The Choice of Leadership

But choose some capable men from among the people—men who respect God, who can be trusted, and who will not change their decisions for money… (Exodus 18:21 NCV).

Wisdom is often found in the counsel of those who have lived long and experienced much. Moses found wise counsel in the words of his father-in-law concerning the governing of the nation of Israel shortly after their exodus from Egypt. He was advised to choose leaders among the people to assist in his great task. The criteria of their selection were simple but important, individuals who feared God, were truthful, and those who could not be bribed.

The guidelines Jethro gave to Moses sound like a good measure of judgment today as we approach the general election. Though the size of our nation and even state and local populations prohibit us from personally knowing most (if not all) candidates, it is important for us to be informed about the candidates’ reputation, their character, and moral judgment. We often must rely on other’s assessment of their personal character and moral quality. However, a person’s record of political service may serve as an indication of future response.

It seems that the modern politician will endeavor to be “all things to all people.” From the same candidate you have no doubt heard conflicting statements in the heat of campaigning. Speeches are designed to please the present crowd. Promises are made that are impossible to fulfill and assurances given that will soon be forgotten when the polls are closed.

After we have done our best to make informed choices on the ballot, we must trust that God is ultimately in control of all nations and the outcome of every election. Somehow His purposes are fulfilled in spite of our politics, our special interest groups, and our poor choices.

In America it is our privilege and our duty to participate in the political process by being an informed voter and casting our ballot for those we feel best reflect our God given values and the moral principles of Scripture. A vote for righteous leadership is our responsibility. Remember Jethro’s instructions “choose some capable [people] … who respect God, who can be trusted, and who will not change their decisions for money.”

If you can find that kind of person on the ballot, he or she deserves your vote!

The Responsibility of Democracy

By now we have become weary of the words of political rhetoric and skeptical of the endless promises of the presidential campaign. It seems that every candidate tries to outdo the others as they promise more and more benefits and less and less personal responsibility. The political pundits check the pulse of the crowd and the issues that matter to their particular region. The speeches are then modified to mollify the crowd and draw the most positive response in order to carry the moment and sway the population in their favor. In the final days before the election, the heat is on and each watches for a moment of weakness, a misstatement or mistake that may give them the advantage over the other.

Though we can become disillusioned with the whole political process, it is still our civic responsibility and our privilege as a citizen to vote for the officeholders of our government. If the righteous see no purpose in the process, the adversary will prevail and moral responsibility will be cast aside for the promotion of self-indulgence, the promulgation of an ungodly agenda, and the propagation of moral depravity. The Psalmist may ask us the question, “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3). So, as long as the righteous foundation of our nation stands, it is our responsibility to repair the breaches, maintain the traditions of our forefathers, and defend our Christian heritage in America.

Prayerfully, continue to seek God’s direction for our country and the outcome of the general election. May God give us men and women of wisdom in office that will stand with wholesome convictions, promote tolerance for Christian values, and support godly righteousness in America.

Together, let us purpose to pray for the November 4th general election.

The Family Value

A lot is said about family values in an election year. That seems to signal that the value of the family is weighed only in relation to the political advantages. When other issues surface or the media is consumed with other topics, the family is shoved into the background, buried in the back pages of the newsprint.

Family values must always be front-page headlines to the Christian. We can never allow the importance of the family structure to be minimized by politics, by scandal, or by the courts. The value of the family is a core issue to the foundation of the home, the church, the nation … even the world. From creation to the present a divine order was instituted to bring order to our existence, fulfillment to our lives, and a promise for future generations.

In the beginning God “created them male and female, and blessed them and called them Mankind in the day they were created” (Genesis 5:2). Thus began the start of the human race. The pattern of one man with one woman creating a family is the proven paradigm from all of recorded history. The wisdom of this institution is mirrored in the writing of the Apostle Paul in Ephesians (5:24-33) where he likens the marriage relationship to Christ and the church. From this we may conclude that marriage and family are divinely established to reflect spiritual truths.

As with anything else in creation, attention to maintenance is required in order to preserve the project. Attention must be given to marriage if our relationships are to survive the changes in culture. Our children must be trained and coached to make wise choices if they are to survive the pressures of their peers. The community of our relationships must be cared for if we are to maintain them.

If family values are to survive, we must value the family!

The Blessing for a Nation

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance” (Psalm 33:12).

The celebrated sermon of “the separation of church and state” has been preached so long that we have come to accept it as Gospel. Though not a part of the constitution, Jefferson’s words have been quoted as a mantra to prevent the public endorsement of anything religious. In the effort to purge anything about God from the arena of politics or government our nation has become a model of sterility, a sanitized society representing godless values and mediocre morality. In our care to prevent offense to eclectic religious groups (or non-religious groups) we have endorsed a monstrous altar to humanism and paganism.

A lack of religion becomes a religion. In our efforts to represent no belief we endorse atheism. In the attempt to remove Christian references from public places, we embrace pagan practices (Wicca) and symbols of Eastern religions (Islam). Somehow we feel that if we can show tolerance for practices traditionally “unchristian” then we somehow become more “non-religious.” And we do. But the more “unchristian” and “non-religious” we become, the more we embrace the values that will bring our nation to ruin.

As a nation we will not continue to enjoy the blessing of God if we embrace paganism and deny our foundation as a God-fearing nation. The Psalmist said it clearly, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD.” If we hope to continue to enjoy the blessing and favor of God, we must make the LORD our God. There is only One Lord … His name is Jesus. Allah or Mohammad will not bring the presence of God. Krishna or Moon will not bring blessings on our continent. Mysticism, Wicca, or positive thinking will not make our nation more righteous. Only when we elect and appoint leaders who themselves live by Christian principles can we hope to have the blessing of the Lord on our land.

The Proverbs declare, “Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). It should be no secret that the reason this nation has enjoyed the blessing of the Lord in its brief history has been its desire to uphold godly values, individual freedoms, and the free exercise of religion. If we stray from the sound moorings of our foundational faith, we will certainly find ourselves adrift in a turbulent sea of cross currents.

For the next four weeks let us join together in focused prayer for the direction of our nation and the future of our country. Crucial elections will be held one month from now and we need God’s help to vote in such a way that will restore righteousness and the blessing of God in America! Not only will we elect a President and Vice-President, we will also elect numerous senators and representatives. In our state propositions we will have the opportunity to vote for traditional marriage. Let us pray for a spiritual awakening and a renewal of righteousness in our nation!