As the primaries continue the evangelical vote has been marginalized. Before we pull out our hair perhaps we should assess why this happened. When Mitt Romney was the frontrunner his Mormon faith became an issue for evangelical Christians. That fueled the debate as to whether or not Mormons are really Christians just because they say they are. Radio talk show host Glen Beck, a Mormon, angered many in his audience when he refused to give anyone who argued that Mormonism is vastly different from Biblical Christianity a hearing. These same personalities had serious trouble supporting Mike Huckabee because he was not conservative enough on immigration. Evangelical Christians from day 1 could not support Rudy Giuliani because of his own personal life and his pro-abortion position. So enter John McCain, a national hero, but with a foul mouth and a temper. He is the only one left standing with lukewarm support among evangelicals. Key leaders like James Dobson said they would sit out this election since they had no viable candidate they could not support. So where does that leave us - Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton? These two people have held a knock down drag out fight even though they are virtually identical in their politics. They are both left wing flaming liberals with a commitment to gay rights, abortion, a weak defense, and more big government. What did all of this net for us? Three imperfect candidates. It is a myth that the Republican Party is more in line with evangelical belief as are the Democrats. The Republican Party as a whole is no more Christian than the Democratic Party. Their bases are different but most of the men and women who sit in Congress on both sides of the aisle do not hold to our core beliefs. What is the purpose of government? Consider this:

Romans 13:1-6 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. [2] Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. [3] For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. [4] For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. [5] Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. [6] This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. [7] Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

There it is, clear as a bell. The purpose of government is to protect its people by punishing the wrongdoers. That is why we pay taxes. When one considers the national debt and the seemingly billions of pork barrel programs, is it no wonder people have lost faith in the ability of either the Democrats or the Republicans to work for anything other than their own PACs? Our hope does not rest in who is in the White House, but instead our hope rests with who occupies America's pulpits. But even there, Houston, we have a problem. More on that next time.