
Next week Americans will go to the polls for midterm elections and decide who they want to lead our nation in various levels of government. The public rhetoric is marked by a level of acrimony that seems to me to be unprecedented at least in my lifetime.
Character is an essential ingredient to be a statesman.
There are Christians who will be making political endorsements; I never do. For the most part I do not know the individuals running for public office personally and have no idea how their character will hold up under fire. I believe character is an essential ingredient to be a statesman.
I do not vote for personalities I vote for those who I believe support the principles I think are best for all our citizens. I know from experience that I am one of those people who can be fooled some of the time and that what some say they will do is not always what they do once in office.
I take the privilege and responsibility of voting seriously and I need good information to make my decisions in the voting booth. Sadly, we live in a time when character seems to be as lacking in the press as it is in politicians.
I vote my conscience based on Christian principles.
For this reason I vote my conscience based on Christian principles and trust that other believers will do the same, but since I do not know what any candidate will do once in office, I do not make endorsements. I make the best decision I can like everyone else.
Once in office I support my elected officials with my prayers and when I can with my voice. Our president would be a case in point. I think Donald Trump has made some decisions that in principle will be good for all Americans, but by his own words he seems wholly lacking in Christian character and at times is as narcissistic as a three-year-old. So, I pray more.
But it seems that some who claim to be Christians allow political discourse to pull them down in at least two areas.
The first is the vitriol in political discourse on both sides on a number of issues. There is not a single issue being debated in the political realm that is worth one compromising their Christian character. I have no desire to argue with or attack others who disagree with me.
The second reason arises from the first. When believers argue with unbelievers they portray more confidence in the political process than they do in God.
I suppose we are doomed to go through this political madness until we “recognize that it is heaven that rules.”
Centuries ago the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar was warned by God in a dream he had become too prideful, and the prophet Daniel told him he would go through a season (seven years) of madness and live like an animal until “you recognize that it is heaven that rules,” Daniel 4:26.
I suppose we are doomed to go through this political madness until we “recognize that it is heaven that rules.” Christians should disabuse themselves from the notion that politics will make America great again.