General Elections 2014 and the Quality required for Civil Leaders

General Elections and the Quality required for Civil Leaders

In India the previous election, to the 15 th lok sabha, was conducted in April–May 2009 and the current 15th Lok Sabha will complete its constitutional term on May 31, 2014.  The Indian people are called upon once again to elect the most powerful political leadership team and the Prime Minister in the largest democratic Nation of the world. The next Prime Minister of India will help to shape the economic, foreign, domestic, and military policy of our nation for the next five years.

 The decisions that he makes may have far reaching implications, not only for our nation, but also for the entire world. Thus, it is no small matter for us to think seriously in casting our vote. And our duty is to seek, first and foremost, to honor God with our act of voting. Just for a moment let's put aside our political affiliations and try to close our ears to the opinions of man and the political hysteria that surrounds us. Take a fresh look – unobstructed by emotion and party loyalty – at the clear checklist of requirements the Holy Scripture gives us to select our future leaders.

As citizens, the most important question to ask during Election season is: Does God, in the Holy Scripture gives His people direction for how to identify worthy civil leaders? 

We know there are requirements for priests or any other profession but what about civil leaders? Are there any commands? Are there examples? Are there principles that would guide us? The answer is, yes! God in His kindness has not left us alone and without revealing His thoughts and giving us His principles for the selection of political leaders. In fact, God explicitly declares in the Scripture the kinds of civil leaders we ought to vote for.

As India’s general election nears, the colorful political campaign, rallies and raucous sloganeering is already started.  The digital face-off between political parties and their leaders has already reached a shrill extreme. Each party is mobilizing thousands of impassioned supporters on social networks and mass media. India’s upcoming general election is giving an exceptional, huge boost in social media. Not only will this be the first Indian Election with significant Social Media engagement, but also with youth participation similar to the use of such analysis during US election 2012.

If you are a devout Citizen, your primary voting guide should be the Holy Scripture.  If you are driven by media, politics, feelings, personalities, social issues or other perspectives, then those should be secondary factors in your voting decisions.  This will be hard-hitting for many, and that is the purpose.  Elections have significant implications for the future of India and the people, particularly if we ignore our duty.  In every election, the effects of your vote will be felt for generations.  Don't avoid the discussion of sensitive or vital topics, all in the name of Justice, peace, prosperity and preserving rights of every law abiding citizen. 

Let us consider the divine   requirement for the National leaders.

In advance of India's 2014 general election, the central question that we need to ask or ask the country in general, is how serious we are about electing  next Government and our future leaders .I assume the division in this country is not secular versus Non secular or majority versus minority. The real division is given in the holy scripture in Proverbs 29:2: “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked bear rule, the people mourn.” It’s not just electing a particular political candidate; but a righteous and genuine leader to lead the Nation with justice and truth. God is the lawgiver. We need God fearing people who “seek His face” and rule accordingly (2 Chronicles 7:14). Since the love of money is the root of all evil (1 Tm 6:12), we need to examine many things about our system and be willing to modify them to match the high standard of morality and adherence to the Constitution. Corruption, insatiability, timidity and lack of clear vision are rampant among the current crop of "pseudo-leaders." Where are the genuine leaders? Where are the individuals who are willing to take responsibility for the present situation and conditions in the world? Who is willing to accept the challenge, to face it head on with integrity, character and a commitment to execute righteous judgment for a better world? The world is in desperate need of true leaders. Our communities need positive role models, our children need fatherly leaders and our world needs direction. Where are the leaders? Who are they?

According to the scripture in every person, there is potential for leadership. Despite this latent ability lying below the surface, there are very few individuals who realize this power and fewer still who have responded effectively to the call. As a result, our nations, societies and communities are suffering from an astounding leadership vacuum. Everyone deplores this lack of true leadership throughout the world, and the blame usually lands at the feet of the individuals who haven’t made the grade. What makes an individual a leader? Who can become a leader? When does one become a leader? This is not the first time that an obvious vacuum of quality, effective leadership has prevailed throughout the world. A quick glance at the historical record will show that during periods when moral, social, economic, spiritual and political chaos gripped nations, the greatest leaders in history surfaced. Does God Demand Quality Effective Leaders? 

