Election 2010

It's Election Day 2010 and for someone who watches the news everyday I have to say that I'm glad the political television ads will be missing from my favorite programs starting tomorrow. But I also thought about the 2012 election. It will probably start in earnest tomorrow. Hooray, right? Not! If you're like me I'm tired of the negativity and the backbiting and the partisanship? I'm thinking that if there is a truly honest politician out there (Democrat, Republican, Tea Party, whatever...) we should elect him president in 2012. I wonder if there is one???

If you have never watched the 1939 Jimmy Stewart classic Mr. Smith Goes to Washington it's way worth your time. Stewart plays a kind of a hick from Illinois who is chosen to fill a vacated Senate Seat who is supposed to tow the party line. But after he rubs his party's leadership the wrong way and won't go along with their underhanded dealings they try to paint him as dishonest and a troublemaker. I think it's ironic that after 70 years we see the same sort of things still going on in political circles today in 2010. (By the way Stewart's character wins in the end).

In stark contrast to the climate we see in our 2010 culture (especially in political circles) the Bible holds up integrity and honesty as virtues we are to go after, acquire, and then model for others as believers in Christ. After all, that's how our Lord lived. He's the benchmark.

Psalm 15 speaks eloquently to this subject. David wrote,"O LORD, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill? He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart. He does not slander with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend; in whose eyes a reprobate is despised, but who honors those who fear the LORD; he swears to his own hurt and does not change; he does not put out his money at interest, nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken."

Oh that we'd have leaders like that in our country. We need some more Mr. Smiths in Washington. We need more Mrs. Smiths there as well. We need more people like Zacharias and Elizabeth the parents of John the Baptizer. They are described in Luke 1:6 as, "Both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord."

So let's see who wins today, Zacharias and Elizabeth type politicians or those who are negative, backbiting and partisan. You decide.