Pistis

That is the Greek word for faithfulness. This is a faith, trust, and a belief that implies that actions based on that trust may follow. It is one of the elements of the fruit of the Spirit:

    “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:22-25)

Most of you by now probably know about South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford’s affair. He was a rising star within the Republican Party and a GOP presidential hopeful for 2012. Now he is cannon fodder for late night talk show hosts and another example of “Republican hypocrisy”. Many conservative leaders and pundits are falling all over themselves trying to cover the GOP’s backside I guess so as not to tarnish the whole party.

Many are commenting on how Senator John Ensign and Governor Sanford never got caught, that they owned up to it. Now this is where the GOP’s hypocrisy comes in; their sad attempt to make the empty “we’re not as bad as Democrats” argument. We cannot, at least not born-again Christians, cannot fall into the moral equivalency trap. Senator Ensign was being bribed and Governor Sanford had gone missing and the whole world knew it; over Father’s Day weekend mind you!

Some are trying to portray Governor Sanford as somewhat heroic for publicly admitting his affair; I think it is pathetic. I am not condemning Governor Sanford for his affair; I am living proof of Romans 3:23:

    “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…”

My issue is how Governor Sanford handled this mess. Some our giving him credit for not having his wife at the press conference; he should never had a press conference! The day his wife found out about the affair, Governor Sanford should have sent out a press release announcing his immediate resignation because of moral infidelity and ask the press to respect his family’s privacy as they try to reconcile their relationships that he damaged.

Why resign? He lied to his staff and South Carolinians. As a US Representative he voted for three of the four articles of impeachment against President Bill Clinton citing the need for “moral legitimacy.” That was the right thing to do and for moral legitimacy the governor should resign from office as should Senator Ensign. It is not enough that they resign from leadership positions within the party.

These men are clearly not contrite to the point that the most important thing to them is their relationship with Jesus and their family; no, they still covet their elected offices.

    “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matthew 6:24)

These men must decide to serve the Master; their loyalty must be to God Almighty. They have not overcome their lust for power and influence so without total surrender the Lord cannot bring the healing that I am sure they seek.

King David knew all about power, lust, adultery, murder and he also knew much about contrition, confession, forgiveness, mercy, and reconciliation. One of my favorite psalms that he wrote is Psalm 37 (go ahead and read it all) and the first six verses wonderfully speak to faithfulness, not man’s…God’s:

    “Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.” (Psalm 37:1-6)

Governor Sanford and Senator Ensign have been “cut down like the grass” and they will continue to “wither as the green herb” if they do not “trust in the Lord.” Right now these men are focusing on saving their careers; they need to focus on saving their relationship with God and their families.

Solomon wrote about the importance of God and family:

    “Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” (Psalm 127:1)

I will be praying for these men that they do the honorable thing and resign, but more importantly that they get right with God and their families. That should always be my prayer for any family damaged by adultery. We should not judge, but we do need to stand in the gap for God and to help wayward brothers and sisters back to the path of righteousness.

That is part of the call of my faithfulness to Jesus Christ and His Church.

In Christ
Dave
Ps. 37:4

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