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Dr. Del Tackett is the author, architect and teacher for Focus on the Family's The Truth Project, a nationwide initiative designed to bring the Christian worldview to the body of Christ.
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Political Wisdom from Dr. Noah Webster: How to Vote
Posted on October 17, 2008
Filed Under The State |
“When you become entitled to exercise the right of voting for public officers…God commands you to…”
This is how Noah Webster began advice number 49 in his “Advice to the Young”, Chapter XIX of History of the United States, 1833.
In it you will find that he does not advise them to weigh the candidates on their ability to speak or their degrees or how much they promise to lavish you with “entitlements”. No, his advice is very simple. Vote for someone who will “rule in the fear of God”…men of character…that is what he cautioned young voters to look for.
Here it is, advice #49:
49. 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 republican 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 Laws; the public revenues will be squandered on unworthy men; and the rights of the citizen will be violated or disregarded. If a republican government fails to secure public prosperity and happiness, it must be because the citizens neglect the Divine Commands, and elect bad men to make and administer the Laws. Intriguing men can never safely be trusted.
Notice that Noah lists the consequences of electing “bad” men to public office:
1. They will corrupt government;
2. They will make laws, not for the general welfare, but for “selfish or local purposes”;
3. They will appoint other corrupt men to execute their laws;
4. They will squander the citizen’s taxes upon those who are unworthy;
5. They will violate the citizen’s rights.
Notice, also, where he points the finger—not at the bad rulers, but to those who foolishly neglected the “Divine Commands” and voted them into office (or sat back and let them obtain office). I found it interesting that he closes with a comment about “intriguing men”. His insight is fascinating. The focus shouldn’t be on how “intriguing” someone is, but will their character lead them to rule rightly—in the “fear of God”.
I remember when I was in Washington and read these and other “founding” statements for the first time. I was astonished at three things: first, how clearly they saw biblical principles and connections to citizenship; second, how clearly they saw the consequences of disobeying those principles; and third, how surely those consequences have fallen upon us…those who have failed to heed their warnings.
They were pretty smart.
We have been pretty foolish.
Comments
19 Responses to “Political Wisdom from Dr. Noah Webster: How to Vote”
Thank you for standing up for truth Dr. Tackett! So many Christian leaders are falling into the liberal trap and ignoring sound doctrine. Unfortunately that then leads so many Christians down that same path. The idea that Christians have no business in speaking out in politics is appalling. We have an obligation to do so.
I believe that it is primarily our fault for not taking the necessary actions to place the right people in office. “We the people” have stood on the sidelines too long(of which I am one). We have allowed the minority to corrupt the government and make self serving laws. The longer we do nothing as christians, we will benefit no one and cause more damage to an already strained society. It is our obligation to vote otherwise we better not complain when we don’t.Exodus 18:21-But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.
Rev 3:15-16 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. Maybe if we followed Noahs advice we would be alittle better off, but who knows?
Thank you for all you do Del.
Indeed these were wise men that founded our nation. Being middle aged, I have often pondered why my parent’s generation sat back and allowed this nation to be lied to and led down the road to moral relativity. It seems to have been such a slow process that they never saw it coming. Now it’s up to us to change it. Can we? Is it too late? Is the avalanche already started? I feel a sense of urgency in the air. Is it me or do many others hear the crying out of the saints? If God can hear Nebuchadnezzar cry out surely he can hear his children and turn the tide.
Thank you for bringing the truth into focus.
I was invited to a Truth Project group hosted by my brother and sister in-law. O does it ever stimulate the mind and heart to love and adhere to The Truth. May our love for The Truth affect all that we say and do, politics included! Bro.Del thanks for your tremendous effort in teaching the truth. God’s blessings on you, and all involved.
We as voters are unprincipled because we have voted for those who do not hold to our principles and are therefore responsible for the government we have.
Isaiah said, “woe is me, I am a man of unclean lips and I live among a people of unclean lips.” Our taxes pay for abortions. Our taxes are given to those who shouldn’t have it. Our taxes support corrupt foreign governments (not to mention the corrupt domestic government). This is because we have voted with others for a lesser evil. We as a country now subscribe to the biblical principal of “the end justifies the means.”
We are at fault and until we do what is right, without fear, without wavering, and in complete faith and obedience, we will continue to decline both morally, spiritually, educationally, socially, and economically.
“Always vote for principle,
though you may vote alone,
and you may cherish the sweetest reflection
that your vote is never lost.”
John Quincy Adams
Very interesting!
Readers of this blog might find the Focus on the Family website http://www.citizenlink.com a valuable source of insight on the current political scene.
Dr Tackett, thank you once again for bringing the truth to the forefront. I know that you don’t do what you do with the passion that you exhibit to gain the praise of men, but we are blessed by your wisdom. Keep on doing what you do for the sake of Christ.
Our problem seems to be that none of the candidates honor God. That makes voting a real quandary. Apart from the Holy Spirit intervening in the history of this nation, I fear for our future.
