It's Tuesday, August 5th, 2025.

Welcome to the Daily Article podcast from Denison Forum.

Today's daily article is written by cultural theologian, Dr. Jim Denison, and narrated by Chris Elkins.

Dozens of Democratic lawmakers left Texas yesterday, preventing the State House of Representatives

from moving forward with a redrawn congressional map sought by President Trump.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered state police to find and arrest them,

though state law enforcement is restricted to making arrests in Texas.

Other states have seen legislative walkouts over the years. Such moves can delay legislation

and spotlight issues, but since Governor Abbott can call special sessions month after month,

the legislatures will presumably have to return to the state at some point in the future.

Both parties over the years have gerrymandered political maps to advantage themselves.

The governors of New York and California are now vowing to do the same in their states, for example.

In response to such developments, California GOP representative Kevin Kiley has introduced a bill to block all 50 states from drawing congressional maps before the 2030 census.

Such tactics have not typically gained political parties many seats over the years.

However, a larger factor is at work here, one that is relevant to each of us and the future of our democracy.

The Christian worldview was vital to our nation's founding for three reasons.

First, the founders claim that all men are created equal was rooted in the biblical claim in Genesis 1, verse 27,

that each human is made in God's image and

likeness and therefore equal to all others in identity and status. Accordingly, our governmental

system purports to give each of us a vote and a voice. It took the 15th, 19th, 24th, and 26th amendments, and the 1965 Voting Rights Act to get there.

And our democracy remains imperfect. But aspirationally, it seeks to provide every person and

perspective a seat at the table of power. Second, the biblical teaching in Romans 323 that

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