Help, LORD, for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men. Everyone lies to his neighbor; their flattering lips speak with deception. May the LORD cut off all flattering lips and every boastful tongue that says, “We will triumph with our tongues; we own our lips — who is our master?” Ps 12:1-4
“Occasionally he stumbled over the truth, but hastily picked himself up and hurried on as if nothing had happened.” Winston Churchill’s description of another British politician.
We are now oozing along in the swamp called “presidential politics.” It is may also be referred to as the foggy days of “flip flop,” “sound bites,” “spin,” “photo ops” and “character assassination.” Ambitious men have set their affections on the office and power of the president of the United States and it often seems like they will say or do anything to get elected.
We are in very troubling times. I am not speaking of the economic troubles or international threat. I am referring to the character and soul of our nation. We have lost our love and passion for truth! Opinion and special interest now reside at the center where principle and conviction once reigned. When belief in absolute truth is denied and discarded, all that is left is power plays and spin control.
The art of political persuasion has changed from having a set of principles that are non-negotiable and then proclaiming them with boldness and conviction, to finding out what people want to hear and then saying it. The political poll now determines what will be said next. If public approval goes up we will hear more of the same. If it goes down we will hear the opposite.
The psalmist is describing a similar tragedy. The godly, those who know the truth, speak the truth, stand on the truth and stick to the truth no matter what it costs them, are no more. In their place are those whose lips speak with “flattering deception.” What they say is not mastered by God or right or truth. They say in their hearts, “We will triumph with our tongues; we own our lips — who is our master?” Those who live this way think getting elected is the highest goal and so will say whatever attracts the largest block of voters.
“What is the truth,(?)” some are now asking. “Who knows what is right for us and our times?” The godly psalmist gives this answer: “And the words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times.” [Ps 12:6] If you want to know the truth, you have to open up the scriptures. It was principles dug out of the Bible that set the direction and gave conviction to our founding fathers. America’s success did not come by accident or luck. It came as men drew from the well of wisdom that resides in God’s Word.
Times, feelings and values will flux, but the Word of God does not flinch. It is there, written down in black and white. You may be ignorant of it or you may know it and hate it. You may ignore it or attack it, but that won’t change it. It does not care if the masses like it. It refuses to be altered or softened or made more attractive to public opinion. It sits in a place of judgment, high over all of man’s desires, doings and decrees. Our times and our nation desperately need men and women who will return to the truth of God’s Word and give it to us straight whether we like it or not.
Winston Church said it like this: “This is no time for windy platitudes and glittering advertisements. The Conservative Party had far better go down telling the truth and acting in accordance with the verities of our position than gain a span of shabbily-bought office by easy and fickle froth and chatter.”
In other words, the crisis of our times cries out for leaders who know the truth and have been convinced that the only way to right living is to know it, believe it, speak it and live it no matter what other think, say or do. We need leaders who are shaped not by the shifting sands of public opinion but the flawless silver of truth, refined in a fire, purified seven times. [Psalm 12: 6] Give us convinced and committed leaders who would rather be right than president.