Every four years, politicians with aspirations of holding the highest office in the land, vie for the favor of America’s citizens. Commercials inundate the networks, one party explaining how the current Administration failed and the other trashing the credentials of the contender. Both the Republican and Democrat parties have diehards, people who scoff at voting for a person of a different political persuasion. Some claim to be Independents, voting for the man or woman with the most attractive plan. However, in 2008 something unique happened. An African American campaigned for the Oval Office. After the election and Mr. Obama’s win, pollsters suggested that some people cast their votes for Obama to usher in a significant moment of history. Ignoring his ideology and associations, many Americans marked the ballot for Obama to prove race didn’t matter. With charisma, President Obama charmed the world and the voting public believed this man offered a welcomed “hope and change.” As voting precincts closed, it soon became clear that Barack Obama would serve as the 44th President of the United States. Instead of voting to promote Capitalism and American Exceptionalism, the populace swooned over an up and coming “rock star” in the democrat party…Swooning and “tingling legs” make for warm fuzzy stories by the main stream media, but poor reasons to elect a man to the highest office in the land. People often ignore the fact that character and morals matter.
Centuries ago, the nation of Israel learned a tough lesson in crowning a King. God served as Israel’s King until the Israelite children decided it was time to “keep up with the Joneses’,” mimicking the ruling systems of neighboring nations. God instructed Samuel to let the people have what they asked for, but to warn them of the pending consequences. God enumerates the repercussions in I Samuel 8:
Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. 11 He said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. 12 Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. 16 Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle[a] and donkeys he will take for his own use. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. 18 When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you in that day. ” (I Samuel 8:10-18)
In verse 19, readers find that the people refused to listen, demanding to be like all the other nations.
Chapter nine opens with a description of the future king of Israel. Verse 2 states,
“Kish had a son named Saul, as handsome a young man as could be found anywhere in Israel, and he was a head taller than anyone else.” (I Samuel 9:2)
Gill’s Commentary explains,
“It was usual with the eastern people, and so with the Greeks and Romans, to choose persons to the highest offices of magistracy that made a personable appearance superior to others, and is what they often take notice of, as a recommendation of them as princes.”
Good looks and a towering stature met the criteria for someone to wear the royal crown. Unfortunately, the children of Israel failed to understand, “man looks at the outward appearance but God sees the heart.”
In a couple of months, people once again vote for the person to lead our Country into the next four years. With the glamor and glitz now obscured by a haze of joblessness, economic upheaval, and uncertainty for the future generations to come, people must decide if they find themselves in a better place than the last election cycle. If not, voting for Romney/Ryan isn’t a racist decision, but one based upon common sense.
Former Democratic Congressman Artur Davis said it best last night at the Republican National Convention,
“Maybe we should have known that night in Denver that things that begin with Styrofoam Greek columns and artificial smoke typically don’t end well.”
Though appealing, flashy smiles, well-coiffed appearances, and articulate speeches should never be the clinching factor in a presidential election. Take time to pore over the issues. Carefully parse the speeches, ideology, and previous experiences of the candidate, including partnerships and influences. Then, after weighing all of the pros and cons, pray about the selection. As a Christian, ask yourself the question, “Would Jesus vote for this person?” If not….don’t.
Contrary to the belief system of some, character and integrity trumps “tingling legs.”
Character and morals matter.
Amen! And when we ingestigate the issues we need to share what we learn with others.