Character Matters

“Character matters.”

After the media crowned Biden-Harris as winners of the 2020 elections I kept hearing people say this.

There are far too many who have made Trump their savior. Among these, gun owners, business owners, churchgoers, pro-lifers, and yes, even Believers. Unfortunately, the man is a man, and his character is deeply flawed, as the reels and reels of footage will show.

In the same way, far too many people breathed a sigh of relief when the media crowned Biden and Harris as winners. “Character matters,” they echoed together, unified in their belief that as people of great character, Biden and Harris were able to help heal America.

Among those relieved and celebrating were many well-known Believers, some of whom I respect. This bothered me more than the possibility of Biden as president. I wrestled because I fully recognize that Trump lacks the honorable character so many of us long for in a leader. These men and women knew this too and made their choice.

But why?

Considering their explanations and conclusions, I observed the following, and my findings extend beyond the elections.

First, the elections were not merely a political fight, but a spiritual one. One I cannot begin to explain or comprehend, but a battle I was keenly aware of.

Second, Biden and Harris were acceptable because, on the surface, Biden and Harris have the appearance of character. Compared to Trump, they are more civil and therefore socially palatable. This being so, many Christians chose to overlook the system and policies Biden and Harris represent and have stood for the whole of their political careers in favor of the appearance of character. Unfortunately, their level of arrogance (it takes an enormous amount of pride to enact policies that kill babies) is no different than Trump's. When put under the light of the Gospel, their goals reveal a character as thin as the useless masks everyone wears today. Therefore, no more genuine or honorable than Trump's.

And here lies the harsh reality of choosing a leader. We will always only have one option: electing a sinner. Donald Trump, Joe Biden, and Kamala Harris are broken sinners. If their words do not expose them as proud, messy, needy, and fallible, their actions will. Then let us be honest, no electee is the poster child for a noteworthy character and celebrating them as such is communicating a lie.

“Character matters.”

Thirdly, while I still struggle to understand how Believers could vote for a team whose policies do not align with the Gospel, I do agree, character matters. That is why we have a much greater problem on our hands than whether we voted for Trump or Harris. Now understand me, policy matters. Policy affects the future of the United States, generations to come (if they are allowed to live or be free), and the world (the world still looks to the US). The gift of freedom matters. It was the desire to live out the Gospel and raise their children unrestricted by a sinful monarchy that inspired Christians to remove themselves from persecution and look for other landscapes of possibility. A choice that was neither selfish, arrogant, nor wrong. What if they had said, “Oh, we must die to self and let the king rule us.”? No, God granted them freedoms, and it is a fool who would throw them out in favor of passive, pious religion. I say this knowing how God wills and uses a lack of freedoms and persecution to bring many to Him. But, woe to us if we squander the opportunities afforded to us by living in the US.

“Character matters”- and our Greatest Problem

The Church, whether for Trump or Biden, has forgotten that it is our character, humility, and faith that matter most. At a great cost, many of us have rejected living out the Gospel and gambled the good and future of our country on a broken human with the title of President. We lazily laid the weight of our children’s, families', communities’, and countries' future on a President, one whose shoulders could never ever bear it. Lasting change that transforms hearts and minds can only come from Christ. Not Trump. Not Biden, Not Harris. Not white. Not a man. Not a woman of color. Not firsts in history.

God is sovereign and on the throne, no matter who is President, but make no mistake, we are held responsible for which kingdom we live for.

So then…

Who carries living water?

Who has tasted and seen that the Bread of Life is good?

Who is the Light in the darkness?

Who was tasked with the honor of being His ambassadors?

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:36-29

If it is not HIS story we are telling. His Kingdom we are living for. His race we are running. His character we are comparing ourselves to. Then we are doing something wrong, and our children, neighbors, communities, and country will pay for it.

Oh, that we would proclaim his excellencies, share the living water, be the light, love the Lord our God with everything we are and love our neighbor as ourselves.

That is my hope and prayer for the Church.