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In the last several elections leaders of the “Christian” right have appeared to have significant power by urging voters to seek candidates with “Christian” attitudes and policies. With support of the Christian right, Ronald Regan beat Jimmy Carter, and George W Bush beat Gore and Kerry. The Christian right has controlled 5 of the last 7 presidential elections.

 How does one determine if a candidate is “Christian” enough”? When evaluating a candidate, I was told that I needed to examine his stand on abortion and same sex marriage. Later lower taxes, smaller government, and reducing “welfare” rolls were added to the litany. It has been asserted that the Bible supports these issues. Well, what does the Bible say?

A careful study of the Scriptures revealed no mention of “gay marriage or abortion (abortion may be assumed from the Commandment “thou shall not kill”). I could find no reference to lowering taxes (although people disliked tax collectors) , having a small government, or reducing welfare rolls.

Newsweek, July 14, 2008, noted that during this coming election, a large number of conservative Christians, before committing to a candidate, are focusing upon the demands of the 25th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew.

MATT 25: 25:31-46 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations  will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me,naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’ And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’ Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.’

Then they will answer and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?’ He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.’ And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

Well, I see a real challenge here for many politicians. A few do help feed the hungry and provide shelter for the homeless, but many fight the concept that the less fortunate should be helped. How many fight having a comprehensive health care plan to care for those “least of our brothers” who are ill? How many are against providing for the welfare of the poor, unemployed, or the elderly? Some of the politicians who push the hardest against abortion and gay marriage are the most adamant about having the disadvantaged care for themselves.

So, who really are the “Christian” candidates?