Christian Apologetics Society: The Annointing of King Obama

Scripture Memorization

Isaiah 55:11
So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it

Gen 1:3
Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light

Matthew 26:26
And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body."

Malachi 1:11
My name will be great among the nations, from the rising to the setting of the sun. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to my name, because my name will be great among the nations," says the LORD Almighty.

John 20:23
If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.

James 5:16
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

James 2:14
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

Luke 20:38
For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him.

Rev 21:27
Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.

1 Cor 3:15
If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Psalm 51:5
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.

John 3:5
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Titus 3:5
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

1 Timothy 3:15
but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

Acts 22:16
And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

The Annointing of King Obama

Inauguration fever is at full peak. World events have been supplanted by 24/7 coverage of all things inauguration with nothing too mundane for an exclusive vignette. The list of religious invited to pray at the many events seems to just about cover all the major American faith groups and then some.

While many Americans will watch and hear the many prayers being offered, few will likely realize the historical significance. While the Bible story of Saul annointing Samuel tells us that the Judeo-Christian practice of annointing rulers is over 2,500 years old, the Western tradition dates only from Pepin in about 749. Pepin sought the approval of Pope Zachary for Pepin's overthrow of Childeric III.

Better known is the coronation of Charlemagne by Pope Leo III on Christmas Evening, 800, and made famous in the fresco by painter Raphael. The coronation solidified Charlemagne as the most powerful leader of Western Europe.

In more modern times, we have the example of Napoleon. Napoleon brought Pope Pius VII to Paris for his coronation as Emperor of the French. Napoleon took the crown from the hands of the pope, crowned himself and then crowned his empress.

While the tradition of inaugural prayers dates only from 1937 and the inauguration of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the tradition of Presidents presenting themselves to the Pope dates from Woodrow Wilson in 1920. In the past 89 years, American presidents have visited or been visited by the Pope 25 times. As the world recognized head of the Western Christian Church, these Papal vists serve as a modern annointing that legitimizes the authority of the President. It will be interesting to see if Obama continues the tradition and the timing of the visit (early-, mid-, or late-term).

So, the American inaugural ceremony is actually a remnant of the old coronation ceremony and the long list of American religious participating in the inauguration of Obama constitutes the annointing of the king and solidifies his authority and legitimacy.

God save the king!

Labels: Church History, Politics