Much in the order of suggesting we need a
businessman for president, I would like to suggest we need (whatever their
career role) someone with the qualities of a pastor. Note I did not say preacher or one with an
arm full of doctrines. I mean someone
who meets the people where they are; someone who loves them and desires for
them wholeness; someone who has outreach to others—a visiting pastor, so to
speak; someone with humility that appreciates his own limitations; someone who
realizes the itinerate nature of political office—understanding that someone soon
with different strengths and weaknesses will be taking his place; someone
with a kind sense of humor; someone who exercises compassion; someone who is a peacemaker and earnestly desires
and works for reconciliation; someone deeply understanding of human nature yet
not hardened by this knowledge; someone who will reach out to our best drives,
instincts, and ideas and encourage development of character; someone who will
appeal to the foundational values of our institutions; someone who loves
children and always desires the best for them; someone who honors the family; someone
willing to put service before wealth, fame, or fortune; someone with tangible
respect for all people no matter their class or social standing; someone who has
no judgmental arrogance; someone always willing to seek and appeal to the good
in others; someone willing to risk their lives for eternal verities. But, you may say, the President is Commander in
Chief, unfitting the role of a pastor.
Maybe, maybe not. What I have essentially
argued for is a righteous man—someone who does not look kindly upon injustice, neglectful
treatment of the innocent, crimes against humanity of any sort. It reminds me in a way of the use of profanity. If a person speaks profanely all the time,
the effect and force of the practice is diminished. However, if someone who seldom if ever utters
a cuss word suddenly does so, typically it carries great force and effect. I would not bet on the blind indulgence of
the righteous man nor of his yielding to the temptation to view life as cheap.
