How much impact should an individual's faith have over public policy?
Any public official should have as a top priority the goal of serving God and living a life as a witness for Jesus. All decisions we make in whatever we do should be directed to that ultimate goal. In government service it becomes a question of how we serve God by helping make the lives of people better. Government is an institution created by God to serve certain purposes-to punish what is wrong and to commend what is right. That should be part of our service. However, government should not be used to favor a particular religion over another as long as the religion is a legitimate faith with the belief in God. Cults and other pseudo-religions are not really religions in my mind.
Is an individual's faith relevant as an issue in Elections?
An individual's faith is relevant in Elections in that Elections should be a part of our lives like anything else we do to serve God. That should mean that we shouldn't lie, slander the character of others, engage in half-truths, or make promises that we know we can't keep. We should discuss ideas and not other people. Personal attacks and negative campaigning should never be a part of any campaign. I'm sorry as a society that we have stooped to doing that. We must remember in the long term, God is in control and he has purposes beyond whether we win or lose an elections.
How would you define "Separation of Church and State?
Separation of Church and State means that Government should stay out of affecting religious belief and should not restrict an individual's faith. Government may and should restrict certain religious practices that are harmful or dangerous to the health, or safety of society. But still, people should be free to have their own beliefs. It is a one-way street. Religion and faith should be able to affect government policies and practices, but government should not interfere with legitimate religions. Restricting prayer in school and the reading of the Bible and the Ten Commandments was never intended to be the affect of the 1st amendment. Government has over-stepped their authority. Government's relation to religion should be one of "benevolent neutrality."
