Interview with Congressman Rick Allen (Georgia-12)

Q: I appreciate your taking some time out to talk about Capitol Ministries. How has attending the Capitol Ministries House Member’s Bible Study impacted your personal faith journey?

Well, for one, it’s a big decision to run for Congress. It’s going to affect your family. I also was running a major business, and there were lots of things that we had to deal with to get involved in running for Congress. And when you somehow get elected to Congress, and being from the Bible Belt, I wondered how God wants to use me in this new role. I can remember thinking about that many times. I thought, Lord, what’s this all about? But you know per Romans 13, Paul says there’s no authority except which God has established. The authorities that exist, have been established by God so that we know that God has a purpose and plan for each member of Congress.

And what the House Members’ Bible Study has helped me understand is why I’m here—why I’m in Congress and how I should serve under the Lordship of Christ in the work of this body. I consider this assignment a mission field, and I know the harvest is plentiful and the workers are few—Matthew 9:37. The House Members Bible Study provides me with sound biblical principles that help me carry out the work I was called here to do. And as a result, my faith has grown each week exponentially, as I understand from Ralph’s teaching why we were called to humble ourselves and serve this great nation that I believe was established by God. And nobody does that better than Ralph. It is food for the soul because it’s not easy.

Q: I just want to thank you for serving the Lord in the way that you are and seeing this segment of your career as being a mission field as well. It’s encouraging for those of us that know that y’all meet regularly to know that you are—because we know that you’re seeking after the Lord—and that’s just going to make a great leader. And so thank you for being part of that.

A: This Bible study helps me apply biblical principles as a public servant. Ralph gives you a right understanding of why God created government, how the Bible applies to this service, and why it is critical that people of faith serve in this body.

Without this sound biblical teaching, I can get caught up in all the things of Congress—all the worldly things. I can lose focus on the battle we are in. It is spiritual warfare, and it’s good versus evil. We’re in a fight, and that’s why God put us here. Of course, we know what it takes. Spiritual warfare is a lot different than natural warfare. We’ve got to understand that, and we’ve got to relinquish everything to the Lordship of Christ.

Again, Ralph understands the Bible and how it relates to the importance of having well-trained people of faith serving in government and persevering. Governing is not easy.

Another thing Ralph emphasizes is that we cannot compromise our biblical values that sustain us, and Ralph reminds us to stay strong as light and salt. And of course, sometimes we get a little excited, we want to go back to the flesh to explain things, but he really takes a lot of time explaining: “This is how we as believers get our point across,” and then take advantage of every opportunity to share the Good News and how God is at work in this Congress. And there are just all kinds of examples like that.

And I am fortunate to be involved in a number of other ministries, not necessarily Bible studies, but I’ll tell you how this Bible study is different than other ministry opportunities. Well, one thing—I was asked to chair the Congressional Prayer Caucus. It’s a great privilege to lead a group of members in prayer and send those notes to those who request that prayer at first votes each week. And that’s a powerful time together—members come together in Room 217 and we just pray.

And then I’m also involved in Lead House. We’ve given away—I don’t know—thousands of Bibles. Because one of the things that I think we all know is that our culture is biblically illiterate.

But biblical illiteracy is why Ralph is doing this. Because if I didn’t have this Bible study opportunity, I could not do these other things in Congress. I couldn’t do it. I wouldn’t have the tools in the toolbox.

I get a little passionate about this, and Ralph has to calm me down. But the problem is, you know, 22 years ago, God showed me the light and basically said, “OK, you gotta go one way or the other.” And I was there—I ain’t going there! But that is why I’m so passionate about it—because the more I studied the Scriptures, the more clueless I was.

These Bible studies—I mean, I was in Bible Study Fellowship for 22 years, and I loved it. I was not supposed to be there that long, but I just couldn’t get out. I was so… But like what Ralph does in his leave-behinds is critical too. You know, we get those Bible studies out of conference meetings for each member.

We do need to do a better job of saying, “Hey, the question with Israel and why we should support Israel—Ralph biblically answers all those questions.” And you cannot argue with him. You cannot.

I’ll have to admit, sometimes he makes my head hurt because it’s so in-depth. I mean, truly—it’s like your PhD in Bible study.

Q: Yes, it’s not an easy beach read.

A: Oh no, oh no—it’s not for a beginner. This ministry is essential in the halls of government. I applaud Ralph’s efforts in spreading this throughout the country and throughout the world. He tells us each week about another government and more people getting involved in this ministry—and what a light that is. Because this world is so dark—it needs light.

As for the colleagues joining the Bible study—I always recommend it. We’ve got some new freshmen in. Unfortunately, with schedules and everything else, it is tough. But you just have to tell your staff, “Hey, I’m going to be at this Bible study from 8 to 9 o’clock on Thursday, and I don’t care what else you’ve got for me to do—I’m doing this. Period.”

I’d have to admit scheduling is a problem for me sometimes too. That’s just a problem in Congress. Scheduling is difficult. But we have a good group. And like I said, the material that group is doing in Congress—I’m just very optimistic about what Ralph is doing in the Cabinet, in the Senate, and in the House.

And I sure, I would like to see more people attend, and I recommend it. I don’t know why the room is not overflowing each week—I really don’t know. Because, like I said, I could not serve in Congress if it was not for this Bible study.

I was messing with Ralph saying, “When you retire, I’m retiring.” Yeah. Because you’ve got so much coming at you, particularly in this spiritual warfare, that you just need somebody of Ralph’s capability to come and answer your questions—“What is this all about?”

So if I had to sum it up in one sentence:

I could not serve in Congress without it.