Christianity and American politics compliment each other. America is a republic with representative government. Christians who understand that Christian values produce stable and safe communities in which to live and to raise children will recognize the importance of electing Christian representatives in government. Elected officials pass laws that govern how we live. Presently in America, we have many non-Christian legislators and judges making laws that are socially destructive and offensive to decent, moral people. Can we expect anything more of non-Christians? They are self-serving, greedy individuals who pass laws that serve them and the personal interests of special interest groups. The welfare of society as a whole is sacrificed. Children are ultimately the victims affected most. Being raised in a selfish society tends to produce selfish individuals in spite of a good upbringing at home. These future law makers will inherit and continue the process of self-serving government. Statesman Daniel Webster warned of such predictable political disaster saying, "If we and our posterity neglect religious instruction and authority . . . no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us." This does not paint a bright prospect for the future. Christian values expressed in law come from Christian legislators. But Christian lawmakers must be first elected into office. To accomplish this, it is the duty of every Christian to ensure that candidates are Christian and that voters who hold Christian convictions vote for Christian candidates. Failure to do so is to hand over law making and government to selfish, special interest groups. Politics and government are viewed by some as a dirty business full of compromise and moral corruption. What a reputation! But this reputation is the result of Christians failing to fulfill their duty to engage in politics and government. Politics and government were not always this way! George Washington and other American founding fathers were highly esteemed for their integrity and selflessness. They were of the opinion that Christians were duty bound to engage in community and government leadership. The Delaware Constitution of 1776 represents that attitude of our American founders by requiring that elected officials sign a declaration stating: "I do profess faith in God the Father, and in the Lord Jesus Christ His only Son, and in the Holy Ghost, one God, blessed forevermore; and I do acknowledge the holy scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be given by divine inspiration." Rather than flee government, Christians should be fighting to take it back. Christians are truck drivers, businessmen, and educators as well as many other things in society. Why not legislators too? If moral corruption in segments of society justified avoiding such associations, then Christians would be doing nothing more than living on farms taking care of themselves and their self-serving interests. Such a practice is obviously unchristian and immoral. The only moral path for Christians is to encourage Christian leadership in government. Christians in America have a legitimate civil right to be lawmakers, as do any other. And, our society, especially our children, will be better off with laws that conform to Biblical standards than with laws favoring special interests. This is not to say that the world should be evangelized through governments. No way! That is the job of the church. However, if the church is fulfilling its commission, then the world will be filled with Christians including the Christian legislators who will make the moral laws that govern us. Christian leadership in American politics is not only a right, it is a responsibility. | 
