I told myself I wouldn't pay much attention to presidential primary news until at least Labor Day. Who can handle a solid year and a half of campaigning? But rules are made to be broken…so I couldn't help but peek at least weekend's Faith and Freedom Conference, where candidates and potential candidates battled it out over who prayed and who didn't pray.
[Rep. Michelle] Bachmann…highlighted her remarks with a prayer — she led the crowd in a long, politically-tinged prayer ending in "Amen" at the end of her remarks Friday.
In a similar vein, former Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN) recited a Bible verse during his speech Friday night, while many in the audience spoke the words from memory along with him.
Candidate (and minister) Herman Cain found the whole business to be "the ultimate pander."
Meanwhile, not to be outdone, possible candidate Governor Rick Perry of Texas is organizing a "call to prayer for a nation in crisis" event in Houston's Relient Stadium in August. Sponsored by the American Family Association, Perry has invited national leaders and all Governors across the country to attend the Christian event which is described as "apolitical."
Hopefully, candidates who pray in the name of Jesus will be mindful of His admonition:
When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen… – Matthew 6:5-6 (NIV)
Campaigns, voters, and political media should stay away from evaluating candidates based on their prayers or their prayerfulness. In America, it should not matter whether candidates for office pray or not, nor to whom they pray. Campaigns that are driven by religious showmanship set a dangerous precedent.
