The Making of a Great American President
Written by Jimmie Burroughs
“Fame is a vapor, popularity an accident, riches take wings, those who cheer today will curse tomorrow, only one thing endures–character.” – Horas Greely
If we were to narrow down to one essential quality in “The Making of a Great American President,” it would be character. I don’t mean that a president can’t do great things and at the same time not be noted for great character. However, there is a difference in doing great things and being a great person. In fact, a great person might find it more difficult to accomplish great things because of today’s ever presence of repressive evil and its influence on people. How much a person of character could accomplish in a corrupt government is questionable. At the very least it would be an uphill battle all the way.
Character was a word used commonly during the nineteenth century. It was a key word in the everyday vocabulary of Americans. In those days, it was a standard by which men were judged. They were either men of character or men of no character. People were taught from childhood the value of character and that it was to be pursued above all else. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the opinion toward character began to be replaced in favor of personality; that was when personal development began to be popular. There is a difference in personality and character. Personality only reveals what a person is on the outside, which is the goal of personal development, or how the world perceives you to be according to how you behave. A deeper kind of character is related to a Christian whose behavior is directed from within. The Christian character reveals what you are from within and not what you appear to be on the outside or solely by the things you do.
This is not to say that there is anything wrong with personal development or the cultivation of personality. It is preferable for people to be their best. It is profitable for forming good relationships, becoming successful and living better. But personality in no way is a substitute for character. Character, which is from God, should be the very foundation of every person’s life.
That is the kind of true character we are describing in this article. According to Psychologist Erich Fromm, “man, by design, is inherently good.” That is not what the Bible teaches. Listen to what that man said who is considered by many as the wisest man in recorded history: King Solomon said, “There’s not one totally good person on earth, not one who is truly pure and sinless,” Ecclesiastes 7:20.So, what does it really mean to have character? It certainly is not perfection, since there is none perfect on the face of the earth. I think Coach John Wooden defined it well: “Character is what you do when no one is watching.” In other words, it is genuine and not a performance for others to see. He also said, “In pursuit of being the best (person) possible, you should always assume someone is watching and act accordingly.” Actually, someone is watching and that is almighty God, and it is He we should strive to please.
As mentioned before, there are two kinds of character: That which is produced by personal effort through personal development, and then there is character that is inherent that is inherited when a person has a relationship with God. That is the kind of character I’m referring to that is essential to being “The Great American President.”
I’ve wondered what voters look for when they choose a particular candidate to vote for. What if it is obvious that not one candidate seems to have a shred of character? First of all, it makes one wonder if character is no longer considered to be relevant in politics, and secondly, by what standard is a person to determine who is best qualified? Is it only by their looks, education, personality or notoriety?
Character includes a lot of attributes often found missing in today’s politicians, like for example, George Washington’s “sure judgment,” “perfect balance of thoroughly sound faculties,” and “great calmness of temper, great firmness of purpose, supreme moral principle, and intense patriotism.” Also, what about Abraham Lincoln, the self-educated, tall and lanky country boy with his inner qualities: “his faithfulness, honesty, resolution, insight, humor, and courage.” These men were great examples of “The Making of a Great American President.” It is real character and certainly not anything to do with personal appearance or a fancy degree from a prestigious university.
I would vote for either a Democratic or Republican if I believed they were people of character, and held a world view based on the Bible. However, I’ve voted Republican for the past several years, not based on character, but solely because they seemed to at least have a world view closer to that of the Bible. How badly we need a George Washington or an Abraham Lincoln today in the White House, or would they too be impeached out of envy and hatred? I’m sorry if I appear to be negative, but how else can one be when there is so much negativity in government today? I love America and pray each day for a “Great Awakening” like at times in this country’s past. Honestly, it is pathetic when you go to vote and believe you are just choosing the best of two evils.
So, what is meant by character being inherited when a person becomes a believer in Christ? The Apostle Peter reveals a clear definition of character and where it comes from: “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our LORD Jesus Christ,” 2 Peter 1:3-8.
Although, we do inherit true godly character from the moment we accept Christ as our personal savior, it does not mean we then are all that we can be as indicated by the reference above. Character continues to grow as we make every effort and are in submission to God’s will. God continues to work in our life through sanctification (setting us apart from the person we were and making us into the person He created us to be). I like to refer to this as Christian personal development, and that is what this website is all about.
If true character is something you are interested in, you can start today with a new foundation through Christ the Lord. I have prepared a step-by-step guide on how you can have a relationship with God and receive not only the foundation for a new character but also His gift of eternal life. CLICK HERE.