Have you ever run as a candidate for your local school board? Have you ever run as a candidate for a municipal or provincial election? How about for a federal election? Well, don’t be too hard on yourself, most of us realize that not many have and far too few ever do run as a candidate.

Inviting public scrutiny as to who you are and stepping up to the platform to answer for the party you represent is not a decision you make over breakfast. Rather, it’s a decision that should be made after spending considerable time on your knees. Did I say on your knees? Hmm… Isn’t there a growing uneasiness in Canada at mixing politics with prayer? Yes, there certainly is, but let’s not allow that stupidity to cloud our good judgment. After all, the fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom, and knowledge of God results in good judgment.

Putting it much more eloquently than I could, the father of American scholarship, Noah Webster, Jr., (1758 – 1843) wrote:

In selecting men for office, let principle be your guide. Regard not the particular sect or denomination of the candidate—look to his character… It is alleged by men of loose principles, or defective views of the subject, that religion and morality are not necessary or important qualifications for political stations. But the Scriptures teach a different doctrine. They direct that rulers should be men who rule in the fear of God, able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness… When a citizen gives his vote to a man of known immorality, he abuses his civic responsibility; he sacrifices not only his own interest, but that of his neighbor; he betrays the interest of his country.

American evangelist Bill Bright spelled out how to put Webster’s words to work in his booklet entitled Your 5 Duties as a Christian Citizen (PDF). They are: pray, register to vote, become informed, help elect godly people, and vote.

As many of you know, Prime Minister Harper has called by-elections in three districts, with the vote taking place on Monday, November 26, 2012. The Christian Heritage Party is blessed to field two candidates—one in the Durham electoral district of Ontario (Mr. Andrew Moriarity) and one in Victoria, BC (Dr. Philip Ney). You can find out more about each of these candidates by going to our national website www.chp.ca.

Yes, far too few godly men and women are willing to throw their hat in the ring, and that is especially so when you are going to represent the high road—and CHP Canada offers none other. We owe these good men (and their families) our gratitude and thanks—and as many of the five duties as we are able.

“Well done!” and God’s protection to them both.