"Acid Test Of A Christian Candidate"

Presidential candidate George W. Bush has publicly professed that Jesus Christ is his Lord and Savior. He has spoken at Bob Jones University, a Christian school. He has been seen singing Christian songs in a worship service in a large, well-known Christian church. That's enough for most White Christian Americans to assure them that Bush is a Christian and, therefore, will conduct his life and his public office, if elected, with Christian values. It is also assumed that, because he is now deemed a Christian, that George W. will be divinely directed for the good of America, if elected.

Is Bush a Christian? How can you tell? The acid test for anyone, including a candidate for public office, is that he must not only profess to be a blood-bought, washed and redeemed believer in Jesus Christ, but he must believe in, live by and proclaim the Law of the everlasting God.

"To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." – Isaiah 8:20

"If ye love me, keep my commandments ... He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." – John 14:15, 21

If he has a testimony (i.e. "I am a Christian.") but does not hold to the Law of God, there is "no light in him." This does not refer to the sacrificial laws fulfilled in Christ, but the ten commandments in addition to the other statutes and judgments. That's the acid test. Anybody can testify to being a Christian, but how many are willing to proclaim, live by and uphold the Law of God as the law of the land? The Bible is clear. A true Christian must have both testimony and law.

By this standard neither George W. nor Al Gore is a Christian. They are politicians. Yet, naive and biblically ignorant Christians continue to be moved to false discernment.

What is the answer, then? Christians ought to ask each candidate two questions:

1. Will you profess Jesus Christ is your Savior and Master?

2. Will you live by, proclaim, follow and uphold the Laws of God according to the Bible?

If they do not give a clear "Yes!" answer to both questions, there is "no light" in them.