Why Character?
In my politics pages, I've talked often of character when it comes to candidates. I'd like to start off this election season's comments with a quote from the first Supreme Court Chief Justice of the United States - John Jay:
Whether our religion permits Christians to vote for infidel rulers is a question which merits more consideration than it seems yet to have generally received, either from clergy or the laity. It appears to me that what the prophet said to Jehoshaphat about his attachment to Ahab affords a salutary lesson on another interesting topic. 2 Chronicles 19:2. Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.
This, I think, is a good sentiment for us to follow for all races. And it merits some discussion as well. His point was that what mattered most was the candidates relationship with God. How do we tell that for sure? We don't know the candidates hearts after all. It can be very difficult, especially when many candidates aren't people we personally know. In this day and age, perhaps that is true of most candidates we choose from. Just as with any person we meet, there are a few ways to tell.
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By their declaration.
First and foremost, do they declare themselves to be Christian. If so, that's a good starting point. If not, then you know at least their faith, if any, isn't important enough to them to acknowledge. The Bible says we need to acknowledge our faith before men if we want Christ to acknowledge us before God some day.
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By their actions.
Saying you're a Christian is one thing. Acting like Christ is your Lord and Savior and trying to emulate Him in all your walk of life is another. Now none of us is Christ, and none of us have lived a sinless life as He did. I wish we were all closer in that. But our actions and treatment of others does matter. It's an easy way to differentiate between two or more candidates to see who appears to be closer to God. Campaigns work hard to distract and bury any problems, so this may not be easy in all races. But in some races, it seems pretty straightforward. Examine their lives and recent history. Are they repentant? Have they asked for forgiveness of God and of man for wrongs? Is their life closer to God each day, or is it continuing on breaking God's commandments repeatedly? Judge carefully.
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Do they fellowship with Christians?
It may well be difficult for people in some positions to interact with people easily due to their position and time pressures. That is a sad fact of life. But are they trying? Do they attend religious services outside of campaign events?
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Have they meditated on God's word?
The founding fathers immersed themselves in the Bible. It was literally the schoolbook in many locations for a long time because they were common, once they started being printed in the US anyway. Or is the Bible a prop to be used to generate good will from Christians?
Why Christianity?
Many take great interest in policy and place it as the most important thing to consider. John Jay and I disagree. If you elect a Christian man or woman, they will do what they can to do what God tells them to do. That may not be the policy you care about, it may be exactly what you want, or it may address a need in a way you didn't expect and don't like. The important thing to keep in mind is that if the elected Christian official is following God to the best of his or her ability, that is most important.
In the beginning of the country, every elected politician was Christian, pretty much without exception. Most left Europe due to religious persecution and that was due to not being able to worship as they felt they should. It wasn't that they were atheists and didn't want to worship at all.
With as big a mess as the country is in and with so much money to be made in private business or law, fewer Christians even want to get involved in the morass of politics. While I can't blame them, it also means that even the best Christian who is elected or appointed to some government or judicial role may be hamstrung in trying to implement God's will because Christians are few and far between.
Regardless, electing Christians who are truly trying to do the best they can for God is far more important than anything else because God's plans for the country are always better than man's plans. Always.
The party of the candidate doesn't matter. The age of the candidate doesn't matter. The health of the candidate doesn't matter. The social media presence and advertising for the candidate doesn't matter. All that is really important is are they Christian and will they try to do His will to the best of their ability. It's that simple.
2024
Samuel Adams said:
He who is void of virtuous attachments in private life is, or very soon will be, void of all regard of his country. There is seldom an instance of a man guilty of betraying his country who had not before lost the feeling of moral obligations in his private connections... The public cannot be too curious concerning the characters of public men.
So what about 2024? These are my judgments, based on my reading of news and viewing of candidate speeches and looking at campaign websites. I can't cover all races, but the one that is most important is that for President. You can and should read my piece about Why I'm not a Trump fan. In it I mention a lot of things that bother me about his character. There are a few policy issues as well, but mostly my issues with him have to do with his character.
As for Biden, I do think he is probably too old to be President again, but as I point out in the linked text, Trump is no spring chicken either. I'm pretty sure that if God wants Biden to stay in the race that He will see Biden through to the end of the next term unless the rapture happens first. And if not, I have to trust that the succession will be according to God's plan. The next day or hour isn't guaranteed to any man regardless of age.
