Fighting corruption begins with a look in the mirror

The early chapters of my memoir, “Picking, Politicking, and Pontificating (While Faithfully Fighting Corruption),” recount the circumstances that led to my decision to follow Christ soon after my father’s death in 1969. That decision marked the beginning of a circuitous spiritual journey through a lifelong series of moral dilemmas that initially appeared to be obstacles. In hindsight, however, I see them as guideposts placed along the way by something far beyond my understanding, shaping my faith like a master luthier crafts an instrument from a piece of raw wood.

The epiphanies that emerged from those moral dilemmas gave me clarity in a world of confusion and a vision of Christ that becomes more focused even as it expands. Whenever it seemed I had that vision in the right religious or political box, another moral dilemma allowed it to escape, forcing me to look for a bigger box. I finally concluded that none of the boxes could hold it. After many years of pursuit, I recognized that what I had been chasing was actually chasing me. So I stopped trying to force it into a political or religious box and let it catch me.

In retrospect, it is easy to see how those moral dilemmas have transformed me, gradually molding me into something more like the Christ I was pursuing and less like the me that might easily have been. Please don’t mistake this for a claim of moral superiority. As my vision of Christ has become clearer, so has my awareness of my own weaknesses.

It has been and continues to be a humbling experience to know that the private war against my own corruption has no end in this world. I just don’t have to fight it alone. I have learned many valuable lessons during this lifelong battle. One of the most important is that those who are most corrupt almost always see the faults of others like an eagle and their own like a mole.

I believe John the Baptist was one of the greatest corruption fighters of all time. He did it with an unwavering commitment to love, clothed with the power of truth. He was a nuisance to the political and religious authorities of his time because they recognized his broad public appeal, coupled with their inability to manipulate his message, as a threat to their power.

Even soldiers sought his guidance in response to his message of repentance: “And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.”—Luke 3:14

Forty years ago, I identified with those soldiers as a criminal investigator assigned to a multitude of cases, including those involving public corruption and the use of force. Striving to reconcile my moral obligation to the spiritual kingdom with my civic duties as an officer of the law, I faced a number of moral dilemmas. Each time, I found myself on my knees asking the same question as those soldiers: “What should I do?”

John the Baptist’s answer formed the basis for my understanding of the corruption that must be perpetually resisted if we are to make any progress in reconciling the carnal kingdoms of this world with the kingdom of God, which I believe encompasses them all.

I believe there are three basic types of political corruption: the excessive and unreasonable use of authority, false accusations and greed. They are often intertwined like a knot that can’t be untangled. Sadly, corruption doesn’t appear to be much of a political issue for many professing Christians, who seem oblivious to it. I suppose their vision of Christ is different from mine, but I can’t unsee what I’ve seen and experienced just to fit in with a political tribe.

When Jesus told his disciples that the greatest among them was the servant, not the master, I believe he flipped the script on conventional power politics. At its core, conventional politics remains unchanged. But so does Jesus.

As we are overwhelmed by political propaganda in the run-up to the November 3 general election, I hope a great multitude of voters will keep an open heart and mind as they prayerfully ask themselves, “And what should we do?” I believe John the Baptist’s answer compels us to support candidates who resist the abuse of authority, false accusations and greed, regardless of political affiliation.

The only ones who can resist corruption are those who know how to recognize it. And the most dangerous corruption of all is found with a mirror, not a magnifying glass.