By ALLEN FARLEY / Guest Columnist

Have you ever sat in church listening to your pastor and thought, “Wow, he’s reading my mind?” (If you haven’t, you probably need to go to church more often). Well, last Sunday morning that happened to me. Our pastor was talking about the difference between a “Church member” and a “Church attender.” (My friend, Pastor Buddy Gray, was specifically talking about a “Covenant Commitment.”)
As Buddy Gray was talking to his Hunter Street Baptist Church family, my mind began to wonder what it would be like if people elected to government offices would live by a biblical “Covenant commitment”?
Think about this: The standard dictionary definition for covenant is: “An agreement between two people or two groups that involves promises on the part of each other.” Basically, it’s a contract or oath. However, a covenant in the biblical sense, implies much more than a contract or simple agreement. A contract always has an end date, while a covenant is a permanent arrangement. Another difference is that a contract generally involves only one part of a person, such as a skill, while a covenant covers a person’s entire being. (The definition of a biblical covenant was taken from Nelson’s Dictionary of the Bible.)

Can you imagine what a Christian politician could accomplish if their political platform was their Christian testimony? No professionally prepared resumes, press releases, signed contracts, or recited oaths of office. Just a truthful public declaration of their faults, weaknesses, repentance, accomplishments, and prayers for the future.
What could we accomplish with Christian politicians living by a biblical Covenant Commitment? “One Nation Under God.”
2 Chronicles 7:14 states if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
God Bless America!!!
Allen Farley represents Jefferson and Shelby Counties in the Alabama Legislature’s House District 15. Representative Farley’s email address is allenfarley@bellsouth.net