David Limbaugh writes:

The more painful exposure we have to Barack Obama -- and we're talking hyper-exposure at this point -- the more we realize how narcissistic he is. Indeed, we are treated to this overexposure precisely because of his narcissistic impulses. He can't keep himself out of the spotlight.

So it was that on the heels of his crushing personal defeat in the Massachusetts senatorial election last week, Obama's principal reaction was, "This isn't about me."

When someone says that one time or a few times, you might believe him. But when he says it repeatedly (see below), you have to conclude he is protesting too much and means just the opposite.

An Observation on the Washington Culture Power Machine: Sadly, the "not about me" syndrome is an equal opportunity syndrome. Christians especially may want to be careful, in an age of "Big Christianity" (with insidious parallels to Big Government) and big celebrity, in the embrace of "Big Namism," as if the Lord God can work only through huge ministries the have as their center of gravity a star "spiritual giant" (with a professed PR record of humility -- just ask his carefully cultivated "supporters") who has "written" oh so many impressive books, articles, columns, and so on. All topped off with humble "not about me" "think tanks," etc., beginning to spring up named after the carefully packaged and marketed humble one. Some of these people will tell you to your face, and will say in front of thousands (or millions if on TV), that it's not about them, even as they ink book deals where other people do the real work but the supposed "brilliant thinker" takes credit (because it advances the "work of the kingdom" -- Ananias and Saphirra of Acts 5 might have loved that con, until they were exposed).

This of course is a tragedy. But there is hope, a better way. And for an authentic and humane Biblical alternative to this "ape the world" embrace of secularism ("pragmatically" effective but leaving a trail of dead and wounded in its wake), I would suggest (as a start) No Little People, an essential book of sermons by Francis Schaeffer (who actually lived the alternative). And to help flesh this out, you may also find "Francis Schaeffer: A Student's Appreciation of a Distinct Approach" a worthwhile read. You might also consider chapter 13 of Schaeffer's True Spirituality ("Substantial Healing in the Church") as well as chapter 13 of Nancy's Total Truth ("True Spirituality and Christian Worldvew").

The road to Hell is paved not just with good intentions but also with people doing the Lord's work in the world's way, even though they have had every opportunity to know and do better. You might say Washington phoniness camoulflaged with Gospel-talk stinks to High Heaven. Judgment day could be full of surprises.