Do we really need more politicians?

Every other Wednesday morning, I meet with a group of guys and we talk ministry, leadership, and being the type of spiritual leaders we need to be for the sake of the gospel and our world. This is a new thing for me, but something I’m really excited about. At any rate – we’re reading a book by Henry Blackaby… you know THIS GUY. We’re actually not reading his most famous book, but one that has greatly impacted me, Spiritual Leadership.

I first read this book while in college and pretty much challenged my heart to be the leader God was calling for me to be. I’m grateful to Tom Mosley for introducing me to this book. Hat-tip to Tom on this one.

I read this from the book and I thought it great in honor of President’s Day.

“Society longs for statesmen but it gets politicians. Statesmen are leaders who uphold what is right regardless of the popularity of the position. Statesmen speak out to achieve good for their people, not to win votes. Statesmen promote the general good rather than regional or personal self-interest.”

I then read a quote today from Senator Evan Bayh, the Indian Democrat who will not be seeking his third term, something that is disappointing the President and probably most of Congress (at least on the blue side).

“For some time, I have had a growing conviction that Congress is not operating as it should,” he said. “There is much too much partisanship and not enough progress. Too much narrow ideology and not enough practical problem solving.” (I took this quote from THIS ARTICLE on the NYTimes website)

I won’t dive into whether I agree with everything that Evan Bayh stands for or doesn’t stand for…that’s not what this post is about… it’s the very fact that we have too many politicians in our government and less statesmen. We need statesmen. We need states-women.

We need people who will stand up in public for what they stand for in private.

As Monday signified the day we celebrate President’s Day, might we find men and women who stand up when others refuse to. What things do you need to stand up for? I think Senator Bayh understands the reality that our Congress has missed what it means to be congress – to come together. Therefore, he found that he could no longer play the game of being a politician. Hat’s off to you Senator, hats off.