Political And Civic Virtue
February 15th will be President's Day. It
results from the Government's attempt to combine what had been the
observance of Lincoln's birthday (February 12th) and Washington's birthday
(February 22) but, I suppose it also allows for observance of any other
president's birthday. But the underlying result may have been the
establishment of one more three-day weekend at the expense of some of the
public’s respect for these two great men. However, America has been
blessed with many great leaders. Among them:
George Washington, our first president and
general in the Revolutionary War.
Benjamin Franklin, signer of the Declaration of
Independence, statesman, inventor.
Abraham Lincoln, who God raised up to unite
the nation after the secession of the Confederacy.
Teddy Roosevelt, who had great pride in
America and who also was a strong believer in ethical principles.
Unfortunately, his views of fairness and priority also resulted in
criticism for his labor versus big industry stand and similar
controversies of his day.
Winston Churchill, who yes, was also an
American citizen and led and saved greater Israel from the axis powers.
He had great courage and character.
Conversely, in 1999 we saw the acquittal of
President Clinton on perjury and obstruction of justice charges. All
Democrats and a handful of Republican Senators voted in favor of that
acquittal. But that national embarrassment did not end national disgrace
by our politicians, for every day we hear of a similar lack of virtues
among our politicians.
Today I want to provide you with the writings of two of these
great Americans, President Theodore Roosevelt and Benjamin Franklin,
particularly as their writings address the basic elements considered by
the Senate in the landmark Clinton decision, but also as they apply to
politicians in general, especially in these end times.
In 1900, Theodore Roosevelt wrote the following essay. Its
title: THE EIGHTH AND NINTH COMMANDMENTS IN POLITICS. Today the ACLU
(American Civil Liberties Union) would probably have a President in court
over this essay, claiming it violated the separation of religion
provisions of the constitution - which is a misrepresentation of fact.
President Roosevelt wrote:
"THE two commandments which are specially
applicable in public life are the eighth and the ninth. Not only every
politician, high or low, but every citizen interested in politics, and
especially every man who, in a newspaper or on the stump, advocates or
condemns any public policy or any public man, should remember always
that the two cardinal points in his doctrine ought to be, ‘Thou shalt
not steal,’ and ‘Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy
neighbor.’ He should also, of course, remember that the multitude of men
who break the moral law expressed in these two commandments are not to
be justified because they keep one out of the clutches of the human law.
Robbery and theft, perjury and subornation of perjury, are crimes
punishable by the courts; but many a man who technically never commits
any one of these crimes is yet morally quite as guilty as is his less
adroit but not more wicked, and possibly infinitely less dangerous,
brother who gets into the penitentiary.
As regards the eighth commandment, while the
remark of one of the founders of our government, that the whole art of
politics consists in being honest, is an overstatement, it remains true
that absolute honesty is what Cromwell would have called a
‘fundamental’ of healthy political life. We can afford to differ on
the currency, the tariff [notice we believed in a tariff then], and
foreign policy; but we cannot afford to differ on the question of
honesty if we expect our republic permanently to endure. No community is
healthy where it is ever necessary to distinguish one politician among
his fellows because ‘he is honest.’ Honesty is not so much a credit as
an absolute prerequisite to efficient service to the public. Unless a
man is honest we have no right to keep him in public life, it
matters not how brilliant his capacity, it hardly matters how great his
power of doing good service on certain lines may be. Probably very few
men will disagree with this statement in the abstract, yet in the
concrete there is much wavering about it. The number of public servants
who actually take bribes is not very numerous outside of certain
well-known centers of festering corruption. But the temptation to be
dishonest often comes in insidious ways. There are not a few public men
who, though they would repel with indignation an offer of a bribe, will
give certain corporations [or unions or political interest groups, I
might add] special legislative and executive privileges because they
have contributed heavily to campaign funds; will permit loose and
extravagant work because a contractor has political influence; or, at
any rate, will permit a public servant to take public money without
rendering an adequate return, by conniving at inefficient service on the
part of men who are protected by prominent party leaders. Various
degrees of moral guilt are involved in the multitudinous actions of this
kind; but, after all, directly or indirectly, every such case comes
dangerously near the border-line of the commandment which, in forbidding
theft, certainly by implication forbids the connivance at theft, or the
failure to punish it. One of the favorite schemes of reformers is to
devise some method by which big corporations [and again, I might add,
unions and political interest groups] can be prevented from making heavy
subscriptions to campaign funds, and thereby acquiring improper
influence. But the best way to prevent them from making contributions
for improper purposes is simply to elect as public servants, not
professional denouncers of corporations,—for such men are in practice
usually their most servile tools,—but men who say, and mean, that they
will neither be for nor against corporations; that, on the one hand,
they will not be frightened from doing them justice by popular clamor,
or, on the other hand, led by any interest whatsoever into doing them
more than justice. . .
