Will the real “Christian” presidential nominee please stand up!

It does not matter who you talk or what region of the United States you go, everyone agrees that Bush won the 2004 election because of evangelical Christians. Issues like abortion and gay marriage took precedence over the war in Iraq and our failing economy. Though Bush promised a conservative approach to these issues,little has been done in his two terms to promote or propel the Christian cause.

Entering a new season with the 2008 election quickly approaching the Christian agenda does not seem to be on the forefront. Why is that? Could it be that Christians feel disappointed with what has occurred in America and are clinging on to the “change for America” message that all the candidates seem to promise? Or could it be that there is a new generation of Christians who don’t see the issues of old (gay marriage, abortion, prayer in schools) as important. Before getting to deep into this.. Let’s first define what a Christian is. With the abundance of denominations and belief systems within Christiandome, who’s to say who’s right and who’s wrong. How can “Christians” stand for anything if they are divided?

Obama has made headlines recently for making references to the bible in a 2006 speech. Many Christian leaders found the comments offensive.
Obama: "Which passages of scripture should guide our public policy?" Obama asked in the speech. "Should we go with Leviticus, which suggests slavery is OK and that eating shellfish is an abomination? Or we could go with Deuteronomy, which suggests stoning your child if he strays from the faith? Or should we just stick to the Sermon on the Mount?

He also called Jesus' Sermon on the Mount "a passage that is so radical that it's doubtful that our Defense Department would survive its application."

In response James Dobson, Focus on the Family founder, and evangelical leader said this:

"He oughta read the Bible. He is deliberately distorting the traditional understanding of the Bible to fit his own worldview."

Some Christians, in response to Dobson’s’ comments created this website;

http://www.jamesdobsondoesntspeakforme.com/
asking Christians everywhere that agree with Obama to sign the petition stating that James Dobson does not represent their view.

Obama also had this to say in response to Dobson’s comments:

"Any notion that I was distorting the Bible in that speech, I think anyone would be hard pressed to make that argument"

No matter what denomination you are the basis of Christian theology is the belief that Jesus Christ is the son of God.

“ I am the way the truth and the life. No man comes to the father but by me” John 14:6
Obama told the Chicago Sun Times columnist Cathleen Falsani, that he believes there are many ways to God. Is it fair for him to call himself a Christian with this belief? Why does he not call himself a Universalist?

Many African Americans have supported Obama making generous contributions to his campaign. This includes religious leaders within the black community. Bishop T.D Jakes, for example, recently endorsed Obama.

Is it hypocritical to endorse Obama and his liberal stance when in 2004 evangelicals voted for Bush to stand up against the same issues that Obama supports? Will black church leaders change their views or will Obama’s blackness cover the “sin”?

What it means to be a Christian in America has become very vague in today’s society. But then again has it ever been clear?