Blessed.