Character Matters

America is in a crisis of leadership. Everyone knows it. No one knows what to do about it. 

Our nation desperately needs good and sound leaders. As the wise man once said: ‘Love and truth form a good leader; sound leadership is founded on loving integrity.’ (Proverbs 20:28 MSG)

Admittedly, it’s hard to be a good and sound leader in today’s world. In my lifetime, I can’t remember a decade when the people of our nation were more polarized and frustrated. I can’t remember a time when the distrust and disrespect of institutional leadership were so high. The explosion in free-style social media has compounded the problem. Anyone can say what they want to say, when they want to say it, and however they want to say it. The restraints of respectability in civil discourse are long gone. 

To succeed in today’s culture, it seems that you’ve got to get loose with the truth. Exaggerate. Fabricate. Deviate. To get out front, you’ve got to bully your competitors into submission. Dominate. Humiliate. Denigrate. To achieve worthy ends, you have to be willing to resort to unworthy means.

I miss the days when our leaders spoke the Truth; the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I miss the days when our culture shapers were considerate, respectful, humble, and thoughtful. I miss the days when character mattered. 

Looking to our next election, I don’t want to have to choose between character and policy. I want both. In one person. Is that too much to ask? 

Longing. Praying. Hoping.

CHARACTER MATTERS

Love and truth form a good leader; sound leadership is founded on loving integrity. Proverbs 20:28 MSG