Okay-- Updated. So when I posted this Saturday morning, I didn't think the succession would happen Sunday, but it doesn't change my opinion of Trump. Again, look for Christlike qualities in every candidate you are selecting from or the lack thereof to make a choice. If there is any doubt, rely on the Holy Spirit as I have posted elsewhere. God knows the likelihood of change in people when we do not. The best can backslide. The worst can be saved. For Harris' part, she isn't afraid to declare her Christianity, is a Baptist, and shortly after Biden dropped out is reported to have called her pastor. Trump continues to be Trump. The thing is, humans tend to hope for the best outcomes for whoever they believe in. Republicans hope Trump will get better. The bar is low. But humans don't tend to change. So unless the Holy Spirit directs you specifically otherwise, assume character and personality will not change, regardless of your hope for the best.
I can't read any person's heart to know for sure whether they are a Christian or not, and both Biden and Trump, and I'm sure Harris, have things in their past that aren't great, as do we all. But for me, Biden and Harris appear to be closer to God than Trump ever thought of being. I won't know for sure till I get to heaven, but I do know that Trump seems filled with hate, and certainly doesn't know how to turn the other cheek. There are many actions in his past that would appear to show his statements of being a Christian are lip service for votes. Again, let the Holy Spirit be your guide.
There is a vast amount of bitterness in the Republican party and much hostility and self righteousness over perceived wrongs. Much of this has been nurtured on a mass of lies that are repeated to no end, apparently. And to be clear I'm a Republican. But there's also a lot of lying going on about important things. You can look at the linked text for more information, or just bring up a fact checker whenever any candidate speaks, and see what parts of the speech that fact checker thinks is a lie and why. Judge the reasons for yourself. You may or may not agree with their analysis. But remember that character is the most important thing. Policy is not. And also remember that whenever a politician says anything, it's up to you to check the veracity of what is said.
Finally, remember this above all. The duties of the President aren't that wide. They aren't meant to be. They can do appointments to courts and embassies, they can sign or reject legislation, and a few other things. But they aren't meant to be dictators or all powerful. Of all the promises they make, ask yourself if it is in their sole power to do what they have said. If it isn't, then mostly ignore it and worry about electing the Congress you need for most policy issues. God can guide a Christian's heart to make changes to policy that He approves of, at least as far as it is in the President's or Congress critter's authority to make or influence policy.
Some policy positions may not be what you want. Abortion would be probably the foremost on your mind. Know, however, that a pro-choice stance doesn't mean the person wishes for all to choose abortion. It simply means a woman should be free to choose to take the course based on her and her families (if any) individual circumstances such as how the baby was conceived (rape and incest), financial limitations, the health of a potential child, the health of the mother, and any number of other reasons that are none of anyone else's business. Let God influence hearts if He wishes to get involved in a particular instance. It's what the Holy Spirit does, after all. Let us get closer to God and seek the filling of the Spirit to show love and support, and be ready to pray and expect to receive miracles and healing through the gifts of the Spirit if needed and the mother chooses to carry to term. That is the place where Christians need to be. We don't need to be condemning and outlawing. Instead, let's get to the place where the world can be assured health issues won't ever be a problem, regardless of genetics, love won't be a problem, support for the new mother and family won't be a problem. That would give God glory and would eliminate many abortions outright.
Does immigration concern you? Emma Lazarus, on November 2, 1883, penned The New Colossus which appears at the Statue of Liberty:
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
If you're a Christian, it's time to welcome that spirit of our country again. Trust in God to see you and your family through whatever the rest of time may bring, regardless of who enters the country, legally or illegally. If you aren't a Christian, join up. He's waiting for you with open arms. Fear not, and love everyone like Christ would, regardless of their circumstances. After all, you or your ancestors were once immigrants here as well, if you go back far enough. And remember Deuteronomy 15:7-10 and 1 John 3:16-19 when you're thinking about all that immigrants are supposedly costing you.
This election, one candidate has mentioned being a dictator would be nice for a while to get things done and execute judgment on his enemies. He also mentioned last weekend that if he was elected, people would never have to vote again (and earlier in the week implied that the fix was in and you might not even have to vote this time for him to win). John Adams said:
To expect self-denial from men when they have a majority in their favor, and consequently power to gratify themselves, is to disbelieve all history and universal experience--- it is to disbelieve revelation and the Word of God, which informs us "the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked" [Jeremiah 17:9].... There is no man so blind as not to see that to talk of founding a government upon a supposition that nations and great bodies of men left to themselves will practice a course of self-denial is either to babble like a newborn infant or to deceive like an unprincipled impostor.
It is concerning to me the blind following that Trump has amassed among the Republican party and how even opponents will not go against him for fear of retribution. You can see examples of this in Trump's sinking of the immigration bill Congress worked out because he wanted to continue to use immigration against Biden, but there are many other examples. Beware those who even joke about dictatorship in our Republic. And I'm not sure he was joking...
