“Select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain.” Exodus 18:21
This passage was the advice given by Jethro to Moses, when he observed that the latter was spending the whole day sitting down, responding to queries, adjudicating conflicts and teaching the people. Jethro continued “appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.” The men to be appointed must be those of ability, those who fear God, those who were trustworthy and those who hated dishonest gain.
Today, on the eve of election day, let us listen to and reflect on this passage. Jethro’s advice to Moses was given when the Israelites, following their liberation from Egypt, were in the wilderness on the way to the Promised Land. The wilderness experience was intended for the Israelites to purge themselves of evil ways, including doubt and unbelief in God who liberated them from centuries of oppression and slavery. Among others, their enslavement in Egypt had led them to accept loss of personal freedom and identity and to just immerse themselves in hard labor and other oppressive measures that their Egyptians masters commanded them to do.
In our country today, electoral exercises are supposed to be an opportunity for our people to demand accountability from our leaders, both incumbent and prospective. It is supposed to be an exercise where our leaders must account for their actions and explain why we should be voting for them. The very sad reality however is that decades of elections where guns, goons and gold determine the results of elections in this country have made voters, like the Israelites, lose their sense of personal freedom and dignity. Instead of being a force for exacting accountability, there is a general acceptance of the notion that each of us do not have any significant impact in the larger scheme of things so that it is better to just receive money and other material favor in exchange for our vote. Instead of being compelled to explain if they fear God and how such fear has been manifested in their lives by being trustworthy and hating dishonest gain, candidates are doing the opposite by flaunting the moneys and powers they stole from our taxes or which they will certainly steal from our taxes in asking us to vote for them. How else can we explain that corrupt politicians, entertainers and other personalities whose gifts lie elsewhere and not on leadership, and candidates who represent dynastic interests dominate electoral victories.
Our Vision 2028 which calls on us to be Scripture-rooted, Spirit-Fired and Disciples communities of faith places us in a journey into the wilderness so that we can purge ourselves from evil ways, including doubt and unbelief in our God who is our creator, sustainer and our sovereign ruler. After six (6) years of Vision 2028, we have intensified Bible studies, worship activities and other ministries in the ECP and it is now time to bring out our light into the open and to demonstrate the impact of our Vision in the world around us. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)
At this time of elections, being a light to the world means that we must adhere strictly to Jethro’s advice and vote only for those who fear God, who are trustworthy and who hate dishonest gain. As we inch towards tomorrow’s voting, the last minutes will see intensified offers of cash and other rewards for candidates and we must reject these. Those who may have previously received these for whatever reason are given a chance to redeem themselves by completely disregarding the candidates who made the offer and to strictly vote according to Jethro’s advice. And as our Executive Council has stated in a previous declaration, let us tell stories of how we, as individuals, congregations and communities, have rejected these evil ways and how we have become a light to the world during this electoral exercise so that we can learn from and advance such lived experiences.
For while it is true that we may not be fully exercising our sense of personal freedom and integrity and our capacity for discernment, we are still like the Israelites whose faith remained intact and whose hope was still reposed in the Divine Providence. As we go to the polling centers to cast our votes, let us offer to God our doubts and unbelief, our worries and our weaknesses, placing our complete trust in His divine guidance.
God bless everyone! God bless this country!
The Most Rev. Nestor D. Poltic, Sr.
Prime Bishop
The Episcopal Church in the Philippines 