A Leader’s Character

A new beginning, a new experiment, a nation for the people, ruled by the people, but under God. The Europeans did not think this would work. They thought it would end up in anarchy and ruin. Two hundred plus some years ago, our forefathers set out to establish a new nation, and, as Lincoln said, “conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” This was an altogether new experiment, one that amazed the world, that a nation could be ruled by its own citizens, but under God.

In 1787, several of the greatest minds America has ever produced gathered in Philadelphia to attend what became known as the Constitutional Convention. Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, Governor Morris, and others were in attendance to write a constitution. They knew they were sailing in uncharted waters, they knew they were embarking on a new, untried plan to unify the colonies under one nation. And it was a unification that was to affect all nations. As Morris prophesied when he said, “The whole human race will be affected by the proceedings of this convention.” Morris’ declaration cannot be disputed. After the Constitution became the supreme law in the United States on March 4, 1789, America quickly ascended to astounding heights—becoming the most powerful and dominant nation the world has ever known.

To what extent can the awesome development and growth be attributed in America’s humble beginning? In the Bible, Jesus likened the kingdom of God to a mustard seed ‘which is indeed the least of all seeds: but when grown it is the greatest among herbs.” Matthew 13:32. And, as in the parable of the sower in the field, Christ said that unless that small seed starts right, in fertile ground, it can never develop. (See Matthew 13.)

As far as human governments go, the United States started about as right as any government that man has ever produced. Critics may say what they will about why it started right, but the founding fathers agreed on one issue, it was founded upon religion and morality. These are the two fundamental building blocks upon which America was built.

A “New Israel”

The founding fathers may not have known that America’s earliest settlers were, in fact, descendants of Israel, but they likened America to a “New Israel.” Historians and political commentators alike recognize this fact.

William Bennett wrote, “What made this country different from all others was a prevalent belief that God played a direct and active hand in founding a people. Like the Jerusalem of old, America’s ‘New Jerusalem’ was to become God’s promised land to the oppressed—an example to all humankind.” Our Sacred Honor, 366.

Probably the first American statesman to see a parallel between the Exodus and early American history was Benjamin Franklin. According to Milt Machlin, author of Joshua’s Altar, Franklin “described the independent colony on America’s shores as ‘God’s new Israel.’

“Without God’s blessing,” Bennett wrote, “many of the founders, especially Washington, believed that this country would never have come into being.” It was a belief that it was God’s will for America to stretch from sea to shining sea.

Fundamental Building Blocks of American Society

George Washington, America’s first President, championed this cause: that high morals and sincere religion had to be the fundamental building blocks of American society if it was to succeed and prosper. In his first Inaugural Address, on April 30, 1789, President Washington said, “The foundations of our national policy will be laid in the pure and immutable principles of private morality.” In other words, what we do in our homes does matter! For Washington, this was not a peripheral issue. It was the foundation of our national policy!

At the end of his presidential oath, Washington added the words, “So help me, God.” Every President since has followed in his tradition. And, according to Washington Irving, after our first President concluded his oath, he bowed down humbly and kissed the Bible. Without religion and morality, Washington knew the American “experiment” was doomed to fail.

Benjamin Franklin, a self-proclaimed non-churchgoer, was, nevertheless, very religious. In his autobiography he listed 13 points to follow for attaining moral perfection, the last of which was to imitate Jesus. During the Constitutional Convention, when the delegates arrived at an impasse, it was Franklin who offered this solution: “Pray for the assistance of heaven.” How’s that for a non-churchgoer!

In his Notes on the State of Virginia, even Thomas Jefferson, not considered very religious by many, demanded this of the American people: “Can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God?”

If you do not have access to American history in your home, take a trip to the library and read some. Check out a book on American history and study for yourself. You might learn some things that you never knew. See what priority our forefathers placed upon religion and morality. It was the chief cornerstone upon which this country was built.

The Power to Govern Ourselves According to the Ten Commandments

John Adams, our second President, said, “Statesmen may plan and speculate for liberty, but it is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand.” And James Madison said, “We have staked the whole future of American civilization, not on the power of government, but upon the capacity of each and every one of us to govern ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God.”

