God’s Faithful Man is about character. Character matters. This study purposes to instill in men of all ages a desire to attain leadership qualities that well-informed, moral people enjoy following and submitting to. God’s Faithful Man applies primarily to leadership in the home and church, but civil leadership also falls within the scope of its use. Most Christians will agree that inward examination, repentance, and change of direction should begin in the household of God. If our churches and Christian homes lack leadership character, we should not expect our civil magistrates to make up the shortfall.

We have all heard that “private beliefs have nothing to do with public office.” However, Ravi Zacharias, in a book about restoring the soul in a disintegrating culture, asks, “Does it make sense to entrust those who are immoral in private with the power to determine the nation’s moral issues and indeed its destiny?”1 I think not and furthermore believe it is just as ridiculous to fill our churches and pulpits with weak and immoral pastors/elders who fail to meet qualifications outlined for these positions in Titus 1:5-9 and 1Timothy 3:1-7.

Zacharias notes that, “One of the most dangerous and terrifying trends in America today is the disregard for character as a central necessity in a leader’s credentials."2 This goes for both church and state. The dearth of good men in public service and the Christian ministry presents numerous problems for our republic. In evaluating President Clinton’s years in the oval office, Rich Lowry, editor of National Review and author of Legacy: Paying the Price for the Clinton Years, observed, “It doesn’t take much time thinking, and talking to people about Bill Clinton before you realize the absolute centrality of character. His character weaknesses affected everything he did.” Lowry goes on to express agreement with both George H.W. Bush and Bob Dole in their essential claim “that Clinton’s dishonesty and moral failings made it almost impossible for him to exercise responsible leadership.”3 To how many Christian leaders today do these words from George Bush and Bob Dole apply?

Responsible leadership rests on godly character. Good leaders are above reproach, blameless, one-woman men who rule their families well. They are self-controlled, hospitable, and are not given to drunkenness, and violence. They are not prone to fighting, contentions and quarrelsomeness. They do not love money and are temperate, respectable, gentle, sober, alert and not overbearing nor quick-tempered. They love what is good, are upright, just and holy. Good leaders are well disciplined and able to teach God’s word and hold firmly to its trustworthy, enduring message. God’s Faithful Man is written to encourage men to be the leaders God intends them to be in the home, church and community by exemplifying these character traits. By His grace, coming generations will appoint and elect their leaders based upon godly qualifications because character does matter.