I have never endorsed a candidate for public office, whether it was for district attorney, mayor, city councilor, state representative, U.S. Senator or President of the United States. That was both necessary and demanded of journalists 50 years ago. Audiences and readers were able to trust that the news they saw on TV, heard on radio and read in newspapers was objective and fair because most journalists were objective and fair.
The first national election I covered as a journalist was Richard Nixon vs Hubert Humphrey vs George Wallace in 1968. It was a difficult election year for many reasons. It was the first presidential election after the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. George Wallace led a strong third party effort based on the idea of racial segregation. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in April of ’68, which led to riots across the country. Senator Robert Kennedy was assassinated in June of ’68, just two months before the Democratic National Convention. The Democratic Convention in Chicago was the scene of violent protests between young people who were against the Vietnam War and police and national guardsmen. I mention that as a reminder that this year’s presidential election is not the first time electing a President has been a challenge for the country.
Our nation is made up of tens of millions of voting-age people who have a wide range of political viewpoints. Who can bring us together? Who can best lead us into our country’s future? As I mentioned earlier, I have never endorsed a candidate for public office and won’t begin now. However, I do have some great advice for you.
Great Advice
I go to the Bible for great advice because it is God’s Word. I say that as a former atheist who became a theist and Christian through several investigative processes, including testing the reliability of the Scriptures. I trust what the Bible says because the Scriptures are testable and pass the test.
God knows how to choose leaders. He guided Moses in his choice of Israel’s first leaders. Note carefully what Moses said to the tribes of Israel:
“Choose wise, understanding, and knowledgeable men from among your tribes, and I will make them heads over you.’ And you answered me and said, ‘The thing which you have told us to do is good.’So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and knowledgeable men, and made them heads over you, leaders of thousands, leaders of hundreds, leaders of fifties, leaders of tens, and officers for your tribes. Then I commanded your judges at that time, saying, ‘Hear the cases between your brethren, and judge righteously between a man and his brother or the stranger who is with him. You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small as well as the great; you shall not be afraid in any man’s presence, for the judgment is God’s.” Deuteronomy 1:13-17
Here are some of the keys to choosing the best leaders, whether it’s for tribes or nations:
- Wise
- Understanding
- Knowledgable
Here are the keys for how the best leaders lead:
- Judge righteously
- No partiality in judgment
- Hear small as well as great
- Not afraid of men because judgment is God’s
Using those “keys,” look at each candidate running for President. Which one(s) are wise, understanding and knowledgable? Which one(s) judge righteously, show no partiality in judgment, hear small as well as great, and are not afraid of men knowing judgment is God’s?
Even as great leaders need to be wise, understanding and knowledgeable, the same is true for the people who choose them. Here is some great advice that will help you select the best leader(s) for your country.
Wise
“A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel.” Proverbs 1:5
“In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.” Proverbs 3:6-8
“Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. ‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Proverbs 9:8-10
“Wise people store up knowledge, But the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.” Proverbs 10:14
“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise.” Proverbs 11:30
“There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, But the tongue of the wise promotes health.” Proverbs 12:18
“He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed.” Proverbs 13:20
“A wise man fears and departs from evil, But a fool rages and is self-confident.” Proverbs 14:16
“The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.” Proverbs 15:2
“The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, And adds learning to his lips.” Proverbs 16:23
“Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” Proverbs 26:12
“Scoffers set a city aflame, But wise men turn away wrath.” Proverbs 29:8
Understanding
“The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. Then God said to him: ‘Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice,behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you.” 1 Kings 3:10-12
“Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes, And I shall keep it to the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, For I delight in it.” Psalm 119:33-35
“Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.” Psalm 119:104
“My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you, So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding; Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding, If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, And find the knowledge of God.” Proverbs 2:1-5
“Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding; For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, And her gain than fine gold.” Proverbs 3:13-14
“The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate. Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength. By me kings reign, And rulers decree justice.” Proverbs 8:13-15
“To do evil is like sport to a fool, But a man of understanding has wisdom.” Proverbs 10:23
“He who is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor, But a man of understanding holds his peace.” Proverbs 11:12
“He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, But he who is impulsive exalts folly.” Proverbs 14:29
“He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; He who keeps understanding will find good.” Proverbs 19:8
“Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, But a man of understanding will draw it out.” Proverbs 20:5
Knowledge
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:7
“When wisdom enters your heart, And knowledge is pleasant to your soul, Discretion will preserve you; Understanding will keep you, To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things.” Proverbs 2:10-12
“Go from the presence of a foolish man, When you do not perceive in him the lips of knowledge.” Proverbs 14:7
“The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.” Proverbs 15:2
“The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.” Proverbs 15:14
“He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.” Proverbs 17:2
“Through wisdom a house is built, And by understanding it is established; By knowledge the rooms are filled With all precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is strong, Yes, a man of knowledge increases strength; For by wise counsel you will wage your own war, And in a multitude of counselors there is safety.” Proverbs 24:3-6
Prayer
As we enter into the final months of the process of selecting our next President, may we remember the importance of prayer.
“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:1-4
Our desire as Christians should be to see people saved and God glorified. Whatever may come this year and next, we know the One Who Rules. May we trust Him and acknowledge Him before men.
“Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart, And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:3-6
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“Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”
