On January 6, 2021, Vice-president Mike Pence was scheduled to preside over the tabulation of electoral votes that would decide the outcome of the presidential election of 2020. In the hours before Congress is to meet, President Trump pressures Pence to interfere with the process. When Pence refuses, Trump curses him. I will not repeat the language Trump is reported to have used here.
Pence’s personal lawyer, Richard Cullen, called J. Michael Luttig, a former appeals court judge highly respected among conservations to get his legal opinion on the issue. Luttig writes that Vice-president Pence does not have the constitutional authority to stop the confirmation of the electoral votes.
Caught between the President and the Constitution, Pence fulfills his oath of office to defend the United States Constitution against all enemies foreign or domestic.
Days later Pence recalled a verse of Scripture his chief of staff had texted to him after Congress confirmed Joe Biden’s victory, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith,” 2 Timothy 4:7.
Soon after the confirmation of the votes for Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives, demands that Pence invoke the 25th Amendment to the Constitution in an effort to remove Trump from the office of President.
The late Canadian historian Donald Creighton said, “History is the record of encounters between character and circumstance.”
Caught between the Speaker of the House and the stab in the back from a President he had been loyal to for four years, Pence’s response to Pelosi was, “The Bible says that ‘for everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven … a time to heal … and a time to build up.’ In the midst of the global pandemic, economic hardship for millions of Americans, and the tragic events of January 6, now is the time for us to come together, now is the time to heal.”
The late Canadian historian Donald Creighton said, “History is the record of encounters between character and circumstance.”
While rioters at the instigation of President Trump were yelling “hang Mike Pence,” Vice-president Pence stood by the rule of law. When he had the opportunity to throw his President under the bus, as his President had thrown him under the bus, Mike Pence chose healing.
Amid the recent dark times in our nation’s capital, where powerful political circumstances were in play, the one bright light was the character of Vice-president Mike Pence.
Like the three Hebrew children, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, Pence did not bend, he did not bow, and I do not think he will burn. There are politicians and there are statesmen; the difference between the two is a statesman will do what is right for the people and a politician will usually do what he thinks is right for him.
This past January 6, 2021, the character of Mike Pence faced two politically powerful circumstances; thank God for the character of Mike Pence. Now is a “time to heal … and a time to build up.”
Gary R. King:
Sir, I have to respectfully disagree with you on this issue.
The Scripture which has been quoted (a lot) throughout this Coronavirus pandemic is 2 Chronicles 7: 14. It reads,
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
I believe this Scripture to be true. Therefore, healing comes after humility, prayer, truly seeking God’s face, and repentance.
I will refrain from judging Mr. Mike Pence or any of these politicians publicly. However, I will say that our nation will NEVER experience true healing unless these requirements are met.
As usual, nice job!