Even the biblical record reveals God’s demand for quality leaders during times of human crisis. His search for effective leadership is expressed in statements such as this: "But now your kingdom will not endure:  The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people... " (I Samuel 13:14).This scripture reveals that whenever a nation has a lack of quality, legitimate and just leaders, national deterioration occurs. It also reveals that God ’ s remedy to this type of situation is the discovery and raising up of new, trained leaders committed to justice and righteousness. Quality leadership is the key to a prosperous and peaceful life and nation. Our quality of life depends on the quality of our leadership.

As a common rule, we get the kind of leadership we deserve. God is greatly interested in a nation’s political life. Some people think religious people should  stay out of politics & government, but the truth is, that the most High rules over the kingdom of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses.(Daniel 4:32) Government leaders  must always look to Almighty God for help. Voting is a privilege, but for the responsible citizen, it’s more than that — it’s a sacred duty. If you willingly do not vote, you disobey God, for Jesus said, “Render unto Caesar [the government] the things that are Caesar’s and unto God, the things that are God’s.”   It’s unthinkable that God would have ordained government, and then told His people to stay out of it. Therefore let’s serious and elect “righteous” people and rejoice in the abundance of peace and prosperity that following God’s laws and wisdom bring! Before we can cast our vote for a candidate, does God require any special qualification?  Yes, God sets forth general criteria for office-holders. It is a great gift to His people that He would show us how to identify good leaders. While there are many places in the scripture to go for answers, there are five key texts which give us clarity on the subject.

 (1) “Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness…” (Exodus 18:21)  

(2) So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and knowledgeable men, and made them heads over you, (Deuteronomy 1:15)

 (3) “Appoint judges and officials for each of your tribes in every town the Lord your God is giving you, and they shall judge the people fairly. Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous. Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live and possess the land the Lord your God is giving you.” (Deuteronomy 16:18-20)

 (4) “Be sure to appoint over you a king the Lord your God chooses. He must be from among your fellow Israelites. Do not place a foreigner over you, one who is not an Israelite.  The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the Lord has told you, “You are not to go back that way again.”  He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.” (Deut.17:15-20)  

(5)“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.  For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended.  For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.  Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.  This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.  Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.”(Romans 13:1-10)

One of the most frightening things people say is, “What difference does character make as long as a person can lead? Who cares about the character of a bus driver as long as he can drive the Bus?” Friend, there’s a fatal flaw in that. When you say character doesn’t count, you’re really saying God doesn’t count. Character is rooted in God’s Nature and principles.” If only skill counts, what would you think of a surgeon who failed to scrub before performing surgery? He may be skilled, but he will contaminate whatever he touches. So will the leader without character. Here are the principles God says a leader should have. It‘s important to get these fixed in your heart and mind. So before you consult all the other voting guides, make sure you have rightly prioritized the words of Scripture above all the other voices for how you analyze the candidates. After all, the scripture is the best voting guide you will ever have. As we approach this important election, with the following  guidelines  —
- The character God requires
- The choice God respects
- The consequences God reveals and…
- The control God reserves

 The Character God Requires.

A good leader has an exemplary character. It is of utmost importance that a leader is trustworthy to lead others. A leader needs to be trusted and be known to live their life with honestly and integrity. A good leader “walks the talk” and in doing so earns the right to have responsibility for others. True authority is born from respect for the good character and trustworthiness of the person who leads. 

Never be so uninformed as to say character doesn’t make a difference. You’re expecting God to bless iniquity!  He cannot and He will not. Blessed is that nation whose God is the Lord. Let us look at the Character God Requires of people in leadership. He cares greatly about a nation’s political life, for God Himself ordained human government. Without government, society would descend into anarchy. He desires us to live “a peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (1 Timothy 2:2) and to pray for “kings and all that are in authority,” that we may indeed do so. Does God want this just so we’ll have a comfortable, trouble-free life? No. Rather, He knows that when order and good government prevail, that’s the best atmosphere for families to flourish, children be disciplined in the faith, and the Gospel shared freely with the lost. As we said, it is inconceivable that God would have ordained government, then told His people to remain aloof from it. 

The fundamental purpose of the book of Proverbs is to give man wisdom and instruction on how to live in accord with the principles of God’s moral law. Wisdom, in the Hebrew sense of the word, enables man to live successfully in the world created by God. In Proverbs, God reveals this wisdom to all men and nations through proverbial sayings that teach wisdom by means of a comparison or analogy. The wisdom of Proverbs covers all areas of life: personal, family, business, education, and politics. Look at the following reference from proverbs that reveals God’s wisdom for the sphere of politics and the government.

