Why We Keep Getting Poor Candidate Choices (Part 4)

Leadership has a spiritual component attached to it. Things like wisdom, discernment, insight, self-control, and the like are all intricately tied into the spirit. A good and godly leader must have and maintain these qualities if their leadership is to reflect righteousness and solicit God’s favor. That is why it is critical to consider the spiritual status of the candidate running for office. There is a legitimate place to evaluate (because we can’t use the term, “judge”) a candidate’s spiritual condition or proclivity.

The oft repeated phrase of those who ignore such evaluations will say that it is impossible to “judge the heart” of another. At one level that is certainly true for only God can ultimately dissect the status of a heart. However, we are not left to total spiritual ambiguity when it comes to how we might evaluate where a candidate may be spiritually.

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4:12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

The Scripture has been revealed to us in order to walk in some spiritual objectivity. Spiritual truth is not simply the subjective, “This is what I feel like God has said”, or, “The Lord told me this…”. I do not discount the present moving of the Spirit or the prophetic voice. I do, however, discount the false prophetic which attempts to supersede the clear teaching and principles of Scripture. It is vital that the candidates running for office be connected to that which will keep them accountable to God’s Word. This leads us to our next vetting question:

4. Has the Candidate participated in a local Church and is currently connected to one?

Proverbs 18:1, “A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; he rages against all wise judgment”.

This point is almost always overlooked. Why would it matter? It matters because it is a point of connection and accountability in life and to God. Does the candidate have a real functioning pastor who can authoritatively input his life? Does he know his pastor’s name? (Don’t think that question dumb. I have asked political candidates for their pastors name and they stutter and stumble. That says something.) Is the candidate currently being discipled or given spiritual counsel which is then taken seriously? Who does the candidate answer to for the integrity issues of life? Who watches the private life of the candidate to verify that what is said in public matches what goes on behind the scenes? Does a pastor have unfettered access into their life?

Every election cycle candidates hold up Bibles, visit our churches, and claim a “call from God” to pursue the office. They work the church knowing full well that the average church attender is no more equipped spiritually to discern and evaluate true spiritual condition than they. That is why our potential governmental leaders MUST be connected to a local church and have a pastor in their life. It would be even better if the candidate exercised some form of Church leadership in their spiritual walk. Most of our founders and signers of the documents which formed this nation had intricate ties to their church and theological training. Some were even pastors themselves which is an indicator of who might best be equipped to codify law and bring direction to a nation.

The sad reality has become that as church attendance and relevance has diminished so has the thought of what the candidates connection to one should be. This is why it is imperative that the Christian community expect their candidates participate in the life of the Church and its leaders.

NEXT: Part 5, Experience in civic government