Walker Wildmon

AFA vice president

Adapted from a post on afa.net/the-stand

January-February 2018 – Americans are beginning to realize that many of our elected officials are doing more harm than good. I believe this is because our country is run by non-believers in Washington, D.C. By non-believers, I mean in the sense that they have not yet trusted Jesus Christ as the Son of God and for the forgiveness of sin as the Bible describes in John 3:16-18. The Apostle John said:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son (ESV).

According to Pew Research Center, 90.7% of Congress identify as Christian. But when you consider the kind of work Congress is doing, or the lack thereof, you’d think few of them were Christian. In Matthew 7:15-16, Jesus says, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits.” What I call the “fruit standard” can also be used to determine if one is a Christian or not. If you apply the fruit standard to congressmen and women, you could conclude that few of them are genuine believers.

Let’s take a look at the kind of fruit that we see coming from Congress in recent months. On two separate occasions since being sworn in, the new Congress has reauthorized federal tax dollars to go to Planned Parenthood which, as the leading abortion provider in America, kills babies in the womb. Each year this organization gets over $500 million from the government alone. How can a Congress that claims to be 90% Christian continue to allocate funds for such an organization? Exodus 20:13 says, “You shall not murder.” In the New Testament, Matthew 5:21 says, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’” The Bible is clear that murder is sin.

The reality, then, is that our country is not run by an overwhelming majority of Christian individuals. Am I suggesting that some politicians who confess to be Christian aren’t genuine followers of Christ? That’s exactly what I’m suggesting. I know questioning others’ faith is a subject that most won’t dare to do, but I think it is important to discuss this. Jesus talks about this in Matthew 7:21-23:

Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?” And then will I declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness” (ESV).

As genuine followers of Christ, we can’t allow anyone and everyone to go unchallenged when they claim the same faith without exhibiting some sort of fruit. Not only is this false representation; it also damages the overall image of the church. Right now, the world looks at the state of affairs in Washington, D.C. and assumes that 90% of the politicians are Christian – as they claim to be. No wonder the world mocks people of faith. We’re allowing the Christian faith and the name of Jesus Christ to be hijacked by fruitless non-believers.

Are there genuine followers of Christ in Congress? Absolutely, but I would argue they are few and far between. The genuine Christians in Congress deserve our support, prayers, and respect. They are shining the light of Christ in a very dark place. To the politicians who claim the name of Christ yet offer no evidence of the truth of that claim, please, begin following biblical teaching or drop the false label.

While I believe it is healthy for Christians to hold our elected officials accountable, no matter their faith, it is more important for us to put genuine believers into office. A nation with genuine Christians directing its government is sure to be a nation that honors God with its policy decisions.