True man  - 20 October 2007

True man

One of the constant warnings that get thrown our way nowadays is that we must not be judgemental. Do you also sometimes feel that this is a tactic to scare us away from the truth? Are we being judgemental when we call a spade a spade and not a fork? I suppose that when we say that compared to a fork a spade is poorly designed then we might start talking about being judgemental.

What got me thinking about this topic was an interview on the BBC last night with one of the leading voices in the values voters movement in the USA. These are mainly evangelicals who seek to promote biblical pro-life and pro-family values by giving their votes only to those candidates who are prepared to take a public stand for these values.

The minister explained that they also take into consideration what a candidate's family life is like. At that point he made a reference to former USA president Harry Truman. Truman said that he is very reluctant to hire a man who cheats on his wife. He reasoned that if a man could do that to his own wife then he could do the same to him. Surely, today's humanistic mind would say that Truman was being judgemental. People are entitled to their opinions but I believe that Truman must have been a true man.

Truman's story reminded me of South Africa's former political leaders who received national and international recognition. I was one of those who were shocked and disappointed when it came to light that this man cheated on his wife. In fact, not only did he cheat on his wife but he also cheated on his friend by stealing his wife from him. The next time this leader stood before me with his friend's wife at his side and told me, "Take my word for it" how would I have ever trust him to keep his word to me?

'Then Nathan said to David, "You are the man."' (2 Samuel 12:7)

Have a blessed weekend.
 
Pressing on!
 
In His love
 
Fano Sibisi