by: Allen Domelle
The past few days the Ukrainian crisis has flooded the headlines of every news agency. The president of Russia, Vladimir Putin, sent his troops and took the city of Crimea and seemingly is threatening to invade Ukraine. Though Putin has insisted that he is not going to invade Ukraine, it is hard to believe a man who seems bent on reuniting the USSR.
While Russian troops are standing on Ukraine soil, President Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry, have tried to use a war of words hoping it will strike fear in the heart of the Russian president and cause him to take a step back. The problem is that the Russian president doesn’t fear what President Obama says because Mr. Obama has yet to back up any forceful words when it comes to foreign policy.
There is a reason the world does not fear President Obama. Why should the world fear a president who never follows through on his threats? You can threaten that you are going to do something, but if you are going to put the threat out there, then you better back it up with action. A threat is only as strong as the action.
Mr. Putin has not forgotten the red line Mr. Obama laid down if the Syrian president used chemical weapons. Mr. Putin remembers very well President Obama promising military response if chemical weapons were used, and he remembers what Obama did once it was discovered chemical weapons were used.
Mr. Putin remembers Barack Obama’s ridicule of Mitt Romney during the last presidential debate when he said, “A few months ago when you were asked what’s the biggest geopolitical threat facing America, you said Russia…the 1980s are now calling to ask for their foreign policy back because the Cold War’s been over for 20 years.” Why should he fear anything President Obama says when it is obvious that Obama doesn’t consider Russia a valid threat?
Mr. Putin remembers John Kerry’s statement at the Democratic National Convention when he ridiculed Mitt Romney by saying, “He’s even blurted out the preposterous notion that Russia is our ‘number one geopolitical foe.’ Folks: Sarah Palin said she could see Russia from Alaska; Mitt Romney talks like he’s only seen Russia by watching Rocky IV.”
Mr. Putin remembers President Obama promising President Medvedev, “This is my last election. After my election I have more flexibility.” Mr. Obama may be able to spin what he said to the news media, but Putin knows that there has been a void of leadership in the United States for the past five years.
While President Obama thinks that everyone will cower when he says there will be “consequences” if these renegade leaders cross the line, the rest of us roll our eyes and remember the “consequences” line before and the lack of action after the line was crossed. Saying you are going to do something and not backing it up is not leadership.
Leadership is doing what you say you are going to do. Matthew 5:37 says, “But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.” True leaders say what they mean, and they follow up their words with action. Leaders are not strong because they say something, they are strong because they back up what they say with action.
You might remember when Solomon became king of Israel that he told Shimei, “And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Build thee an house in Jerusalem, and dwell there, and go not forth thence any whither.” (1 Kings 2:36) Shimei didn’t believe Solomon would truly kill him if he left the borders of his home and challenged him when he left his home to retrieve two servants that ran away. However, Solomon was not void of leadership, but he followed through with his threat and had Shimei killed when he crossed the “red line.”
The problem America faces today is that we are a nation void of leadership. We are a nation who has a man who carries the title of “President of the United States,” but isn’t filling the role for which he was elected.
Alan Colmes, a Fox News contributor, asked what Mitt Romney would do differently than President Obama. Though we don’t know what he would do differently because he is not president, Mr. Colmes is missing the point in that this would have never happened had Mr. Obama exhibited leadership and stood behind his “red line” and “consequences” threats to previous leaders. Mr. Putin would have thought twice before he sent his troops into Crimea if President Obama displayed strong leadership.
Christian, one of the key elements of leadership is following through with what you say you will do. Whether you are a business leader, church leader or parent in the home, if you say you are going to do something, then you better do it. Leadership is never easy, and leaving the position of leadership void only weakens a business, church or home where the leader is absent. Until Mr. Obama becomes a president where his “yea” is “yea” and his “nay” is “nay,” then he will continue to face rogue leaders who don’t believe him and who will put our nation’s security at risk. Leaders who don’t follow up with what they say are leaving their position void.
Whenever you choose leaders, be sure you choose leaders who follow through with what they say. Whether the leader is a pastor or someone you are voting into office, always be sure that they don’t leave their position void. If politicians are not present when it is time to vote, then don’t vote for them because they have left their position void. If a pastor doesn’t follow through with what he preaches from the pulpit, then you would be wise to find a pastor who considers his position important enough to follow through on what he says. Leadership cannot be absent, but they must follow through with what they say or they will hurt those whom they are supposed to protect.
Allen Domelle is the editor of the Old Paths Journal which is more than just a Christian’s publication. It is an excellent place to learn how today’s headlines will forge tomorrow’s laws and statutes. Keep yourself in tune with what is happening around the world, as well as in your own backyard with our daily updates and devotionals.