“And the Bible says…”
“The Good Book says…”
“God’s Word says…”
How many permutations of these phrases have we heard from politicians and leaders who quote the Bible to set an authoritative and persuasive tone to their speeches? Yet, how many actually believe the words they speak particularly when there is a disconnect with their actions? For example, some will quote lofty verses of love for all humans while supporting policies of abortion, cloaked under the seemingly noble banner of a woman’s right to choose and ignoring the rights of the unborn child. Everyone has a right to choose what they wish to believe but if one is declaring oneself a Christian and supporting abortion, this is not possible and violates God’s Word.
What about a politician who does not claim to follow Jesus Christ nor profess any religious affiliation, or has a questionable relationship with any religion, but whose actions closely align with what God teaches? Do we choose this politician or the politician who claims to follow Jesus Christ, quoting the Bible, but whose actions deny God’s Word?
Do we choose character or actions? Ideally, if there is a politician who has a good moral character and actions that are consistent with their beliefs, the decision is easier. How does the Bible address this issue?
But God says to the wicked: “Why bother reciting my decrees and pretending to obey my covenant? For you refuse my discipline and treat my words like trash.”
Psalms 50:16-17 (NLT)
Is it any wonder that Jesus Christ condemned the Jewish leaders who quoted Scripture yet their actions belied their own words? In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus Christ quotes the prophet Isaiah (Matthew 15:8) exposing the hypocrisy of the leaders.
And so the Lord says, “These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote.
Isaiah 29:13 (NLT)
All politicians are human and because of this, they are sinners like myself and the rest of us. Everyone is on a different path to God and at different stages of spiritual growth and maturity. Some completely deny God, some are unsure, and others are completely secure in their faith. Only God knows if we have truly surrendered our lives to Jesus Christ. It is not my place to judge another’s faith but it is within my authority to judge another person’s actions and hold it up to God’s standard.When faced with the difficult decision over who to elect as our leaders, I would always choose the one whose actions, not words, best match the Word of God.
I am neither Democratic nor Republican.
I am a Christian.
Amen.
Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.
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