The Third Principle of Liberty: Virtuous Leadership

Naturally, fallen people mean fallen leadership. At the same time, Godly men do exist, and it is from these ranks that the founders called for public servants. There are a few points from this section we need to consider, since they are relevant today.

One is that we should make political office one of honor, not one which is foremost about profit. In the early days of our country officials received little or no compensation for their service. Washington received a $25,000 salary as president, and even though he had terrific debts from the war, he refused his salary. Oh, for men such as him today. This is NOT a “he doesn’t need the money” argument (reference the Joe Haden post earlier) but a call for politicians who see first the value and honor of service and second the opportunity to profit. Today it is the other way around. Or perhaps it is that many politicians see the prestige and glory which come from service, and then the profit. Regardless, too politicians seek office with their own interests at heart. They don’t seem to care too much about Americans—even though they say they do.

So how do we produce men who are less interested in themselves and more interested in true service to their city, state, and country?

The founders themselves, our first politicians, are instructive. They read political philosophy and were students of scripture. They knew their history, and were able to use this knowledge as they crafted and then led our new civil government. They were, on the whole, men of God who viewed the world through the lens of scripture. They were men willing to die for their beliefs. As they signed the Declaration of Independence, Benjamin Franklin said, "We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately." They had the courage of conviction, and years of training in the ways of God.

Where are these men today?