 Proverbs 14:34 says, “Righteousness makes a nation great; sin is a disgrace to any nation.”

Proverbs 29:2 says, “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people groan.”

Proverbs 16:10 says, “The lips of a king speak as an oracle, and his mouth should not betray justice.”

 Proverbs 16:12 says, “Kings detest wrongdoing, for a throne is established through righteousness.”

Proverbs 17:7 says, “Arrogant lips are unsuited to a fool — how much worse lying lips to a ruler!”

Proverbs 20:28 says, “Love and faithfulness keep a king safe; through love his throne is made secure.”

Proverbs 28:3 says, “A ruler who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.”

Proverbs 28:16 says, “A tyrannical ruler lacks judgment, but he who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long life.”

Proverbs 29:4 says, “By justice a king gives country stability, but one who is greedy for bribes tears it down.”

Proverbs 29:12 says, “If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials become wicked.”

 Proverbs 29:14 says, “If a king judges the poor with fairness, his throne will always be secure.”

Proverbs 8:15, 16 say that “governments should use wisdom to rule and to make laws that are just.

Proverbs 17:7 says “rulers also should not lie.”

 Proverbs 20:26 says “wise rulers always try to punish the wicked. “

Proverbs 28:2-4 and 29:4 urges “rulers to maintain order justly, to follow God’s moral code and to avoid oppressing the poor.”

Furthermore, both Romans 13:3-6 and 1 Peter 2:13-15 say that government officials, whether elected or not, are ministers and servants of God who punish and restrain wrongdoers and who commend or praise those who do good works according to God’s transcendent moral code revealed in the Holy  Bible. Government officials must do these things whether or not the people believe in God or the Bible.

 Bible also has some things to say about self-government. For example, it condemns laziness and praises hard work and kindness, especially kindness to the needy.

Proverbs 10:4 says, “Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.”

Proverbs 14:23 says, “All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.”

Proverbs 14:21 says, “He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who is kind to the needy.”

Our only hope is found in the above scripture verses.  You cannot have true liberty without true 

righteousness. If a man becomes a criminal, he’s put in jail. Failing his responsibilities, his liberties are taken away. A baby has no responsibilities. But he also has no liberties: As he grows and assumes responsibilities, he’s given more liberties. We will have more or less liberty in direct proportion to our character. When we lose character—righteousness—we lose liberty, for people who cannot live responsibly from within must be controlled from without.  Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty as well as the privilege and interest of our nation to elect and prefers godly leaders.  A good leader is committed to excellence. Second best does not lead to success. The good leader not only maintains high standards, but also is proactive in raising the bar in order to achieve excellence in all areas.  There are some clear characteristics that are found in good leaders. These qualities can be cultivated, developed or may be naturally part of their personality and above all the character God requires. Let us explore them further.

1. First of all a leader must be Godly and righteous ( God-fearing Person)

Elections are about leadership and governance of our nation, its communities and assemblies. As citizen we are duty bound to ensure that we participate actively and intelligently in placing well qualified, capable and competent persons in public offices. These offices are of enormous social, community and national responsibility. The leaders we choose should help us to realize and implement the vision and dreams we have for our families, the nation and ourselves. Therefore, certain leadership qualities are of paramount importance in the up-coming elections.

Being a God-fearing nation, India needs leaders who are genuinely God-fearing; that is, not only by words but in spirit and truth. Our God brings hope, unity and salvation to His people. India needs leaders who will in truth respect our religious traditions, our faith, the moral fibre of society as well as the multi- religious nature of our country as enshrined in the bill of rights of the Constitution. India must not only respect the positive aspects of our historical religious traditions which have shaped the nation and its peoples but also initiate positive inter-religious dialogue to ensure continued peaceful religious co-existence and mutual understanding. We believe that after due consultations, policies and legislation may have to be formulated and enacted respectively to address this serious matter of ensuring that religious freedom is respected and that Government, religions and faith based institutions continue to collaborate and complement each other in rendering social services to people in India.

Public leaders must respect human and faith values including those of a moral order, of the people they serve. Leaders should be honest, trustworthy, fair, truthful, with good reputation and integrity. The candidate's affiliation in itself and by itself is not enough qualification for leadership. Rather the person's values, integrity, public morality, inclusiveness of all Indian’s and other leadership skills must also be present in the God-fearing candidate.

