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When Jeff Smith, the perfect boy scout and complete political ingénue, entered the Senate floor in 1938’s classic film Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, new hope was breathed into audiences jaded by politics. In the film, an idealistic Mr. Smith secures a slot as senator, only to discover corruption on Capitol Hill. With the bravado only an underdog could muster, Mr. Smith fights for his cause and wins. Audiences couldn’t help but wish for real politicians like him.

Unfortunately, seventy years have passed since the film’s debut, and our elected representatives are as shady as ever. In the words of singer/songwriter, Derek Webb:

I’m so tired of these mortal men with their hands on their wallets and their hearts full of sin … always running for re-election…. [Because] you can always trust the devil or a politician to be the devil or a politician.

Too often a candidate considered far and wide to be heaven-sent proves himself to be of “the other place” upon election.

Trustworthy politicians are few, frankly because the voting public is quick to pick candidates based on superficial selling points. Major voting issues often boil down to who has the best hair, the smoothest Southern drawl, or which candidate is female. The thought process goes something like this: Forget what Mr. Fill-in-the-blank believes, let’s choose him for the goosebumps his speeches incite. Let’s give him the key to the highest office in the land, because although he’s flip-flopped dozens of times, he’s awfully cute. Makes sense, doesn’t it?

In other words, politics is like American Idol, only with a dirtier history and higher stakes.

Selling Souls, Not Stances

Why do we have so many shady politicians? The problem is found in the very nature of politicking. When presidency is the goal, a man (or woman) tours the nation in the style of a traveling salesman, trying to sell their product: themselves. This is the perfect environment for a popularity contest. Hiding behind grand, vague speeches or campaign platforms, the true character of candidates is easily disguised.

With the spotlight focused so much on the ideas presented, few voters realize that it is not a list of issues that is voted into office. We don’t elect ideals. Campaign platforms are not printed on ballots, and the reason is this:

It is the man we vote for. In the end, it isn’t a Republican or Democratic policy that solemnly swears to lead the country — it is a human being; and the candidate is as important as his or her platform. The character and theological conviction (or lack thereof) of a politician is critical when considering a candidate to endorse.

History testifies to this truth. In 1968, Richard Nixon became the hope of social conservatives. He promised an improved economy and an end to the Vietnam War — providing resolutions to the issues of his time. But today, the Nixon legacy is synonymous with Deep Throat and the Watergate scandal.

In 1992, history repeated itself, except with a Democrat. This time, the candidate flagrantly disregarded morality and shifted his campaign focus to the famous slogan: “It’s the economy, stupid.” While his economic scruples were fascinating table conversation, his ethics were not. Yet voters who glossed over the candidate’s personal integrity and focused instead on his policies were paid in full for their support with national embarrassment and a presidential impeachment.

Character counts, not simply platforms or party allegiances.

“Mr. President, What’s Your Theology?”

Alas, it can be difficult to find any hard evidence of a candidate’s character, even for those who care to discover it. Candidates are rarely candid. How are we to know the true nature of a political wannabe when they’re ready at lightning speed to sign an autograph or kiss an infant? Thanks to modern technology such as YouTube, we can often discover a politician’s misstep before their publicist has time to gulp. But even that method is faulty. Candidates have performed honorably in spite of political blunders. How do we get the truth beyond a faux pas here and there?

I believe great insight into a politician’s character can be found by knowing his religious beliefs. While not grounds for mudslinging, as an informed voter, I need to know the theology of a candidate. Yes, that’s right - theology. What worldview makes Mr. Presidential Hopeful tick? From what vantage point does he look at the world, and his role as a governing authority? And does he know that man was made in God’s own image? Does he then know that human life is intrinsically precious? Does he believe that mankind is meant to be Earth’s steward? Does he know man is essentially depraved and no government policies will ever change that?

Am I nitpicky or a religious bigot that I want to agree with the theological stance of a candidate? I don’t think so. Simple logic shows that the government always has, and always will, legislate morality. I just want to agree with the morality they legislate.

See what I mean: when a government prohibits murder, it is making the moral declaration that murder is wrong. And without that law on the books, who is to say that a gunman at a school shooting ought to be punished? A government must mandate on moral issues because everything important is, in a sense, a moral issue.

And what morality will a particular government uphold? What philosophies will rule the day? It is the respective theologies of elected officials that determine what standards of morality will be passed into legislation. Theology matters.

However, professed theology isn’t the only voting issue by any means. Anyone can claim a religion; their actions must speak too. A politician can claim that his favorite Bible verse is John 16:3, but I will remain unimpressed until his policies line up with the rest of the Bible. It would be dangerous to give him the credit of having “good theology” until he proved it with action.

Don’t Trust the Devil … Even if He Claims Christianity

Why? Remember that man who said, “As a Christian I have no duty to allow myself to be cheated, but I have the duty to be a fighter for truth and justice”? His name was Adolf Hitler. Was it clever of the professing Christians of Germany to quickly accept Hitler’s dictatorship on the basis of his “religion”? Not a chance.

For all his talk, Hitler’s political stance didn’t match up with his supposed religious views. If he truly adhered to the creed he claimed, Hitler would have believed that racism, murder, and the slaughter of God’s people is Biblically unacceptable. Hitler shows the danger of trusting too much in the words of a politician, while not questioning whether their actions line up as well.

Yet the flip-side of this lesson from history proves my point well: Hitler was a “Christian” but his actions reveal a sincere respect for Social Darwinism. While he claimed Christianity, “survival of the fittest” ruled Nazis’ thought. The domination of the “Aryan race” was Hitler’s true theology. Hitler’s personal beliefs as revealed in his actions should have proved to German churches the emptiness of his piety.

In the End, Theology Trumps the Economy

While political party affiliation is key to knowing whether to vote for a candidate, personal integrity and theological convictions are also too crucial to overlook. I don’t want a president solely for his fiscal conservatism. I don’t want a president solely for his ability to make war. Because when push comes to shove, the economy matters, but there is much that matters more.

There is truth, justice, and liberty to take into account. I don’t think a rightly governed capitalist economy often contradicts these values; but when babies are aborted by the millions, national security threatened and my personal rights called into question, my first thought isn’t the stock market. I want to know the worldview of my president. I want to know what god he worships — the god of popularity or the God who loves justice.

In a crisis, I don’t care what my president’s hair looks like. I don’t care about the color of his skin. The deeper question is, will he do the right thing?

When the liberties of my future grandchildren are at stake, I don’t care if my president is eloquent or invents new words to express himself. I don’t care how smoothly he presents his message, as long as its meaning is sound. In the end, good salesmanship does not a good president make. A good president is the one who does the right thing, even at the sacrifice of salesmanship.

There will always be a pivotal time in which diplomacy, re-election, popularity and yes, even short-term economic ramifications must be tossed in the closet to make way for what is right. Sacrifices will need to be made for the sake of truth and justice, life and liberty. I want a president who will rise to the occasion – for his conscience and my future.