The View of God Upon Which to Build Statesmanship I believe everyone is familiar with the encounter that David had with Goliath. David was a teenager. Goliath was a 9’9” tall, seasoned, powerful warrior. Everyone knows that David fearlessly felled this giant with a pebble employing a slingshot, perhaps the crudest of all instruments. However, […]
The Statesman Learns to Cry Out to God The Statesman is first and foremost a leader drawn out of the community to serve the people in achieving the well-being our Creator designed for the people. The Statesman, remembering who he or she is, then identifies with those he or she is called to serve. Hence, […]
The Statesman Considers Our Creator’s Hand upon the Nation God made an astounding promise to Abraham, the father of ancient Israel: all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you (Genesis 12:3). This promise is repeated numerous times. Let us seek to understand what it was that made this promise applicable to other nations: Abraham […]
The Statesman Learns from the Good Shepherd Our Creator’s purpose for Government is to provide an environment where each individual can reach his/her full God-given potential. God describes it as “a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity” (1 Timothy 2:2). Great power has been vested in Government to do for the governed […]
Regression From Statesman to a Politician We know very well that it is not sufficient just to begin well. If I were to ask who was the outstanding leader of all time, using external criteria of wealth, wisdom, grandeur, as well as avowed desire to obey God and to be His instrument, instinctively we […]
The Statesman Is Prepared to Hear God’s Voice We have made the argument that the best way to ensure that we can operate as a Statesman is to allow ourselves to be an instrument in the hand of Almighty God. An essential part of being His instrument involves the capacity to receive His instructions. […]
The Statesman as Instrument in the Hand of God The challenges we face are daunting. On the surface, the obstacles are insurmountable. A similar challenge was faced in my nation a century and a half ago. We, in the U.S., had a Civil War that split the nation into irreconcilable factions, seemingly ending this […]
The Statesman as a Shepherd During a Time of Crisis It is useful to pause and reflect on our responsibilities. The Creator of this whole system, within which we operate, has commanded leaders to shepherd those within their care: Shepherd God’s flock among you, not overseeing out of compulsion but freely, according to God’s […]
The Statesman Creates Statesmanlike Behaviors in Those around Them, Including Inducing Members of the Opposition to Participate in the Vision The Statesman faces a dilemma while operating within democratic governance. The Statesman cannot single-handedly enact legislation to support his/her vision without the help of those who are largely Politicians. Hence, one of the […]
Do We Need God to Be a Statesman? Can we be a Statesman without depending upon God? I believe that potentially we can. However, I believe that it is absolutely necessary for us to have the values, character qualities that we as humans can best receive by depending upon God for these qualities. How […]