God says In the scripture “Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness…” (Exodus 18:21)  “Praise him, kings and all peoples, princes and all other rulers; young women and young men, old people and children too...” (Psalms 148:11-12) Every earthly ruler should be one who worships God. “It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness, for the throne is established by righteousness.” (Proverbs 16:12). An ungodly, immoral man is unfit for leadership. 

Righteous in his judgments (Deuteronomy 1:16-17) this requires a civil leader to see things as they really, and make decisions through the lens of Biblical righteousness. He judges righteously (according to the righteousness of God) without being swayed by appearances. Impartial  (Deuteronomy 1:17) He treats the high and the low with the same love and truth. Since God is no respecter of persons, neither should a civil leader be a respecter of persons. A civil ruler must be equally concerned for the rich and the poor, the small and the great. He must execute justice without respect to race, gender, and national origin, or any other categorical distinction made in society. Fearless of man (Exodus 18:21; Deuteronomy 17:19) Man pleasers are disasters as leaders.

 Leaders must fear God and do justly, not be governed by the fear of man. "The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe" (Prov. 29:25) "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body… Fear Him who…has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!" (Luke 12:4-5). Able (Exodus 18:21) The word translated able is much more frequently translated army, valor, or strength. This qualification focuses on whether he has strength. Those who are chosen for civil magistrate should be men of character that will not waver under extreme pressure or temptation. Fearing the true God (Exodus 18:21; Deuteronomy 17:19; Romans 13:4) Here we learn of the pivotal nature of his relationship with God. This man's first concern is faithfulness to the one true God – in everything.

Most people are not aware of how important this requirement is. God issues this command to the civil leader, "Be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him" (Ps. 2:10-12). He is also told, "Take heed to what you are doing, for you do not judge for man but for the Lord, who is with you in the judgment. Now therefore, let the fear of the Lord be upon you." (2 Chr. 19:6-7). After all, a civil leader is a "minister" or literally, a "deacon" of God for good. This is the kind of man who has a consciousness that he is the servant of a holy God. His concern is for the glory of God. "Blessed is the man who fears the LORD" (Ps. 112:1).

2.   A Leader must be Wise and understanding (and true wisdom comes from godliness)

Genuine wisdom is supernatural. Yet it is important to understand the difference between wisdom and common sense. Common sense is natural. Wisdom is originated with God, resides in God, emanates from God, and is given as a gift from God. The difference between wisdom and knowledge is this:

Knowledge is needed to pass the test in school, but wisdom is needed to pass the test in life. Knowledge is learned; wisdom is given.

Knowledge comes by looking around; wisdom comes by looking up. Knowledge comes by study; wisdom comes by meditation with God. Wisdom teaches one how to apply his knowledge., Wisdom is not synonymous with knowledge nor is it a substitute for knowledge. Rather, it is the product of the Spirit. Some things in life cannot be learned — those must be given. I would never minimize a proper formal education, but there are certain matters no school can teach you. And in a greater sense there are issues about life that can only be learned from God.“For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. “ (Proverbs 8:11)

To know wisdom is to know God. And therefore, if you do not have God, you cannot have wisdom. Paul well expressed this inescapable truth: “But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God”      (1 Corinthians 1:24). Christ is the wisdom of God. This was the idea John the apostle conveyed when he wrote his Gospel: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God . . . And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:1,14)  The Greek word translated “Word” was logos. Logos means a thought or a concept or the expression or utterance of that thought. Jesus, the living Word, is God and is therefore the perfect expression and extension of the divine wisdom. Real wisdom is discovered only in a personal relationship with God — the wisdom of God, the Word of God, God Himself.

The Power of a Wise Choice describes a man who is skillful in administration with the ability to handle significant and complex matters with discretion and sound judgment. We must recognize that the beginning of wisdom is the fear of God. (Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 9:10, Deuteronomy 1:13) Let's vote for men with a keen sense of understanding and insight. This kind of man is able to see into things so that realities are revealed. A man of understanding has the ability to see beyond the surface. We are to recognize when a candidate has understanding by the way he follows the precepts of the Lord. (Psalm 111:10)

Well clearly it’s better to be wise than to be foolish. It’s better to live a life that’s blessed by God than to risk missing out on the good things God has planned for us. But how do we do it? How do we get wisdom, and once we’ve got it, how do we show in our lives that we have it? 

