Do Politicians Owe Us Moral Accountability?

As Bible-believing Christians, we are called to be salt and light in the world (Matthew 5:13-16), which includes our participation in the political process. As my readers know, I believe the Centrist position best represents those who are first and foremost citizens of the Kingdom of God and secondarily of any nation.

Yet many Christians are willing to abandon the candidate’s character. They put policies first and integrity second. Would they be willing to elect Satan if they agreed with his policies? In the Bible, leaders were required to have moral fortitude.

Moral accountability in our leaders is not just a political issue but a profoundly spiritual one that requires careful consideration.

UPDATE: On July 21, 2024, Joe Biden pulled out of the presidential race and endorsed his vice president, Kamala Harris. That choice must be ratified by donors and delegates to the Chicago Democratic Convention. Nevertheless, the biblical principles I discuss in this article will apply to the new candidate.

Biblical Foundations for Leadership and Morality

The Bible provides clear guidance on the qualities of good leadership. Exodus 18:21 says, “Look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.”

This passage emphasizes the importance of competence, faith, trustworthiness, and integrity in leaders.

Similarly, in 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Paul outlines qualifications for church leaders, which can also inform our expectations for political leaders. These include being “above reproach,” “sober-minded,” “self-controlled,” and “respectable.”

Politicians are not church leaders. Nevertheless, Christians should expect these kinds of moral qualities from our national leaders. They are more important than party platform policies. We need to elect men and women of character and then allow them to hash out the issues and come to conclusions that serve the common good.

The Importance of Moral Character in Leadership

It is not the case now, but historically, we Evangelical Christians have placed a high value on the moral character of political leaders. This stems from the belief that a leader’s personal conduct and ethics will inevitably influence their public service and decision-making.

Proverbs 29:2 says, “When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.” This suggests that leaders’ moral character directly impacts the well-being of the people they govern.

However, in recent years, there has been a shift in focus among some Evangelical voters towards policy outcomes rather than personal morality. This change has led to debates within the Christian community about the relative importance of a candidate’s character versus their policy positions.

Worse, it has brought us to the place where leading candidates are so morally and ethically compromised that it is impossible to choose between “the lesser of two evils.”

Assessing the Current Political Landscape

The 2024 presidential election presents a challenging scenario for Bible-believing voters. Both major candidates, Donald Trump and Joe Biden, have been accused of moral and ethical lapses.

If we have a Christian conscience and know right from wrong, how can we possibly vote for either of them? Both parties have many more suitable leaders waiting in the wings, so we must question the system that gave us these two iniquitous choices.

Donald Trump’s Candidacy

Donald Trump’s presidency and subsequent legal issues have not been much of a source of division among Evangelical Christians. Most appreciate his policy achievements, such as economic and energy initiatives, conservative judicial appointments, and support for religious liberty.

Sadly, only a few are deeply troubled by his personal conduct and legal challenges and ignore his audacious lack of decency.

Many of his court cases are likely political attacks by his adversaries, yet his unbridled speech, constant egotism, womanizing, serial marriages, and questionable business deals should be a red flag to Christians. Trump is certainly no King David.

The Bible teaches us to respect authority (Romans 13:1-7) and hold leaders accountable (2 Samuel 12:1-15). Christians must wrestle with balancing these principles in our current context.

This is especially important regarding Trump now that many say “God saved him” during the assassination attempt. Would they say the same thing about Biden if he dodged a bullet?

Joe Biden’s Candidacy

Joe Biden is just as problematic in only slightly different ways.

He professes to be a devout Catholic but has supported policies that many Evangelicals find morally problematic, particularly regarding abortion, LGBTQ+ issues, and the way he has squandered money.

The allegations surrounding his son Hunter and questions about his own cognitive fitness have also raised concerns about his leadership capabilities.

Biden has a record of being a cheater in law school, and he dropped out of his first presidential race (1988) due to plagiarism charges. Throughout his political career, he has appeared to siphon funds from others in ways that some characterize as bribery and corruption. He has always been a willing political puppet controlled by others.

Today, Biden is clearly in cognitive decline and unfit to run for a second term. There is no fault in aging; the fault is not having the moral gravity to exit with dignity.

The character of voters is important, too. Voting requires integrity. We must not vote out of personal bias or any particular set of policies. We must vote based on our Christian values, even when that means going against the status quo. We may even have to vote for a third-party candidate to keep our conscience clean. Contrary to what zealots say, we never throw away our vote when we vote our conscience.

Making an Informed Christian Decision

Given these complex circumstances, how can Bible-believing Evangelical Christians approach their voting decision? Here are some principles to consider:

Pray for wisdom. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”
Consider the whole person. While policy positions are important, don’t neglect character and moral judgment in your assessment. If candidates have character, they can solve problems.
Study the issues. Thoroughly research candidates’ positions, track records, and character. Don’t rely solely on media narratives or partisan sources. Be willing to put your own bias aside and ask how Jesus would act on the issues.
Prioritize biblical values. Focus on issues that align with biblical justice, compassion, and righteousness principles. Don’t get sidetracked by the hot-button issues that are distorting our culture. As citizens of the Kingdom of God, we are playing the long game.
Engage in respectful dialogue. Discuss these issues with fellow believers, but don’t be afraid to talk with others who may disagree with your views. You may gain additional insight. It is imperative that you can discuss the issues without hate or rancor. Be rational. Be spiritual.

Vote your conscience, not any rigid political party manifesto. After careful consideration and prayer, vote according to your Spirit-led convictions. Remember, no leader is perfect. All human leaders are flawed. Our ultimate hope and allegiance should be in Christ, not any political figure or policies that spring from a desire for power.

Hope in a Christ-Empowered Conscience

While the current political landscape may seem disheartening, we can find hope in the transformative power of Christ-empowered conscience.

We believers have the indwelling Holy Spirit to guide our decisions and actions. Romans 12:2 (ESV) exhorts us, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

By cultivating a Christ-centered conscience and encouraging others to do the same, we can work towards a society that values moral integrity in its leaders and citizens alike.

This process begins with individual transformation and extends to our families, churches, communities, and, ultimately, our nation.

Character Counts

The question of moral accountability in our political leaders is a critical issue for Bible-believing Christians to grapple with. While there may not be a clear “lesser of two evils” in the current presidential race, we are called to engage thoughtfully and prayerfully in the political process.

Regardless of the outcome of any election, our ultimate trust remains in God, who is sovereign over all earthly powers.