Four years ago, as we were heading into the heat of a presidential election campaign, Dr. Joseph Stowell, president of historic Moody Bible Institute, wrote an article for Moody magazine titled ???Barricading the Cross, in which he expressed his concern about what he called ???politicizing the gospel.???

It??™s still a legitimate concern.

In Stowell??™s words, ???When our political action confuses political agendas with Christ, we compromise His uniqueness and independence.  We become guilty of building barricades to the cross.

???We cause significant damage when we confuse people about the nature of Christ as the lover of their souls and the nature of Christianity as available for all.  Republicans, Democrats, liberals, conservatives--all need a clear view of this compelling Christ, unclouded from the mists of politics.???

Does this mean people of faith are to have nothing to do with the government?  Are churches to be silent on moral issues and ignore national wrongs?

Not at all!

Our Lord called on His followers to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matthew 5:16).  Churches must stand against evil in all areas of life.  But can this best be achieved by adding a political dimension to the mission of the church?

Not if history is a safe guide.

Churches have been most effective in bringing constructive change when sticking tenaciously to their Biblical message.

When a church neglects the gospel or relegates it to second place in favor of a political

solution to our problems, it has departed from its eternal message and embraced a temporary one.  Political ideas come and go, sometimes even floating from one political party to another.  The time-tested message of the church remains.

Political victories may be more dangerous to churches than losses.  The taste of winning and the thrill of gaining power can plunge a church even deeper into political action until it is identified with one political party, limiting its influence.

Media minister, author and widely respected Texas pastor, Dr. Tony Evans, put the whole issue in a prophetic perspective, saying, ???When Christ returns, He won??™t be riding a donkey or an elephant.???

During the next few months, millions will be spent on efforts to win the election.  Every real or supposed weakness of each candidate will be exposed, and in some cases blown out of proportion, to convince us that this person is unworthy of our support.

At a time when terrorists plot their evil deeds and national unity is vital, negativism will flow down like Niagara.  How can we go through this barrage of boasting and backbiting without losing the will to cooperate in opposing those who hope to destroy us?

Let??™s try prayer.

We??™re commanded in the Scriptures to pray for national leaders so we can live quiet and peaceful lives, whoever may be in office (1 Timothy 1:1-3).

Why not start praying for present and prospective leaders now.  Those who win will need our prayers and we??™ll all profit from the practice.

(c) 2004 Roger Campbell