It is, of course, not enough that a public
official should be honest. No amount of honesty will avail if he is not
also brave and wise. The weakling and the coward cannot be saved by
honesty alone; but without honesty the brave and able man is merely a
civic wild beast who should be hunted down by every lover of
righteousness. No man who is corrupt, no man who condones corruption in
others, can possibly do his duty by the community. . . .
Great is the danger to our country from
the failure among our public men to live up to the eighth
commandment, from the callousness in the public which permits
such shortcomings. Yet it is not exaggeration to say that the danger is
quite as great from those who year in and year out violate the ninth
commandment by bearing false witness against the honest man, and who
thereby degrade him and elevate the dishonest man until they are both on
the same level. [I might add, this is now a favorite practice among
liberal politicians at election time.] The public is quite as much
harmed in the one case as in the other, by the one set of wrong-doers as
by the other. ‘Liar’ is just as ugly a word as ‘thief,’ because it
implies the presence of just as ugly a sin in one case as in the other.
If a man lies under oath or procures the lie of another under oath,
if he perjures himself or suborns perjury, he is guilty under the
statute law. Under the higher law, under the great law of morality and
righteousness, he is precisely as guilty if, instead of lying in a
court, he lies in a newspaper or on the stump [or, I might add, on
TV, as in our day]; and in all probability the evil effects of his
conduct are infinitely more wide-spread and more pernicious. The
difference between perjury and mendacity [i.e. untruthfulness] is not in
the least one of morals or ethics. It is simply one of legal forms.
The same man may break both commandments, or
one group of men may be tempted to break one and another group of men
the other. In our civic life the worst offenders against the law of
honesty owe no small part of their immunity to those who sin against the
law by bearing false witness against their honest neighbors. The sin is,
of course, peculiarly revolting when coupled with hypocrisy, when it is
committed in the name of morality. Few politicians do as much harm as
the newspaper editor, [or, I might add, the TV commentator], the
clergyman, or the lay reformer who, day in and day out, by virulent and
untruthful invective aimed at the upholders of honesty, weakens them for
the benefit of the frankly vicious. We need fearless criticism of
dishonest men, and of honest men on any point where they go wrong; but
even more do we need criticism which shall be truthful both in what it
says and in what it leaves unsaid—truthful in words and truthful in the
impression it designs to leave upon the readers' or hearers' minds.
We need absolute honesty in public life; and
we shall not get it until we remember that truth-telling must go hand in
hand with it, and that it is quite as important not to tell an untruth
about a decent man as it is to tell the truth about one who is not
decent."
James Carville, Howard Dean, Al Gore, John
Edwards, are you listening? Liberal politicians, academics, and the
secular, biased news media, who attempt to destroy conservatives so as to
regain political power, are you listening?
Yes, Theodore Roosevelt was a man of courage and high moral
standards. We surely miss such leaders today.
Now I want to address the principles of a man who was not
president, but was an outstanding, influential founding father.
During Benjamin Franklin’s long and productive lifetime, he:
1. Represented the colonies to Britain.
2. Was America's diplomat abroad and ambassador to France.
3. Signed the Declaration of Independence.
4. Helped frame the Federal constitution.
5. Acquired a fortune as a printer while still a young man.
6. Became an image of America. One of his
statements, of which I am reminded daily, was, "When the people find
they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic."
