October 28, 2010
Everyone has faith in somebody, or something. Even atheists.
Are too many of us putting too much faith in politics and politicians? I plan to vote next Tuesday and pray, too, but I am under no illusion that politics or politicians can make my life better. The media promote this fiction because it adds to their ratings and profits. Politicians promote it, of course, for the obvious reason that it adds to their standing and if they win, it boosts their careers and financial benefits.
But isn't this a distraction from the things that matter most, to quote an old book title of mine? I'm not saying it is unimportant who is in power. What I am saying is that this isn't real power. The losers in an election are not convinced the winners are right. They merely work harder to be winners the next time.
Where is God in all this? He is marginalized and treated as an afterthought, even by a lot of Christians who seek to add him to a political movement. But God's ways are different and high above man's ways. Let's keep that in mind as we vote and as we pray for those in authority over us, which is the only command given about rulers in scripture.
Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist based in Washington, D.C.
