The Role of Pastors and Christians Part Eleven by David Barton
If our culture is moving the wrong way in America, it is because of Christian non-involvement. James A. Garfield, the 20th President of the United States, pointed this out a century ago. President Garfield was a minister of the Gospel. In a handwritten letter, he recounts personally preaching the Gospel nineteen times in a revival, with thirty-four people coming to Christ and thirty-one being baptized. Of course, this type of activity and background is not usually associated with our Presidents in the minds of most Americans today, but several of our Presidents were involved in Christian ministry.
Notice what President Garfield reminded Americans a century ago: Now, more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave, and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature. . . . [I]f the next centennial does not find us a great nation . . . it will be because thosewho represent the enterprise, the culture, and the morality of the nation do not aid in controlling the political forces. It is safe to say that we who represent the enterprise, the culture, and the morality of the nation today have done little to control its political forces. Consequently, our national policies do not accurately reflect the values of the nation at large.
For example, 78 percent of the nation supports prayer in schools; 74 percent of the nation wants the Ten Commandments back in the classroom; 68 percent wants creation taught in public schools; 66 percent opposes partial-birth abortions; and there are similarly high numbers in numerous other areas involving faith and values. Yet despite the overwhelming support among the people on these issues, our public policies do not reflect these high numbers. In fact, the support on these issues is not nearly as high in Congress or in the courts as it is in the public. Why? Because Americans who embrace these values simply are not voting, and therefore are not electing to office leaders who embrace those same values.
The Rev. Charles Finney, a leader in America’s Second and Third Great Awakenings during the early and mid 1800s, reminded Christians of a lesson we need to remember today: The Church must take right ground in regard to politics. . . .