Recently, I have had the privilege of being at a number of political and quasi-political informational meetings. We are blessed here in Lancaster County to be represented in Washington by Joe Pitts—someone who actually does seem to represent us well.

I have noticed a distressing trend, however, about these meeting. Prayers, even at meals, are verboten (forbidden). Prayers are being replaced by moments of silence. This drives me nuts. It does not drive me nuts because I think of America as some sort of theocracy. It is not. It is, however, a nation founded on Christian principles and immersed in Christian traditions. It is a blend of both Christian and Enlightenment commitments that led to the birth of American freedom. Now, of course, the zest of the Enlightenment’s rationalism has given way to Post Modern irrationalism. Our freedom, however, still has the bedrock of Christian teaching beneath it—or it could. We are rejecting our believing heritage with increasing rapidity. We, for some reason, think that our freedom, our rights, and our liberty will just chug along as we renounce its foundations and seek to build on the provisional sand of post-modern libertarianism (which basically says that anything based on the consent of people who are old enough and that “does not hurt” others is ok). Our selling of our birthright sickens me and we will pay a heavy price. We already are.

Note, however, I am not against government. John Calvin (one of my favorite theologians) claimed that the government was as necessary as air and bread. We need governors. Each week during the pastoral prayer at All Saints Church (where I attend), we pray for our government. We pray for President Obama and for his administration. We beseech God for his good and for his administration—even though we often disagree with his policies. We pray for our other federal representatives. We pray for our state and local leaders. I would like, however, to consider changing this practice. Instead of praying for the government. I would like to have a moment of silence for them. Instead of pleading with God for their good, I would like to leave the petition blank. As they are assiduously avoiding Christ, I would like to pray that God gives them a blank—rather than His blessing.

Remember, we have a King. Today, now, He rules over heaven and earth. Someday, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess Him. There will be no moments of silence then.