The relationship of faith, politics

To the editor:

Recent letters to the Missourian show that many of us are considering anew the proper relationship of faith and politics. Of course citizens must vote according to conscience. Laws are derived from conscience. The difficulty is that no nation ever became righteous by passing laws. God judges righteousness by the hearts of a nation's people, not by its law books.

And no law ever saved a soul. For that reason, perhaps, Jesus cautioned us to let the wheat and the tares grow together, side by side, and leave the judgment to God. The parable is practical as well as wise. A successful law has the wholehearted support of the entire nation. A law that lacks acceptance will fail, as our prohibition laws failed. If we can change hearts, changes in law will follow.

Even non-believers can learn from Jesus' example. A man named Judas Maccabee lived in Palestine a generation before Jesus. Judas Maccabee's goals were for political justice and righteousness, and his influence lasted his lifetime.

By contrast, Jesus' goals were spiritual, and his message of love -- even toward those who hated him -- remains powerful 20 centuries after his death at the hands of Pharisees and politicians.

IDA DOMAZLICKY, Cape Girardeau