Everyone assumes all our political candidates just love fried chicken,

sweet tea, and home made ice cream. And they probably do. We assume they

love our great country and do not hesitate to salute the flag. We - especially

those born and raised in the south - assume that these good folks

who ask for our vote are church-going men and women. With our growing

diversification even on the south side of Atlanta, we should also include

the idea of synagogue and mosque going men and women.

However, the days of assuming are over. We need and should know how

much and what kind of religion office-seekers have. There was a day that

if you ran for office in Fayetteville, you were a member either of the

Baptist church or the Methodist church. Everyone knew which church you

attended and how good a church member you were.

We need to know not only a candidate's political positions (even

on moral issues), but we also need to know the candidate's track

record at church.

Presidential hopeful John Kerry's track record at church has been

coming to light. Some bishops have decided that if John Kerry comes to

their parish churches, he should be refused communion because of his

position on abortion which just happens to be in direct contradiction

to the Roman Catholic Church.

What you have here is a candidate who declares in favor of sin and not

only that, but who also encourages others to give support to the sin

of abortion. Of course, they frame their argument as a woman's right

to make decisions about her own body. Just how good a Catholic is John

Kerry? And for that matter, I'd like to know just how good a Methodist

is President Bush.

Someone told me that God loves FAT believers: "F" is for faithful; "A" is

for available; and, "T" is for teachable. Just how FAT are

our local candidates for office? Do they attend church services regularly?

Regularly for me as a pastor is just about every Sunday except when out

of town or sick. If the candidate espouses a belief in the Bible as God's

authoritative word, then does he tithe his income to the local church?

If a Christian believer will rob from God (failing to tithe), what's

to keep him from robbing the public purse? Mr. Candidate, are you faithful?

We should also know if the candidate is available to his church or place

of worship. When the call goes out for volunteers, does he show up to

or just make a habit of showing up Sunday mornings? Further, is he available

to teach a Sunday School class of boys and girls, men and women if approached

I guarantee that if a man doesn't have time for his church, he

won't have time for the electorate either, unless, of course, an

election is around the corner. I just bet many of our politicians have

been seen in church much more in recent months.

Then, we should know if the candidate has a teachable spirit. The Bible

says clearly that "All scripture is inspired of God and profitable

for teaching."

Is it evident that our candidates are men and women who profit from

a growing study and knowledge of Scripture? Perhaps if somebody would

show the Bible's value of human life inside or outside the womb,

he would change his position. That is, if he were teachable. Do the candidates

seek the counsel of their pastors, priests, and rabbis as to understand

what the will of the Lord is?

Without equivocation I believe in the separation of church and state.

The state has no business in the affairs of the church (as it were in

England prompting the settlement of American colonies along the Atlantic

seaboard).

I do not affirm a corruption of the separation clause, a corruption

that interprets it to mean a separation of God and government.

I believe every interested voter has the right to know the genuineness

of a candidate's faith, reflected in his faithfulness to his church

and its beliefs, his availability to his church's call for help,

and his willingness to listen and learn from the Word of God.

If you agree with me, why not cut out this column, mail it to the candidate,

and ask him just much of a believer is he.

Is he FAT?

John Hatcher is pastor of Outreach International Center, 1091 South

Jeff Davis Drive, Fayetteville, Georgia 30215. 770-719-0303

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