There is a right-wing, hate-filled fringe that has created “Pray for Obama” tee-shirts that reference Psalm 109:8. That verse reads (NRSV), “May his days be few; may another seize his position.” The very next verse reads, “May his children be orphans, and his wife a widow.”
This is evil and an abuse of scripture.
According to the Southern Law Conference, there has been “a remarkable rash of domestic terror incidents since the presidential campaign, most of them related to anger over the election of Barack Obama.”
President Barack Obama is the target of more than 30 potential death threats a day. That is an increase in the rate of threats against the president of 400%, up from the 3,000 a year or so under President George W. Bush, according to Ronald Kessler, author of In the President’s Secret Service.
Christianity, just like Islam, has its extremist fringe that can be incited to violence. It is time to organize for peace?
Inez Torres Davis is director for justice, Women of the ELCA.