You probably only hear the word, vetted, every 4 years. Wikipedia’s definition is this: Broadly, vetting is a process of examination and evaluation. Specifically, vetting often refers to performing a background check on someone before offering them employment. In addition, in intelligence gathering, assets are vetted to determine their usefulness.
On Saturday, as soon as Barak Obama chose his running mate, Joe Biden for the coming election, the pundits
immediately started sharing their opinion’s about his choice. Some were praising the choice, while others started questioning whether or not Barak properly vetted Joe Bidden. Why all of the questions? Well, Joe Bidden has a history of saying things that are not so popular or proper. He made what could be considered as racist remarks about Obama, saying he was the first ‘clean’ ‘articulate’ African American in contention for the democratic parties nomination, he said that ‘you have to have a little Indian accent to go into a Seven-Eleven convenient store…I’m not kidding,’ as well, he point blankly said that his now running mate was lacking the experience needed to be President and that the office of President was not the place for ‘on the job training.’ Biden later blasted Obama’s lack of foreign policy experience and comments he made concerning Pakistan and Iran. The fear for democrats who support the election of Barak Obama is that something will come out about Biden or that he will say something that could potentially ruin Barak’s chances of being elected.
What if, John Edwards was the chosen running mate for Barak Obama, and Obama chose to select Edwards as his running mate 1 month ago? The experts this weekend were saying that some candidates are not vetted as much as others because they have already been vetted as Presidential candidates, therefore they feel that Biden may have had less vetting than someone who did not run for President this year, but what if the same process had been taken with Edwards? The recent news about Edwards’ affair would have sunk Obama’s ship, as would any issues with Biden if they were to come about.
As I was running the other night, I could not help but to think, have I been vetted? Have I vetted myself? Is
there anything in my life that if it were discovered would potentially embarrass my God, my family, my church, or my employer? You are probably familiar with the situation with Michael Guglielmucci, who was made famous quickly with his song Healer and the story that went a long with it. However as Michael quickly stepped into the spotlight he started getting vetted, and it was found that Michael had something in his life that did not match up with the character of the Lord he sang about. Brad had a great post HERE concerning the story, and this post is not to cast criticism on Michael because we all have sin in our lives and we have all failed, though our failures at times fall on different levels. This post is to point out that when we don’t vet ourselves and allow Christ to vet us by examining our inner most secret areas, someone will, and in the end Christ will take a hit, our families will take a hit, our churches will take a hit, our friends will take a hit, Christianity will take a hit, and we will lose all credibility and trust we have ever gained.
Join the Conversation: Have you vetted yourself lately? Most importantly, have you allowed Christ to vet you lately?
I’ll admit, I didn’t know what the word “vetted” meant (learn something new all the time I guess).
Now that I know, your post is really right on. Situations like the one with Michael Gulielmucci, as sad as they are, are a reminder for all of us to do some personal vetting of ourselves, our volunteers and our leadership team.
Any time we shy away from close examination of our lives we are in danger of letting the enemy step in.
wow! That is a powerful, and thought provoking question. One that I think we all need to ask ourselves us on a regular basis. To make sure we keep all the junk cleaned out of our insides so that it doesn’t bring shame to the name of the God that we represent.
very true… and very interesting word 🙂
it is so true though — better to be authentic and endure pain/criticism/judgement by people because of our weaknesses and sin now — then having it come out years later because when those seeds come up – the negative is 100 fold and is discredits any good we have done from the ‘big lie’ until uncovery.
as painful as it sometimes – I want to be authentic. I really do… I want to able to share myself – good and bad with others and be genuine. Can you imagine if we were all really like that? It would ultimately be see free-ing and give those around us soo much freedom to be themselves and would make so evident that we all NEED a savior…. I know that when I expose my sin now even when I feel totally not ready too yet — God will always be there to bandage me up and make me like new again. It’s just so hard sometimes! pride, embarassment, shame, guilt, the desire to just stay in our sinful state because we bought the lie that sin feels so good and we need it….
anyway 🙂 ramble ramble
great post today
I was just thinking about what I want to be more like and the qualities I need to be more Christlike today when I was told that someone wanted to be like me, I laughed out loud it was so funny to me. But really it’s a good thing because the things they mentioned liking are good things, good qualities I have from being a Christian. It just made me think about all the other qualities I lack. And other ways I want to shine for Christ.
I have been dealing with a situation about sins of my past. I have a child with a girl I dated before I got married. The pastoral staff at the church I volunteer at knows about this. I maintain my obligations to this child but it still came out to other people in the church that I have this past sin. It furthered conversation to the point that it came into question (not by the pastoral staff) of if I should be leading a small group bible study or heading up a volunteer team. I had to explain to people that really didn’t know, about something that occured in a different time in my life. I did so without shame, because I am forgiven for that sin. My questions are 1. Do I owe everyone that asks an explanation? If I do I will gladly testify and 2. Should a past sin disqualify someone from serving or leading at a church? Does it make it easier for people to accept the fact that you are a sinner if you tell them all about your sin? This is a great post Nick, thought provoking, great job.
I knew what vetted meant. We used it all the time in the Army when talking to Iraqis. I think we know everything about Biden’s past, his plagiarism in college, his big mouth and I know he will say something on the campaign that will bite him. What I am waiting on is the bombshell about Obama and everyone knows there is one out there but the media is sitting on it because he is their anointed one.
great post nick… I have put my foot in my mouth way to many times, and I have a pretty good feeling I will do the same thing in the future. However, I’m a little more careful now days then I was many years ago.
I didn’t really know much about Biden, but I’m hoping he makes this campaign a little more interesting.
I am so thankful I am not running for anything or running away from anything…:)