Identifying the Political Knave

I am using the Charles Finney quote from yesterday to help steer a short series of posts I am beginning. If you haven't read it: A Nation Falls Without Leadership

"There's trouble ahead when you live only for the approval of others, saying what flatters them, doing what indulges them. Popularity contests are not truth contests—look how many scoundrel preachers were approved by your ancestors! Your task is to be true, not popular." Luke 6:26 (MSG)

According to the dictionary, a knave is "an unprincipled, untrustworthy, or dishonest person." This person can be crafty or skilled in their manipulation of others. Know anyone like that? As Jesus says in the verse from Luke, trouble emerges from living only for the approval of others (hence the "woe to you" in other versions).

I am amazed at how many of today's politicians seem to have become "flattery" driven individuals who look to indulge the whims of the people instead of providing leadership. Many are very skilled at indulgence, feeding people a little agenda at a time hoping to addict them to their subversion or weaken their resolve. How many times have you heard, lately, that we are in dire straits and heading towards an impending disaster? Didn't God say He would always watch over us, when we do the right things?

These politicians flow with popular opinion and are at times frozen or afraid to take a stance even when the popular view is blatantly wrong. They are quick to blame others and remain sly when providing answers.

But what can we do about it?

Knaves cannot be trusted so don't trust them. I mean it. They say trust me and do completely opposite things behind our backs (some in front of us). Look for someone you can support or demand accountability from your representative but beware of their skills and deflection tactics.

Elect honest people. Integrity follows an honest person. For example, honest people pay their taxes and don't answer questions with questions.

Good leaders "cultivate honest speech". They are not intimidated by opposing views and consider the truth.

Good leaders cultivate honest speech; they love advisors who tell them the truth. Prov 16:13 (MSG)

The best way to identify a knave is found in Proverbs 21:29:

Unscrupulous people fake it a lot; honest people are sure of their steps. Prov 21:29 (MSG)

• Who do you know that is sure of their footsteps and would make an honest representative in government?
  
• How are you being influenced, and do you need to find a better influence?