Editor's Note: This commentary aired last year and was never published in print form. The content is still relevant.
Mara Vanderslice wondered how the gospel made people Republicans until she went to work for Howard Dean. Far from courting religious groups, he attacked them. When she went to work for John Kerry, he refused to take calls from Christianity Today. But, it’s a different election season and Christians find themselves at, a moment of truth.
According to TIME Magazine, “If Clinton, Obama, and Edwards are any measure, there will be nothing unusual in Democrats' talking about. . .God. . .Clinton has hired. . .an evangelical Baptist [to assemble] a faith steering group. . .Edwards has been organizing conference calls with progressive religious leaders. . .In the past month alone, Obama's campaign has run six faith forums. . .”
While we want elected officials to have a commitment to the Christian principles that under-gird the Constitution, let us not be fooled by hollow talk. Hear John Leland, a Baptist minister who was directly responsible for the Bill of Rights: “Guard against those men who make a great noise about religion, in choosing representatives. It is electioneering. If they knew the nature and worth of religion, they would not debauch it to such shameful purposes. If pure religion is the criterion to denominate candidates, those who make a noise about it must be rejected; for their wrangle about it, proves that they are void of it. Let honesty, talents and quick dispatch, characterize the men of your choice. Such men will have a sympathy with their constituents, and will be willing to come to the light, that their deeds may be examined.”
Let us be wise and vote for liberty, not lip-service. Powered by AkoComment 2.0! and SecurityImage 3.0.8 |
