Slide 1

Pulpit Freedom Sunday There is a leadership crisis because there is a character crisis.In a republic a vote is both a vision and a reflection. It is a vision of what we want in a leader, and it is a reflection of who we are as a nation. The quality of government depends far more on good leaders than it does on good laws.Noah Webster When you become entitled to exercise the right of voting for public officers, let it be impressed on your mind that God commands you to choose for rulers just men who will rule in the fear of God. The preservation of a republic government depends on the faithful discharge of this duty. If the citizens neglect their duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted; laws will be made not for the public good so much as for selfish or local purposes; corrupt or incompetent men will be appointed to execute the law; the public revenues will be squandered on unworthy men; and the rights of the citizens will be violated or disregarded. When a citizen gives his suffrage [his vote] to a man of known immorality, he abuses his trust [civic responsibility]; he sacrifices not only his own interest, but that of his neighbor; he betrays the interest of his country. A Virtuous Leader Blesses A Nation

Samuel Adams: He who is void of virtuous attachments in private life is, or very soon will be, void of all regard of his country. Noah Webster All history is a witness of the truth of the principle that good morals are essential to the faithful and upright discharge of public functions. The moral character of a man is an entire and indivisible thing--it cannot be pure in one part and defiled in another...corruption of morals is rapid enough in any country without a bounty [an encouragement] from government. And the Chief Magistrate of the United States [the President] should be the last man to accelerate his progress.Character"It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness." Prov. 16:12 ConvictionProverbs 24: 24, 25 says, "He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him: But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them." He is more concerned with what is morally and spiritually right, than what is politically correct.To put it simply, this is a man guided by principle and not by polls. ConsistencyProverbs 20:28, "Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy." Theodore Roosevelt: "We cannot afford to differ on the question of honesty if we expect our republic permanently to endure...unless a man is honest, we have no right to keep him in public life; it matters not how brilliant his capacity. No man who is corrupt, no man who condones corruption in others can possibly do his duty by the community...'liar' is just as ugly a word as 'thief' because it implies the presence of just as ugly a sin in one case as in the other. If a man lies under oath or procures the lie of another under oath, if he perjures himself or suborns perjury, he is guilty under the statute law."Compassion"Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy." Prov. 31:8-9I say unashamedly that any person you vote for should be willing, unashamedly, to stand for the life of unborn children. If you vote for a politician who is for abortion, then you are in their camp as well and will answer to God for your vote. I want to submit to you it is compassionate to want government to be smaller, so that freedom can be bigger. It is compassionate to give a man who can work a job, instead of a government handout. It is compassionate to tell a homosexual that he can change, and then to help him to do so if he wants to. It is compassionate to tell a woman that the fetus is a life, and she should not become guilty of murder. It is compassionate to tell people that the only kind of marriage is between a man and a woman. "A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them." Prov. 20:26William Penn"My prison shall be my grave before I will budge a jot, for I owe my conscience to no man. Right is right even if everyone is against it; and wrong is wrong even if everyone is for it. That is the kind of man or woman that deserves your vote and mine in any day, and any age.Courage Proverbs 20:26- A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them. Consecration"The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him. What, my son? And what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows. Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings. Prov. 31:1-3 A Vile Leader Burdens The NationWhen a nation knowingly and willingly chooses a wicked leader, they are weeping at their own funeral. The kingdom was divided into the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Wicked Actions"All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.." Prov. 16:12Prov. 20:11 reminds us, "Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right." Wicked Advisers"Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer. Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness." Prov. 25:4-5wicked AppeasementWicked Appeasement. "The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it." (Prov. 29:4) Gouverneur Morris: Vicious rulers, chosen by vicious people, turn back the current of corruption to its source. Placed in a situation where they can exercise authority for their own emolument, they betray their trust. They take bribes, they sell statutes and decrees, they sell honor and office, they sell their conscience, and they sell their country. By this vile traffic they become odious and contemptible."Billy Graham once said, When wealth is lost nothing is lost; when health is lost something is lost; when character is lost all is lost.Only 1 in 4 Bible Readers vote in any given election. Is it any wonder that America is in the midst of a moral crisis? When you skip voting, its not rebellion, its surrender!