The Faith of Political Candidates:  Does It Matter?

        In a recent interview one of the candidates for President, while claiming to be a Christian,  expressed doubt that Jesus Christ was the only path to God.   It is the politically correct thing to say, because it is deemed by our culture to be “offensive” to declare that your own faith is the only way to God.  Some would like to make it a “hate crime” to say that Christianity is the one and only true faith.  Unfortunately, Jesus is the one who first said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No man cometh to the Father except by me.”   If Jesus were here today, saying the same thing, He would be branded as “intolerant” and “bigoted.” Some things do not change.  The world is still offended by Jesus; it still resents His claim to being the only begotten Son of God. 

        C.S. Lewis made reasoned that either Jesus was what He claimed (the Son of God, and the only path to God), or He was insane.  There are many people in mental institutions who believe they are God.  Lewis says that we cannot have it both ways.  If we call ourselves Christians, the very foundation of our faith is that we truly believe that Jesus Christ is THE Son of God.  We must accept His claim of Divinity or not.  If we accept it, we are Christians; if not, then we can only conclude that Jesus was crazy, and therefore not worthy of being our Lord and master. 

         I believe that Lewis is correct.  We cannot hold on to the comforting view that God made many paths.  If that were so, why would Jesus Christ have been required to die for our sins?  If there were many ways to reconciliation with God, why did Jesus have to die?  If we do not believe that Christ died for our sins, we can hardly claim to be Christians.  If we do not believe the claims that Jesus made, why would we want to be His disciples?  We cannot claim to be Christians if we do not accept what Jesus said.

         In this political season we will hear politicians say many ridiculous things.  We will hear them tell many lies with a straight face. We will hear them say one thing to one group, and the opposite to another group.  They will choose their words carefully to keep from having to take a position.  They will try to make an impression without taking a position.  We will hear them claim to be Christians in order to improve their chances of getting the “Christian vote,” as if there were such a thing.    But when we hear them claim to be Christians but deny the uniqueness of Christ, we can only wonder what kind of Christian they think they are.  Anyone who uses the name of Christ to improve their political position, in my view, is taking God’s name in vain.  The same is true of a business person who claims to be a Christian in order to get more business.

         Jesus made outrageous claims.  He was so offensive that He was hated both by the organized religion of His day, and by the political authorities.  He was seen as a threat to both.  Today, not much has changed.  If we take Jesus at face value, accept what He claimed, and put our faith in Him alone, we are Christians.   It is a rare political candidate who has the boldness and integrity to publicly profess unwavering faith in Jesus Christ as the One Way.  Listen carefully to what politicians say, because if you listen, you will hear what they really think, even when they try to disguise their true beliefs (or lack of beliefs).  In the Bible nations were often judged for the actions of the leaders.  When the leaders rejected God, the nation suffered.  It matters what kind of leaders we elect.