Should Satan be a Campaign Issue?

I’m going to depart from my usual spiritually-focused message to political commentary for your weekend reading pleasure. If you don’t care to hear my opinion, hit that “delete” button—now!

In 2008, Rick Santorum warned, “Satan has his sights on the United States of America and has been attacking the great institutions of America, using those great vices of pride, vanity and sensuality as the root to attack all of the strong plants that have so deeply rooted in the American tradition.” Now, as he surges to lead the Republican pack of nominee-seekers, his words have come under attack.

Should he be talking about Satan?  Well, according to a 2007 Gallop poll, 70% of Americans agree that there is some kind of satanic reality. So the issue goes beyond belief in Satan: his words have elevated the culture war to spiritual warfare. Talking about the seduction of "pride, vanity, and sensuality" makes him sound more like a preacher than a politician.

The irony is that while most Christians have been concerned about Romney’s Mormon beliefs, Franklin Graham and other evangelical spokespersons have assured us it would be OK to vote for a Mormon because we are not voting for America’s “pastor” but for America’s “president.” But if Romney began injecting his religious beliefs into his speeches, you can be sure, he’d be out the door faster than you can say “LDS.” What Santorum is saying isn’t wrong. But it may be political suicide. “People who aren't spiritual can't receive these truths from God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them…” (1 Cor. 2:14)