Letters: Politics today needs more Christianity

The only hope I have left for this country is that we’ll one day elect a true Christian to the presidency. It is evident in the Old Testament that God intended his people to integrate his precepts in their day-to-day, governmental activities. Does anyone really believe that God would support secularizing our elections? It’s an absolutely absurd concept.

For far too long, our elected leaders have acted alone, invoking God only when it seemed politically expedient. Ignoring God at this moment of our nation’s troubles certainly seems like the wrong way to go.

At the Constitutional Convention, Benjamin Franklin said it best: “I have lived, sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth — that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid?” It’s best if we not forget this.

Joby Minor; Harvest, Ala.

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Politicians are like pharisees

I applaud David Gushee‘s commentary about unholy alliances in politics. As a Christian, I am disgusted at today’s evangelical movement and how many of its members think they speak for Christ and have a patent on Christianity. They ridicule a good Christian like Jimmy Carter and doubt his salvation, ignoring Christ’s proclamation about judging others.

If Republicans are such devout Christians, they should reflect on the abundant verses about helping the poor and the warnings about the deceitfulness of riches. They should be raising the minimum wage and taxes on the wealthy to help those less fortunate.

Today’s evangelical politicians are like the pharisees during the time of Jesus. Outwardly they look religious, but inwardly their hearts are not.

Ron Carlson; Raleigh, N.C.

Let people seek God’s guidance

Considering the troublesome path our country is on, this big experiment of turning us from a Christian nation into a secular one isn’t going so well. It’s no coincidence that our problems get bigger as we make God smaller.

Some people are encouraging less religion in government, but what we really need is more.

Take a second to imagine what America would be like without Jesus Christ. I challenge you to come up with one person who has influenced us more, past or present. If I want his loving, positive influence to sway me in the voting booth, that’s my right.

I suspect that the separation fanatics won’t be happy until there’s a law passed that people can’t run for public office if they’ve declared their religious beliefs. It might not happen in my lifetime (I’m 51), but we’re certainly traveling down that slippery slope. We’ll sell our souls to keep church and state separated.

Roger Sargent; Albion, Pa.

Using faith or cultivating it?

David Gushee exposes the problem in attempting to mix religion with politics in America. There is a fundamental difference between talking about God and talking to God — a difference that has to do with effect. Talking to God creates faith; talking about God merely creates votes.

Mary Anne Thomas; Black Mountain, N.C.

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