The majority of Proverbs come from Solomon, the son of David and great King of Israel. Solomon was the man who God enabled to have anything he wanted and Solomon asked that God give him wisdom. Listen to what the Bible tells us about Solomon in I Kings 4:29-34, “God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the men of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. He was wiser than any other man. Wisdom is not knowledge, or even teaching, but the application of knowledge in the form of righteousness. It is not right knowledge but right actions based upon that knowledge; either in doing, or not doing, in putting forth, or in withholding, in acting, or in restraint. Deciding what is right and how to do it.

 Proverbs 8:12-16 says “I am Wisdom, and I have insight; I have knowledge and sound judgment.
 To honor the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil ways and false words. I make plans and carry them out. I have understanding, and I am strong. I help kings to govern and rulers to make good laws. Every ruler on earth governs with my help, officials and nobles alike”  Which is more important…for a leader to be smart or be wise? How much better one who is wise rather than just smart!  When God offered to give Solomon anything he wanted, Solomon was wise enough to ask for wisdom. Wisdom is the gift of God. I pray God will give America wise leaders. But a leader cannot have wisdom from God unless he’s under God in service and worship.

James 3:17,18 says  "But the wisdom from above is first of all pure (undefiled); peace-loving, courteous (considerate, gentle); it is willing to yield to reason, full of compassion and good fruits; it is wholehearted and straight forward; impartial and unfeigned (free from doubts, wavering and insincerity). And the harvest of righteousness (Of conformity to God’s will in thought and deeds) is the fruit of the seed sown in peace by those who work for and make peace in themselves and in other others, that peace which menas concnered, agreement and harmony between individuals with undisturbness, in a peaceful mind free from fears and agitating passions and moral-conflicts." (Amplified Bible) Failure to exude the wisdom from above leads to impurity, pickiness, harshness, unapproachableness, mercilessness, fruitlessness, wavering and dishonesty. True wisdom is pure, peaceable, gentle, entreatable, merciful, fruitful, steadfast; honest that evidences a Christ likeness given by the enduement and empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

3.  A leader must maintain absolute Honesty and Truthfulness.  (Exodus 18:21; Deuteronomy 16:19)

We are to elect men who keep their word. Most civil leaders in India take an oath of office when they assume office. Our government is based upon promises from our leaders to keep the law and be truthful. Our Lord Jesus said, "Let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil one" (Matt. 5:37). Hating covetousness (Exodus 18:21; Deuteronomy 17:17)
Power is corrupting. It is all too commonly expected that those who are selected for civil office, go to Lokshba or assembly and are quickly corrupted by the lure of popularity, power, and money. The temptations are great.

Only a person who hates covetousness can be trusted to not to be easily diverted by flattery, bribes, and political favors. Guided by God (Deuteronomy 17:18-20) Civil leaders must be guided by the authority of Scripture. In Israel, civil leaders were commanded to write a personal copy of the Scripture for their own study. It was to be read "all the days of [their] life." Why? So "that he may learn to fear the Lord his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law" (Deut. 17:19). Trusting in God alone (Deuteronomy 17:17) This requirement concerns where a civil leader places his trust and confidence. Is his trust in armaments? Is his trust in the strength of other nations, or does he say, "Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help" (Is. 31:1). If he does not trust God, he is unqualified. Faithful in marriage (Deuteronomy 17:17)The Bible is clear that marriage is between one man and one woman, since "the two shall become one flesh" (Mark 10:8). This definition excludes multiple wives. The reason is given, "lest his heart turn away."Free from the love of money (Deuteronomy 17:17) He should not have a driving hunger for riches. Leaders cannot be men led by greed and lust for riches.

“Excellent speech become not a fool; much less do lying lips a prince.” Proverbs 17:7

“Mercy and truth preserve the king.”  Proverbs 20:28

Liars and leaders are not the same. If a person doesn’t tell the truth, he has a basic character flaw and is absolutely unfit for leadership. One is not a liar because he tells lies; he tells lies because he’s a liar. And if a liar, he’s not a godly leader and should not be elected.

He cannot be a person who listens to lies, for the Bible says, “If a ruler harken to lies, all his servants are wicked” (Proverbs 29:12). Men and women with fortitude and honesty, guided by what is right, make history. 

