The Apostle Paul was a spiritual father and mentor to young Timothy. As such, Paul addressed many issues with Timothy, not the least being the importance of Scripture. Paul knew that Timothy would be stretched to address a multiplicity of people and circumstances during his ministry assignments.

He knew that Timothy would be emotionally ripped apart if he attempted to deal with every situation without recourse to some final authority. The final authority to which Timothy was directed to appeal was the Word of God. Paul's wise counsel to Timothy is summed up as follows:

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
(2 Tim. 3:16)

My reason for establishing this fact is that I believe today we have lost a deep respect for Scripture (or perhaps we are just ignorant of Scripture) and as such we are both politically and religiously adrift. Today, we are not unlike Israel of old who failed to learn from God the profound lessons that would have secured their borders and insured peace and prosperity within their homeland.

Today in America's post-Christian and relativistic society, people are more influenced by celebrity than substance in choosing their spiritual and political leaders. By that I mean the tendency to naively choose leaders with outward charisma but lacking the more substantive character traits that insure good leadership.

This quest for charisma is not unique to our time. Israel fell prey to this snare in choosing Saul to be their first king. In stature Saul stood head and shoulders above his contemporaries. His outward demeanor fit society's shallow qualification to a "T." Over time, however, his failure to lead became evident because he never inwardly submitted his heart to God.

Genuine humility before God enables one to make tough decisions that may not be politically popular. Saul could never make long-term wise leadership decisions because he filtered every decision through a grid of how that decision would affect his popularity. That's not leadership; that's personal posturing.

When it comes to governance, we in the United States are blessed with a system that enables us to participate in choosing our leaders. If we fail to participate in the process, we fail our forefathers and those patriots who gave their lives to grant us this privilege.

If we fail to pray, study and to choose leaders who fulfill as close as possible the biblical criteria to lead, we fail God who gave us His written Word to guide us in this process.

God clearly is interested in continuing to guide, direct and bless our nation through our leaders. Paul tells young Timothy to pray for those in (secular) 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" (1 Tim. 2:2-3).

What follows are some biblical guidelines in selecting those who qualify to effectively lead. I pray that you will take these guidelines into account as you choose those whom you will spiritually follow and politically elect.

"Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers…" (Ex. 18:21).

"He who rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God" (2 Sam. 23:3).

"When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan" (Pr. 29:2).

The overarching biblical guideline for selecting leaders has everything to do with selecting a leader who's heart is pliable in God's hands. Unlike Pilate who washed his hands and avoided taking the moral high ground, such a leader recognizes his responsibility and mandate under God to make tough moral decisions. May God grant America such leaders and may He give us the insight and courage to vote for them!

James Dumont Ministries
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