As Benjamin Franklin walked out of Independence Hall in Philadelphia following tumultuous months of deliberations on America’s new Constitution, it is reported that he was asked by a woman, “Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?”

Benjamin Franklin responded: “A republic, madam, if you can keep it.”

In this new, fragile government that Abraham Lincoln later described as “of the people, by the people, and for the people,” Franklin realized that America would succeed only as its populace remained governed by the moral principles upon which it was founded.

As we prepare to elect the next president of the United States on Tuesday, Nov. 6, along with thousands of federal, state and local officials, it is my prayer and hope that we will appoint men and women who share the fundamental moral values that have made America great for more than 200 years.

I firmly believe America has been blessed by Almighty God because, despite our sins and failures, the majority of our leaders and citizens have corporately and individually acted upon Biblical values and principles. Leading universities, prominent hospitals, large businesses—the very fabric of our country—were originally built upon solid Christian ideals.

Sadly, much of our nation has largely forgotten God and is even openly hostile to people of faith. Many of our country’s leaders, including our president, advocate abortion rights, support same-sex marriage and work against the religious freedoms that helped birth America.

The role of faith and morality have been virtually abandoned in the public arena—severely diminished through restrictive legislative and judicial acts.

In a land where it increasingly seems every man and woman is doing “what is right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25), keeping the republic has become exceedingly difficult.

This is why I believe this election and the years directly in front of us are crucial to the future of America. If we really are to indeed be “one nation under God,” then we must turn our hearts toward Him, and away from the egregious sins that have stained our country.

On Nov. 6, I strongly encourage you to elect officials who will stand firmly for godly values and principles. That doesn’t always mean that we will agree theologically on every topic, but we can find shared values that have their bedrock in the Judeo-Christian ethic.

Before you go in the booth and cast your ballot, do all the research you can on the candidates. If they are currently in office, examine their voting record, particularly on moral issues. If their stand doesn’t align with Christian values, don’t vote for them, regardless of their party affiliation.

Above all, pray. Pray for our country to return to the God of our fathers. Pray for our leaders to have the moral fortitude to take a strong stand for biblical values. Pray that God will forgive our sins and heal our land as we repent of our sins and turn wholeheartedly to Him.    (2 Chronicles 7:14).

I know of no other way to keep our republic.