REPUTATION’S RISKED IN HISTORY

Here they go again despite all kinds of defaming untrue rumor mongering gossip. But like the modern day heroes of democracy and free enterprise that they are, the Tea Party activists will worry about their reputations and their legacy at a later time. This is no time to look at the long term. Heaven is recording what they are doing right now and no one messes with the truth there. The tea partiers are clamoring for the debt-ridden government to slash spending say nothing should be off limits. Tea party-backed lawmakers echo that argument, and they're not exempting the military's multi billion-dollar budget in a time of war.

Add their efforts and their decision to act now, regardless of the political consequences, to a list that includes George Washington and the founding fathers and Jesus and the disciples.

GEORGE WASHINGTON was hunted like a criminal in the American Revolution by King George and all of the resources of his country. He would have hung and been vilified in history had they been able to catch him. His beloved Mount Vernon only survived as a result of a cousin negotiating in a way Washington had left strict orders not to. Washington known for the high value he put on his reputation, was willing to risk all for what he knew to be right. It was not in the job description of any job he had. Honor and a love of liberty and a keen sense of justice drove Washington to look past today and fight for principles that would make a better tomorrow for us all.

For those who want to be honorable but may be lacking the perspective to do the same or who would act like they never have been put in the same situation, let’s get real. Injustice and corruption is around us, whether we want to admit it or not. Perhaps some have been selective in their reading of the Bible. After all they could simply focus on Proverbs where it says “a good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.” Or the book of Ecclesiastes says “a good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth.”

But those scriptures are in The Book that tell us all about people who were hunted and killed by authorities. There reputation was horrible. These ideas about a good reputation were read by many of the heroes of the New Testament who were thought to be heretics and crazy.

These men did not fall in line with recent ideas about civil discourse either. In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells the leaders of His day "You snakes! You poisonous snakes! How can you escape being condemned to hell?”

These men did not over emphasize what went on here on earth. They did things today because of the everlasting effects their actions would have – on society and on their own souls. Paul in his letter to Timothy says “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, in their eagerness to get rich, have wandered away from the faith and caused themselves a lot of pain.” If a reputation is more valuable than riches, but we are warned not to over value riches, doesn’t it follow that we should not over value our reputation? Of course it does, there are many places in the Bible that warn against seeking the man’s approval over God’s.

I thank God for these leaders in the Tea Party. I am sure they are imperfect and will make mistakes, but I would rather be like Peter than all of the people of his day that did less than him. If people want to demonize those who are challenging authority and claim they are more honorable, so be it. It has been going on for thousands of years.