Character Counts!

by Steve Hale

"...neither as lording it over the charge allotted to yau, but making yourselves ensamples to the flock" ( 1 Peter 5:3, ASV).
Moral character is important, yea, if is vital in leadership! How in the world can we expect to be led by men who themselves are astray? Peter said that that is
very true among those who would lead the church!
The very reason the sex scandals among major tele-evangelists was such news a few years ago is the blatant hypocrisy of the situation. Here are men who commonly blasted the television screen and their listeners with calls to morality and decrying the decadence of Hollywood while they themselves groveled in the slime of sin.
Character counts! Followers do not rise above their leadership. Great, thriving churches have great elders while mediocre churches or worse have inadequate leadership.
What's true for the church is also true for the country. We should demand out of our President all the way down through Congress leadership that is "top-flight," not "flighty."
Moral issues count! It's amazing the blase attitude many Christians have about basic moral issues. There is almost a sense of resignation rather than indignation. To take our biblical morality inside the ballot box is not an option! We must take up our crosses daily"
(Lk. 9:23) at home...at work..among our brethren...and among our countrymen!"
John Adams said: "We have no government armed power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality:' and religion-. Our government is made for a moral and religious people."
To show you how different things now are consider the state conventions among the thirteen original colonies. By the time of the federal constitution, only 11 of the 13 states had drafted their own constitutions. They are all similar, but listen to the requirements in the Delaware constitution of 1776:

"I do profess faith in God the father and in the Lord Jesus Christ his only Son, and in the Holy Ghost, one God blessed forevermore, and I do acknowledge the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be given by divine inspiration."

This did not require they belong to a certain group or sect, but at least that they had respect for God and His word. The intention was not freedom from religion, but the freedom of religion. Further, the intent was that no one group would dominate, but that all could have free exercise of his/her faith. As a Christian, please don't support someone with decadent moral character, or who supports decadent moral positions (like abortion, homosexuality as an alternative, normative lifestyle, etc.).
Give any candidate this test: I want my son or daughter to grow up and be like ___. If that prospect horrifies you, look elsewhere. Character counts.

September 22, 1996

Related Articles:

"...The Laws of Nature and the Nature's God..." -May 04, 1997
An American War Against God! -Oct 20, 1996
The First Amendment -Aug 04, 1996
Constitutional Origins -Jul 21, 1996

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Character Counts! by Steve Hale "...neither as lording it over the charge allotted to yau, but making yourselves ensamples to the flock" ( 1 Peter 5:3, ASV). Moral character is important, yea, if is vital in leadership! How in the world can we expect to be led by men who themselves are astray? Peter said that that is very true among those who would lead the church! The very reason the sex scandals among major tele-evangelists was such news a few years ago is the blatant hypocrisy of the situation. Here are men who commonly blasted the television screen and their listeners with calls to morality and decrying the decadence of Hollywood while they themselves groveled in the slime of sin. Character counts! Followers do not rise above their leadership. Great, thriving churches have great elders while mediocre churches or worse have inadequate leadership. What's true for the church is also true for the country. We should demand out of our President all the way down through Congress leadership that is "top-flight," not "flighty." Moral issues count! It's amazing the blase attitude many Christians have about basic moral issues. There is almost a sense of resignation rather than indignation. To take our biblical morality inside the ballot box is not an option! We must take up our crosses daily" (Lk. 9:23) at home...at work..among our brethren...and among our countrymen!" John Adams said: "We have no government armed power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality:' and religion-. Our government is made for a moral and religious people." To show you how different things now are consider the state conventions among the thirteen original colonies. By the time of the federal constitution, only 11 of the 13 states had drafted their own constitutions. They are all similar, but listen to the requirements in the Delaware constitution of 1776: "I do profess faith in God the father and in the Lord Jesus Christ his only Son, and in the Holy Ghost, one God blessed forevermore, and I do acknowledge the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be given by divine inspiration." This did not require they belong to a certain group or sect, but at least that they had respect for God and His word. The intention was not freedom from religion, but the freedom of religion. Further, the intent was that no one group would dominate, but that all could have free exercise of his/her faith. As a Christian, please don't support someone with decadent moral character, or who supports decadent moral positions (like abortion, homosexuality as an alternative, normative lifestyle, etc.). Give any candidate this test: I want my son or daughter to grow up and be like ___. If that prospect horrifies you, look elsewhere. Character counts. September 22, 1996 Related Articles: "...The Laws of Nature and the Nature's God..." -May 04, 1997 An American War Against God! -Oct 20, 1996 The First Amendment -Aug 04, 1996 Constitutional Origins -Jul 21, 1996 Print this Article Discuss this Article Back to the Sermon Page	Mt. Juliet Church of Christ 1940 N. Mt. Juliet Road P.O.Box 248 Mt.Juliet, TN 37122-0248 (615)758-2274 Fax:615-754-2351 Email Worship Services: Sunday Early Worship: 8AM Sunday Bible Study: 9:15AM Sunday Late Worship: 10:15AM Night Worship: 6PM Wednesday Bible Study: 7PM