Prayers for death?

There was quite a bit of discussion recently about a "Christian" pastor, who said that he prays that President Obama dies, and dies of cancer, and goes to Hell.

So what is the REAL CHRISTIAN response to this? There are several. First, Jesus Christ, from Whom we get the name Christian (meaning Little Christ), was persecuted, even murdered by the Chief Priests, with the cooperation of Pontius Pilate, because Jesus said He is God.

Jesus was flogged, had his beard plucked, was spit upon, cursed at, had the robes ripped off his back after the blood congealed into it, carried an approximately 200 pound cross to His own crucifixion on the top of Golgotha, Was nailed to the cross, and mocked, scorned, ridiculed. His response, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Lk 23:34

Therefore, if we are to be "Little Christs," we need to pray for our enemies, not curse them. When one of the most wicked men of the 20th and beginning of 21st centuries (Saddam Hussein) was executed (Definitely deserved, as he was single handedly responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of his own people,) I found myself praying, and hoping that he had repented, and found Christ and forgiveness prior to his last breath, so not even he would spend eternity in Hell.

Although I do not pretend to be the best Christian in the world, I do have a pretty good handle on what a Christian should be and do. Jesus prayed for his persecutors, even at His death. A horrible, painful, lonely death. The lonely part is food for another post, but I digress. Paul, one of the main leaders (not of the Church per se, but of the movement -- called Christianity) said that he would almost rather be cursed himself, if his fellow Jews could be saved by his condemnation.

Therefore, a Christian response to this Christian preacher who said he wished, even prayed for the President's death by cancer and confinement to Hell for eternity, is to pray for him, that he may see the error of his ways, and repent of his evil attitude. I pray that our President will receive wisdom from God, and that he will make good decisions, and lead our country well. I also pray that he will repent of any sin in his life, or that he supports. May God be merciful to us all.