So here's the short of it, 
Responding to Pastor Mark Driscoll

And here's the long.

Pastor Mark Driscoll, founder of the Mars Hill Church in Seattle, Washington had this to say today as President Obama took the oath of office for his second term.

"Praying for our president, who today will place his hand on a Bible he does not believe to                         take an oath to a God he likely does not know." 

President Obama was sworn in twice this year - once yesterday since that's the day that he's required to begin and again today for the public ceremony.

The Bible that President Obama used on Sunday was an heirloom from Michelle Robinson Obama's family. It belonged to Michelle's grandmother who was the first African American manager at a Moody Bible Institute bookstore.

In today's ceremony President Obama used two Bibles.  The first was the Bible that belonged to Martin Luther King - used as his traveling Bible.  The second, and smaller Bible was the Lincoln Bible - the same one he used for his first inauguration.

Historically the choice of which Bible a President uses when taking the oath of office is a personal matter often reflecting something about the beliefs of that person.  The values reflected by a family heirloom, a civil rights warrior, and the President who kept our country together during the civil war make a mighty strong triad!

And then there's this to think about.  President Obama of his own volition ended his Oath of Office with "So Help Me God".  These words are neither legally nor constitutionally required as a part of the Oath of Office.

I don't see much in any of this that points to a President who doesn't believe in the Bible, or doesn't know God.  I can certainly imagine that like many of the Christians I know, President Obama and Pastor Driscoll interpret the Bible differently and they may actually have a different "knowing" of God.  But I find the Pastor's comment, in spite of the promise of prayer, to be very troubling and purposefully designed to create divisiveness.

Then there is Pastor Russell Moore, Dean of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, who also has his differences with President Obama.  However, his message read " Congratulations President @Barack Obama. Prayers for blessing, wisdom, direction, & health."

Pastor Driscoll and Pastor Moore had a choice today - a choice of how to respond to the inauguration of the President of our nation - a president they often do not agree with.  A choice of helping the country move forward or to continue to perpetrate the deep divides the minority of the very far right has helped to create.  They made extremely different choices. Pastor Moore - I applaud you for your choice today.  Tomorrow will be time enough.