4.  A leader must develop a brilliant and godly Team and a Vision

“No man is an island, entire of itself” said John Donne a long time ago. It is still true today. Even leaders like Barrack Obama, Steve Jobs or Bill Gates need a supportive and enabling team around them. Similarly, we all have a latent capacity to excel if we function effectively together, but it doesn’t happen automatically. We have to work at it. Many teams with the potential to excel get mired in mediocrity, hamstrung by internal strife, and barely hold together, leave alone achieving anything. Some teams are even busy doing nothing. As management guru Peter Drucker commented, “There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all.” The transformation of a disjointed group of individuals into a well-knit, high performing team is an individual as well as a team effort.

In the great Mahatma’s words, each team member must “be the change you want to see.” Then a lot can happen. Great team performance is more than the sum of individual effort. It is the result of synergy flowing from a deep sense of togetherness and purpose; twin qualities that have to be developed and continually maintained. Scripture says “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.”(Proverbs 25:4-5)  Before making a silver vessel, you must remove the impurities from the silver ore. If a leader surrounds himself with wicked people, his throne will not be established in righteousness.

 If a leader isn’t wise enough to choose the right people to accompany him and godly people to lead alongside him by, he is unfit to lead. A leader is known by his inner circle. Who were his mentors? Who are his heroes? Who are his friends and core team members?

A Person of Vision

A leader must be a person of vision, one that is able to set goals and objectives together with his team or community. The goals should be gradually but progressively realized for the betterment, development and growth of the Nation and community. People's aspirations, hopes and dreams must be picked up by our leaders and helped to be fulfilled and so contribute to the advancement of social life and quality of life of communities. A leader of vision will make a difference to a community.

Good Governance

Leadership is about good governance of the nation, its communities and assemblies as well as the generation and use of resources therein. Leaders are expected to render service to their people. They are to facilitate that all people fully participate in the development activities and also assist in establishing fair and just formulas for sharing and distributing the nation's resources. This is to be done with equity, transparency and with a political will directed at creating a corruption free environment.

People aspiring for high offices and indeed any public office must be exemplary in their own life and in their ability to work for a corruption free India. Leaders are expected to have the ability to effectively deal with Nation’s major corruption cases and trends. Democracy is not laissez-faire. It requires in its leaders vision and capacity to lead and work for the common good of the nation. Our leaders are expected to have the capacity to govern and develop well thought out policies that can boost the economy of the land; for the well being of all, including the poor and the marginalized of society.

Accountability

As in the parable of the talents (Lk 19:11-27), each one of us shall be requested to give an account of the talents, resources, offices put at our disposal. Those to whom much is given much will be expected (Lk. 12:48). Leaders in particular, as persons holding public office, must be accountable to the people they serve. They are accountable not only for the resources they administer but, also for the exercise of their powers and duties as people's representatives. Those elected by the people should not be "rubber-stamping" decisions of higher authorities, as it were, merely towing the party line, but must rather consult and represent the views and needs of their constituency and the ordinary citizens. We need leaders who are with and for the people, leaders who are genuine representatives of people. Such leaders will therefore listen to the views of their people and so will be able to deliver satisfactorily by fully addressing needs of communities.

5. A leader must be willing to protect the weak and the poor

India wants leaders who are role models, law abiding; leaders who respect the laws of the land and allow the same to take course even upon themselves. Leaders are not above the law and laws should not be changed for individual or selfish political gains. Christ warned us against the yeast of the pharisees and teachers of the Law who "tie on others heavy burdens which they are not willing to carry themselves" (Mt 23:4). The leaders we choose must be principled persons who have the capacity to create legislation based on sound policies. Legislation must serve to promote and protect the good of all Indian’s including dalits, underprivileged and minority groups in each state.

Bible says “Open thy mouth for the dumb [unable to speak] 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.” (Proverbs 31:8-9)

When someone is in peril and cannot speak for themselves, the king is to speak for them. If a leader does not have a protective spirit, he’s missed the reason for being a leader. God gives us leaders to protect us from evil people. Leaders should be defenders of those who cannot defend themselves. That is particularly true of precious unborn human persons.  

Are you aware that some laws are evil in the sight of God?

“Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law? They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.” (Psalm 94:20-21)

In this verse, the word “mischief” is better translated “evil.”

“Woe unto him that builds a town with blood and establishes a city by iniquity.” (Habakkuk 2:12)

In Jeremiah 22, God says through Jeremiah to the king, “If you shed innocent blood, God swears by Himself that He is going to destroy your nation.”

