Skin color, gender or heart?
The Presidential election is upon us. Primaries, debates, water cooler discussions and of course opinions shared around the kitchen table in our homes.
The amazing thing about this Presidential election is that once you sift through our involvement in the Middle East, the declining state of our economy, health care concerns and how to respond to the terrorist threat, the conversation almost always turns to one of race and gender. Is the United States ready to have a woman as its leader? Will America vote for a black man? Unfortunately, as I listen to a variety of opinions, sometimes subtle and at other times blatant sexism and bigotry begin to emerge.
I have heard comments that Obama will be assassinated if he is elected simply because of the color of his skin. That Hillary will never be elected because she doesn’t have enough testosterone flowing through her veins (I’m not so sure about that). And that the United States will be less of a respected nation in the world if we don’t have a white man at the helm. Ummm, perhaps we should look at the variety of skin color and gender leading the nations of the world today?
In the Bible, in Galatians 3:28, God announces his opinion on this issue very clearly. He states: Now there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male or female . . . It would appear that God is not concerned about race, income status or gender. What God is most concerned about is a person’s heart. What they believe. What they stand for.
In actual fact, several thousand years ago, when God was choosing a King for the nation of Israel, the Prophet Samuel was quick to choose a man who “looked the part.” God, on the other hand, chose David (who became the greatest King Israel has ever known). In choosing David, God said, “The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)
As we continue down this tumultuous path toward November fourth, perhaps we should make sure we are looking beneath the color of skin or the style of hair? Perhaps we should explore, as deeply as is possible, the condition of a candidate’s heart?
In no way am I attempting to endorse a particular candidate. However, I am simply asking all of us not to discount a Presidential possibility solely on the way a person looks. I have to wonder if tall, gangly (and quite frankly—homely), Abraham Lincoln would ever have been elected based on much of the criteria that the American public uses today?
The amazing thing about this Presidential election is that once you sift through our involvement in the Middle East, the declining state of our economy, health care concerns and how to respond to the terrorist threat, the conversation almost always turns to one of race and gender. Is the United States ready to have a woman as its leader? Will America vote for a black man? Unfortunately, as I listen to a variety of opinions, sometimes subtle and at other times blatant sexism and bigotry begin to emerge.
I have heard comments that Obama will be assassinated if he is elected simply because of the color of his skin. That Hillary will never be elected because she doesn’t have enough testosterone flowing through her veins (I’m not so sure about that). And that the United States will be less of a respected nation in the world if we don’t have a white man at the helm. Ummm, perhaps we should look at the variety of skin color and gender leading the nations of the world today?
In the Bible, in Galatians 3:28, God announces his opinion on this issue very clearly. He states: Now there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male or female . . . It would appear that God is not concerned about race, income status or gender. What God is most concerned about is a person’s heart. What they believe. What they stand for.
In actual fact, several thousand years ago, when God was choosing a King for the nation of Israel, the Prophet Samuel was quick to choose a man who “looked the part.” God, on the other hand, chose David (who became the greatest King Israel has ever known). In choosing David, God said, “The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)
As we continue down this tumultuous path toward November fourth, perhaps we should make sure we are looking beneath the color of skin or the style of hair? Perhaps we should explore, as deeply as is possible, the condition of a candidate’s heart?
In no way am I attempting to endorse a particular candidate. However, I am simply asking all of us not to discount a Presidential possibility solely on the way a person looks. I have to wonder if tall, gangly (and quite frankly—homely), Abraham Lincoln would ever have been elected based on much of the criteria that the American public uses today?
posted by Greg Nettle at 10:04 AM
6 Comments:
I agree that we, just like the early Israelites, look too much on the outside. However, I don't believe that being King of Israel and President of the United States are equivalent. I think the person who may most be qualified to lead this country may not be the person whose heart condition is as we'd like it to be. Martin Luther said it well, "I would rather be ruled by a competent Turk than an incompetent Christian."
Greg,
Just wanted to say I enjoyed your message today at Compassion International. Thank you for reminding us how important our jobs are for the Kingdom. And thank you for being such a strong voice for the millions of children who would otherwise go unheard around the world.
Blessings,
tim
I agree that we must look at the inside. We are a media saturated culture and all it does is encourage us to use outward appearances to make inward judgements. No wonder so many children today (as well as my generation) lack so much depth.
I saw you at Compassion Yesterday. That was a great message and I am holding onto my bebe's and think it might be time to add a few more to my collection.
~Shalom
I'm actually more fearful of the opposite. That women will vote for Hillary simply because they want a woman President.
I urge everyone to stop looking to mainstream media and news as valid sources of information.
A good place to start is www.vote-smart.org
Kerri,
Very important and VERY VALID concern Kerri.
vote-smart.org is a good site to check out.
g
What is MOST important is that you LIVE your life, striving not to be noticed by anyone, other that GOD. Not that you are earning your way to heaven, but that you are striving daily to BE the hands and feet and voice of JESUS. Within the Christian community, we have "Celebrities" that I am afraid are being driven by the same motivations that we criticize the "mainstream" for....they are unreachable and seem "perfect" from the outside. We are only human.....it "feels" good to be noticed and praised, but be ever so careful that you are not motivated by the same measurement of acheivement that we criticize others for. Public accolades are intoxocating and addictive, whether you are a Christian or not. I think we are all in the same boat as the canditates for president.....we all want the public to like us and "see" us in a positive light. But , what matters , is what we are doing daily for others, not ourselves.
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