Moral Character of a Leader

by

Perspectives

I was having a conversation yesterday with a friend who referred to the these days in the United States of America as "Post-Truth America."  The statement made me stop and think.   And in thinking it grew ever more clear that indeed, my friend has a point.

When a candidate for President of the United States of America openly lies over and over again without so much as a journalistic retort or even a mild hiccup, something is wrong.   When a candidate for the office of the President of the United States openly attempts to discredit election results before the election takes place, we definitely find ourselves in a new and different time. When a businessman who revels in shirking his civic duty of paying taxes runs for the office of President of the United States; when that same person cheats workers and gropes unwilling women we are indeed in a new time. Post-Truth America? The notion gives rise to some questions.

What are we to make of a media that is laser-focused on an email kerfuffle of one candidate while completely blind to  more than nine accusations of sexual harassment and sexual assault on the part of another? What are we to think when the alleged un-trustworthiness of one candidate is lifted up again and again while the failure of another to pay taxes, to even pay workers is not seen worth the air time to mention it. How do we respond when the FBI interferes in the election by illegally releasing vague information certain to put a thumb on the scales of this election?

I am reminded of the words of the Prophet Micah:

"Your wealthy are full of violence; your inhabitants speak lies with tongues of deceit in their mouths (Micah 6:12)."

The Prophet's words  remind us that evil things happen when good people remain silent.    So I urge you not to be quiet.  Speak up for what you know to be true.  As a people of faith we know the difference between right and wrong.  We really do.  And the difference does not hang in the balance of partisan political ideology.  It hangs in our vision, our clarity, moral acuity, and our faith.

We know truth from lies, and we know, dear friends, about evil lurking in high places.  We know about what Paul calls "The principalities and the powers (Eph. 6:10f)." And friends, we know the difference between a demagogue liar and a principled leader. We know the qualities that make for a just and compassionate leader.

So it is that I thought it might be a good idea for people of faith to be clear about what a true leader possesses in terms of character and moral rectitude. And yes, I'll be bold enough to make a start. I'm a good Bible reading Christian, and here's a little of what I have discovered.

These are some of the characteristics of a  leader of high moral character:

  • Seeks Peace (Psalm 34:14) (Luke 6:35-36)
  • Is slow to anger (Psalm 145:8)
  • Is humble, and not arrogant. (1st Peter 5:1-7)
  • Sensible and kind.  (Colossians 3:12)
  • Willing to learn the ways of goodness.  (Isaiah 1:17)
  • Puts the welfare of all people on the same plane.  (Galatians 3:28)
  • Is able and willing to listen to all points of view.  (James 1:19-27)
  • Surrounds him or herself with honest, truthful, conscientious counselors (Proverbs 12:15)
  • Has the attitude of service and servanthood. (Matt 20:26)

I could go on for quite a while, but this is a beginning. Maybe you would add a few in the comment section of this blog?  I'd like that.  The elements I listed are not exclusively Christian by any means, but they ARE a firm part of our tradition, and those who claim to follow Jesus should be thinking about this.

We need leaders of high moral character, not people who look us in the face and lie.

We need leaders who are committed to seeking peace, not leaders who wonder why we  have nuclear weapons if we can't use them.

We need leaders who understand grace and forgiveness, not leaders who stay up tweeting vitriol half the night.

We need leaders who have demonstrated service and servanthood throughout their lives, not leaders who dedicate themselves to the "art of the deal,"  no matter who gets hurt.

We need leaders who care about all the people in our nation and in our world, a leader who cares about a better tomorrow.

So, here is a voice from the faith community.

If you'd like to cut and paste these characteristics of a leader please do so.

If you'd like to add to them, by all means do so.

In the meantime, check out the list and ask yourself which person seeking the highest office in the land comes closest to meeting it's expectations?

Praying for our nation in this Post Truth America....

The Rev. Schuyler Rhodes serves as superintendent of the Bridges District (San Francisco and Oakland) of the California-Nevada Annual Conference. This post is republished with the author's permission from his blog, Reflections from a Superintendent.