In a church election, the physically attractive candidate is most likely to be elected.
Do you look at things from the outward appearance?
[2 Corinthians 10:7]
The Deacon board and voting membership will believe with all their heart that they are looking for a candidate who knows the word of God, prays fervently, preaches effectively and has a heart to take the gospel into all the world. The nominating committee will convince you that they were led by the Spirit of God. The church board will know that they know that they have heard the voice of God.
Perhaps most people are not even aware that they are choosing the most physically attractive person, but who doesn’t want a tall and handsome person as the face of your fellowship to the community?
I am suggesting that Christians mistake physical attraction for the leading of the Spirit. They do it with gusto. They make whole-hearted high-stakes decisions this way.
The congregation is a flock, and they will follow like sheep. They will follow a leader because of his appearance and eloquence before they will follow a leader because of his spiritual qualifications for ministry.
samuel was rejected
But the thing was evil in the eyes of Samuel, because they said, “Give us a king to govern us.” And Samuel prayed to the Lord. The Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in relation to all that they say to you. For it is not you they have rejected, but Me they have rejected from reigning over them.
[First Samuel 8:6,7]
Israel was motivated by pagan nations
But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel. And they said, “No! But surely a king will be over us! So that we also will be like all the nations! And so that our king will govern us, and will go out before us, and will fight our battles.”
[First Samuel 8:19,20]
Saul was an attractive person
Kish… had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice and handsome man, and there was not a better looking man among the children of Israel. From his shoulders and up he was taller than any of the people.
[First Samuel 9:1,2]
Samuel nearly made the same mistake
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees. For man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
[First Samuel 16:7]
God’s criteria are different than men’s criteria
26 For observe your calling, brothers. Among you, not many wise men according to the flesh, not many mighty men, and not many noble men were called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty. 28 And God has chosen the base things of the world and things which are despised. Yes, and He chose things which did not exist to bring to nothing things that do, 29 so that no flesh should boast in His presence.
[First Corinthians 1:26-29]
The approval of men is not the same as the approval of God
For am I now seeking the approval of men or of God? Or am I trying to please men? For if I were still trying to please men, I would not be the servant of Christ.
[Galatians 1:10]
Pastors should follow the Great Shepherd
I exhort the elders who are among you, as one who is also an elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ as well as a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, take care of them, not by constraint, but willingly, not for dishonest gain, but eagerly. 3 Do not lord over those in your charge, but be examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of glory that will not fade away.
[1 Peter 5:1-4]