Tuesday, January 19, 2016

What In the World Is Going On? Wanted: Truth, Honesty and Integrity

“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness;
Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes,
And prudent in their own sight!”
(Isaiah 5:20-21).

If you have been paying any attention to the world of politics for the last 8-9 years, you have undoubtedly noticed that something is missing: truth, honesty and integrity.

The current administration is undergoing numerous investigations for everything from a U.S. Ambassador being murdered in Benghazi, to the improper handling of classified emails, to the Internal Revenue Service being used to silence those who would dare to disagree with a sitting president, to deals being made with Iran (the number one sponsor of Islamic terrorists and their attacks), to the Veterans Administration being so corrupt that some men and women were not able to receive proper treatment which resulted in their death.

Has anyone been held accountable? Has anyone been charged with a crime? Has anyone lost his or her six-figure government salary? Where is the truth? Where is honesty? Where is integrity?

It seems as though some politicians, on both sides of the aisle (Republican and Democrat), have forgotten why they were elected. For some, it has simply become a way to amass more financial security for themselves and a means to exercise political power and position.

There was time in our country’s history when serving as a representative of the people was an honorable, noble and selfless task. Things have changed, but we shouldn’t be too surprised. A majority of those who are running our country will readily say, “God bless America” with no idea Who He is or what He requires. A majority of those running the country have acquiesced to the loud voices of sinful people who don’t want God at the center of their world or this country. And, once again, those same loud voices are screaming to remove “In God we trust” from all of our currency. This is not new but now they have momentum on their side.

There’s an old saying: “Politics isn’t everything; but it is in everything.” That saying is both true and sad. Perhaps the saddest part of that statement is that there is politics even in churches, the one place where God and His Word should be honored and obeyed above all else. The verses above, Isaiah 5:20-21, seem to fit the time in which we are living. The world, as whole, has rejected the God of the Bible in favor of countless other gods of their own making. For those who reject the God of Scripture, they can use a relativistic scale (instead of God’s absolute scale) to determine what is good and what is evil. Each person can be “wise in their own eyes” and choose what’s acceptable to them without regard for the One who created them.

Politics and religion are two of the most divisive topics known to man. It is no exaggeration to say that friends and family members have parted ways due to the heated discussions that occur with regard to these two subjects.

First, let me encourage you by saying that God is still in charge. No one has, or ever will, knock Him off of His throne. Jesus is still the Savior of the world and He is still interceding for the saints. The Holy Spirit is still at work convicting individuals of sin and drawing them to the Father through grace and faith.

Second, as this next presidential election gets closer, remember that we are ambassadors for Christ. Certainly share your political opinions, but remember to keep a loving attitude towards those with whom you may disagree. It may very well be that a loving attitude will open the door to share Christ with a lost and dying world.

May the Lord bless you as you seek to serve Him in this New year.

By His Grace,
Gary T. Dromi, Ph.D.