Faith Under Fire

The Bible tells us to pray for our leaders. We need to pray especially for our Christian leaders because they are coming under attack more and more.

The media and other liberal groups came down hard on President Bush because he's a born-again Christian. They've done the same to Sarah Palin. Now, an atheist group is targeting Gov. Rick Perry to try to keep him from taking part in a prayer event next month in Houston.

Perry helped organize "The Response," a day of fasting and prayer. He's invited members of the Obama administration, governors and other state leaders to the event Aug. 6 at Houston's Reliant Stadium. But the atheist group filed a lawsuit, claiming Perry would be violating the separation of church and state if he takes part in it. The same group has tried unsuccessfully to block the National Day of Prayer.

You would think that even atheists would welcome prayers for our state and country. If atheists choose not to believe in God, that's their right. It's stupid and foolish, but it's their right. But why would anyone object to praying?

Perry is not backing down. Nor should he. He continues to stress the gathering's spiritual importance, saying he wants God's will to be done.

The press has had a field day with this and over other comments Perry made about wanting God's will in his own life. While considering a run for president, Perry said he believes this is what he's "called" to do. The media jumped all over him, mocking him for suggesting that God "called" him to run for office. I don't know about you, but I want leaders who have been called by God.

We need more leaders like Rick Perry. He is an unabashed conservative who clearly has no problem being public about his faith. I only wish we had more leaders like him in office.

I hope believers will stand up and show their support for the prayer event and for Perry. If we don't speak up now while we have the freedom to speak out, what will we do when this freedom is taken away? And if our heathen Muslim president is re-elected, I can almost guarantee that we will lose a lot of our religious freedoms.

Act now. Pray for our leaders, all of them. They need it, and America needs it, too!