What a prophesy of today's efforts to get the government to pay for health
care, unemployment, food stamps, retirement, farm supports, and a bundle
of other social programs designed to buy votes for politicians. The
continual budget deficit, accumulating into the national debt year by year
for most of the past 60 years, and almost all our taxes could be
eliminated by adherence to Franklin's views and the strict interpretation
of the Constitution's moral absolutes.
7. Benjamin Franklin became a great swimmer.
8. Became one of America's first great scientists.
9. Had a goal to conquer all bad inclinations. (We will talk
about this later.)
10. Stated that bad habits had to be broken and new good ones
taken up.
Everyone in the church knows that one of our biggest problems
is to overcome our human nature. As we read in Rev. 3:12:
(Rev 3:12) "He who overcomes, I will make him
a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. And I
will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God,
the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I
will write on him My new name.
[Pause]
Benjamin Franklin enlisted 13 virtues by
which he planned to regulate the rest of his life. These virtues were:
Temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity,
justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity and humility.
We will now look at each of these virtues in the
light of God's Word:
A. His first virtue was: Temperance - His words were "Eat not
to dullness; drink not to elevation." Today people would say "don't
overeat or over-drink." We might add to that: Don't eat the wrong kinds of
food.
(Prov 23:19-21) Listen, my son, and be wise, and
keep your heart on the right path. {20} Do not join those who drink too
much wine or gorge themselves on meat, {21} for drunkards and gluttons
become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
But temperance includes more than overeating or
over-drinking.
(1 Cor 9:25-27 NIV) Everyone who competes (in
the games) goes into strict training (per KJV: is temperate in all
things). They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to
get a crown that will last forever. {26} Therefore I do not run like a
man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. {27}
No, I keep my body under subjection and make it my slave so that after I
have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize
(be castaway). [Certain 2006 American winter Olympics athletes should
have practiced this virtue and avoided being sent home.]
B. Franklin’s second virtue was Silence - "speak
not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation".
(Eccl 3:1 NKJV) To everything there is a
season, A time for every purpose under heaven:
(Verse 7 NASB) A time to tear apart, and a
time to sew together; A time to be silent, and a time to speak.
(Prov 21:23 NASB) He who guards his mouth and
his tongue, Guards his soul from troubles.
(Prov 17:28 NKJV) Even a fool is counted wise
when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered
perceptive.
Or a similar expression: "‘Tis better to be
silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt."
C. Third virtue: Order - "let all things have their places
and let all your activities have their time".
1 Cor 14:33-35 refers to both order and
silence:
(1 Cor 14:33-35 NKJV) For God is not the
author of confusion but of peace, as in all the congregations of the
saints. {34} Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are
not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also
says. {35} And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own
husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.
This law seems to refer to Genesis 3:16 which
says:
(Gen 3:16 NKJV) To the woman He said: "I will
greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall
bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he
shall rule over you."
The apparent point is that the husband should
teach his wife and field her questions. There is an implication that a
question by the wife in church might embarrass the husband in that it
might indicate he has not taught her adequately. Obviously many western
women today let their independence get in the way of this law.
(1 Cor 14:40 NIV) But everything should be
done in a fitting and orderly way.
D. Fourth virtue: Resolution - "resolve to
perform what you ought. Decide what you should do and then perform it
without fail".
(James 1:22-25 NIV) Do not merely listen to
the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. {23} Anyone who
listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks
at his face in a mirror {24} and, after looking at himself, goes away
and immediately forgets what he looks like. {25} But the man who looks
intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do
this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed
in what he does.
(Rom 2:13 NIV) For it is not those who hear
the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the
law who will be declared righteous.
This is an important precept for many who prefer
to loosen down the law to fit their own rationalization or desire of the
moment. We must resolve to do what is right - all the time. It is
also a lesson for those who believe that faith alone and not works will
enable them to be found righteous at judgment time.
E. Fifth virtue: Frugality - "Make no expense
but to do good to others or yourself; i.e. waste nothing". In another text
he stated, "It is necessary for me to be extremely frugal for some time,
till I have paid what I owe".
Benjamin Franklin obviously didn’t believe in carrying a lot
of debt or spending money on what didn’t benefit someone.
(Prov 11:24-25 NIV) One man gives freely, yet
gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. {25} A
generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be
refreshed.
