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Americans Believe Religion And Politics Do Mix
A recent poll conducted by AP-IPOSOS affirmed what many of us already know. American’s consider religion central to their lives and support the idea of giving clergy a say in public policy.
The poll showed that when U.S. politicians try to blend religion and politics, they find a comparative receptive climate. Nearly all US respondents said faith was important to them and only 2 percent said they did not believe in God. Almost 40 percent said religious leaders should try to sway policy makers, because some of the most pressing issues in our country involve moral questions – such as gay marriage, abortion, and stem-cell research.
Yet, even with so many Americans asking for leadership from the clergy, I hear many Christians and Christian leaders express their reluctance to speak to anything that can be seen as “political.�
If we as people of faith do not lead, who then will provide leadership? And what is our responsibility to the next generation?
The freedom we enjoy in America today was established by the courage, wisdom, and faith of our Founding Fathers. It will be sustained by nothing less from this generation.
History gives us a clear snapshot of those who made America great.
John Peter Muhlenberg was such a person. He was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1774. He was also a pastor.
While preaching a Sunday morning message on Ecclesiastes 3:1, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven,� John closed his message by saying, “In the language of Holy writ, there is a time for all things. There is a time for war and a time for peace. There is a time to preach and a time to fight.�
He then removed his clerical robe to reveal that he was wearing the uniform of a soldier in the Revolutionary Army. Three hundred men responded and that afternoon Pastor Muhlenberg and the 300 marched off to join General Washington’s troops, becoming the 8th Virginia Regiment, with John Peter Muhlenberg as their Colonel.
Forty-six years later, John Quincy Adams described the Revolution by saying, “The highest glory of the American Revolution was this; it connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity.� July 4, 1821.
In 1844, an older John Quincy Adams said, “Posterity, you will never know how much it has cost my generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it.�
As with the American Revolution, there is today much to be saved and much to be lost.
With many Americans asking for leadership that represents traditional, Biblical values, can we do less than join in the battle for the soul of America?
Thank you, Mr. Adams, Reverend Muhlenberg, and your many colleagues, who gave us this great country and preserve our freedom. We will do our best to “make good use of it.�
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Gary Randall
President & Chairman
Faith and Freedom Foundation
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