Decency – The Blessed Overcomer

What happened to character and decency in America?

The married President of the United States publicly admires a woman’s backside, asks her to stand so the audience can admire it too, and the crowd responds with cheers and applause.

Let that sink in for a moment.

If something like this happened in someone’s workplace, there would likely be consequences. If it happened in a school, there would be disciplinary action. Yet when the President of the United States does it, people cheer.

And I can’t help but wonder how many in that audience proudly identify themselves as Christians.

When did we stop expecting character, integrity, respect, and basic decency from our leaders? When did political loyalty become more important than the values we claim to believe in?

Being a Christian doesn’t mean defending everything a politician says or does simply because he or she represents our preferred political party.

Jesus didn’t call us to worship political leaders. He called us to follow Him.

America doesn’t become a Christian nation because we say it is. Our faith should be reflected in how we live, how we treat others, and what we are willing to stand up for.

And perhaps the hardest question isn’t what’s wrong with America. It’s what’s happening inside the Church and the hearts of those who claim to follow Jesus.

Before the Christian community points fingers at the world, perhaps we need to get on our knees and examine our own hearts.

Would Jesus be pleased with what so many Christians applauded that night? Would He recognize their priorities? Would their actions reflect His character?

Church, it’s time for some serious soul-searching. Stop making excuses for behavior you would condemn in someone you disagree with politically. Stop confusing loyalty to a political leader with loyalty to Jesus.

The question isn’t whether America is living up to the label of a Christian nation. Which sadly in my opinion we are not. The question is whether we are living up to the name of Christ.

Because one day we won’t stand before God to defend our political party, our favorite president, or our voting record. We will stand before Him accountable for how we lived.

Maybe it’s time we started acting and living out what we preach. I think that would please Jesus. ~OC

Today’s a new day! Good morning family, friends and anyone else who decides to read this blog post. This morning I want to discuss two words…Decency and Character. Both mean something to me.

During my career, I had the honor of interviewing many people for positions with the different organizations I worked for. Of course, I always looked at the applicants resume and qualifications for the open job position. But during the interview I looked for someone with character and decency. Not always the easiest thing to do in a short period of time, but I wanted to hire someone who would be a great worker, but more importantly I wanted to hire someone that would bring a positive impact to the team. A person with character and decency.

I believed then and I still believe decency and character matter. When we hire someone don’t we hope they will be a decent person? Someone we can trust. A person of high character.

Decency and Character matter to me as a human being and as a Christian.

I believe decency and character matters to you. We take note of the person who pays their debts. We appreciate the physician who takes time to listen. We appreciate the teacher who takes time for the struggling student, when the employee refuses to gossip about their co-worker, when the losing team congratulates the winning team, we can characterize their behavior with two words… Decency and Character.

We appreciate decency and character. We applaud those who carry themselves with decency and character. Parents teach their children the importance of decency and character. We seek to develop both. Decency and Character matter, right?

Then why isn’t decency and character a factor in the presidential race?

A former President, who is running again for the highest office in the land would not pass my decency or character interview. I would send him packing.

I do not personally know Donald Trump, but shutter at his antics. He ridiculed a war hero and has continuously mocked those in the military. He constantly makes fun of people and loves to pass out nasty nicknames. He has called his political opponents stupid and losers. He has shared a political opponent should have nine guns pointed at her. He has proudly shared these comments online and at his rallies.

Such insensitivities wouldn’t even be acceptable in a middle school student body election. But for the Oval Office? And to do so while brandishing a Bible and boasting of his Christian faith? I’m bewildered, both by his behavior and the public’s support of it.

I believe the explanation for his success is this: he has tapped into the anger of many American people. As one man interviewed stated, “We are voting with our middle finger.” Sounds more like a comment for a middle school fight than a presidential election. We can look back at Cain and Abel and see how anger has brought out the worst in people.

I continue to pray for the return of decency and character to the United States. I pray the American people will vote against hate on Tuesday November 5th. I pray the majority of Americans will remember the key role of the president is to be the face of America. When he/she speaks, he/she speaks for us. Whether we agree or disagree with the policies of the president, we hope that they behave in a way that is consistent with the status of the office of the President.

As far as I can remember, I never regretted turning away a applicant who did not show character or decency. The people I chose to hire were not perfect, but they were decent people. That was all I could ask.

It seems that we should ask the same on November 5th. ~OC

Tag: Decency

Dear America

Decency and Character