Wisdom for the Republican Primaries

December 22, 1999

Wisdom for the Republican Primaries

I have been watching the Presidential debates and listening to Rush Limbaugh's incessant puffing up of George W. Bush (known as "W" to friends). Even though "W" acknowledged Christ as the most influential person in his life on December 13, 1999, he is only a young babe in the Lord. There is another, residing at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., who also acknowledges that Name. I am not questioning the spiritual veracity of “W’s” confession I am just pointing out that not all who acknowledge Christ have the same level of maturity. Notice those who wear crosses and carry Bibles into the abortion mills to kill their children. Jimmy Carter professed Christ and I voted for him because he did, but Jimmy did not have a biblical worldview.

"W" finally did do something to endear himself to the Christian conservative element of his party. He has really taken some whacks at them lately because he knows they have no place else to go. The problem with "W", as those of us from Texas know, is that he simply does not have a biblical worldview of his own. If he surrounds himself with those who understand biblical principles he does well. Primarily, however, he is a pragmatist. He learned this from his daddy. He is running the race "not to lose" (big tent) and, in so doing, is arousing the ire of all. He learned this from daddy also.

He refuses to commit to choosing a pro-life running mate. Why? His finger is still in the air figuring which way the wind will blow. He will not commit to a pro-life litmus test for the appointment of federal judges. The enemies of life certainly will, but not "W." He is a "compassionate conservative." He will not work toward a human life amendment - that’s' for the courts to decide. “W” may be "born-again" but he does not have the maturity and steel built into his character that comes through the Refiner's fire. If he did, he would have handled his drug problem with deep humility, acknowledging the sordid truth about himself, and the power of Almighty God to deliver him. Instead, he chose to handle it in the same way and with the same words that Bill Clinton handled his drug problem. Too Bad! It is the way of the world.

Our country needs a leader, tried and true. One who will place principle before politics. One who will lay his political future down to stand for the principles of his Lord. America is crying for such a leader and such a vision. "W" does not have it yet. He has neither the steel in his character or the biblical worldview to fight the battle savaging our nation.

Rush Limbaugh has continually denigrated the other Republican candidates because he believes that the real problem in America is with the radical liberal agenda. He believes that if McCain, Forbes, Bauer, and Keyes continue to attack "W" he may lose the presidential election in 2000. Limbaugh is wrong about the real problem- dead wrong! He may not be wrong about "W" losing the election but he is wrong about the real problem. The real problem is not with the Democrats.

The real problem lies within the Republican Party. The problem is one of trying to build a coalition and win an election leaving biblical principle behind. God will build His own coalition if there is a people who will unashamedly stand where He stands and proclaim His Word. The Republican Party is basically ignorant of God's Word and, when it comes time to stand for Him, it has always been ashamed to do so. The Republican Party is ashamed of God's Word and so is Rush Limbaugh. "W" is probably just ignorant of it!

That leaves us with a problem. Who do we vote for? Do we vote for the lesser of two evils? Never! To vote for the lesser of two evils is to vote for evil still! What do we do? We must trust God and allow Him to have His way with the sorry state of the Republican Party. There will never be room for men like Bauer, or Keyes in the this Party any more than there was room for Jesus at the Inn. We must go outside, to an insignificant stable and allow God’s Word to be birthed.

The Republican Party will continue to give us guys like "W". It can control him. It will say to us, "Well, at least he is a lot better then Gore or Bradley." And we, like the obsequious and disobedient sheep we are, will say “yes” once again. We will say “yes” to our slave masters and work hard for the election of one who won’t stand for the principles of Almighty God because he doesn't know them.

The Republican Party and "W" will have the happy, “dog licking” support of those great Christian organizations like the Christian Coalition, the National Right to Life, and what’s left of the Moral Majority, who are all looking for a place at the table. But God will not have a people willing to take the battle right to the enemy's gate in Washington, D.C. We have forgotten who we are and why we are here.

“But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices. If my people would but listen to me, if Israel would follow my ways, how quickly I would subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes!” Psalms 81:11-14.

Flip Benham