How big is our Christianity?

As citizens of the United States, one of the greatest obligations we have is to vote.  We get to participate in the process of government by choosing those who will make decisions for us for the next few years.  Christians have even a higher obligation, not to government or to fellow citizens, but to God, to express in their vote the principles of Christianity.

Recent published surveys have detailed an appalling lack of biblical knowledge among church attendees.  Maybe we no longer know what principles we are to judge candidates by?  Perhaps we can no longer form an opinion based on biblical truth about taxes, property, crime, and the role of government?  The Founders feared such a time would come, so they encouraged Bible reading and lessons and involvement in church and religion.  They knew that without a virtuous people there would be no virtuous leaders and without virtuous leaders the country they started would fail from within.

As Christians we must be involved in the political process, and we must vote for those who will uphold and further biblical principles.  Moses was told to select able men who feared God as rulers: Exodus 18:21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:  This is wise counsel for us also and who can argue that it is not God’s will.  God has given us guidelines for whom to choose and how to judge who is best for any particular office.

This poem from an earlier era has often been my prayer.

GOD, give us men! A time like this demands

Strong minds, great hearts, true faith and ready hands;

Men whom the lust of office does not kill;

Men whom the spoils of office cannot buy;

Men who possess opinions and a will;

Men who have honor; men who will not lie;

Men who can stand before a demagogue

And damn his treacherous flatteries without winking!

Tall men, sun-crowned, who live above the fog

In public duty, and in private thinking;

For while the rabble, with their thumb-worn creeds,

Their large professions and their little deeds,

Mingle in selfish strife, lo! Freedom weeps,

Wrong rules the land and waiting Justice sleeps.

Josiah Gilbert Holland