(John 6:11-13 NIV) Jesus then took the loaves,
gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they
wanted. He did the same with the fish. {12} When they had all had enough
to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over.
Let nothing be wasted." {13} So they gathered them and filled twelve
baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who
had eaten.
F. Sixth virtue: Industry - "To apply myself
industriously to whatever business I take in hand, and not divert my mind
from my business by any foolish project of growing suddenly rich; for
industry and patience are the surest means of plenty."
In other words, waste no time. Be always employed in
something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions, especially those
involving some get-rich-quick scheme.
(Eph 5:15-16 NKJV) See then that you walk
circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, {16} redeeming the time,
because the days are evil.
Aren’t they ever! Every day they become more
evil.
(1 Th 4:11-12 NIV) Make it your ambition to
lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your
hands, just as we commanded you, {12} so that your daily life may win
the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on
anybody.
You might say, live so that others will admire
your life-style.
(Prov 27:23-27 NIV) Be sure you know the
condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds; {24} for
riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all
generations.{25} When the hay is removed and new growth appears and the
grass from the hills is gathered in, {26} the lambs will provide you
with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field. {27} You will
have plenty of goats' milk to feed you and your family and to nourish
your servant girls.
(Prov 31:10-31 NIV) describes the epitome of
industry:
A wife of noble character who can find? She is
worth far more than rubies. {11} Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value. {12} She brings him good, not harm, all the
days of her life. {13} She selects wool and flax and works with eager
hands. {14} She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
{15} She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls. {16} She considers a field and buys
it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. {17} She sets about her
work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. {18} She sees that her
trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. {19} In her
hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. {20}
She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. {21}
When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are
clothed in scarlet (double layered clothes). {22} She makes coverings for
her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. {23} Her husband is
respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of
the land. {24} She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the
merchants with sashes. {25} She is clothed with strength and dignity; she
can laugh at the days to come. {26} She speaks with wisdom, and faithful
instruction is on her tongue. {27} She watches over the affairs of her
household and does not eat the bread of idleness. {28} Her children arise
and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: {29} "Many
women do noble things, but you surpass them all." {30} Charm is deceptive,
and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
{31} Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her
praise at the city gate.
(Prov 10:5 NIV) He who gathers crops in summer
is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.
(2 Th 3:10-13 NASB) For even when we were with
you, we used to give you this order: if anyone will not work, neither
let him eat. {11} For we hear that some among you are leading an
undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies.
{12} Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to
work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread. {13} But as for you,
brethren, do not grow weary of doing good.
(Prov 12:11 NKJV) He who tills his land will
be satisfied with bread, But he who follows frivolity is devoid of
understanding.
(Prov 12:24 NIV) Diligent hands will rule, but
laziness ends in slave labor.
G. The seventh virtue: Sincerity - "To endeavor
to speak truth in every instance, to give nobody expectations that
are not likely to be answered, but aim at sincerity in every word and
action: the most amiable excellence in a rational being." In another
instance he said, "Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and
if you speak, speak accordingly." In other words, be honest.
(1 Cor 5:8 NKJV) Therefore let us keep the
feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and
wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
(1 Tim 1:5-7 NIV) The goal of this command is
love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere
faith. {6} Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless
talk. {7} They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what
they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.
(John 4:23-24 NKJV) "But the hour is coming,
and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit
and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. {24}
"God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and
truth."
(2 Cor 1:12 NKJV) For our boasting is this:
the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world
in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by
the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.
(John 1:47-51 NIV) When Jesus saw Nathanael
approaching, he said of him, "Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is
nothing false." {48} "How do you know me?" Nathanael asked. Jesus
answered, "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before
Philip called you." {49} Then Nathanael declared, "Rabbi, you are the
Son of God; you are the King of Israel." {50} Jesus said, "You believe
because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater
things than that." {51} He then added, "I tell you the truth, you shall
see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the
Son of Man." [He promised him eternal life in the KOG because of his
sincerity and truth.]
(1 Pet 2:21-24 NIV) To this you were called,
because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should
follow in his steps. {22} "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found
in his mouth." {23} When they hurled their insults at him, he did not
retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted
himself to him who judges justly. {24} He himself bore our sins in his
body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for
righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
How many of you have experienced deceit from
people who believe they are the epitome of Christianity? I can well
remember being encouraged by leaders in a former church to hide facts by
double talk. It was called "being wise."
