Civility. Statesmanship. The simple decency of following the rules of the game. All were glaringly absent from last night’s debate. 

As I sat watching with my four older children, two of whom have never before watched a presidential debate, I kept shaking my head in dismay that THIS must be their introduction to that great American tradition. The former vice-president calling the sitting president a clown. The sitting president interrupting the former vice-president so incessantly the moderator has to take him to task. As for actual substance, well, most nights you can find more substantive debate taking place around the average American kitchen table. What has happened to us? Is this really the best we can do? In the church, leaders are required to be “not quarrelsome” (2 Tim 2:24). Is that too high a bar for the leaders of our republic?

If you are as frustrated as I am, here are two suggestions:

First, pull up an old clip of President Reagan debating (highlights, full length debate) or a clip of President Kennedy’s civil rights speech (highlights) and call the kids back for another session. It’ll be a real education for them and a palate cleanse for you. I am totally serious about this suggestion. Our children will soon be voters. Showing them good examples of civil leaders will help them spot the spate of politicians who lack the character and clarity good leadership demands. Not only that, God may call some of them, like he called David, Daniel, and Esther, to serve in leadership positions within the government. It will help them to see some examples of modest and gracious leadership for a change.

Second, pray for revival. Pray that God will raise up leaders who, like those earlier men, will have their short-comings and flaws, yet are men of virtue and civility, high ideals and ideas; men who truly aim to be servant leaders. Of course, the best of men are men at best. None of our past presidents have been perfect and no future president will be. But some of our past presidents have been good men, even godly men, and future presidents can be too. We can pray for that. What might change if we began now praying and preparing for four years from now, instead of waiting until September, 2024?

None of this should be taken as a suggestion to sit out this election instead of voting for the party you think best represents your values. Absolutely not. Vote your conscience on November 3rd, even if you must grimace and vote for the lesser of two evils. That’s what I’m going to do. But I have to say, as I contemplate filling out my 2020 ballot, I am more thankful than ever that my true citizenship is in Heaven.