I admire Pat Robertson. When the history of Christianity of the 20^th century is written, he will be remembered as one of the leading figures. Beginning with a low power UHF television station in the late 1960s, Robertson built it into a Christian broadcasting empire that now includes a graduate university and five star conference center hotel.

As a student at Regent University, the school Robertson founded, I heard him speak in chapel many times. I was inspired by his faith. His faith was contagious.

I did not attend Regent because of Pat Robertson. Like most of the students there, my choice of the school was based upon the quality of education offered. Regent University prided itself on being a Christian version of Harvard with similar academic regiments.

The great voices of Christianity in our time passed through the school in the years I was a student. Listening to German evangelist Reinhart Bonke and the eminent theologian Carl Henry will always remain thrilling memories for me.

Pat Robertson’s faith and insistence upon excellence in all things will leave a lasting mark on Christianity for many decades to come.

That said, I must now respond to Robertson’s recent endorsement of Rudy Giuliani for President of the United States.

“What were you smoking? Have you lost your ever loving mind?!!!”

It is unconscionable that any Christian, much less a high profile leader would endorse or even consider voting for Giuliani. The man is a covenant breaker. Not only is he divorced twice, his current wife was once his press secretary with whom he was having an affair while mayor of New York.

It is the height of hypocrisy for us to criticize Bill Clinton while embracing Rudy Giuliani. Eternal binding covenants stand at the heart of our Christian faith. Those covenants are sealed by oaths. Marriage is a blood covenant containing oaths to forsake all others and be true to only your spouse.

Rudy Giuliani has lied to two wives and broken his solemn oaths to them. If he will lie to his wife and betray her, he will lie to us.

All public officials in America begin their service with an oath. The oath recognizes the sacred duty of public servants to selflessly serve. Oaths are based upon Biblical teachings of covenant that carry eternal damnation as punishment for violating them.

No Christian should ever consider endorsing a covenant breaker for public office. The irony of this is that I learned the importance of public oaths while studying public policy at the university Pat Robertson founded.

So who should we Christians vote for in next year’s presidential election? Someone else.