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TechnoratiLastly, there was the temptation to compromise. "Fall down and worship me," promised the tempter, "and I will give you all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor." In essence, the tempter suggested: "Drop your standards a bit, Jesus. You will never accomplish world domination by the high and lofty principles you embrace. Don't you realize there are others in the world besides you? Make a bargain with the existing power. Make a few concessions. To win the public, you must reflect public opinion. To own the world, it must own you." Jesus countered the temptation declaring: "Worship the Lord your God, and serve only Him." [7]
One can only imagine the positive difference if politicians led primarily by allegiance to God. Gone would be the corruption precipitated by bribes from special interests. Gone would be politically correct statements like, "Well, I personally believe abortion is wrong, but I'm still pro-choice." Gone would be support for state lotteries enacted in the name of public education. Gone would be sympathy for legalized gay marriage, sodomy as a constitutional right, and the repeal of cohabitation laws affirming personal relationships outside of God's revealed order.
And how marvelously appropriate such allegiance would be when one considers the Bible teaches the "powers that be are ordained of God." [8] And when God says: "By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth," [9] it becomes abundantly clear leaders are established by God with the priority of serving his purposes. Moreover, in the final analysis, leaders are not to be judged by opinion polls. The measure of their success is not be determined by history, but instead by what God has decreed.
One can appreciate the folksy state senator from North Carolina, Jim Jacumin (R-Burke), who has often said on the campaign trail: "I can't be for it, if God's against it."
Certainly no leader better personified this principle than Jesus. Advances are never made by retreating. Evil is never defeated by compromising with it.
Leadership that resists bribing people into following; leadership which rejects sensation for substance; leadership that doesn't compromise with evil – always, as it did with Jesus, produces a cross ... hardship ... persecution. But then again, it also brings redemption.
[1] 10,000 Jokes Toasts and Stories, edited by Lewis and Faye Copeland, 1965, pg.523
[2] The Daily Study Bible Series, The Gospel of Matthew (Vol. 1), pg. 67
[3] The Holy Bible, St. Matthew 4:4
[4] The Holy Bible, St. Matthew 4:7
[5] "The Selling of a President," Bob Steinberg, freelance North Carolina columnist
[6] 10,000 Jokes Toasts and Stories, edited by Lewis and Faye Copeland, 1965, pg.520
[7] The Holy Bible, St. Matthew 4:10
[8] The Holy Bible, Romans 13:1
[9] The Holy Bible, Proverbs 8:16
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Rev. Mark H. Creech is the executive director of the Christian Action League of North Carolina, Inc.
