I'm a bit of a political junkie. I'm fascinated by what political leaders say and do. In the last federal election I saw an article in the Canadian version of Christianity Today that featured a simple Q&A session with the leaders of the main political parties in the country. The question was "What role do you think faith should have in the political world?" One leader said "Politics and religion should not mix and the question is inappropriate". Another said, "I leave my faith at the door". Still another gave a carefully worded answer.

What I find absolutely fascincating in North American culture is our interpretation of the concept of the separation of church and state. The Canadian reality is that the Queen of Canada is also the head of the Anglican church, so there technically is no separation of church and state here. The American reality is that the founding fathers there established the separation of church and state so that the state could not interfere in the affairs of the church. The biblical reality is that the local church is the only hope for the world and without the church, the nation goes to hell in a handbasket.

Coming back to the CT article - there was one answer that surprised me, especially in light of where God is calling me to serve Him.... One federal leader's response to the question was "The political world needs to hear the prophetic voice of the faith community."

There's a interesting biblical pattern that appears over and over again. When kings and prophets had a positive relationship, the nation inevitably prospered. When kings and prophets were at odds with each other, the nation inevitably suffered. There's a direct connection between God having a clear and open line of communication to the leaders of the nation and the health and prosperity of the nation. Pr. 29:18 tells us that where there is no "vision" or "revelation of God" the people cast off restraint or perish. If the people need an ongoing revelation of the heart, mind and will of God, how much more do the leaders of our great nation?