04/09/2026
𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐅 𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐑𝐔𝐏𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐈𝐒𝐍’𝐓 𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐀 𝐆𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐁𝐋𝐄𝐌?
This is going to be a long post, so buckle up.
With everything happening in our country right now, there’s a lot of finger-pointing about who’s at fault. And I get it. When people in positions of power abuse that power, they should absolutely be held accountable.
But I’ve also been thinking about how easy it is to look at another person’s sin while overlooking our own.
Jesus talked about seeing the speck in our brother’s eye while ignoring the log in our own.
And when the conversation about corruption begins, I wonder how many of us immediately start naming politicians, government officials, families, parties, and everyone else we believe is responsible.
But if we dig deeper, who among us is completely innocent?
Who actually did the work before voting, instead of choosing based on popularity, personality, family influence, social media, or whatever narrative we were handed?
And beyond elections, what happens in our own homes, workplaces, businesses, schools, and families?
Because corruption isn’t always millions of pesos disappearing from government funds.
Sometimes it’s dishonesty when nobody is watching. Taking something that isn’t ours. Lying to get ahead. Cutting corners because we know we can get away with it. Using connections unfairly. Cheating someone. Manipulating people. Refusing to do the work we’re being paid to do. Protecting someone’s wrongdoing because they’re family. Compromising what is right because doing the right thing would cost us something.
Different sins carry different consequences, and people entrusted with greater power should be held to account for how they use it.
But the same sinful heart we condemn when it is displayed publicly can exist quietly in us too.
Their sins are magnified because they hold public office and are under the scrutiny of an entire nation. Ours may happen behind closed doors where nobody is watching.
But God sees both.
And maybe before we spend all our energy asking, “What is wrong with these people?” we should also have the courage to sit alone with God and ask:
“Lord, what is corrupt in me?”
Where have I been dishonest?
Where have I compromised?
Where have I benefited from something I knew wasn’t right?
Where have I demanded integrity from leaders while making excuses for the lack of integrity in my own life?
And yes, we should demand accountability from our leaders. We should care about justice. We should vote responsibly. We should speak against wrongdoing. None of this means remaining silent about corruption or excusing those who abuse public trust.
But accountability cannot only be something we demand from other people.
Jesus said, “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” - Matthew 7:5 (NASB)
Notice that Jesus didn’t say to ignore the speck.
He said to deal with your own log first, which to be fair is way bigger than a speck, so you can see clearly.
Maybe national change doesn’t only require better people in government.
Maybe it also requires a people willing to repent in private.
Because before corruption reaches an office, an institution, or a government, it begins somewhere much closer to home:
𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩.
