The decision by Pat Robertson to retire from his chairmanship of the Christian coalition brings to an end the era of the so-called “religious right” in America. As with its previous incarnation in the prohibition era, we should learn from this latest religious-political hybrid that a moral code cannot be imposed from the top on an immoral nation. As the Psalm writer asks, “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?”
Far from discouraging believers, the demise of the religious right should encourage us to work through our local churches and personal witnessing to change lives. We can invest our time and resources where we live, rather than send them off to preachers and broadcasters who have been unable to fulfill their pledges for a more righteous America.
There is no biblical mandate or expectation for believers to revive a nation composed mostly of the unconverted. It is quite the contrary. Our mandate is to preach the gospel. Let’s get about God’s business of transforming men and women and not man’s business of attempting to improve fallen humankind. We may find that by doing the former, we will have a greater effect on the latter. I’m Cal Thomas in Washington.