(1 Th 2:1-6 NKJV) For you yourselves know,
brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain. {2} But even after we
had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you
know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much
conflict. {3} For our exhortation did not come from error or
uncleanness, nor was it in deceit. {4} But as we have been
approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not
as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. {5} For neither at any
time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for
covetousness; God is witness. {6} Nor did we seek glory from men, either
from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of
Christ.
I cannot leave the subject of sincerity without
again considering the statements by President Theodore Roosevelt on
perjury we read earlier. Let’s look at one more scripture reference on the
subject of sincerity.
(Exo 23:1-2 NKJV) "You shall not circulate a
false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous
witness. {2} "You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you
testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice.
(Verse 6 NIV) "Do not deny justice to your
poor people in their lawsuits.
Brethren, be sincere. Sincerity is honesty and
we just read what President Teddy Roosevelt had to say about that.
H. Benjamin Franklin’s eighth virtue is Justice - wrong no
one by doing injuries, or omitting benefits which are your duty.
(James 4:17 NIV) Anyone, then, who knows the
good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.
(Gen 6:9 NIV) This is the account of Noah.
Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time,
and he walked with God.
(Acts 10:22 NKJV) And they said, "Cornelius
the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good
reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed
by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you."
(Prov 8:15 NKJV) By me kings reign, And rulers
decree justice.
(Gen 18:17-19 NIV) Then the LORD said, "Shall
I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? {18} Abraham will surely
become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be
blessed through him. {19} For I have chosen him, so that he will direct
his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD
by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about
for Abraham what he has promised him."
I. The ninth virtue: Moderation - "avoid
extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve."
What a lesson for today's attorneys and their clients. Mr. Franklin would
be very upset if he could see today's greedy society and the price that
greed is and has cost us.
(Phil 4:5 NIV) Let your gentleness (moderation
in KJV) be evident to all. The Lord is near.
(1 Tim 3:2-3 NIV) Now the overseer must
be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate,
self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, {3} not given
to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of
money.
(Titus 3:1-3 NIV) Remind the people to be
subject to rulers and authorities [civil authorities], to be obedient,
to be ready to do whatever is good, {2} to slander no one, to be
peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men. {3}
At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by
all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being
hated and hating one another.
(James 3:17 NKJV) But the wisdom that is from
above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of
mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
(1 Pet 2:18 NKJV) Servants, be submissive to
your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to
the harsh.
J. The tenth virtue: Cleanliness - tolerate no
uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation.
(Exo 40:32 NKJV) Whenever they went into the
tabernacle of meeting, and when they came near the altar, they washed,
as the LORD had commanded Moses.
(2 Cor 7:1 NASB) Therefore, having these
promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of
flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
There are many, many places in the OT where
people are admonished to wash their clothes and bodies. Cleanliness is
very, very important to God.
K. The eleventh virtue: Tranquility - Be not disturbed at
trifles, or at accidents, common or unavoidable. Accept things.
(Psa 119:165 NIV) Great peace have they who
love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.
(Phil 4:6-7 NIV) Be anxious for nothing; but
in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your
requests be made known to God. {7} And the peace of God, which
transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in
Christ Jesus.
L. The twelfth virtue: Chastity - Being sexually
clean and pure. "Rarely use venery (the gratification of sexual desire)
but for health or offspring; never to dulness, weakness, or the injury of
your own or another's peace or reputation".
(1 Cor 6:18-20 NIV) Flee from sexual
immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he
who sins sexually sins against his own body. {19} Do you not know that
your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have
received from God? You are not your own; {20} you were bought at a
price. Therefore honor God with your body.
M. The thirteenth virtue: Humility - imitate
Jesus.
