October 28, 2008We are on the eve of a nation-shaping election. Please join me in crying out to Heaven, praying for those whom God will allow to lead our country and make incredibly important decisions, especially in the judicial realm. It is a situation we cannot take lightly.
As you probably know, the most lasting legacy of a President is his court appointments. During Bill Clinton's second term, there was still a judge able to decide cases who had been appointed by Harry Truman 50 years before! Five of the current Supreme Court justices will be over 70 years old in January, and one is 88, with over 30 years service on the High Court.
Courts today have assumed more power than any branch of our federal government, and they hold more direct sway over the "
right to hear, speak, and act on the Truth of the Gospel" than the executive and legislative branches combined. Even now, many issues being decided by the courts are of grave concern to those who love and want to follow the Lord. Please pray for the leaders and judges on these issues – that they will NOT use their power to limit or restrict:
- The right to hear and speak the Truth in the public square – its terms, conditions, and limits. We only have to look to Europe, to our friend Pastor Ake Green, to see what "hate crimes" laws can lead to. Pray that no "hate crime" accusations will be upheld against faithful preachers of the Gospel and that the IRS's limits on pastors' Bible-based sermon content will be stricken from the books.
- The right of conscience – the right all Americans have to refuse to participate in evil or things known to be sin. This is especially true for health care workers and public officials, regarding issues ranging from abortion to involuntary use of church property.
- The right of ministries to choose employees who agree with and act in accord with the faith beliefs and teachings of the ministry.
- The right of public school, college, and university students to freely form and minister through campus Christian organizations without unbearable restrictions, such as requiring non-Christians to be their leaders.
- The sanctity of life, from conception to natural death – and that no judge will ever again uphold a law that permits so-called "partial birth abortion" or what is called the "Freedom of Choice Act," which would wipe out nearly all restrictions on abortion – restrictions like the federal Partial-Birth Abortion Act, which ADF played a pivotal role in successfully defending at the United States Supreme Court.
- The institution of marriage and the family, through destructive rulings that redefine or destroy it, or by striking down more marriage laws such as the federal Defense of Marriage Act.
As you exercise your right to vote in the coming week, please pray for these things and the people you are selecting for leadership positions in your community and your country. Together, on our knees, we will win!