In the leadup to the U.S. presidential election, there has been one bipartisan principle that has emerged in the general media: All religious connections of presidential and vice presidential candidates are suspect, and should be scrutinized. One should be concerned about elements of religious extremism in any candidate who is a church member. One should draw a comparison between devotion to a church and the religious devotion of Muslim extremists.

The latter point was evidenced when ABC’s Charles Gibson interviewed vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin. Several times he pressed her to see if her statement that the war in Iraq had a divine purpose was the same as declaring it a holy war. What to us might sound like a Christian’s prayer request sounds to much of America’s media like a call to jihad.

Of course, conservative and Christian media flew to Palin’s aid, pointing out that most of our presidents, both Democrats and Republicans, have been convicted that they were following God’s purpose when the country was compelled to go to war. That’s a very different thing from encouraging the killing of women and children and from encouraging fighting to the death to achieve eternal life.

There are some things about the purportedly Christian views of the main presidential and vice-presidential candidates that are extreme when compared to Reformed Presbyterian doctrine. But to the mainstream media, RPs would be considered every bit as extreme as the current candidates. It makes one ponder whether a Reformed Presbyterian could ever be a governor, U.S. Senator, or president. It is an odd feeling to realize that many in your country would view your very traditional positions as out of step and extremist. It’s discouraging to think that some of your neighbors are quick to question your intelligence and patriotism because you are a dedicated church member.

There is no reason for spending much time recalling the good ole days, or even arguing about how good they really were. God has given us a purpose for this day and time. He has given us a purpose of citizens of the country we will live in next year, with whatever leaders have been elected. We will have the same war to fight that believers have always had, and it is a spiritual war, waged with spiritual weapons. What’s more, when people have followed God in faith, some amazing turnarounds in people and countries are far from unprecedented.

The cover of Pastor Rich Ganz’s (Ottawa, Ont., RPC) new book looks a lot like a self-help book. While Rich isn’t promoting himself as a self-help guru, the cover is meant to appeal to those who are seeking help and who might otherwise pick up a book that doesn’t offer the real help only Christ can bring. In this issue we interview Rich about the book and also give you an excerpt to read.

—Drew Gordon