Benjamin Franklin admitted that he never
acquired the reality of this virtue, but he did succeed in
gaining the appearance of it. He did this by making it a rule to
forbear all direct contradiction to the sentiments of others and all
positive assertions of his own. Instead of saying "certainly,
undoubtedly, etc.", he would say "I conceive", "I apprehend", "I
imagine" a thing to be so or "It appears to me at present" to be so. He
found a readier reception and less contradiction by others; and less
mortification by himself when he was wrong. He concluded there was no
natural passion so hard to subdue as pride. "You can disguise it,
struggle with it, beat it down, stifle it, mortify it as much as you
please, and it will still remain alive and periodically pop up and show
itself much to your embarrassment. And if you finally conceive that you
have completely overcome it, you will probably become proud of your
humility."
(Mat 18:1-4 NIV) At that time the disciples
came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
{2} He called a little child and had him stand among them. {3} And he
said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little
children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. {4} Therefore ,
whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom
of heaven.
Benjamin Franklin's intention was to acquire the
habit of all these virtues. He knew he could not accomplish them
all at once, so he made himself a weekly chart to mark down each time he
failed in keeping the virtue. Each week became a page in the book.
In the early days of an earlier church, we were
also admonished to make a list of our weaknesses from which we could work
to overcome them.
Franklin’s prayer, which was attached to his book was: "O
powerful Goodness! bountiful Father! merciful Guide! Increase in me that
wisdom which discovers my truest interest. Strengthen my resolutions to
perform what that wisdom dictates. Accept my kind offices to thy other
children as the only return in my power for thy continual favors to me."
How profound!
Before I close, I want to provide a dozen or so current
questions which seem to be answered by the quotes of Teddy Roosevelt:
A. In regards to whether perjury and
obstruction of justice are crimes which warrant removal from office,
Roosevelt stated: "We can as little afford to tolerate a dishonest man
in the public service as a coward in the army."
B. In regards to a president’s high job
approval ratings, Roosevelt stated: "This country has nothing to fear
from the crooked man who fails. We put him in jail. It is the crooked
man who succeeds who is a threat to this country."
C. In regards to public apathy (a major
problem today), Roosevelt stated: "You cannot have honesty in
public life unless the average citizen demands honesty in public
life."
D. In regards to the perception that all
politicians lie, Roosevelt stated: "A lie is no more to be excused in
politics than out of politics." I might add, the same could be
said for the legal profession.
E. In regards to public worth vs. private
conduct, Roosevelt stated: "No words can paint the scorn and contempt
which must be felt by all right-thinking men, not only for the brutal
husband, but the husband who fails to show full loyalty and
consideration for his wife."
F. In regards to breaking an oath, Roosevelt
stated: "The man who makes a promise which he does not intend to keep,
and does not try to keep, should rightly be judged to have
forfeited in some degree what should be every man’s most precious
possession - his honor."
G. In regards to the position as Commander in
chief, can his private conduct be less than the men he leads?, Roosevelt
stated: "A stream cannot rise higher than its source."- "No man can lead
a public career really worth leading, no man can act with rugged
independence in serious crises, nor unscrupulous foes, if he is himself
vulnerable in his private character."
H. Should the nation’s economic success be a
factor in considering conviction? Roosevelt stated: "No prosperity and
no glory can save a nation that is rotten at the heart."
I. Can political skill be more important than
moral responsibility? Roosevelt stated: "There is not in all America a
more dangerous trait than the deification of mere smartness
unaccompanied by any sense of moral responsibility."
J. How does the nation regain its moral
footing? Roosevelt stated: "What is needed is common honesty, common
sense and common courage. We need the minor, the humdrum, the practical
virtues - the commonplace virtues that are absolutely essential if we
are to make this [country] what it should be. If these virtues are
lacking, no amount of cleverness will answer."
K. Is the concern of some government leaders
that their vote would jeopardize their job valid? Roosevelt stated: "I
would rather go out of politics feeling that I had done what was right
than stay in with the approval of all men, knowing in my heart that I
had acted as I ought not to."
L. What of people’s lack of courage to
convict? Roosevelt stated: "The man who, in the long run, will count for
most in bettering municipal life, is the man who actually steps down
into the hurly-burly, who is not frightened by the sweat and the blood,
and the blows of friends and foes, who haunts not the fringy edges of
the fight but the pell-mell of men."
M. Do heads of state have more privileges in
minor legal matters? Roosevelt stated: "No man is above the law and no
man is below it; nor do we ask any man’s permission when we require him
to obey it."
