The true nature of a person is determined by their actions, not just their beliefs or their words. Beliefs and words are important, but there is a reason why Jesus said we would know people by their fruit instead of by their beliefs or their words. If everyone was completely true to their beliefs and their words, we could know others by these, but most will say things and claim to believe things that their lives and actions do not reflect.  

     The word “integrity” comes from the concept of wholeness. When our actions reflect our beliefs and words, we have integrity. Such integrity leads to faithfulness and trustworthiness. These are basics in our relationship with God and other people. Faith in God begins with knowing His word is true. As we are called to be like Him, our words should be true as well. Other people’s trust in us begins when they know we keep our word. 

     All relationships are built on trust. You can love someone, but your relationship with them will be shallow at best if you do not trust them. Trust is the bridge between people that relationships are built on. The stronger the bridge, or trust, the more weight that can be carried across the bridge. 

     The increasing divisions in America at this time are not just differences in politics or policy preferences, but are the result of a breakdown of trust. We have suffered such a meltdown of morality and integrity that to find a truly honest person is now very rare. This is more of a cause of our divisions than the issues. The positive side to this is that those with integrity are starting to stand out, and in this increasingly shaky world people are drawn to them for the stability they have. 

     This is not to imply that differences in politics or policy are not real divisions, or important to take a stand for, but the possibility of bridging these requires that integrity and trust be restored. The important question now is how is trust restored when it has been lost? 

     Trust must be earned, and there is only one way to earn it—by being trustworthy. Is our word our bond? Is there consistency between our words, our beliefs, and our actions? Just as some of the greatest bridges have been engineering marvels of the world, so is a trustworthy person now a great marvel. Such people can be the bridges between others. 

     Even more serious than the division between the political parties in our nation is the growing division between the American people and their government. There is a popular saying that you can tell when a politician is lying because their lips are moving. What began as a cynical joke is now a basic belief based on a long history of experience. So what is the solution?

     For politicians to say one thing but do the opposite is now common because we have tolerated it. We now expect the title of a new law to be the opposite of what it actually does, because we have tolerated this lack of integrity and truth. 

     A dramatic recent example of this that is still an open wound in America is “The Affordable Care Act.” We were promised that it would lower the cost of healthcare, and that if we liked our present policy or doctor we could keep them, none of which was true, but was the opposite of the truth. This law was passed even with overwhelming disapproval by the American people, but it should give us hope that the American people are still pushing back on it. 

     We could recount many examples of a lack of integrity by elected officials, but an even deeper problem is how people with so little integrity are getting elected. Presently, those most likely to get elected are those who are best at self-promotion and attacking their rivals. After that, lying and exaggerating with a straight face helps. This reflects how far we have fallen, not them. Why do we tolerate this? What can we do about it?

     In the Old Testament God chose those who were busy doing their jobs and doing them well even if they were menial. We see this with David and Elisha, and Jesus did the same with the disciples He called. Likewise, our government was designed to be run by doers who are willing to take time off as a duty to serve their country, not those driven by self-promotion.

     We can have the best form of government, but have a bad government if we do not have good people in it. The present failures are not with our form of government, but with the people we have put in it. The process that has evolved in both main political parties is choosing some of the worst people to give power to and who have some of the worst reasons for wanting those positions. 

     Churchill said, “Politicians think of the next election, but statesmen think of the next generation.” When we elect politicians instead of leaders and statesmen, we can expect them to choose what is politically expedient and right for them over what is best for the country. Just check on how many in Congress voted for The Affordable Care Act for us, but voted for Congress not to be subject to it and have a different plan for themselves. That was one of the most telltale signs of an increasingly dangerous disconnect between our government and the people.

     Any government led by politicians instead of proven leaders will become as dysfunctional, inefficient, and lacking in integrity as ours now is. Self-interests have now become so entrenched in our government that it will take another revolution for us to restore it to being one that truly is of the people, for the people, and by the people. The revolution needed is not to overthrow the government, but to restore it. 

     The turning can begin with some who are now in office that have proven to be “of a different spirit” than the self-serving ones. These are mostly those who made a sacrifice to be in government, leaving lucrative businesses or professions to serve. They are the type that our government was designed to be run by. Those who have been faithful to struggle against the increasing corruption and dysfunction of our government and kept their own integrity are worthy of our trust. They are presently the ones who are now holding what is left of our Republic together. 

     Our Republic has not failed, but we have failed our Republic, and we are the ones who must restore it. Our Founding Fathers advocated another revolution if our government became oppressive or dysfunctional and no longer responsive to the people it was established to serve. We are at the place where another revolution is inevitable, but that does not mean that it has to be violent. Let us pray that it comes with the least disruption and cost possible, but let us pray that it comes. Our Republic will not survive much longer on its present course.

     The Founding Fathers were concerned with the moral principles of the American people more than any other attribute. They were confident their countrymen would always be brave and industrious, but they feared a future decline in their moral character. This fear probably arose from what was known about previous democratic governments. The democracies of the ancient world had fallen apart due largely to a decline in the virtue of their citizens, the people’s loss of interest in their voice in governmental decisions, or a lust for power by their leaders. The Founding Fathers believed that if the American people would remain honest, be attentive to their responsibilities as citizens, eschew personal fame and power, and love God, then America would remain a strong force for freedom and hope in the world. —Gordon Leidner

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