A Brazilian friend recently provided great insight into the human heart as it operates on American soil. He has been attending a weekly gathering of guys who meet at a local restaurant. One of the guys who attends happens to be a formal model (we'll call him Joe). Joe spent ten years modeling all over the world. He lived in New York and Miami and traveled extensively doing jobs for big name companies. Now Joe is going back to school to pursue medicine. He is astoundingly good looking. His face belongs on the front of a magazine. Girls regularly give him their number. But, it seems that guys also show interest in him. Not in the way you are thinking (though I'm sure that's the case) but in deference. This is what my friend pointed out. He relayed to me when Joe walks in the whole scene changes. Looks of approval, smiles, upbeat conversation, attention his way...deference. To the man everyone pays deference to Joe because of his looks. That's insightful.

I have seen this with my own children. The ones who are athletic or smart or beautiful get the attention of others. I have twins. One had a brain injury and has to work very hard at life. The other got all the "right" genes and though inwardly has normal struggles, outwardly is equipped for this American life. One gets invitations to all the parties, the other doesn't. To one deference is given, to the other no reference is given. I see this with my younger son. He was born "getting" life, makes friends easy, is athletic, a natural extrovert. The other day a friend said, "He's an impressive young man!"

Saul was an impressive young man, a head taller than all the rest. He was a crowd favorite. He got picked first on all the ball teams, made great grades, dated who he wanted, got courted for jobs and lived the American dream. David on the other hand couldn't buy a job in the army (they let anyone in, right?). He ran baked goods to his bigger, stronger, faster brothers. Even God's chosen servant and his own family thought him a runt.

David Brooks (or someone else whom I haven't read yet) coined the phrase "meritocracy." He basically refers to the system of merit that drives life. Everything is based on some form of merit. Morality merit gets you to heaven. Beauty merit gets you approval. Athletic merit gets you the love of your overbearing Dad. Coolness merit gets you in the peer group of your choice. Financial merit gets you comfort. Skill merit gets you promotion. It is what I call the Order of Esau.

"Jacob I loved but Esau I hated..." Christians usually confuse or abuse this verse. We don't know what to do with it or we use it to prove Predestination. If you read it in it's immediate and larger context the meaning is clear. God upsets the normal, natural order of things. He doesn't like meritocracy. The world will have Esau (strong, brave, skilled, athetic...) but as long as Esau's life is built on that rock God will not have him. He will have the younger brother who doesn't measure up. God will upset the birthright, the birth order.

Pharoah's in the same boat. Even though God gave him chance after chance, he was in bondage to his order. He lived in a culture of meritocracy which knew that a person was determined by their profession. "Oh, you're a shepherd! You live there in the ghetto. Oh, you're not an Egyptian..."  It's interesting that at the end of Jacob's life he is brought before Pharoah. After years of God's loving discipline toward Jabob's own merit based heart, (eg. paying deference to the more beautiful Rachel and shunning the unsightly Leah) he now leaned on his staff praising God before the most important person in the universe at his time. Instead of seeking Pharoahs approval, he "blesses Pharoah." No wonder Pharoah asks, "How old are you?" IOW: I'll give you a hall pass because your an old geezer. Undettered, Jacob blesses Pharoah again and leaves his presence.

The bible doesn't say that God hates much. Religion is filled with misunderstanding about God's right to hate. But, one thing it is clear to say is that God's hates meritocracy. God hates the order of Esau, the system of worth and value based on anything other than Jesus.

Saul was an impressive young man. Esau was loved by his father because he was a skilled outdoorsman. Pharoah was the most powerful man of his time. Children get picked to play because of their ability. Girls get asked out because of their looks. Parents maneuver to get their child into the right school, the right class, the right teacher. Adults get invited because of status based on money, family, personality. Churches whore after size and personality, smooth talking and clever speakers. Kids get rejected, left out, forgotten, overlooked, not referred to and they grow up to destroy buildings and we have talk shows filled with people filled with horror and confusion. Books are written to explain. Anaylists analyze.

I am a recovering meritocratist (coined just now). I judge based on outward appearance, personality. I would rather have edgy, worldly non-christian kids in my group and not sheltered, home-schooled, churced kids. I find it easier to celebrate with winners and not mourn with losers. I wonder if I can love my wife over the years because she is really beautiful while her wrinkles grow. She doesn't struggle as much because I think she has always loved me regardless of my shape and form!

Here's the good news. God hates it. He hates our petty syestems of merit whether in the Church or the world. Wheter it is hypocrisy (the church should know better) or meritocracy (the world may not) God detests it. He will not have it and he will not have it in those he loves. He will drive it out, open our eyes to it, unstopp our ears. Oh, but He understands it and why we have it. He even cures our need for it. He sends a substitute to deal the ultimate blow to meritocracy by actually meriting God's favor. Jesus climbed the only ladder that matters and descended it at the same time. His life of perfect merit won the Father's favor and his death as a reject and loser paid the penalty of a fallen race. In turn the kingdom of God invites the non-invited and tells Esau, Saul and Pharoah to leave your impressiveness at the door. The only garments you we wear are Christ's. The gate is narrow, but, it's open. It's wide open to any who hear the voice of grace and leave merit in God's hands.