Thoughts on Running a Clean Race: Rotary, Jesus and Politics

In the final days of the campaign for HD53 as innuendos, misinformation, attacks and outright lies against me come, some of my friends ask, “Why don’t you hit back? You’ve got plenty of dirt you could use! Fight back!” 
 
I’m not going to do that. I’m not going negative. Here’s why.

​The Rotary Four Way Test. I’ve been a Rotarian for many years. Rotary is the largest secular service organization in the world. We have a code of conduct called the Four Way Test. It is one of the things that shape the honorable behavior of the men and women who call themselves Rotarians, calling for us to measure every intended word or action against this standard:

• Is it the Truth? Not, is it a partial truth. Not, is it something we can twist to sound like truth to serve our purposes. Simply, is it the Truth? You can often watch people choke on lies or signal their attempt at deception. Police interrogators call this physical reaction to lies, a “tell.” See, no matter what we do to convince ourselves we can get away with it, we know it’s a lie. In a culture that prizes relativity, Truth still matters. 

You can often watch people choke on lies or signal their attempt at deception. Police interrogators call this physical reaction to lies, a “tell.” See, no matter what we do to convince ourselves we can get away with it, we know it’s a lie. In a culture that prizes relativity, Truth still matters. ​​​​

• Is it fair to all concerned? You’d think in a world fixated on “equity,” that fairness would be a paramount consideration. In Rotary, we don’t seek to gain an advantage over others. We seek to build everyone up. That starts with asking, “Is what we are about to do or say fair to all concerned?”
• Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Politicians come and go. Political causes come and go. But family and friends are forever. Burning relational bridges to achieve a political agenda may lead to short term gain, but it results in long term relational failure. 
• Will it be beneficial to all concerned? The natural human instinct is to ask, “What’s in it for me?” But this unusual Rotarian question causes us to reflect that what helps one of us, ultimately helps us all. We are in this together. We rise or fall based on how we serve each other. Thus, the Rotary motto: “Service Above Self.” 

Unless something passes each one of the four tests, a Rotarian says, “No thank you.” We fall short sometimes of course. But that’s our aspiration. And it’s a noble one. I wish politics was like this. Unfortunately, it appears it’s not. But I’m hopeful it could be. I plan to take the Four Way Test to Salem. Imagine a government where decisions were run through the filter of the Four Way Test. What kind of state might we produce? What kind of world might we see unfold? ​

I plan to take the Four Way Test to Salem. Imagine a government where decisions were run through the filter of the Four Way Test. What kind of state might we produce? What kind of world might we see unfold? ​​

Unless something passes each one of the four tests, a Rotarian says, “No thank you.” We fall short sometimes of course. But that’s our aspiration. And it’s a noble one. I wish politics was like this. Unfortunately, it appears it’s not. But I’m hopeful it could be. I plan to take the Four Way Test to Salem. Imagine a government where decisions were run through the filter of the Four Way Test. What kind of state might we produce? What kind of world might we see unfold? 
 
Bless Those Who Curse You. I get asked by the liberal media, “Why do you mention you are a Christian in your campaign materials?” My short response is, “Everyone who call themselves a leader follows someone. I follow Christ. Imperfectly, but diligently, nonetheless. Therefore, you can generally predict how I’ll behave, because you can look at who I aspire to follow.” ​

​Here’s how Jesus said to behave when we are attacked: “But to you who are listening, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

In my natural self, I want to fight back when attacked. I’m a fighter, a warrior…and an effective one. But that is not my aspiration. I aspire to follow Christ. I hope to bring my aspirational self to Salem. 
 
Regardless of whether you believe in Jesus, imagine a government shaped by His teachings. That’s the kind of government I want to be part of. 
 
Michael Sipe is a local business consultant and candidate for HD 53 State Representative

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