James Madison knew that “the whole future of American civilization” was at stake! And if we Americans fail to govern ourselves by the Ten Commandments, this country is going to collapse into anarchy! The same holds true for any country. Madison gave us a wonderful definition of character and its importance. It is also his prophecy for America.

Our Founding Fathers created the constitution. It will be perilous if we ignore their deep understanding. The Constitution was established only for a people with strong morals. But we have degenerated greatly in this area. Without character our liberties will lead to deep division and anarchy. Only character can halt this natural flow of events!

What makes our forefathers’ statements so weighty is that they agree with God!

The Civil War almost destroyed America. Only the faith of Lincoln and the American people got us through that tragedy.

In 1954, Supreme Court Chief Justice, Earl Warren, wrote, “I believe the entire Bill of Rights came into being because of the knowledge our forefathers had of the Bible and their belief in it.” Our forefathers knew that decaying morals meant a decaying nation!

Justice Stewart Potter said, it was impossible to define character. But many of our forefathers knew character meant not committing adultery and not lying. They knew that character meant keeping the Ten Commandments.

Is Character Necessary for Leadership?

The Bible reveals that character and effective leadership are as inseparable as oxygen and fire.

There are many references to God-fearing leaders in the Bible. God also recorded many of their weaknesses. King David was called a man after God’s own heart, (See Acts 13:22) but then he committed adultery, lied, and committed murder. Did that mean David was able to get away with his crimes? No. Let us look in the Bible to find out what happened. When God confronted David about his sin, David knew that no matter how he fooled his people into believing that he was a righteous leader, he could not fool God. David was overwhelmed with shame and remorse. He replied sorrowfully, “I have sinned against the Lord.” 2 Samuel 12:13. David repented (See Psalm 51.) He changed from his wickedness and God forgave him.

Facing the Consequences

However, the aftermath of David’s interlude with sin was not pretty. He suffered, and so did the nation. Even though he repented, God told him the sword would never pass from his house. While he was alive, (See 2 Samuel 12:10.) Israel was always at war.

God also told David, “I will raise up evil against you out of thine own house.” 2 Samuel 12:11. David’s son, Absalom, tried to kill his father. During Absalom’s rebellion, Israel erupted into civil war, during which tens of thousands of David’s own countrymen were slaughtered. Adonijah, another son of David, also rebelled against his father. On top of all that trouble, God sentenced to death the child Bathsheba conceived in adultery. This was the chain of events David’s sin triggered, and it would have been far worse if he had not repented.

Joseph was a man of upstanding character. Egypt prospered under his direction. In fact, when a dreadful famine struck the region, surrounding nations came to Joseph for help because he saved the excess during prosperous times. He did not lavishly spend more than he had. He saved for the future. He did not borrow from others to pay off mounting debts. He had no debts. All of Egypt and the surrounding nations benefited.

The Character of Their Leader is the Character of the People

After Joseph died and a new king arose who did not know Joseph, the new king feared the power and wealth of the Israelites, so he made slaves of them. For over 400 years the Israelites were subjugated to their Egyptian taskmasters. Then God delivered the ancient Israelites out of Egypt by the hand of one of their own, Moses. At last freed from religious persecution and the oppression of slavery, they departed with shouts of joy and singing praises to God. At Mt. Sinai, God delivered His moral code of ethics to Moses on two stone tablets. Then Moses returned to the people and told them all God had said and what God expected of them in morality and religion. If they agreed to abide by this strict moral standard, in return, they could have absolute freedom and abundant prosperity. Very quickly the people answered in unison, “All that the Lord hath said, we will do.” Exodus 24:7.

But they did not! Shortly into their journey, the Israelites became more concerned about their desire and lusts than they were about what was right in God’s eyes. And so they wandered around in the wilderness for 40 years, prohibited by God from entering the Promised Land. After their generation died, a new one matured which trusted in the words of Joshua, Moses’ successor. With a high hand, they crossed the Jordan River, routed the walled city of Jerico and settled in the Promised Land—a prosperous land flowing with milk and honey. Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and prospered and had success.

