Special Election 2000 Issue
October 2000
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Too often the common assumption is salvation by politics. Politicians are too often not reformers, but would-be saviors. We need to vote, not for likely winners, but for godly men whose first task as candidates is to teach us.
Two serious temptations confront Christians as they ponder the relationship between their faith and modern politics. The first is pietistic withdrawal.
Liberty has not subsisted outside of Christianity — Lord Acton
Politics is a dirty business. Back stabbing, I promise breaking, and soul selling are everyday occurrences. I have witnessed firsthand such wickedness and more. I have seen men who were touted for their personal honor refuse to keep their word because it would cost them position or personal discomfort. I have seen leaders betray friends because of a minor disagreement over a trivial matter. Lying, slandering, gossiping, and bearing false witness — this I have, seen firsthand on numerous occasions. It’s a dirty, dirty business that is dangerous to one’s spiritual health, family life, and physical well being. But enough about the ministry ... this article is about politics in the civil arena.
Let's begin with the basics. The implicit goal of the Christian Right has always been to transform the culture. Clearly we were not interested in electing politicians just for the sake of having more Republicans in office.
When it comes to discussing political issues, you can be certain of being either irrelevant, incorrect, or naive. Perhaps, with a little political savvy, all three can be accomplished.
When you drive your car, do you drive in the middle of the road? This seems a silly question to ask because you don't, of course, if you want to stay alive and get somewhere.
Harlow Giles Unger’s Noah Webster: The Life and Times of an American Patriot (N.Y.: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1998) is must reading for anyone interested in the early days of America because it contains important, but little-known, information about the significant role which Noah Webster played in the development of the American Constitution, American education, and American language. Webster exercised this influence in three ways; and Unger’s discussion of these (and of just about everything else in his biography) is quite interesting and well-written.
If at the end of World War II the Allies had gotten back only a small portion of the land wrongfully taken by Nazi Germany instead of it all, it would not have been viewed as a victory.
Most people in this country would be surprised to know that teenagers have been dictating politics at our state Capitol buildings for over 50 years.