Time for a Great Reset
Christians must prioritize character, not policies
Remember the Moral Majority with Jerry Falwell and the Christian Coalition with Pat Robertson?
Remember when evangelical Christians were told if they coalesced around a single Republican candidate, followers of Jesus Christ control any election?
What has it produced for followers of Jesus Christ the past 40 years? The Dobbs decision–as important as it is for protecting life? A Supreme Court majority?
For more than 40 years, Christians have engaged in a transactional relationship with GOP political candidates. If political leaders or candidates commit to A, B, and C policies, evangelical Christians will commit their votes en masse. It happens all the time.
It is time for Christians to adopt the Exodus 18:21 Character Principles for voting.
Don’t think this is just about elections and voting because the byproduct of any election is governance. Our system of governance has strayed from a Constitutional framework to greater dysfunction. Our political discourse lacks civility and the days of the party not in power being the “loyal opposition” has morphed into “they are enemies who must be destroyed.”
It is commonplace for candidates to insult and characterize opponents as something other than reflecting reality. For example, folks on the left throw around the charge of “racism.” Racism is a serious accusation because another person is accused of being a bigot, prejudiced, and engaging in discrimination against a specific group or groups of people. Those making the charge better have overwhelming and compelling evidence. Otherwise keep your mouth quiet and stop polluting political discourse.
Americans also get a heavy dose of profanity. It’s caustic and corrupt talk that adds nothing of substance to American politics.
Consider the governing, legislating, and oversight of government. Instead of competence, accountability, and things being done with decisiveness and vision, we get the following:
Constant threats of government shutdowns;
Consistent need the past 10-14 years for continuing resolutions to operate government;
Spending bills crafted by a few people, rather than debate, amendments, and efforts to improve them;
Lack of accountability when wrongdoing happens;
Government agencies being turned on average Americans;
Lies
Deception
Political expediency;
Failure to deal with long-term issues such as $34 trillion in national debt.
These are the examples in the federal government that just come to mind.
My contention is we have government–at every level–in disarray because we don’t vote for character. We have the government we deserve because Christians don’t vote for character.
Christians must follow the advice Jethro gave his son–in-law Moses. Let’s consider Exodus 18:21 by putting the passage in context with verses 20-23:
20 then admonish them about the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they are to walk and the work they are to do. 21 Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 22 Let them judge the people at all times; and let it be that they will bring to you every major matter, but they will judge every minor matter themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will carry the burden with you. 23 If you do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people also will go to their places in peace.”
Israel was at a point where population growth demanded Moses needed more leaders, godly leaders, and Jethro gave Moses the following character traits to find:
Able men;
God-fearing men;
Men of truth; and
Men who hate dishonest gain.
How many of the people serving in government–at any level–miss the mark on one of them? Or miss the mark on all of them?
I would argue far more than we know and would acknowledge.
Several founders talked about the relevance of Exodus 18:21.
Do you think Exodus 18:21 doesn't matter? Let’s consider the inverse of the four principles of Exodus 18:21, then:
Select a man who is clueless and unable to do the job.
Select a man who doesn’t fear the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Select a man known for lying or bending the truth in a tight spot.
Select a man who can be bought or controlled by money.
How is this working out for us? Have you had enough of that yet?
Don’t misunderstand me. This is not a call to disregard policy, how public officials vote on any number of legislative policies at home or abroad. However, it is a call to make that a secondary priority to character.
If we put people of godly character in office, the issues that Christians care about will take care of themselves. Do your homework. Do the digging and find out any candidates' character.
We’ve been doing the same thing for more than 40 years and have been expecting different results. Followers of Jesus Christ need a new paradigm to honor God in this area of citizenship. Cancel the transaction and do something different.
Christians need a great reset on voting.
If Christians did this in 2024, the GOP nominee would be Ron DeSantis, not Donald Trump or anyone else.
