Kudos to Franklin Graham for his editorial in the 11/29/04 edition of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Christians must focus on God, not politics

By FRANKLIN GRAHAM
Published on: 11/29/04

Like millions of other Americans, I woke up Nov. 3 relieved that the exhausting election process was over with a decisive conclusion.

This may go down in history as the “evangelical election.” Depending on your worldview, you are either pleased and proud of that, or disappointed and scared. Keep in mind that “evangelical” defines a theological persuasion, not a political one. Evangelicals have a personal faith that is built on the foundation of the Bible as God’s Word, not on a political party or presidential candidate.

As a Christian and a United States citizen, I believe in the right and responsibility to vote. I have always used whatever influence and platform I had to urge everyone to vote. Indeed, government is one of only three institutions God ordained (his church and the family being the other two).

But as a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I have a higher calling than getting out to vote or “getting out the vote.” As for me and other evangelical ministers, we are called to offer the message of the Gospel (which literally means “good news”) to people of every race, creed, age, walk of life and political persuasion.

It is ultimately God who saves and prospers us. He is our hope — not Republicans or Democrats, liberals or conservatives.

So I for one don’t cry, gloat or boast over election results, and I encourage other Christian leaders to keep our focus on our true calling, which is spiritual, not political. Former Nixon White House adviser and fellow evangelical Chuck Colson (who knows the world of politics and has given the last 25 years to working with prisoners), cautioned after the election that, “Evangelicals should not be triumphal.” This is sound advice for several reasons.

First, it is spiritually wise. We are admonished in Scripture to boast of nothing but the cross. Second, while some 20 million evangelicals voted for President Bush, nearly 40 million people who are not evangelicals joined them in their support — perhaps even for different reasons. Third, if 79 percent of 26.5 million evangelical voters voted for Bush, that means 5.6 million of them voted for John Kerry.

Millions of people voted for Bush who may not agree with me or other evangelicals on spiritual matters, but they are Americans nonetheless and the president is their leader as well as mine. I call on all Christians to humble ourselves before God and our fellow citizens and not take credit where credit is not due.

While it is true that evangelical Christians voted by a large majority for Bush, I’ve got some news that may surprise or disappoint you, depending on your political persuasion. God isn’t a Republican or a Democrat. He’s the God of the universe, and I would respectfully caution Christian leaders everywhere to keep the focus on the Almighty and his Gospel and not on any man.

Yes, I care about protecting human life, born and unborn; preserving the sacredness of marriage; and other issues evangelicals would consider moral issues (even if they’ve become politicized in this country). I also care about other issues that we have a biblical mandate to care about as followers of Christ — issues involving the plight of the “least of those” among us.

That’s why our international relief organization, Samaritan’s Purse, seeks to meet physical and spiritual needs of hurting people around the world.

It is my prayer that evangelicals will be remembered not for our political muscle, but for our good works and for sharing the good news of God’s love toward us all. May these next four years be ones of prayer for our leaders, our nation and our humility, recognizing the power and sovereignty of God — a God who makes no mistakes, and incidentally, doesn’t need our vote.

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• Franklin Graham is also CEO and president of the international Christian relief organization Samaritan’s Purse.