Noah Webster said it well:
When you become entitled to exercise the right of voting for public officers, let it be impressed on your mind that God commands you to choose for rulers just men who will rule in the fear of God [Exodus 18:21]. The preservation of a republican government depends on the faithful discharge of this duty. If the citizens neglect their duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted; laws will be made not for the public good so much as for selfish or local purposes; corrupt or incompetent men will be appointed to execute the laws; the public revenues will be squandered on unworthy men; and the rights of the citizens will be violated or disregarded. If a republican government fails to secure public prosperity and happiness, it must be because the citizens neglect the Divine commands and elect bad men to make and administer the laws.
I'll bet Noah Webster never thought of himself as a prophet.
Isn't that Christian Nationalism?
Some would say that I sound just like a Christian Nationalist. I admit there is some overlap. The key difference is this. When Jesus was on the earth He famously said in Luke 20:25 and two other gospels:
Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's
He didn't try to change the government by force like the people wanted Him to. He tried to show them a better way by living the life God wanted Him to live. He showed God to the world through both His walk and His works. The Christian Nationalist movement today seems to want to force Christianity on people. They support someone as a candidate if the candidate will agree to push for particular changes in the way the United States works today as proof of their Christianity. If they don't support all the changes they think need to be made, then in their eyes the person must not be a true Christian in the first place.
This can be seen in many policy comparisons between Christian Nationalist approved candidates and those who don't get approved that appear each year. They put out a whole list of policy changes they want to see happen and compare each person's position on those policy changes to what they have determined the Christian position should be, and only those who check all the boxes should be voted for.
The problem with this is simple. A person who isn't a true Christian will simply say they follow or approve of a particular set of values to get the vote of the Christian sheep without having any intention of following through with any of the points presented. Or they will say they approve of the listed positions when their office has absolutely no influence on any of the positions listed. A true Christian will always seek to implement God's will.
There is much in this world that I'm sure God wants changed. But most of those things won't change regardless of what policy decisions are made. They will still go on, but just move underground. What God wants is for people to draw to Him. That happens through actions that show His love to His children. The Christian Nationalists have failed at this step. They think that changing the rules is the only thing a Christian leader should do. This misses the point. Christian leaders need to show God's love and mercy to a sinful world.
Outlawing abortion won't stop abortions. Love the single moms. Help them when they need help. Be filled with the Spirit to be able to be used of God to heal health issues when they happen. Judge not. That will reduce abortions.
Help the poor who are struggling. Provide food. Provide jobs and trust that God will increase your company's work to cover it. Figure out a way to provide health care to all who need it. Support the downtrodden in the world. Stand up for what is contained in the Bill of Rights around the world. Help struggling nations who are being oppressed by evil nations. Recognize that they will need help long after the conflict is over.
That isn't "America First". Christ wouldn't be "America First". Yes, you can definitely point out a path that would say don't neglect your own just to help others. But the wealth of America is huge compared to the world. Even the poorest American is likely to be better off financially than the poorest in the world.
This wealth disparity in the United States and some other first world countries is obscene. Should the wealthy be forced to give up their wealth to help others? I'm not really a huge fan of that either. But if those who were wealthy recognized that God exists by seeing His power at work through Christians - leaders or not, maybe they'd turn to Christ and realize that they needed to lay up rewards in heaven where they would be assured an eternal reward instead of buying a few more houses, or cars, or yachts on earth that are just going to rot away. It isn't for nothing that Christ warned the rich man that he was a fool for building barns to store up his great riches because he was going to die shortly.
Be Christians and elect leaders who will be Christians. Don't elect leaders who pay lip service to Christianity. Measure Christians by their character and if they are promoting a country Christ would be proud of rather than one that has Christian rules that nobody follows.
The Jewish nation that Christ was born into had Pharisee's who were following rules to the letter. But many of their hearts were far from God. Compare the blessings God poured out on Israel when a righteous king ruled versus when a wicked king ruled. Look at the history of the northern tribes versus the southern tribes in particular who had more righteous kings than the north. If we elect people with a close relationship with God, we'll be better off in the long run than if we pick leaders who just check some boxes someone else has decided must be checked to be a Christian nation
And most importantly, a non-Christian who follows the policies they don't agree with because it is the law of the land, is still a non-Christian. Worse, they are now even harder to win to Christ because of what the policy loving Christians have passed as law. Which is more important to God, policy or winning people to Christ?
All quotes are taken from The Founder's Bible gathered by David Barton and others, Shiloh Road Publishers, 2017, although the actual text is from original sources: Noah Webster, History of the United States, New Haven CT, Durrie & Peck 1832..., John Adams, A Defense of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America, London: John Stockdale 1794..., Samuel Adams, The Writings of Samuel Adams, ed. Harry Alonzo Cushing New York: GP Putnam's Sons, 1907... and John Jay, The Correspondence and Public Papers of John Jay, ed. Henry P. Johnson New York GP Putnam's Sons, 1893).
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