Oklahomily - 'Wagering against Fred Thompson's faith life?'

A political science professor at Harding University, an affiliate school of the Churches of Christ, is challenging potential GOP candidate Fred Thompson's reputed membership in his church, and is even offering $100 to anyone who can provide evidence that Thompson led the singing of a particular church anthem.

Not that we're absolutely sure about this, but no member of the Church of Christ we ever knew condoned wagering, whether it was in jest or for serious.

And in the great scheme of things it is no big deal. The real item of significance is that there is a concerted effort by some Christians to treat Thompson as a Christian pretender, even though (or perhaps because) Thompson doesn't make a big public deal of his faith.

This is counter-productive. The nation needs a president who is demonstrably governed by a personal morality rooted in their faith, someone whose actions will convince a majority of citizens that he (or perhaps she) is acting in the best interests of the country, its people, and its Constitution. A good president, the chief executive of a secular government, may hold intense personal religious feelings but not make a public splash of his beliefs. No one remembers Franklin D. Roosevelt or Ronald Reagan for their church membership. On the other hand, Jimmy Carter was well known for being a Southern Baptist Sunday School teacher, and a large number of Americans believe he was one of the worst presidents in the nation's history. But it was not because of his Baptist beliefs; rather, it was because of his actions as president which often seemed to run contrary to the needs of the nation.

Fred Thompson's record as a senator, in his words and deeds, is fair game for inspection and debate. His status as a Christian, quite frankly, ought to be between Fred and the Lord Almighty. Unless he starts verbally trampling on Church of Christ doctrine, officials in that denomination should refrain from casting stones.