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Biblical Studies Journal Volume 3, Number 6
October 26, 1999
National Morality
Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble
is like a bad tooth and a foot out of joint. (Proverbs 25:19)
Circumstances periodically refocus our nation's attention on the President's
choice of a cabinet member nominee and whether his moral behavior is appropriate
for a one entrusted with such high office. It is impossible
to know whether the critics of such nominees are motivated by political
considerations or by real moral concern; but it would be our prayer that
the latter is the case.
The inevitable question always seems to be: "Does his sense of morality
have anything to do with his fitness for office?" In the opinion
of this writer, it has everything to do with his fitness
for office! Morality is not a private, do-your-own-thing kind
of mentality. Morality has to do with one's basic sense of integrity,
his sense of rightness and wrongness, fairness and unfairness.
Morality speaks volumes as to whether
or not a man can be trusted, whether he is a man
of his word. What kind of reasoning enables us to believe that a man
can disregard a vow
made before God to remain
with a companion for life, but that he can be trusted to fulfill vows
made before men with regard to the affairs of our government? Why bother
to hold one's hand on a copy of God's word and vow to be faithful to a
trust, if one has already demonstrated a total lack of respect for previous
vows made before God in other matters?
This President's nominees were not the first, nor will they likely be the
last, to exhibit before the world a playboy profile. Our history
has given us presidents, senators, and other political leaders who
have demonstrated a total lack of ethical integrity, and we can only hope
that we are witnessing a trend toward better things among those who would
govern our nation. Our government cannot long survive the kind of leadership
which soaks
itself in alcohol, indulges
itself in greed, and amuses
itself
with forbidden social behavior. If we cannot muster the
courage to outlaw things that degrade us, let us at least demand leaders
who do not participate in them.
-- Gene M. Carrell
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(c) 1999 The Fishinger & Kenny Roads Church of Christ, Columbus,
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