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WTC Disaster Defining Moment For Bush

11/10/2001   

"And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14)

He was once the butt of jokes when he said that Jesus Christ was the most influential person who ever lived. But no one’s laughing now. In fact, President George W. Bush enjoys the highest approval rating ever held by a sitting American President.

It’s funny how much an incident like the World Trade Center disaster can change public opinion, but think about it. Stories about Gary Condit have all but disappeared and who cares what a pregnant chad looks like.

I think it’s great that no one’s joking very much about matters of faith anymore. I am even more pleased to see that the line between church and state has been blurred. A Madison, Wisconsin school board, for example, recently rescinded its ban on the pledge of allegiance, citing that it was only trying to make sure foreign students would not be offended by such language as "under god". Wisconsin Governor Scott McCallum referred the school board members who originally voted for the ban as "oddballs".

McCallum is bold largely because Bush hasn’t been ashamed of either his love for his country or his Lord. After the September 11th attack on the World Trade Center, he showed great skill in expressing his spiritual and moral beliefs. His speeches at the National Cathedral, Ground Zero of the World Trade Center, and at a joint session of Congress proved that we had elected a strong leader with a strong faith.

But as revealing as those public moments were, the inside scoop on the President is even more inspiring. A few hours before his address to Congress, the President asked one of his aides to assemble a group of religious leaders. Twenty-seven leaders, including thirteen evangelicals, were present. The group included the likes of Franklin Graham, Max Lucado, and T.D. Jakes.

Once the group was assembled in the Roosevelt Room, Bush drew a comparison between the nation and himself. "I was a sinner in need of redemption and I found it," Bush said, referring to the time when he was a heavy drinker and lacking a sense of purpose. He then told the group that the nation was staggering and needed to get back on its feet, too. "I think this is a part of a spiritual awakening in America," he told the group.

Christianity Today reported that those immediately around Bush have noticed that prayer and Bible study are part of his daily regimen. He often quotes Scripture to White House aides in support of a position he intends to take.

Bush’s faith and his politics are inseparable, which was the point all along when he spoke on the campaign trail about the importance of Jesus. "I don’t think he considers himself an evangelical leader," a prominent evangelical told a reporter. "He sees himself as a political leader and a man of faith."

Bush would agree. He once told a friend in Fort Worth that he felt that God wanted him to run for President and now believes he understands why the call came when it did. Perhaps it really was for such a time as this.

posted by Mike Ruffin on 11/10/2001