Character Matters

Scripture: Proverbs 28

The 2026 midterms have convinced me of something I believe we should all be reminded of from time to time: Character matters. It matters in our personal lives, our families, our churches, and certainly in the people we elect to represent us. While elections often focus our attention on political platforms, promises, and party affiliations, I believe we sometimes overlook one of the most important qualities we should look for in those who lead us: their character.

I realize that politics can be a difficult subject to discuss, especially in a time when our political differences seem to divide us more than ever. But I believe there is something important here that goes beyond political parties, platforms, and election results. As people of faith, we cannot separate what we believe from how we live. We cannot claim to value the teachings of Jesus while ignoring the character of the people we support, defend, or elect to lead us. Our faith should influence not only how we vote but also what we expect from those who hold positions of authority and responsibility.

The book of Proverbs has quite a bit to say about character, integrity, and the responsibility that comes with leadership. Proverbs 28:2 reminds us that a nation is strengthened by leaders who possess understanding and knowledge. Verse 5 tells us that those who seek the Lord understand what is right, while verse 6 offers this reminder: "Better is a poor person who walks in integrity than a rich person who is crooked in their ways." Throughout this chapter, we are reminded that God values integrity over appearances, honesty over personal gain, and righteousness over the pursuit of power. Proverbs 28:13 reminds us that those who conceal their wrongdoing will not prosper, and verse 27 warns against ignoring the needs of the poor. These are not simply suggestions for how we should conduct ourselves. They are reminders of what God values and what God expects from those who seek to live faithfully.

And that brings me back to politics. I don't believe we should expect our politicians to be perfect. They are human beings, just like the rest of us. They will make mistakes, disagree with one another, and sometimes make decisions we don't like. However, we should expect them to demonstrate honesty, integrity, compassion, humility, and a willingness to serve others. We should expect them to care about more than winning elections, gaining power, or protecting their political party. We should expect them to remember that their decisions affect real people, especially those who are vulnerable, overlooked, and marginalized.

Whether you are a Republican or a Democrat, I hope the 2026 midterms have reminded us that we can and should hold our elected officials accountable. Our political loyalties should never become more important than our moral convictions. We should be willing to challenge dishonesty, cruelty, corruption, and injustice regardless of which political party is responsible. We should not excuse behavior from our preferred candidates that we would condemn in someone from the opposing party. As Christians, our first allegiance is not to a political party, a political leader, or an ideology. Our first allegiance is to Jesus Christ, and that allegiance should shape the standards by which we evaluate those who lead us.

Jesus calls us to love our neighbors, and that means all of our neighbors. Not just the ones who look like us, think like us, vote like us, or share our opinions. He calls us to care for the poor, welcome the stranger, stand alongside the vulnerable, and treat every person with dignity and compassion. These are not political talking points; they are central to the life of Christian discipleship. We cannot expect our politicians to act in ways that honor God's desires for the world if we are unwilling to hold them accountable when their words and actions fail to reflect those values.

Character is just as important as policy. Without character, policy is little more than empty words. A candidate can promise to make our communities better, strengthen our families, protect our freedoms, and improve our future. Those promises matter, and policies certainly matter. But we should also pay attention to the character of the person making those promises. How do they treat people? How do they respond when challenged? Are they honest when the truth is inconvenient? Do they demonstrate compassion for people who have nothing to offer them in return? These questions should matter just as much as the promises printed on a campaign website or repeated during a political speech.

Perhaps there is another question we need to ask ourselves. While it is easy to point fingers at politicians and demand better from them, we must also be willing to look in the mirror and ask whether our own words and actions reflect the character God desires. Do we treat our neighbors with love? Do we speak truthfully, even when the truth is uncomfortable? Do we stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves? Do we demonstrate grace, humility, and integrity even when it is difficult? It is easy to demand character from others, but following Jesus means allowing God to develop that same character within us.

My hope is that we will stop measuring people solely by whether they agree with us and start paying closer attention to the character they demonstrate. I hope we will expect more from those who lead us, but I also hope we will expect more from ourselves. Proverbs reminds us that integrity, righteousness, and concern for others are not optional qualities for people who seek to follow God. They should shape the way we live, the way we treat one another, and the kind of leadership we are willing to support.

The 2026 midterms have reminded me that character matters, and I hope we will carry that reminder with us long after the election signs come down. It matters not just during election season, but every day. As followers of Jesus Christ, we should never forget that the character we are called to demonstrate, and the character we should hope to see in those who lead us, is the character of Christ himself.

In God's grip,

Pastor Chuck Church