Sound Bite Decisions—or Heart?

A commentary by Frank Dunkle

"You're wrong!"

"No, you are!"

"No, you are!"

"No, you are!"

I heard that commercial on the radio the other day—a parody of sports commentators arguing about some ball game analysis. But it reminded me of the current U.S. presidential race. Every four years Americans see and hear thousands of commercials somewhat like that:

"I'm the best one for the job."

"You're wrong!"

"No, you are!"

"No, you are!"

Admittedly, the commercials have slightly more substance than that—but not much.

The power of the sound bite

When Sarah Palin became the 2008 Republican candidate for vice president, thousands of people began searching to learn more about this little-known governor of distant Alaska. Many criticized her; many praised her; and millions of Americans quickly changed their minds one way or another about how they would vote. Most of this was based on a few brief TV appearances and sound bites.

Does the public really know much about Mrs. Palin, or for that matter about any of the other candidates? Most of our knowledge comes from hearing brief comments and arguments that add up to little more than the dialogue above.

Sometimes politicians give longer speeches and publish essays on their policies, but how deep do they go? And how many people pay attention? If almost no one looks below the surface for qualifications, will leaders be motivated to develop them? Or will they be satisfied with simply creating good sound bites and an attractive image?

The power of substance

There is a story in the Bible that shows a very different method of considering people.

When God wanted a new king for ancient Israel, He sent the prophet Samuel to the home of a man named Jesse. Once there, Samuel was very impressed with his host's tall, handsome, oldest son.

But God was looking for something else. He told Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7, New International Version).

Samuel soon met the youngest of Jesse's sons, who eventually became Israel's greatest leader: King David.

Your heart and character

Wouldn't it be nice if we could, like God, see below the surface of a candidate and look at his or her "heart"—the character and substance of the person? Sadly, we can't, so for now voters in democratic nations continue to choose leaders based largely on sound bites and advertising images.

But there is one person's heart you can see, and that you can do something about—your own!

Politicians may have little motive to develop character below the surface if voters don't read their hearts. But God does look below the surface. If He looks at my heart—and at yours—isn't that a pretty good reason to work hard at improving our inner character?

I'm not running for president or any other office, but the Bible indicates that God wants to prepare people now for leadership positions in a new and better world to come. Vertical thinkers will be among those leaders—but we won't be chosen based on sound bites. To learn more about that future, read "Molding Your Personality for Leadership."

God reads our hearts—the character that drives us—and that is where we can make a great personal difference! VT