Close Menu X
Navigate

Pastor Jay's Blog

Your belief that “Character Matters” will now be tested

 

As the election draws near to voting day we keep learning more and more about the candidates. The more we know, the more we wish we didn’t know. Sadly, we are not surprised by any of it. Every new revelation fits into what we already knew, just like slime fits onto whatever it covers.


The real question that confronts the evangelical voter is this, “Does character really matter.” This question was forced upon the public consciousness in the Clinton Administration. After the scandal of sexual misconduct went public, the media pressed the question of private morality in public office. The line we kept hearing was private morality didn’t matter. It was personal and did not affect national interests. But I remember the people of God rising up with a consistent statement; Character does matter.


But now the question is before us again. Now you get to vote about it. Does character matter? I realize there are many other questions that have to be asked at the same time. Questions about the alternative. Questions about policy and credibility. Questions about the Supreme Court and the future of liberty. But what priority does the question of character have? Is it on the bottom of the list? Is it somewhere in the middle? Is it at the top?


Scripture is not silent on this matter. Proverbs 16:12 “Doing wickedness is an abomination to kings, because a throne is established in righteousness.” This is repeated many ways in many different scriptures. For a full treatment of this issue, check out John McArthur’s two-part message on the character demands for political leadership. You can find those here.


What you really believe about the importance of character will be revealed in your vote. You are put on notice that if you vote for those who have repeatedly and manifestly demonstrated wickedness, then character does not matter to you concerning public office. Joe Carter put it this in his blog, “this decision to disregard character is likely to live longer than even the most robust Supreme Court Justice. No longer can we credibly claim a lack of character is a disqualifier from public office. If Hugh Hefner decides to run for president and chooses Larry Flynt as his running mate, they could credibly claim to be the candidates for evangelical “Values Voters,” so long as they promised to appoint conservative judges.”


I realize that there is no perfect candidate and that God’s people will vote in different ways. This is not sin, nor a reason to divide. But voting matters, and there are implications in voting that Christians must come to terms with. I believe that priority of character and Christian witness is one of those implications. If you vote for demonstrably wicked people, you have surrendered your right to talk about character in all future elections. For you, might makes right. For you, the ends justify the means.


If you really want God to bless America and to send revival and to restore Christian convictions nationally, voting for evil people is an action that stands in contradiction to all of that.

 

Leave a Comment

Do not change this field:

SPAM protection (do not modify):