“You could quote the Declaration with me, “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, and are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights.” Unique among the nations, America recognized the source of our character as being godly and eternal, not being civic and temporal. And because we have understood that our source is eternal, America has been different. we have no king but Jesus.”
This is an excerpt from a speech given by John Ashcroft as he accepted an honorary degree from Bob Jones University. It is also the main argument against his appointment as attorney general. The opposition to his appointment is playing a recording of this speech in the Senate as their “key” evidence against him. They are trying to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that John Ashcroft is indeed a “hard-nosed, hard-lined, Southern Bible-believing Christian.”
Can you believe that? I am not trying to play politics; I am trying to illustrate exactly how far we have fallen as a nation. That any politician (Republican or Democrat) could scathingly “accuse” someone of being a Christian and use that as an argument against their holding public office is nearly unbelievable!
Are we still in the same country? Are the Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights still the core of our democracy? I am not sure anymore.
Our elected leaders are openly opposing a “known Christian” to government office. No doubt he’ll bring his “extreme” views back into politics. This is dangerous, they say. We must block this nomination before it starts a trend. Before you know it, there will be Christians running all over Washington. Poisoning government with “outdated” notions of honesty and true justice.
Watch the evening news and listen to the comments brought before the American people. Somewhere in the clips you’ll hear the phrase “his strongly held religious beliefs.” We literally have a man on trial for being a Christian.
I once heard a great Christian speaker say that “God is not a Republican or a Democrat. He is not even an American.” I understand that statement more today than I ever have before. A true follower of Jesus Christ is not welcome in Washington. Our faith can not be based on a theory of government or on any political office. We must stand strong, as who we are, in the face of the turning tides of American politics.
Don’t take that wrong, I have not abandoned my citizenship in this country. I still vote, pay taxes, and participate in various public and private events. But, above it all, I am first and foremost a Christian. I refuse to chain myself to any political party. I am not a “yellow dog Democrat” nor am I a “rock rib Republican.” I am Christian.
God has not called you or I to serve any political party. We are not called to be popular, or to stay in the mainstream. Our calling is to be faithful to Christ. To seek His will in our public and private lives. To “stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free” (Gal.5:1). Truly we have no king, but Jesus Christ. |
