I ran across some notes I had taken years ago from an old book, Profitable Bible Study by Wilbur M. Smith. In my notes from this text, there were quotes from selected U.S. presidents about the Bible. These quotes reveal much about the person and perhaps are instructive during this election year. Also, the quotes indicate a good deal about the president’s relationship with God, their conception of their role as a national and spiritual leader, and their understanding of the importance of God’s Word in their own lives. Here are some brief quotes for your review and consideration:
Abraham Lincoln: “In regard to the Great Book, I have only to say, it is the best gift which God has given man. All the good from the Savior of the world is communicated to us through this book.”
John Quincy Adams: “So great is my veneration for the Bible and so strong my belief, that when duly read and meditated on, it is of all books in the world, that which contributes most to make men good, wise, and happy.”
Andrew Jackson: “The Bible is the rock on which our republic rests.”
Woodrow Wilson: “I am sorry for the men who do not read the Bible daily. I wonder why they deprive themselves of the strength and the pleasure. I should be afraid to go forward if I did not believe that there lay at the foundation of all our schooling and all our thought this incomparable and unimpeachable Word of God.”
In November, 2008, we face an important decision as a nation—who do we vote for to lead this nation? As a Christ follower, I want to carefully and prayerfully consider the impact of this important decision. I want to know how the candidate views his relationship with Jesus Christ and whether his decisions are weighed in prayer before his Lord. I also want to know how important God’s Word is to him and if he deems it necessary as a leader to go to God’s Word for answers. Is this too much to ask in this postmodern age where pluralism seems to reign in the minds of the people within the Washington beltway and in the political fringes of this nation?
What would you say about your relationship with Christ and about the Bible? Where are you in your assessment of the need for God’s Word in your own life? Does your faith make a difference in your own decision making process? Let’s turn to the author and perfecter of our faith, Jesus Christ, and to God’s Word for answers to our decision in November.
