It’s not enough for leaders to be right. Leaders must also be sensitive. Leaders shouldn’t just stand for truth. They should be men and women of mercy. That’s my contention in this article.
Given the nature of this article, I need to name some names and address some issues. In doing so, I want to make clear that the opinions expressed here are my own and do not necessarily reflect the church I’m honored to serve.
Like you, I have opinions on the political issues of the day. Whether we’re talking about the Russia-Ukraine War, the Trump-Zelenskyy-Vance-Rubio debacle of a meeting recently in the Oval Office, the Israel-Gaza war, what’s happening with our federal employees, the national debt, the sanctity of life, and on and on…
I’ve got opinions. I know you do also.
With this post, I don’t want to trade opinions back and forth so much. I want to zero in on something that the Bible repeatedly emphasizes and something that I find deeply troubling in our world today.
And I want to call on my fellow Christians to do better.
A trigger warning to my Republican readers: This will be a little critical of our president. Please do not conclude that if I critique Republicans, I favor the Democrats. This ridiculous binary thinking is among the many things wrong with our country today.
With that said, here we go…
Even if you support everything the Trump administration is doing, I have news for you:
HOW leaders do things is as important as WHAT they do.
It isn’t enough that the government does what is “right” and “true” (even if we can agree on what is right and true – which we don’t); it also matters whether the government shows compassion and mercy.
Indeed, according to the Book of Proverbs, the government’s authority is ultimately upheld by mercy. Why? Because a king without sensitivity and compassion is a king unworthy of the public trust.
“Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.” (Proverbs 20:28, KJV)
It is certainly true that the United States does not have an infinite money supply. And that reductions in both domestic and foreign spending are necessary. But…
A little mercy (at least in tone and approach) goes a long way.
When it comes to our federal employees, these are men and women who work for the taxpayers — and do so in good faith. They applied for and accepted jobs with the government of the United States. Understandably, the federal government may, from time to time, reduce spending and eliminate jobs. But, when that happens, it needs to be done with care, wisdom, and sensitivity.
Currently, morale in our federal workforce is at an all-time low. They aren’t feeling very appreciated.
Does this mean the government shouldn’t make any cuts? No. But the way leaders do things is as important as what they do.
In World War II, our leaders mobilized the American people to make sacrifices for the war effort. Our leaders rallied the people. Why can’t we try a little of that? Not just rallying one’s own supporters, but reaching out to the entire country. And, specifically, with respect to our federal employees, why not something like this…
“To all our federal employees, I want to say thank you. As your Chief Executive, I am grateful for all the hard work and dedication you have given your nation in the course of your time in service. Over the next few months, we will be making some changes. We will be cutting some spending. This is necessary because ***insert all the necessary explanation regarding the debt, the future, etc, etc, etc.***. These are all tough choices, and I know uncertainty is never fun. But I want you to know that I am grateful for you. Your country is grateful for you.” And so forth.
Do you see the difference in tone? Do you see the acknowledgment? The sensitivity? The mercy?
Our federal employees aren’t feeling much of that from Elon Musk, DOGE, and the Trump administration these days. Do cuts need to be made? In my opinion, yes. But how things are done is as important as what’s being done.
Let’s take Ukraine. It’s true that the United States cannot continue to send money to Ukraine indefinitely. And now, with the United Kingdom (one of our NATO allies) talking about sending troops, we have to be very careful about getting pulled into a shooting war with a nuclear power like Russia — a shooting war that might not stop with conventional weapons.
For these reasons, I personally agree that the US needs to exert strong diplomatic influence to bring the Russia- Ukraine War to a peaceful end and that the terms of such a peaceful resolution may not be pleasing to many in Ukraine. That’s my opinion. I know some may disagree and may support a long-term commitment to Ukraine, no matter the cost. Okay, but let’s set that aside for the moment. Here’s my main point…
Even if the Trump administration is correct that the war needs to come to an end now (on terms that aren’t necessarily pleasing to Ukraine), this doesn’t mean the president and vice-president of the United States should publicly condescend to, yell at, and essentially humiliate the president of Ukraine in the Oval Office!
Even if you feel Zelenskyy was being punchy, “ungrateful,” or manipulative, there was no need for the president or vice president of the United States to behave the way they did.
Yes, I’ve seen the interviews with Secretary of State Rubio in which he’s given some background on the tension. Yes, I know Zelenskyy can come off as a little pushy and punchy. But the Bible is clear.
“He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.” (Proverbs 25:28)
Whatever your feelings might be about Zelenskyy, the man has watched his country get unjustly invaded and decimated. He’s seen once beautiful cities reduced to rubble. He’s seen brave Ukrainian fighters die. He’s seen the corpses of men, women, and children strewn across his beloved nation. Maybe we can’t give him everything he wants, but is it too much to ask to show the man some grace and respect?
The Book of Proverbs says the king’s throne is upheld by mercy.
Defenders of our president will likely point out that Donald Trump has shown mercy and kindness to many people over the years. I’m not disputing that. I’m not grinding any axes or making any all-or-nothing accusations against the man. I’m speaking to how President Trump conducts himself as a general rule in public — how he conducts himself as President. In that respect, I see someone who boldly does what he feels is right but (in so doing) doesn’t display much in the way of sensitivity or mercy. I don’t see how anyone can dispute that.
I’m not writing this as a Democrat or Republican. It’s just that I believe we can disagree with others with love, mercy, and sensitivity.
Whether we’re talking about abortion, LGBTQIA+ issues, patriotism, immigration, Israel, Ukraine, whatever… I don’t need to yell at someone to get my point across. I don’t need to disrespect or hate those who disagree with me.
And neither do you!
And neither does our president.
Christians should be known not simply for their beliefs. Christians should be known by their love! Yes, it’s important that we believe the right things. It’s also important — might I say more so? — that we do so in love and that we behave like Christ!
So, I’m not writing this piece to be Republican, Democrat, pro-Trump, anti-Trump, or anything along those lines. I don’t want to be labeled in any such way. I’m a Christian. I’m writing this as a human being who desires both truth AND mercy in our society and our government today.
Christians should be more loving and merciful to one another — and to those outside the church. And Christians should want our nation’s leaders to likewise be kind and sensitive. I want my president to be compassionate and caring. Sure, I want my president to be a man of truth and be able to make tough decisions. Of course. But I also want him to be a man of mercy.
Once again, I want to make a few things clear…
- I’m not writing this as a Republican or Democrat.
- I’m not against Donald Trump. He’s my president. I pray for him regularly.
- I’m not speaking for Olney Baptist Church. My views expressed here are my own.
Whatever your views may be on the specifics of the issues…
Whether you support or oppose the Trump administration…
However you feel about any of that…
My main point is this…
The Bible commends leaders that balance mercy and truth, and it warns that the people’s confidence in their leader(s) is tied to the mercy shown by their leader(s).
That so many Christians today don’t care what the Bible says when it comes to their political views and don’t care whether their president or any of their political leaders exhibit kindness or mercy is disappointing.
Well, that doesn’t quite do it justice. It’s not just disappointing.
It’s tragic.
Thank you for Reading!
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