Some things may be legal but not right before Almighty God. Wicked people may make wicked laws, but that doesn’t make it right. And there’s nothing politically right that’s morally wrong. A leader must be one who stands up for the innocent and defenseless.

Look for a heart of compassion for the poor, needy, and the innocent who are about to be destroyed.

The Choice God Respects

God allows us to choose wicked leaders it may surprise you, but He gives us that choice! God sets standards but allows us to choose wicked leaders contrary to His own will. 

“They set up kings, but not by Me; they made princes, but I did not acknowledge them. From their silver and gold they made idols for themselves — that they might be cut off.” Hosea 8:4

“They set up kings but it wasn’t My will,” God is said. We get the leadership we deserve. Wicked rulers are God’s “reward” — the natural consequences — for wicked people. 

The prophet Samuel said to Israel,

“And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which you have chosen you, and the Lord will not hear you in that day.” 1 Samuel 8:18

God says, “You’re going to choose a king, the wrong king, then you’re going to come crying, ‘God, have mercy,’ but I will not hear you because of the king you have chosen.” God allows us to chose even wicked leaders. 

The Consequences God Reveals

Every day we make many decisions, most of which are routine such as what we eat or wear and where we go. Occasionally our choices result in unexpected joy and happiness while others bring great disappointment and heartaches. Often we are called upon to make major choices that affect entire Nation, family, Faith, jobs with possible relocation or life and death matters. Probably all of us have known individuals who have made some bad decisions and others who have made some good decisions. Regardless of whether good or bad our Choices bring consequences, People are defined by the choices they make and the consequences of those choices. In fact, the Bible is a book about people like us whose choices determined their future. 

Whenever the Bible talks about people and their choices, the Holy Spirit faithfully shares with us the negative consequences of their poor choices as well as the positive consequences of their wise choices. The life you are leading today is the result of past decisions and indecisions. If you don’t like your current situation, change the way you make decisions. Many people make decisions based on instant gratification with no regard for long term consequences. The most important key to making wise decisions is CONSEQUENCES! Every single decision you have ever made, or will ever make, has consequences. Once we learn to evaluate our decisions based on consequences, all the other considerations fall neatly into place. It’s that simple. Each day presents opportunities to make choices that will change our lives forever. “It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”

Making decisions is a big part of life, and learning to ask the right questions is one of the key life skills we should learn. The tip is, without the right information we simply can’t make wise decisions. And if we are not asking the right questions we won’t have the information we need. The first step involves reflecting on the consequences of our actions. The depth of our appreciation for our spiritual inheritance depends greatly on the depth of our love for God, the Giver of that inheritance. Here is a list of questions you can prayerfully use to evaluate your possible choices.  You can determine the wise course of action with God’s help.

 Have you prayed about this choice? Did you really want God to guide you or were you just trying to get His approval for your choice? Which option does God seem to be pointing you toward? Which one will bring God the most praise and others the most blessing? Do you feel at peace with the choice you’ve made no matter what it costs you? Do you sense God’s approval in your spirit? How did you come to this point of decision? Was it the result of something completely out of your control? Is this the consequence of other choices you’ve made? List every consequence you can imagine coming from each of the alternatives. Which choice has the best possible results? Which one has the worst results? Which consequences are most probable? Why? Who all will be affected by this decision? How will they be affected? Are the consequences eternal or temporary ones? How do you know?

Your life is the result of your choices. Every choice shapes your reality and is a reflection of who you are, what you value and what you want. Making choices that conflict with your underlying values will inevitably lead to restlessness and dissatisfaction. If you aren’t happy with the choices you’ve made in the past, evaluate your values and what motivated your decision.  Remember Bible says “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.”(Proverbs 29:2) By our vote we’re either going to have righteous or wicked leaders. There are consequences when we choose wicked leaders. We’re either going to rejoice or weep. 