N. Can the House of Representatives overstep
their bounds? Roosevelt stated: "I honor beyond measure those who do
their full duty and all the more because the doing of duty generally
means pain, hardship, self-mastery, self-denial, endurance of risk, of
labor, of irksome monotony, wearing effort, steady perseverance under
difficulty and discouragement."
O. To uphold the dignity of the presidency,
what should a President regard as the proper way to perform his duties
of office? Roosevelt stated: "Any man who has ever been honored by being
made President of the United States is thereby forever after rendered
the debtor of the American people, and is in honor bound throughout his
life to remember this as his prime obligation; and in private life, as
much as in public life, so to carry himself that the American people may
never have cause to feel regret that once they placed him at their
head."
Both Theodore Roosevelt and Benjamin Franklin held to sound
principles of life. What are our principles of life? Do we, like Theodore
Roosevelt, obtain our principles from the Bible? Can we, in these end
days, publically admit that we try with every fiber of our being to follow
Biblical guidelines? Or do we, like most people, prostitute ourselves
before every high place and idol shrine? Do we care who we worship and
studiously compare what is occurring in the world with Biblical prophesy?
Let’s take the current controversy over Iranian development
of nuclear weapons which could even reach Europe, for instance. Or their
and other Israeli neighbor’s threats to destroy Israel. Theodore Roosevelt
promised to defend South America from military threats. Do we take the
same stand for protection of our best Middle East friend, Israel?
Potential enemies such as Red China threaten U.S. interests in the western
Pacific. Red China also manages the Panama Canal. Militant Mexican drug
lords operate along our southern border. Do any of these threats to our
gates have a Biblical basis? Surely, the secular news media cannot report
these threats and events in Israel from a prophetic perspective. They can
only report from daily observation of on-going events and hopefully
without political bias. Consider Nahum 3:13 and Rev 18:17 as a possible
aftermath of a major attack on US ports.
(Nahum 3:13 NASB) Behold, your people are
women in your midst! The gates of your land are opened wide to your
enemies; Fire consumes your gate bars.
(Rev 18:17-18 NKJV) 'For in one hour such
great riches came to nothing.' Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship,
sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance {18} "and
cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, 'What is like
this great city?'
Granted, these prophesies are not specific about
when or where these events will occur but they should give us pause to
consider their application and potential devastation. Are we familiar with
these and other prophetic scriptures? Do too many of those who rule this
country act like silly women? Is this nation still able to "trust in God
and stand in awe" as Psalms 4 admonishes?
(Psa 4 NKJV) Hear me when I call, O God of my
righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; Have mercy on me,
and hear my prayer. {2} How long, O you sons of men, Will you turn my
glory to shame? How long will you love worthlessness And seek falsehood?
Selah {3} But know that the LORD has set apart for Himself him who is
godly; The LORD will hear when I call to Him. {4} Be angry, and do not
sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah {5}
Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, And put your trust in the LORD.
{6} There are many who say, "Who will show us any good?" LORD, lift up
the light of Your countenance upon us. {7} You have put gladness in my
heart, More than in the season that their grain and wine increased. {8}
I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O LORD, make me
dwell in safety.
If this nation does not stay close to God, it is
probably destined to experience the prophesy described in Revelation 17
and 18. We must be among those whom the LORD has set apart. If we are, we
can lie down in peace. For only the LORD can provide us safety from the
potential disasters we see on the horizon. Remember the words of Christ:
(Mat 24:22 NKJV) "And unless those days were
shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days
will be shortened.
Yes, Theodore Roosevelt and Benjamin Franklin
were great Americans. Let's all make their virtues our virtues for the
rest of our lives.
The source of the data about Benjamin Franklin
is from his own autobiography. The source of the essay of Theodore
Roosevelt is from the 7th document of "The Strenuous Life",
published in the "Outlook" on May 12, 1900. It can be found on the
Internet at http://www.bartleby.com/58/7.html.
The last comments by Theodore Roosevelt were from various sources,
including Human Events.
Sermon
given by Wayne Bedwell
6
February 2010
Copyright 2010, Wayne Bedwell