The Christian Puzzle-Piece in Politics

A former pro-life legislator weighs in on the issue of a Christian’s role in politics.

As a former pro-life State Legislator, you develop a much keener sense of where Christians fit in the arena of politics.  You go in thinking you know much more than you really do, and thinking you can change much more than you can. Political will and political power are two separate things.

If you look at our current political climate you could think that Christians are no where to be found.  N.O.W. and N.A.R.A.L. have funded campaigns well enough to make abortion on demand the way of life in "one nation under God".  They have pushed their evil agenda through state legislatures, congress, and the Supreme Court with relative ease. Christians who serve in these areas seem to almost have to be apologetic if they choose to expose their pro-life beliefs. The liberal media is all too happy to expose them and ridicule them.

I cannot count the number of fellow legislators who appreciated my pro-life position but would say, "I really want to get reelected and I can't unless I'm pro-choice". I would always wonder if this is what they meant when talking about selling your soul to the devil. All too often we see candidates and elected officials who are quick to say they are Christians but seem unable to "walk the walk". Knowing where our current

sitting President went after attending church on Easter Sunday is a case in point.

To carry the courage of our convictions into elected office should be an honor and a responsibility to the born-again Christian.  To be like Peter was, as our Savior was about to be crucified, in OUR "positions of responsibility" only shows that we really don't have the courage of our convictions, or more correctly, don't really believe at all.

We see the current group of candidates vying for the Republican nomination and we see some remarkable individuals. We see Gary Bauer and Alan Keyes not taken seriously by the electorate in primary after primary. You would think that Christians were not voting at all.  No matter how articulate and sincere they were in debate after debate, you just had the sense they were not being heard at all. This should be an embarrassment to the Christian community.

We see John McCain doing his best wishy-washy, look like a democrat act in state after state, and thrives only because democrats are voting in droves in republican primaries to make George. W. Bush appear not to be the republican front-runner. This is a serious primary flaw that many states MUST rescind immediately.  To vote in a party's primary you should have to be registered in that party, period.  Outsiders should not skew a political party's nominating process.

You can see many inroads being made on Christian issues, but it is happening at the state and local level, i.e. silent prayer being allowed in public schools and the Ten Commandments being posted in court rooms, much to the chagrin of Washington's liberal elite and the ACLU.  The continuing success of issues such as these will only come about as Christians in Congress have the support of a President who can nominate conservatives to the Supreme Court, approve their appointments to the bench, and have the courage to stand tall for what they say they personally believe. If the phrase, "What would Jesus Do?" could only ring loud and true in Washington, mountains could literally be moved and many unborn children given the chance to see the light of day.

Christians must become more politically active if there is to be any change made in how we are governed. We must stand tall willing to be "crucified with Christ" for real change to take place. The Bible is clear on just where Jesus stood when it came (comes) to children. If Christ is truly alive in YOUR life, how could you think otherwise?

It is most unfortunate that we don't have someone of the stature and character of The Rev. Billy Graham running for President.  We did have the opportunity to see what the process did to another respected member of the Christian community when Pat Robertson made his run for the nomination. I am afraid this says more about us than we would care to admit. It is time for this nation, "one nation under God", to act like it.  If Christians fail to lead, we will continue to have to follow.  It has been a most embarrassing eight years. Christians who overlook character will continue to push this country down the same road we have been traveling. We will need to look no further than our own mirrors when we ask ourselves, "Why?"