But when Joshua died, Israel lost an extraordinary leader. They also lost their passion for serving God and for subjecting themselves to an exalted moral standard; they turned to other religions. They were morally deteriorated. Their families divided, the nation suffered. Occasionally, while in the midst of a sore trial, the people would cry out to God for deliverance, and God would respond. He would send a leader who feared Him and kept His Commandments; a leader who was a man of truth; who was not led away by his own lusts. And that upright statesman would lead them out of the hole they had dug for themselves.

But when that leader died, they again forgot their God. Finally, it says in Judges 21:25, “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.”

So what was the end result of their miraculous deliverance from the oppression of Egypt? Anarchy! There was no standard or purpose. There was no real political authority. Everyone continued to do what seemed right in their own eyes. And the final outcome of their anarchy? The great nation of Israel was eventually ripped apart and separated into two nations, the Northern Kingdom of Israel, and the southern kingdom of Judah. God pled with both kingdoms to return to their past history that had afforded them much prosperity, but they rejected God’s pleas and His law—to their own shame.

In 721 B.C., the people of the northern kingdom of Israel were uprooted out of their own land by the ruthless and cruel Assyrian nation, thrust into slavery, and lost from world view to this day. Judah did not fare much better. They were overrun by the Babylonian Empire and made slaves in 604 B.C.

After such a promising start, the ancient nation of Israel rejected God and His moral standard, turned to anarchy, became divided, and eventually went into captivity.

Spiritual Applications

Our ancestors—biblical Israel—fell as a nation because every man was doing what he thought was right. That means the people did not trust their press, their politicians, or their religious leaders. What is the answer? Well, the answer is in today’s headlines, and everywhere we look! The people were profoundly degenerate and cared only for themselves. That led to their downfall.

The Bible tells us how to handle these situations; however, there is no relief if we do not heed. Any good history book will teach us that we are on a collision course with disaster. Today, “New Israel” is on course to follow in the same path our ancestors took. We have forsaken our God and the ideals of our forefathers. Every man does what he deems right. No one seems to care about the character of our leaders. Why should we, when we do not care about our own character?

Today, Americans reason that religion and morality are nice, but certainly not necessary for the overall well being of the nation. We have been led to falsely assume that private morality and public duty are separate issues. George Washington and Abraham Lincoln would have been appalled.

America may not care about the morality of its leaders, but what does God think? Does He care? The answer to that question is the most distressing of all. (See 2 Samuel 23:3, Proverbs 29:2, 4, Proverbs 29:12, Proverbs 29:14.)

“The anger of the Lord shall not return, until He have executed, and till He have performed the thoughts of His heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly,” [understand thoroughly] Jeremiah 23:20.

How could this prophecy be any clearer? We see it happening all around! These prophecies are being fulfilled now.

Why God is Angry

Here is why God is so angry. “I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery and walk in lies; they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.” Jeremiah 23:14.

Where is all of this leading? Our leaders lead the people into the most disgusting sexual sins of all. It is the grossest kind of immorality. That is the way lust works. A person starts with one lust. It soon fails to stimulate his evil desire. Then he twists his mind to a more disgusting lust until we have become Sodom and Gomorrah!

God thunders that our Sodom and Gomorrah society condemns all of us! Our nation has rebelled against our Creator, the living God. The depth of our sins is staggering. America spends over $4 billion annually on pornography. Of course this is only one problem. Our people have “sown the wind, and shall reap the whirlwind.” Hosea 8:7.

If we do not stop this process, our nation will become like Sodom and Gomorrah (see Genesis 19.) Then God will have to destroy us like He did them! “Behold a whirlwind of the Lord is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked.” Jeremiah 23:19.

God is going to send a grievous whirlwind—the great tribulation. That is going to be the worst time of suffering ever. (See Daniel 12:1.)

It has been said; any free society founded upon liberty, yet without a sacred moral code to govern the actions of individuals cannot stand. It can only end in anarchy. Because America has forsaken the ideals of our Founding Fathers, because we have forsaken our God—that is where we are headed!

As it turns out, the Europeans were right…The grand American experiment has failed!