“The hoary head is a crown of glory,
If it be found in the way of righteousness.”
(Proverbs 16:31)
During the debate Mike Pence acted like years and experience is all that matters and that should automatically make him the best candidate. I think he was mostly taking aiming at Vivek Ramaswamey, who is much younger than Pence. However, “years and experience” is what has gotten us in the mess we are in as a country. Indeed, the biggest problem in America is not the lack of gray hair, the problem is the lack of righteousness. We see it on both sides – from Mitch McConnell to Joe Biden and many others. I don’t know that Vivek is the answer but I know Pence isn’t. In politics these guys are supposed to be following the Constitution of the United States of America. We should not just blindly follow them because they are old or because they are of a favored party but rather the best candidate who more closely follows the constitution. That’s the standard – the rule of law for the government – or at least that’s the way it’s supposed to be!
What is true in politics is more true in churches. Just because a pastor or anyone else for that matter has been around “for a very long time” doesn’t mean he is to be respected or followed. We should only respect or follow him as far as he follows the Word of God. The US Constitution is important for politicians but the Bible is more important for us because only the Bible is the inspired infallible Word of God. We cannot blindly follow someone because he has a gray hair or a well known last name. We must use discernment and judgment according to the Word of God. A pastor or teacher must follow the Word of God more faithfully than a president or congressman follows the constitution!
Be like the Bereans, who the Bible says in Acts 17:11 “…. were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”
Paul said, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1)
What am I trying to say? There are a number of great wise old men and women out there and I thank God for them. But beware! There are also some very foolish old men and women out there too. Let’s look up to the good ones, and be sure our lives are patterned after Christ and His Word as we all get older each day. Gray hair is a crown of glory…it is found in the way of righteousness! Stay in the Word, and seek out God’s people.