Two columns that came to me by e-mail last week fit together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle-and when the pieces were put together, they produced a conclusion that might surprise at least one of the authors.

Tristan Emmanuel of the ECP Centre wrote one of the columns. It was a clarion call for "SoCons"-Social Conservatives-to stop letting the media shape their thinking:

"Neither Liberals… nor the national media control all the variables that could impact the upcoming election," he wrote. "Hubris does not win elections."

"But if we listen to our opponents, then we are sure to give in and give up. We would do well to learn from their own determination… back in the early '70s, the homosexual lobby was told in the strictest possible terms that they would never achieve social acceptance-never-did they listen?

"Now that the tide has changed, should we listen to them?

"Nothing is hopeless. When the media pelts us with negative messages, we know it's time to tune them out, turn them off and stay the course."

The very next e-mail I opened was a Chicago Sun-Times column by Mark Steyn. The headline made the point:

The only choice on war is to win it or lose it.

Both writers were essentially making the same point: whether it's a shooting war or culture war, those who would preserve our society must resolve to "stay the course." There is no other option.

But there's a more subtle point to be derived from linking their counsels: history is only in our own hands alone if we choose to capitulate; we must remember that it is God who raises up and puts down governments.

In the same sense, if we listen to those who say, "Ideological purists cannot win; we must compromise so we can gain or hold power" we concede the field to the enemies of what is right. And we betray a lack of trust in God.

Those who say Biblical principles cannot win are, in effect, saying that God has lost His power to rule in the affairs of men. That's simply not true!

Compromise is always the first step towards quitting. Already, we see the mentors of the global jihad rejoicing that the Democrats won the midterm elections in the USA: they foresee a compromise on Iraq, and they see it as a step towards victory for the jihadists.

Indeed, it was a series of "pragmatic" compromises that led us into the quagmire of social crises that have, step-by-step, betrayed our children. A little here, a little there-and suddenly we realized that the goal-posts had been moved so far that Christians were off the playing field!

The question isn't whether God is for this group or against that group; the real question is: "Who is uncompromisingly for HIM?"

SoCons—and especially Christians—should take this morsel of advice from Tristan Emmanuel and Mark Steyn: stop listening to the nay-sayers, and find the courage to do what you know in your heart is right!