Agreed, although it’s hard if not impossible to imagine anyone with national or even state-wide power, much less global power, who hasn’t made questionable compromises, been compromised, and has to play industrial-grade CYA forever. “If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?” (Psalm 130:3). No one is able and willing…
Agreed, although it’s hard if not impossible to imagine anyone with national or even state-wide power, much less global power, who hasn’t made questionable compromises, been compromised, and has to play industrial-grade CYA forever. “If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?” (Psalm 130:3). No one is able and willing to throw the first stone, and the list of sketchy deeds almost certainly accumulates over time. Term limits may not be the best solution, but odds suggest fresh faces might be less corrupt, with exceptions of course. The most reliable measure of integrity and humility—though perhaps not the only one—is a consistent acknowledgment that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Good examples of power leading to questionable compromises and the likelihood of getting compromised, but I’ll come your way and amend to “generally more reliable.” Point being that corruption follows power rather than sincere professions of Christ.
I have been foolish/ignorant enough to think that a professed "Christian" is a plus for a relatively worthy leader. No longer. If I do not err, Jimmy Carter was the first recent politician to make his religious values public. After him, they all did?
I’m not sure Clinton, Obama, Trump, and Brandon ever made convincing professions of faith. I agree it’s naive to think simply being a “good Christian” is the definitive litmus test for a good presidency. Carter seemed to be simply in over his head. But it seems clear that political power is excellent fertilizer for ego and greed and has derailed many good people, and Christians aren’t immune. W might be a good example. I like the way James Madison boiled it down: "The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted." That doesn’t exclude Christians, but I believe “so help me God” is where good government starts and the best way to stay on course.
Agreed, although it’s hard if not impossible to imagine anyone with national or even state-wide power, much less global power, who hasn’t made questionable compromises, been compromised, and has to play industrial-grade CYA forever. “If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?” (Psalm 130:3). No one is able and willing to throw the first stone, and the list of sketchy deeds almost certainly accumulates over time. Term limits may not be the best solution, but odds suggest fresh faces might be less corrupt, with exceptions of course. The most reliable measure of integrity and humility—though perhaps not the only one—is a consistent acknowledgment that Jesus Christ is Lord.
What then, of Mike Pence and Geo W Bush?
Good examples of power leading to questionable compromises and the likelihood of getting compromised, but I’ll come your way and amend to “generally more reliable.” Point being that corruption follows power rather than sincere professions of Christ.
I have been foolish/ignorant enough to think that a professed "Christian" is a plus for a relatively worthy leader. No longer. If I do not err, Jimmy Carter was the first recent politician to make his religious values public. After him, they all did?
I’m not sure Clinton, Obama, Trump, and Brandon ever made convincing professions of faith. I agree it’s naive to think simply being a “good Christian” is the definitive litmus test for a good presidency. Carter seemed to be simply in over his head. But it seems clear that political power is excellent fertilizer for ego and greed and has derailed many good people, and Christians aren’t immune. W might be a good example. I like the way James Madison boiled it down: "The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted." That doesn’t exclude Christians, but I believe “so help me God” is where good government starts and the best way to stay on course.