DOES HILLARY HAVE GENUINE FAITH?

The New York Times recently published an article about Hillary Clinton’s faith. It was an usual piece for the Times. In summary—it was puff piece. It was meant to convince readers that Hillary is not only not anti-faith, she’s actually pro-faith—and therefore an acceptable pick for believers. (Read that, Evangelicals and Roman Catholics.)

Someone asked me after reading the Times piece if I think Hillary has genuine faith. My answered was a surprise: Yes, I do believe Hillary has genuine faith. The question better is, in what? Does she believe in God? I’d say, yes. But what does that really mean?

One can believe in God in many ways. The Bible even says the Devil believes in God. So, to use a hackneyed phrase, it depends on what the meaning of the word “believe” is.

The way I read Hillary Clinton’s “faith” story is really the way I read sort of the average American’s faith story. Hillary “believes” the way she wants to believe. In other words, she decides on what terms she will take God.

The Bible, on the other hand, makes clear it is God who sets the terms of belief in Him. We must conform to His requirements, not the other way around. When we decide how we will believe in God and what we will believe about him, we end up conforming God to our image, rather than the other way around. This is, in fact, idolatry.

So, the short answer to the question about Hillary’s faith is yes, I believe she truly believes. But the longer answer is, I believe she believes in a God made in her own image. In Hillary’s mind, God’s agenda fits hers like a glove. She doesn’t need to change anything about herself because she has told God what He will require of her and what He won’t.

Hillary has a genuine faith—but it’s in the idol she created in Her image for her use.