With the prospect of a liberal Democratic leadership taking hold on Capitol Hill, two evangelical leaders are counseling fellow believers to stand firm in defense of Christian liberties and freedoms against the possibility of radicals in Congress overreaching their power.Dr. Richard Land, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, says after the devastating defeat at the hands of the liberals, pro-family Christians must be prepared to make solid arguments as they look to the future."They need to point out the mistakes that President-elect Barack Obama makes when it comes to overreaching," Land urges. "I think he'll be pressed hard to overreach by the radicals in the Democratic House and Senate."The Southern Baptist leader has additional advice for his fellow Christians."I think that we need to stay consistent with our message of family values and the sanctity of human life-and we need to find attractive and articulate candidates who will go out and make those cases," he says. According to Land, a number of social conservatives could emerge as the new leader of the pro-family movement."I think there are several contestants for it," he states. "Sarah Palin is certainly going to be a prominent one. Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, Mitch McConnell-who just won re-election in Kentucky-and Bobby Jindal from Louisiana."Persecution on the horizon?
Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, believes Senator Obama was elected, in large part, because the church in America has failed to address sin in its own ranks and also in society. Perkins says Christians should pray for and return to a biblical model of holiness and righteousness. And believers in America, he adds, should prepare for persecution. "We are going to see, I think, unprecedented attacks against our faith through measures like the hate crimes legislation to the Employment Non-Discrimination Act," he says. "We're going to see attacks on innocent human life through the Freedom of Choice Act, trying to erase all the gains that have been made in the pro-life movement. And I think even our freedoms are going to come under attack." Obama stated during the presidential campaign that one of his top priorities upon taking office would be to sign the Freedom of Choice Act. Perkins says Christians will have to be resolute in defense of what they know to be right. "We're going to have to stand together, and stand in defense of these truths, and be bold about that stance," he counsels. Perkins says many churches are afraid of offending people, and don't challenge members to live out their faith in the public square.
by Chad Groening and Allie Martin
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