The father of Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) told a crowd in Massachusetts last Friday that the Bible outlined which candidates they should vote for.

“And let me tell you, the Bible talks a lot about politics,” Rafael Cruz said at an event in Foxborough. “As a matter of fact, did you know that the Bible tells you exactly who to vote for? Very, very clearly the Bible tells you who to vote for. Let me prove it to you.”

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Cruz said there were four Biblical qualifications for candidates: “able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness.”

The first qualification meant simply that people should not vote for “the village idiot.”

The second qualification meant that people should vote for candidates who obey God’s laws and adhere to a moral code.

“For example, you defend the sanctity of life. But beyond the moral code, that means you live a life of integrity, honesty, hard work, individual responsibility, the rule of law, and — yes — free enterprise and limited government — the Bible has a lot to say about all those.”

The second qualification meant not voting for candidates who lie about what they intend to do in office.

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“Haven’t we had enough men and women of lies in government? I mean, this administration will tell you one lie to cover up the previous lie,” the conservative pastor said.

Cruz advised the audience to examine candidates’ records rather than their rhetoric.

“Jesus said ye shall know them by their fruit,” he remarked.

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The fourth qualification meant not voting for candidates who desire to rule over others.

Cruz also suggested that the Constitution was reflected in Biblical teachings.

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“And only take matters of great importance up to Moses, everything else you handle yourself,” he explained, paraphrasing Exodus 18:22. “In other words, at the local level. That is Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, that’s the 9th Amendment, and the 10th Amendment. The essence of federalism in two verses of scripture.”

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[Image via Gage Skidmore, Creative Commons licensed]