Christianity addresses itself to every aspect of life - the home, school,
community, business and politics - as well as to the church. It involves
everything we do and is a way of thinking, speaking, and behaving.
Our Christian belief requires that we become involved in government and
bear witness to the truth that our nation became great because of our faith in
God. The very foundation of our nation was built upon Christian principles as
we launched ourselves as: "One Nation under God."
Today many are working to deny our Christian origins, to defy God and
thus, however unwittingly, to destroy our nation. To remain a great nation we
must have Christian leadership at every level of government. Paul wrote: "To
aspire to leadership is an honorable ambition." He described Christian leaders
as above reproach, faithful to their wives, sober, temperate, courteous,
hospitable and good teachers, not given to drink or brawling, or a forbearing
disposition, avoiding quarrels, and not lovers of money. No one can meet those
standards through mere human wisdom and power. Only Jesus was perfect and pure.
But we Christians must involve ourselves politically to seek out individuals
who approach Paul's description of a Christian leader and are willing to live
and lead by faith in Christ, then work hard to elect them to office.
Unfortunately, there are too few Christian leaders in government today.
As a result, we are experiencing a devastating erosion of moral standards in
our nation. This deterioration is typified by an absence of ethics in
government, a glorification of sex and violence, and increase in drug and
alcohol use, accompanied by rising crime rates, and a proliferation of
socialism. The latter has progressed to the point that millions of individuals
are relinquishing responsibility, initiative, and self-respect to the
government and relying on government rather than on God.
My personal philosophy is based on a deep belief in God and in exercising
common sense in government.
It is best described in the words of
President Lincoln, who in 1859 wrote the following in a letter to his brother:
"You cannot bring about prosperity, by discouraging thrift.
You cannot strengthen the weak, by weakening the strong.
You cannot help the wage earner, by pulling down the wage payer.
You cannot further the brotherhood of man, by encouraging class hatred.
You cannot help the poor, by destroying the rich.
You cannot establish sound security, on borrowed money.
You cannot keep out of trouble, by spending more than you earn.
You cannot build character and courage, by taking away mans' initiative and independence.
You cannot help man permanently,
by doing for them what they would and should do for themselves."
"I believe
Christians must become involved in politics as elected officials, candidates,
and campaign workers, to strengthen and preserve our great nation by insuring
that it remains 'one nation under God.' Christians have stayed aloof from
politics for too long. When prayers are banned from schools, preachers of the
gospel are denied freedom of speech, and our moral standards have reached the
lowest levels, surely it is time for Christians to act!"
Leo Berman, City Councilman, Arlington, Texas
I talked to Leo about his statement?
