11 January 2016
Chuck Roots
www.chuckroots.com
Character Does
Matter
It’s hard
to not be aware that we are in an election year. The main stream media (MSM) is
covering the various assortment of candidates in the same manner as vultures
circling the rotting carcasses of dead and dying buffalo on the open plain. “What
juicy little morsel might we find on this one, eh?” The scrutiny, also known as
vetting, is in full swing and everyone is fair game with one caveat – If the MSM
likes you and you are in step with their philosophical and political points of
view, then you are declared sacrosanct.
Some time
back, probably three or four years, I wrote an article on the importance of
character in our elected officials. I would like to revisit this topic in this
article.
You might
recall the brouhaha during the 1992 presidential race involving the sordid
affairs of one Bill Clinton. As the news reporters uncovered one woman after
another who claimed to have had a relationship with Clinton, or was otherwise
seduced by him, such degeneracy filled our TV screens nightly. It got to the
point where the Democrat Party had to do something to tone this story down
because their candidate, Bill Clinton, was looking bad. Two things happened:
First, there was a pre-arranged interview with Bill & Hillary Clinton in
which Hillary famously said to the interviewer who was pressing the matter of
Bill’s blatant infidelities, “If it doesn’t bother me, why should it bother
you?” That question-cum-challenge shut the door on further questioning. Had I
been the interviewer I would not have let that go. Regardless of what you may
think the state of the Clinton’s marriage in, no woman ever wants to be shamed
by her husband’s indiscretions with other women. And certainly not on the international
world stage which the MSM plays on.
Second, all the sycophants of
the Democrat Party drank the cool-aid, parroting the new philosophy that what a
person does in private doesn’t really matter and has no direct effect on their ability
to govern. The new catch phrase being spoken by the leaders of the Democrat
Party, pundits, and even the MSM became a mantra intoned by all – “Character
doesn’t matter.” That was a stunner.
This was troubling for many
reasons, but the primary reason it left many of us unsettled had to do with
national security. A president who was dishonoring his marriage vows was to be
considered a reprobate. Further, if he could be enticed to enter into a sexual
liaison, then he was subject to blackmail by our nation’s enemies. He
compromises his position of authority which has been entrusted to him by “We
the People.” Add to that the matter that the president has the obligation through
his office to protect the American people, and we’ve got a major problem.
As I was growing up it was strongly
impressed upon us as kids that character was everything. If you lacked
character then you were not a person to be trusted. I remember my folks saying things
like, “Don’t ever lie to me, because if you do, then I’ll never know if you are
speaking the truth.” Or this one, “When you give someone your word, you are
bound to it and must keep your word.” Teachers in school taught these same
values. These values were even put in front of us through radio and television.
But virtue and morality in the film industry all began to crumble with the
advent of the Film Rating System in 1968.
The Bible has much to say about
a person’s character. The most notorious person mentioned in the Bible would be
the man who intentionally betrayed Jesus, willingly turning him over to the
authorities to be crucified. His name, of course, is Judas. Judas Iscariot. His
lack of true character set in motion the arrest, trial, and crucifixion of
Jesus. All for 30 pieces of silver! In today’s currency that’s about $500.00.
Unsavory characters are replete
in the Bible. It is the result of the human condition known as a “sinful
nature.” Jesus willingly went to the cross in order to offer you and me a new
opportunity at life. A degraded or degenerate person can become a new person
with an entirely new character once they’ve had a personal encounter with
Jesus. Our sin nature is transformed by the cleansing power of the blood of
Jesus.
Personally, I want elected
officials and national leaders to be men and women of the highest character. We
as Americans should accept nothing less. And for those in office (way too many,
I fear) who have sacrificed their character on the altar of political
correctness, and/or for the lust of power, then it’s time to send them packing!
Might God grant us another stellar person of godly character like our founding father, George Washington? I would pray that it was so.
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