John Crisp explains the biblical basis for Perry's call to prayer

Crisp says Rick Perry cited the Old Testament prophet, Joel, for his call to prayer at Reliant Stadium.

In short, Joel’s message is about turning to the Lord in times of trouble, but it’s also about chosen people and their enemies, insiders and outsiders, those favored by the Lord and those laid waste by His wrath. Thus it’s an apt inspiration for Perry’s “Response,” which claims to be nondenominational, but which adopts a “statement of faith” whose seven principles describe a particular brand of Christianity that includes a “resurrection of damnation” for the lost.

Just to be clear: According to this way of thinking, if you are Jewish, Hindu, and certainly Muslim, if you are homosexual, if you drink or gamble too much, if you take the Lord’s name in vain, if in fact you do not subscribe to a fairly narrow definition of Christianity that may or may not include Catholics, then you, my friend, are going to Hell.

So I hope the other governors will stay home on Aug. 6 and that good Christians will consider the advice of Jesus, who told his followers not to be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly in synagogues and on street corners where people can see them.