Do you rulers indeed speak justly? Do you judge people with equity? – Psalm 58:1

Today’s Scripture Reading (June 1, 2019): Psalm 58

Mahatma Gandhi argued that “Truth never damages a cause that is just.” The two things that we need from our political leaders are that they will follow a cause that is just and that they will always speak the truth, no matter what the consequences might be. People who speak the truth even in the face of adversity are people that we can trust with what is essential in our lives. The cause that is being pursued and the truth are two things that should never be at odds with each other. Gandhi is right. If the cause is just the truth can never damage it.

The problem is that we often want things our way, we might even be able to convince ourselves that what we want is right and that following what we believe is right justifies our lies. Or to put it another way, it is okay to lie if it moves us toward what is morally right. What we miss is that lie cancels the morality of our action. Being forced to misspeak or to shade the truth should be the first warning sign that what we seek is not truly just. And this is true no matter how great the moral concept might be after which we are chasing. If we have to lie to achieve it, then injustice is hiding somewhere in our actions.

David asks the question; Rulers, are you indeed just? Are you chasing after what is morally right? Do you judge people fairly? Because if the cause you are following is just, then these things will follow. Your speech will echo your intentions, and you will treat people fairly. But if your cause is not just, then you will be tempted to lie, to shade the truth, and to judge people according to what you want to gain rather than fairly and equally.

We argue that politicians always lie. But I don’t believe that that is true. Good leaders, pursuing just goals, have no need to lie. They may make mistakes because they act on wrong information, but they have no reason to shape reality by purposefully shading the truth with lies. They are following a just cause, and the truth can never take away or damage that which is just.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 61