I have never been very interested in politics…but the nature of man does interest me. Here are some thoughts.
A dictatorship or monarchy would work well as a system of
government, if the despot had a strong moral compass and was inclined to be
compassionate.
Democracy works well when the people have a strong moral
compass and are inclined to be compassionate.
Capitalism works well when the members of the society behave
morally and are inclined to be benevolent and even philanthropic, if they
acquire more than their fellowmen.
Socialism works well when the members of the society have a
strong work ethic and are tolerant of not acquiring more than their fellowmen.
Here’s the pattern…no form of government or economic system is
sustainable outside of a strong set of moral values, a robust work ethic, and
an inclination to care about those around us.
And…that is why the United States is in trouble.
History revisionists have attempted to remove the Christian
context in which our country was formed, but it was fact. Our government has only lasted as long as it
has because of its moral underpinnings.
That has changed in my lilfetime.
When I was young, even people who were not overtly Christian understood
the value of Christian principles and of having moral absolutes. This is no longer the case. We are not only pluralistic, but also
relativistic. Almost anything can be
rationalized as tolerance. It has become
more important to be “tolerant” than it is to be “moral.”
We are on the slippery slope to destruction. It is not Trump’s fault, and it will not be
Biden’s fault. It is our fault as a
society.
II Timothy 3:1-5 (Phillips translation)
But you must realize that in the last days the times will be full of danger. Men will become utterly self-centered, greedy for money, full of big words. They will be proud and contemptuous, without any regard for what their parents taught them. They will be utterly lacking in gratitude, purity and normal human affections. They will be men of unscrupulous speech and have no control of themselves. They will be passionate and unprincipled, treacherous, self-willed and conceited, loving all the time what gives them pleasure instead of loving God. They will maintain a façade of “religion,” but their conduct will deny its validity.
The nature of man is not basically good and moral. We are desperately wicked and in need of a
Savior.
And…there is a Savior!
I John 1:9 (KJV) If
we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Romans 10:9 (NIV) If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Without repentance, we are facing destruction both
individually and as a nation.