I find it highly offensive that one would imply or suggest that voting anything other than Republican i.e. conservative is somehow ignoring sound doctrine or is unchristian. One of the tenets of democracy, which we cherish, is freedom, freedom to choose our leaders through the ballot box. We may not agree with the choices that others make, but one must respect their right to choose. To do anything other than this is an invitation to tyranny of a different order.
Frank Hawkins
Dr. Tackett,
Thank you for writing with wisdom in these perilous political times. There is no doubt that as a nation we have been lacking in integrity and allowed greed, influence, and other personal sins and struggles into the practice of not only government, but our churches, and even our own personal lives of faith. I appreciate the insight you have shared from Noah Webster. I also greatly appreciate your desire for Christians to be thoughtfully and actively engaged with culture for its transformation.
I am curious however as to how we are to incorporate these thoughts you have shared. As I see it, we are to vote for that candidate which we see as noble, upright, and living in the fear of the Lord. This is advice I would like to and have followed in the primary races. Yet, as it seems to me, we have other perspectives to consider in the upcoming presidential election in particular and certainly other, more local elections. Were I to vote according to these principles strictly, I would not vote for either of the mainline candidates, though there is good to be found, neither, in my opinion, meets that factor which seems most critical to me: walking in the fear of the Lord.
Essentially, my concern is that if we do vote in accordance to Mr. Webster, it will come with consequences we do not hope for. How are we to evaluate this situation today? I do not like the idea of voting for the “lesser evil,” but I feel as though I have no other option for the sake of retaining some healthy, biblical values and activities within our country. Do we vote for those who fear the Lord primarily at the risk of almost certainly handing our country over to those who are admittedly less fearful?
Thanks again for your great insight and concern for our nation, as well as your fervent passion to develop a strong, biblical worldview within every believer. May God continue to honor and encourage your efforts as you serve, teach, and act.
Whole Hearted Agreement from me!
God Bless You Del Tackett!!!
Sincerely,
Thomas St. Clair
I wonder, do you think that he was the most conservative in his theology; that he believed that Jesus is God, etc., than the whole lot of the founding fathers?
Thank you Del for your Mighty Words of Wisdom, Peace and God Bless You.
As a pastor I have encouraged my congregation to be prayerful and discern the spirit; that they will do the will of God. I believe that a mans/womans faith and character speaks volumes concerning their thinking and their heart.
Rev. Dr. Tony Janner
I am an Independent voter, as well as, an Independent Christian. Just as I find it difficult to accept all of the tenets of any one Christian denomination, I also find it difficult to accept all of the dogma espoused by any one political party. I empathize with the offense taken by Frank Hawkins, who added his comment on October 19th. It is very disheartening to be told that if I don’t vote one way, then I can’t possibly be either a Christian or a patriot. And, in like manner, it is equally disconcerting to be told that if I don’t vote another way, then I must be a war monger and an environmental rapist. Both of these extreme positions are founded on fear and insecurity and a lack of any real foundation. My foundation is the Bible, specifically the New Testament, in which Jesus gives us the ground rules for life. Although I often stray from His principles, in each decision, I try to ask myself, “What would Jesus do?” Mike Ovington, Topsham, Maine
I believe we, as a People, are at a crossroads in our Nation’s history. We are in the midst of undergoing the most riveting political process in our still young history. Nevertheless, it has become increasingly noticeable that adherence to facts and Truth has been thrown out the window. Absolute Values as well as transparency in public life is not longer something to stride for, nor to be embraced. Politicians on the one side, have become empty vessels, while offering to the electorate nothing more than just condescending platitudes and vague rethoric, which hardly elicits anyone’s hopes and aspirations. Average voters have lost their ability to engage in any critical discernment that would help them better understand the underspinnings of the American political system and culture. Is almost as if the nation is in the process of loosing its soul to the rampant Liberal views sweeping the country. None of those views, however deceitful and harmful to the fabric of our country, is ever challenged with sound biblical intellectually honest insights; regretfully, an by default, these views are becoming the standard by which the American electorate is arriving to its political and cultural mindset. The Truth Project is indeed a definitive and corageous effort, as we endeavor to beginning to break down the stronghold that the prevailing notion of a “nation outside” of God” has thrown over our Nation and Culture. I certainly hope, more of us get really involved in transforming our Culture from within, with the power of the Gospel and Truth…since without a doubt, I do not think anyone of us wants to abandon it…not yet anyways!
I believe that some people have mistakenly understood Noah’s quote “the preservation of a republican government”, to refer to a particular political party. I am quite sure he was refering to a republican form of government, as in the United States is a democratic republic.
Mr. Anderson is clearly correct regarding Webster’s use of “republican” as describing a form of government, not a political party.
During Webster’s life the party sometimes referred to as “Republican” was the Democratic-Republican party of Jefferson and Jackson, which produced the Democratic party. The Republican party was founded in 1854 and Lincoln was the first Republican president.
The most important qualification for public office will always be character; the most difficult task for us, as voters, is to decide which candidate’s character is better.
I can’t understand why some people that read these comments seem to think that any particular political party is being endorsed. All I see is that Gods truths are being endorsed.