…And did they tell You stories ‘bout the saints of old?
Stories about their faith?
They say stories like that make a boy grow bold
Stories like that make a man walk straight.

“Boy Like Me/Man Like You” by Rich Mullins

Thinking about the words to this song I began pondering the plight of our friend Newt Gingrich, whom, I believe, is struggling mightily to regain his balance. Newt the historian seems to have neglected some of the fundamental stories of faith that are woven into the moral fabric of America. Take for example the story of Jacob and Esau.

You may be familiar with the story. The narrative describes Jacob coming out of the womb clinging to Esau’s heel making Esau the older twin by mere seconds! Twins are funny like that; our twin boys, like most I’m told, are incredibly competitive…Legally, however, Esau is accorded the birthright (progeniture, the ownership of his father’s estate); affectionately, he is father Isaac’s favorite. Esau, hunter, sportsman, man’s man. The kind you can grow a posterity on. Jacob, sneaky, deceitful, soft momma’s boy. The kind of son for whom you have to watch your back. On a fateful day returning famished from a futile hunting campaign, Esau callously trades away his “birthright” for a bowl of Jacob’s stew! It was a quick & clever negotiating trick on Jacob’s part; the hard part came in devising a scenario to dupe his aging father into believing he was the notorious Esau so that he could finalize the deal and receive the estate. When Esau finally realized the consequence of his “exchange” – the enormous wealth of a prosperous father for a bowl of stew – he was not a happy hunter!

At a time when the nation could use Newt Gingrich’s enormous talents we are left doubting whether or not this man, who for all appearances, having traded his birthright for a bowl of stew, having caved in time of temptation, having not kept his vows or his principles, can possibly keep his standing in the face of overwhelming pressures. And sadly reminiscent of Esau’s futile pleading, Newt swings wildly at the front runner, painfully aware that his “birthright”, i.e., the chance to do something profoundly significant is slipping away.

The Founders counted on us to find and elect people of character.

Samuel Adams: "Nothing is more essential to the establishment of manners in a State than that all persons employed in places of power and trust must be men of unexceptionable [def. beyond criticism or objection] characters. … If men of wisdom and knowledge, of moderation and temperance, of patience, fortitude and perseverance, of sobriety and true republican simplicity of manners, of zeal for the honour of the Supreme Being and the welfare of the commonwealth; if men possessed of these other excellent qualities are chosen to fill the seats of government, we may expect that our affairs will rest on a solid and permanent foundation.“

George Washington: ”[A] good moral character is the first essential in a man, and that the habits contracted [early in life] are generally indelible, and your conduct here may stamp your character through life. It is therefore highly important that you should endeavor not only to be learned but virtuous. … The foundations of our national policy will be laid in the pure and immutable principles of private morality, and the preeminence of free government be exemplified by all the attributes which can win the affections of its citizens, and command the respect of the world.“

FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS…

There is a growing sense of uneasiness among people of faith; not merely the religious, but those people of the land who have unwavering faith in the principles of liberty and see them trampled with alarming impunity. Where is the champion of freedom, the man or woman of valor, who with true words backed by character and vision tempered by experience stir up what is best in all of us?

Where indeed? God save us lest we continue to promote incompetent, deceitful, hypocritical, covetous, dishonest liars and charlatans to care for our sacred trust!