The Control God Reserves

God has not lost control because we have leaders who are out of control. Be assured — wherever man rules, God still overrules. Bible says “who brings princes to nothing; who makes the judges of the earth like meaningless. They are planted scarcely. They are sown scarcely. Their stock has scarcely taken root in the ground. He merely blows on them, and they wither, and the whirlwind takes them away as stubble.(Isaiah 40:23_24) For God is the King of all the earth.  (Psalm 47:7)

Politicians come and politicians go, but God endures as King of kings over all nations. We didn’t vote Him in, and we’ll certainly not vote Him out. He is King forever.  If our nation turn their backs on God and continue to support policies that fly in the face of Scriptural principles, thwarting God’s stated will at every turn, then…even where God does not rule, God will overrule. . Psalm 33:10-11 says “The Lord can ruin every decision the nations make. He can spoil all their plans. But the Lord’s decisions are good forever. His plans are good for generation after generation”

God’s Kingdom is a real government having great power. The prophet Daniel gave us a glimpse of just how powerful it is. Long ago, he foretold: “The God of heaven will set up a kingdom that . . . will crush and put an end to all [human] kingdoms.” Moreover, in contrast with human governments, which come and go over the course of history, God’s Kingdom “will never be brought to ruin.” (Daniel 2:44) That is not all. In every respect, this Kingdom is far superior to any human government. God is thus at the center of the lives of the rulers and the subjects of the Kingdom. Therefore, the Kingdom is a true theocracy—rule by God. It is bound to succeed in accomplishing the purpose for which it has been set up. But when does God’s Kingdom, also known as the Messianic Kingdom, begin its rule? There are over 360 references to a Millennium period where the Messiah, will be on earth ruling the nations.

Biblically, there is a spiritual Kingdom, which is God’s rule, in the heart of every believer. This is an invisible spiritual kingdom. In this way, we are in the Kingdom. However, there is a literal kingdom, a messianic rule by Christ that will commence after His Second Coming when He will be physically present to rule from Israel for 1,000 years and the saints will co-reign with Him. This is the “true kingdom” on earth that we are to be patiently waiting for. The gospel of the kingdom is related to his future coming the Lord being the king over all the earth. The prophets prophesied of a time when a descendant of David's would take the throne as king. He would be the Lord's anointed, the Messiah (Jer. 33:15-16; Amos 9:11; Micah 5:2).

In Greek, the word Kingdom is Basileia, which denotes “sovereignty, royal power, and dominion. It further denotes the territory or people over whom a King rules” (From Vine’s Expository Dictionary, p. 344). Thus, “kingdom” is a designation both of power and the form of government as well as, especially in the later writers, the territory and the rule - the Kingship and the Kingdom. Hence, the basic meaning of kingdom involves three things - a ruler, a people who are ruled, and a territory over which they are ruled.(Moody Handbook of Theology p. 352)  however, spoke in Aramaic, a Semitic language similar to Hebrew. Jesus would have used the Aramaic word malkuth. Bothbasileia and malkuth share the same meaning: kingship, kingly rule, reign, or sovereignty. The expression kingdom of God (basileia tou theou in Greek and malkuta dismayya in Aramaic) points to the ruling activity of God over God's people and over the world God has made. Psalm 29:10 says “The LORD rules over the floodwaters. The LORD reigns as king forever.” Psalm 103:19 says “The Lord has established his throne in heaven and his kingdom rules over all.”These verses state in a simple way the attribute of God which theologians call his "sovereignty." God is King, enthroned "over," not "in" or "among," the affairs of his creation. Moreover, these scriptures and others make it clear that God is the only true King of all things 

What blessings faithful mankind will experience when that happens! “God himself will be with them,” “and he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning or outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:2,4) At that time, “no resident will say: ‘I am sick.’” (Isaiah 33:24) Everlasting life will be enjoyed by those who please God. (John 17:3) As we await the fulfillment of these and other wonderful Bible prophecies, let us “keep on, then, seeking first the kingdom and [God’s] righteousness.”— (Matthew 6:33).

There is no panic in heaven, only plans. The Holy Trinity never meets in emergency session. Where man may rule, God still overrules. The king's heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD; he guides it wherever he pleases. (Proverbs 21: 1)Even ungodly rulers become instruments in the hand of Almighty God. Remember how He used Egyptians king Pharaoh in the Old Testament?., Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar, And the Persian king Cyrus? Even the Roman Governor Pilate…when Jesus was condemned. Wherever man rules, God still overrules. Jesus told Pilate, “You don’t have any power but that which is given you of above.” When men shake their fists in His face with wicked decrees, God still rules from heaven. He is King of kings and Lord of lords. Kingdoms come and kingdoms go, but our Lord rules over all. No matter what happens in upcoming elections, the day will come when the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdom of our Lord.

The author is the Bishop of Believers Church, Bihar, Diocese