The Search for Truth and Common Sense.

By:  Dale Weckbacher

John 18:37-38

Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?"

Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." 

38 Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?" And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them,"I find no fault in Him at all.

NKJV

In today’s political climate, truth and common sense is a rare commodity like precious jewels or metals.  As a politician, Pilate no doubt encountered lies and deception and when Jesus claimed to have come to bear witness to the truth, he decided that such an honest man could not be guilty of anything, which, in fact was true for Jesus. 

In 2008 when Obama was running for office, people were caught up in what Peter Blair referred to in The Dartmouth as an extreme euphoria and were assigning messianic qualities to candidate Obama (1)  He cites how one of the dangers of political campaigns is when people, especially young people, see candidates as some sort of secular messiah.  Mr. Blair then goes on to cite how many supporters of Obama cast him as a messiah-like figure with even Oprah calling Obama “The One.”  (1) 

Mr. Blair then concludes his piece with a call for his fellow Dartmouth students to put aside their youthful enthusiasm and be calm and clearheaded when entering the voting booth.  (1)  Unfortunately, I do not believe this occurred in 2008 and Obama won election.  However, this attachment of a messiah stature to candidate Obama is symptomatic of a much deeper problem in our culture, the absence of truth and common sense, and the desire for people to seek truth and common sense in messianic figures.  We also see evidence of this in the worship of entertainers, musicians, and athletes as well as politicians. 

Prior to his discourse with Pilate, Jesus declared to his disciples that He was the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).  I do not believe Pilate understood that not only was he in the presence of an honest man, he was in the presence of truth, the very truth he was most likely seeking in his life.  Likewise, the people supporting Obama in 2008 as well as many of the people we meet daily are seeking truth in Hollywood actors, musicians, athletes, and even politicians.  This is precisely why Jesus called us to share the Gospel with everyone for it is the only thing that can satisfy someone’s search for truth for Jesus is truth.

The falling approval numbers of Obama demonstrate that the messiah status he once enjoyed is flaming out like a falling star.  Those that once viewed him as their savior are most likely experiencing disappointment and feel Obama and their government has betrayed them.  This presents an opportunity for us to share the truth of the Gospel with them for Jesus, The Messiah, will never betray them.  However, it also presents an opportunity, within the political arena, for conservatives to win these disappointed voters over to the conservative side.  However, we cannot accomplish this by simply telling them we are not Obama but must give them something of substance to vote for when they enter the ballot box. 

The two predominate issues on everyone’s mind are the economy and national security.  (2)  Republicans hold an edge on issues related to the economy and national security as evidenced by polling done by the Pew Research center, which discovered Republicans have an edge on the following issues:

1)      Terrorist threat

2)      Budget Deficit

3)      Economy

4)      Immigration (2)

However, the same people see Democrats as having an edge when it comes to:

1)      Willingness to work with the other party

2)      Concerned about needs of people like me

3)      Governing in a more honest and ethical way (2)

This edge demonstrates that the GOP has an image problem.  Republicans have spent most of the Obama Administration portraying the image that they are not like the Democrats.  Whereas this may be true, and may even provide victory in the midterm elections, it does not seem to translate into victory in the last two presidential elections. 

People flocked to Obama in 2008 because they believed he had the answers they were looking for.  The image created by his campaign of hope and change resonated with people seeking truth.  Now that these people have been disappointed, Republicans have an opportunity to step in and fill the political gap but they must develop a plan to grow the economy and keep the nation secure in these insecure times. 

Over the next several postings to this blog, I will attempt to communicate what I believe the ordinary people of our nation need, and want to hear from their leaders.  My hope and prayer is that some of the candidates and potential candidates will use this information to formulate a plan of action and communicate it to voters. 

Just as in the time of Christ, people today are seeking truth.  Jesus is the way, truth, and life and the only way for us to have forgiveness of our sins.  Leaders also have a responsibility to be purveyors of truth for they are actually instruments of God with a duty to lead the people they serve (Romans 13:1).   Republicans now have the best opportunity they may have ever had to become the purveyors of truth people are looking.  However, will they be willing to step up to the plate or will they just cower back, failing to communicate a plan for restoring the economy and security of our nation, instead continuing to claim “we are not them”  as they continue to lose presidential elections. 

My prayer is that the next several postings to this blog will light a fire under the Republican leadership and encourage them to communicate a plan for victory for our nation.  I encourage everyone to share these postings with their political leaders and encouraging them to comment to the postings with their particular plan of action.  This is a great nation and together we can restore that greatness. 

1. Blair, Peter. Informed Enthusiasm. thedartmouith.com. [Online] The Dartmouth, October 20, 2008. [Cited: October 224, 2014.] http://thedartmouth.com/2008/10/20/opinion/informed-enthusiasm.

2. Pew Research Center. As Midterms Near, GOP Leads on Key Issues, Democrats Have a More Positive Image. www.people-press.org. [Online] Pew Research Center, October 23, 2014. [Cited: October 24, 2014.] http://www.people-press.org/2014/10/23/as-midterms-near-gop-leads-on-key-issues-democrats-have-a-more-positive-image/.