Has anyone asked you which presidential candidate you are voting for this coming November?  I have come to realize that many pastors and leaders are silent on this subject, as if their mouth is covered with duct tape.  We have all heard the phrase “hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil.”  This common phrase is usually used to describe someone who doesn’t want to be involved in a situation. 

No one knows, for sure, how it evolved. Because the saying is typically associated with three monkeys one covering his eyes, one covering his ears, and the other covering his mouth it is believed that the saying may have its origin in a 17th century temple in Japan.
 
It seems that contemporary Gospel preaching, today, doesn’t get anywhere close to politics and yet there is much in the Bible about selecting public leaders who honor God.  This is not true in liberal churches.  Many liberal pastors are very outspoken on their personal political views, even recommending the candidate of their choice.  This is illegal.

My use of the scriptures below is not intended to imply gender in candidates.
In Exodus 18:21 we read; “Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens.”  God’s Holy Word has much to say concerning the realm of politics, right down to the selection of those who rule.

Ask anyone what they look for in a candidate today and you will get a wide variety of responses.  Some are influenced by TV ads, how the candidate smiles, or their friends’ opinions.  Still, others look to see how well the candidate debates or how they advertise their purpose and positions.

Without insulting fellow pastors or spiritual leaders, I’d like to suggest some qualifications for candidates that God is looking for.  Our choices should be based on these Biblical qualifications when voting this November.

I. The First Qualification:
God is looking for leaders who are able; “You shall select out of all the people able men…”  In 1 Chronicles 9:13, the Bible says, “Very able men for the work of the service of the House of God.”  The service of God needed men of God in that day, and it still holds true today.  What does it mean to become a “very able man for the work of God?”

a. Able means that the candidate is fit to the position; they must be qualified to the position they are aspiring for.

b. Able means faithful to their work.
- I Corinthians 4:2- “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”
- Good and faithful servant

God asks us to be faithful because He is faithful.  I Cor. 1:9- “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Not everyone can be a President, Senator, etc, not everyone can be a Pastor/ Teacher, but everyone can be faithful. 

II. The Second Qualification:
God is looking for leaders who fear Him.  "You shall select out of all the people able men who fear God…”

Psalm 2 reiterates the same idea; “Now therefore, O Kings, show discernment; Take warning O judges of the earth.  Worship the Lord with reverence, and rejoice with trembling. Do homage to the Son…”

These words convey the idea of leaders having an “exceeding dread of the Almighty” which comes as a result of realizing that they will one-day answer to Him.  They are leaders who understand that God holds them to a higher standard of accountability.   Why is a fear of the Almighty so important?

#1- The “fear of God” safeguards leaders from an inordinate “fear of people.”  “He who kneels before God can stand before anyone.”

#2- The fear of God leads to great wisdom.
The Scriptures say, “The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.”  Sometimes we hear discussions on the level of intelligence of a particular candidate.  Intelligence is fine but wisdom is better. Intelligence speaks to how much a person knows; while wisdom addresses the wise and proper usage of that knowledge.

#3- The fear of God keeps leaders from becoming arrogant.  It helps them remember that they are but “Ministers of God” sent to do His bidding.

According to James Madison…“Before any man can be considered a member [leader] of civil society, he must be considered as a subject to the Governor of the Universe.”

As we look at a candidate, we must first examine their beliefs.  We should look deeply into what they say about the Almighty.  If they say they are a Christian, we need to know if they walk the talk or just throw the term around loosely.  Is the candidate arrogant or humble?  Where do they stand on issues of importance to God?

Just last Sunday, I heard from a member of the church I serve.  We have had Presidential voter guides available on our literature table for a couple weeks now.  The member told me they have a relative that goes to another Gospel preaching church in our community.  The relative asked for copies of the literature we have available so they will be informed when going to the voting booth.  The pastors and leaders at that church are always silent and never provide any help or guidance for their people in selecting candidates running for office.  What a shame!  By the way there are web links at the bottom of this piece that provide sources for re-producible presidential voter’s guides; from The American Family Association, Wallbuilders, and the Family Research Council.  All of these sources are trustworthy. 

The Bible says "when the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice." [Prov. 29:2]

III. The Third Qualification:
God is looking for leaders that are truthful. “…you select out of all the people…men of truth…”  Proverbs 14:34; “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”  Notice, the passage doesn’t say, “Do they tell the truth?” Instead, the passage says, “Are they men of truth?”  There is a vast difference between “telling the truth” and being “people of truth.”  The first focuses on “what the person does.” The second focuses on “who the person is.”

Contrary to popular opinion, God commands us to look at the personal / private world of a potential leader.  As we look at a Candidate’s personal world, God wants us to ask questions like; does the candidate keep their word?  Do their personal stories hold “verity?”  Are they genuine, or fake?  Does their life ooze truth or do we just get a drop of it every now and then? 

Our challenge is to vote for the one who shows the greatest amount of personal integrity and trustworthiness.

And lastly . . .

IV. The Fourth Qualification:
God is looking for leaders who hate dishonesty.  In Exodus 18:21, we read; “Therefore, you shall select out of all the people able men - who hate dishonest gain.”

The phrase, “Dishonest Gain,” speaks to one’s wealth and how it was achieved.  The phrase literally means to “profit unjustly.” Therefore, God is instructing Moses to look for leaders who have not profited at the expense of others.

Reverend Chandler Robbins, addressed “profiting unjustly”, in a sermon he preached before Governor elect, John Hancock in 1791.  He said, “How constantly do we find it inculcated in the sacred writings, that rulers be ‘just men - fearers of God - haters of covetousness.’  That they ‘shake their hands from holding bribes,’ because, ‘a gift blindeth the eyes of the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.’

We need to remember some things:
1. God isn’t against leaders who are wealthy.  
2. God is against the leader who gained his wealth in an unjust manner.
3. And - God wants us to elect individuals who will fight against those who profit unjustly.

So as we examine the lives of those running for office this November, we need to ask our self, ”Does the candidate shake their hand from taking a bribe?” “Have they earned their money fairly?” etc.

Before November 4th, we need to do the following:

1. Get individual information and learn about each candidate and provide that information with our people.
2. Pray
3. Make a choice
4. Vote!

In 1832 Noah Webster gave his students words we should heed today;
“When you become entitled to exercise the right of voting for public officers, let it be impressed upon your mind that God commands you to choose for rulers, ‘just men who rule in the fear of God.’ - if the citizens neglect their duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted.”

Exodus 18:21; “Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them.”

Quote: “The penalty that good men pay for not being interested in politics is to be governed by men worse than themselves.” ~Plato