President Obama has been in rare form lately compared to his first 6 years in office. Taking on issues ranging from free community colleges, early child care, and now we can add slavery and Jim Crow to the growing list.

As POTUS reminded us in his State of the Union address, he doesn’t have any more campaigns to run…he knows because he won them both. Clearly he is taking this new found release invigorating. He is taking advantage by striking up conversations with the American people he has been wanting to have for a long time.

Thursday President Obama spoke at the National Prayer Breakfast at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C. He pointed out how Christ was used to justify slavery and Jim Crow in America.

The back drop of his comments were discussions regarding religious based wars or violence. Most recently the violence created by ISIS, Boko Haram, and others.

Obama says: Humanity has been grappling with these questions throughout human history. And lest we get on our high horse and think this is unique to some other place, remember that during the Crusades and the Inquisition, people committed terrible deeds in the name of Christ.  In our home country, slavery and Jim Crow all too often was justified in the name of Christ.  Michelle and I returned from India—an incredible, beautiful country, full of magnificent diversity—but a place where, in past years, religious faiths of all types have, on occasion, been targeted by other peoples of faith, simply due to their heritage and their beliefs—acts of intolerance that would have shocked [Mahatma Gandhi], the person who helped to liberate that nation. 

So this is not unique to one group or one religion. There is a tendency in us, a sinful tendency that can pervert and distort our faith. In today’s world, when hate groups have their own Twitter accounts and bigotry can fester in hidden places in cyberspace, it can be even harder to counteract such intolerance. But God compels us to try.  And in this mission, I believe there are a few principles that can guide us, particularly those of us who profess to believe. 

It is refreshing to hear the President talk about the nasty history and past of this country in reference to Christianity and Christ. Maybe it will spark a dialog in the community on this topic as we strive to repair ourselves from the damage of slavery, Jim Crow and other ills.

SOUND OFF:  What do you think of the President’s comments on slavery, Jim Crow and Christ?

Source: NewsOne