Former candidate

hopes to pair Bible

with modern politics
By Scott Nicholson
nicholson@wataugademocrat.com

A former congressional candidate has decided to take his political activism literally, mounting a statewide effort to educate voters about biblical scriptures that he says relate to political and social responsibility.

Nathan Tabor, who unsuccessfully ran for the Republican Party Fifth District U.S. House of Representatives nomination in 2004, has formed a non-profit, grassroots organization called “Almighty Purpose.”

Tabor, who lives in Winston-Salem, said though he is the son of a Baptist minister, his effort is arising from a secular perspective.

“In talking with folks who are pastors or in churches, I’ve come to understand there’s a disconnect between the secular world and their religion,” Tabor said. “Being involved in government or the party doesn’t matter.

We know about issues like abortion, adultery and homosexuality, but it’s not just the hot-button issues. The Bible covers building codes, food, property and public health laws.”

Tabor said civic leaders and those in community leadership roles are also ministers of God, and said he owns versions of many different Holy Bibles. He said it is not a denominational issue or a battle over various translations. “In the Bible, there are no denominations,” he said.

“As a born-again Christian, we say ‘Here are the things important in our lives.’ Does the fruit you’re bearing match up with what the Scriptures are saying?”

Tabor spoke at a Republican Party dinner in Boone on Thursday and plans to spread the group’s influence around the state. He anticipates attending 100 meetings in the next three months and extending the effort to a Web site, emails and blogs.

“I’ve been around politics all my life,” Tabor said. “My dad went around to legislators talking about the public schools. Being involved is not just for those in politics, but everybody, across the board. We all have morals and values.”

Tabor said the goal of Almighty Purpose is to connect people’s personal and spiritual beliefs with their public actions, drawing primarily from the Biblical verse Luke 19:13: “Occupy till I [Jesus] come,” which Tabor said imposes a responsibility on Christians who will one day be held accountable for their actions.

“This organization is purely educational,” he said. “What we do want is for people in the political system to realize ‘Here are the Biblical guidelines, from a Scriptural standpoint, you should follow.’”

Tabor, who serves as the group’s executive director, said it won’t be a membership group, but a grassroots organization whose adherents will be encouraged to spread messages. “We plan to continue after the elections,” Tabor said. “More people are paying attention to elections right now than normal, but next year we’ll still be doing the same thing.”

He noted that teachers, media, Social Service workers and others in agency roles had a duty to bring their values into their work. “From what center point do they start in how they define themselves?” Tabor asked. “There’s no reason we shouldn’t be out witnessing and teaching. We want to go not just to churches, but to untraditional places. After getting established, we want to do expert presentations.”

The group believes partisanship and an abandonment of historical values are the country’s two major problems and encourages Christians to become involved in public affairs. Its Web site is www.AlmightyPurpose.com.

“This is not about party or positions,” Tabor said. “We speak to Republicans, Democrats, liberals, conservatives, Christians, non-Christians. We give them the evidence and let them make their decisions.”