We must test our judgement and recognize when our vision is limited or skewed by perspectives of our own making and preference. The Myers/Briggs personality test is a prime illustration of how important our preference are with respect to our views. When I first took this personality test there was a question which asked, “Do you feel better when a project is completed or before its completion?” I scoffed at this question, thinking everyone prefers a completed project. However, to my great surprise there are many who prefer process over completion. Our preferences can skew what we think and how we interpret facts to render a judgement.
Donald J. Trump is a prime example of a person rife for misunderstanding and skewed judgements. His words often seem arrogant, egotistic, pompous and bombastic, but is he a truly bad person? Many from both political parties will affirm, “Yes,” without hesitation or reserve. However, to accurately know someone we have to see more than political speeches and rhetoric, we would need to know if they are generous, caring to family and friends, compassionate, thoughtful of others. With regard to public figures, famous people, or celebrities these things are often hidden and personal. Truly humble people keep their acts of devotion to God private and secret.
Many “Church goers” may have a distinctly skewed perspective. For example, VP Mike Pence was portrayed as a devout Christian of high moral standards, and that could be true. I believe he fit the image of a “Christian” in the “Church goer” perspective. In contrast, Donald Trump may not fit that same perspective for Church goers, nevertheless, in his heart he could be pleasing to God, unselfishly willing to endure years of unjust persecution, lies, and attacks by the World system. Mike Pence claims to be a Republican, but cannot humble himself, nor forgive Trump’s name calling in order to support his parties nominee.
Who is truly humble and worthy before God is a serious decision; we must test ourselves before judging others. “How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
(Luke 6:42) Do we let our “Church goer” expectations keep us from seeing clearly? Jimmy Carter was a politician who fit the “Church goer” model, but supported horrible policies totally opposed to Godly values during and after his term as President.
This is not an endorsement or condemnation of anyone mentioned above, but a call to each individual to earnestly seek God first for clear vision, unbiased by media pundits, preachers, and especially our own preferences.
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