Do We Need a Christian President?

Since the interview of Senators McCain and Obama by Rev. Rick Warren at Saddleback Church this past Saturday I've had numerous conversations with people (Christian, agnostic, atheist and searching) sharing thoughts, concerns, hopes and fears. Was it a good thing that they went there? Was it a good thing that the church audience seemingly applauded with more gusto for the person that offered simple sentence answers about faith as opposed to the one that quoted scripture and talked about faith in the first-person? Where do we draw the line in expecting our President to be like us and for him/her to lead us? How valuable is experience when it's lived and acquired in a world that has since radically changed socially, technologically, culturally and economically? What do you think?

I'm a pastor. I base my life upon my world-view that Jesus is the One I follow. I commit to living my life in community with many peoples, including followers of Jesus. I'm a pragmatist democrat that thinks some parts of socialism are a good idea. Yet I don't think I need a Christian for my president. I'm not going to vote based upon how much we share or don't share the same spirituality or faith. If I was hiring a pastor it'd be different. But my vote is for president. I don't want them to preach to me, but to lead us as a nation and a community being radically transformed through changing ethnic demographics, emerging tweaks of capitalism and democracy, and a global flattened world. Let me and my faith community take care of Sunday School, let's get a president that refuses to leave not just children behind, but our entire school system.

Here's some thoughtful articles about this:

Byron Williams (pastor and columnist from Oakland) Don't need a Christian in chief; we need a commander in chief.

Ruben Navarrette (columnist in San Diego) Stop taking pot shots and tell us what you would do as a president