Character Matters

The Election, Your Spirituality, & the Soul of our Nation #8

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Pondering your spirituality, and the Soul of the Nation, let us ask: Does character matter? In somebody we might vote for? In me and the other voters?

Once upon a time, reporters looked the other way when confronted with presidential misbehavior. I think character mattered more back then – which oddly enough was why moral lapses were hushed up. In recent years, character has gotten more flimsy – but reporters pounce on every little innuendo or mixup. We are an exceedingly permissive society, but then nothing is ever forgiven.

Should we insist upon stellar character in leaders? Or do we want whoever will get the job we want done? Do we harbor the sensible but perilous idea that a politician who’s not squeaky clean but a bit crooked actually will get stuff done in a crooked world? Many Americans would rank Jimmy Carter as being morally pure – but maybe not as effective as, let’s say, Bill Clinton, who was far less pure. As Christians do we seek effectiveness or holiness? Couldn’t we find someone who has both?

Presidential historian Talmage Boston suggests the President should be the nation’s “conscience-in-chief.” Who else might exhibit virtue more publicly and have a larger impact on society? Doesn’t a President’s uprightness matter in terms of the kinds of people we become, and who represents us morally on the world stage?

The worst trouble nowadays is that we have been told all candidates are scuzzbags – or at least all those of the other party. There is indeed a lot of scuttlebutt about ethically compromised politicians that is factual. But then there’s so much misinformation, made up smear tactics – and we fall for the lies. What does this state of affairs reveal about our spirituality? And the soul of the nation? Have we been deceived so many times that we don’t even care any longer? God must groan, or weep over this sorry state of affairs – and God must be calling us to dig for true truth, and try to be the people who genuinely prefer leaders of high moral character.

In American politics, we are addicted to character assault – at least toward the other party and its supporters. The harshness of the fault-finding is relentless, and corrodes something at the core of our national soul. Spouting a harsh critique of a candidate may make you feel good; chiming in with others who loathe the same candidate you do may feel chummy – but criticizing somebody else doesn’t make you good, does it? The more pleasure you take in noticing and critiquing others, the further you are from Jesus. And if you become adept at explaining away the moral flaws of a candidate (and even coming to believe moral flaws are good), you are far from Jesus.

We need, over time, to be surfacing candidates who are exemplary in life and morals. Not perfect or 100% holy (since no one is), but the kind of people you hope your children will grow up to be. We need, over time, to be the kinds of citizens and voters who care, who insist on character, and just won’t vote for the ethically jeopardized.

And of course, as we remember to care about our nation’s character, we understand it’s also a grassroots movement, not merely the responsibility of elected leaders. Transformation happens in the heart, in many hearts, in communities that choose to be different, and better. For centuries, the Church has assumed that we have a weighty responsibility for the character of the world. How is God asking us to resume that large task?

The Rev. James C. Howell is senior pastor of Myers Park United Methodist Church in Charlotte, N.C. This post is republished with the author's permission from his weekly email series, "The Election, Your Spirituality and the Soul of Our Nation," to church members and other interested persons. Click here to subscribe.