In a previous political season, consultant James Carville told then-candidate Bill Clinton, “It is about the economy, stupid.” That phrase reverberated throughout that campaign and for several others, and certainly in our present day.

For followers of Jesus, a parallel phrase (without the “stupid” part) would be, “Church, it is about the Great Commission.” Just like “Jesus” is seemingly a safe bet as an answer in any children’s Sunday School quiz, the “Great Commission” is a solid foundation for any discussion of the question of “why” we do something. So, in the next few moments I’d like to advocate for fulfilling the Great Commission in the public square.

I think of geography as an assignment, and not as an accident. We have a great inheritance here in the United States. Many years ago, I memorized the preamble to the Constitution of the United States. Embedded in those words was the call to “form a more perfect Union, establish Justice…and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.” With over two centuries of experience, “we the people” have been blessed with religious liberty that has provided the seedbed of global missions and compassion ministries where millions have been reached. I believe the Great Commission can and must be fulfilled in every dimension of life: in our homes, our churches, our businesses, and our governmental agencies and institutions.

Today, religious liberty is apparently an inconvenient constitutional right to some in our land. The American Council was founded in order to equip Christ-followers to “engage in culture without raging in culture.” We simply must continue to raise up and train God-honoring men and women who can serve in governmental agencies with rigor, integrity, and faithfulness. Many Daniels, Josephs, Nehemiahs, and Esthers must take their place in the governmental structures of our culture in order to ensure that we continue to fulfill the Great Commission in our generation and those to come.

Please stand with The American Council as we equip families, students, and candidates to advocate for religious liberty and to fulfill the Great Commission in the public square. Not only are the present and future of our republic at stake, but the command of Jesus is to “go and make disciples of all nations” (check it out at Matthew 28:19-20) and not just of individuals. I hope you’ll join me in participating in and supporting The American Council so that we can fulfill the Great Commission in the public square.

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