CONTINENTAL CORRUPTION

From My Perspective - - -

As we try to understand the times in which we live and consider how to function amid the rapidly changing times, we gain a sense that the gradualism that has been allowed and accepted by the citizenry has produced a context and way of life that is marked by cultural chaos. How did we become so complacent and indifferent? Why is it that we elected people to political office without ascertaining their moral values and worldview? How is it that we allow ourselves to either ignore or forget the adage that cautioned: “Power corrupts – absolute power corrupts absolutely”? The words of Thomas Jefferson are a haunting reminder: “Experience has shown that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny.” Even further back in history than Jefferson are the words of Tacitus in The Annals of Imperial Rome where he wrote: “The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws.” There is this caustic comment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky in The Brothers Karamazov where he wrote: “I can't bear the thought that a man of lofty mind and heart begins with the ideal of the Madonna and ends with the ideal of Sodom.” 

The ideals and influences of Sodom and Gomorrah began to be apparent in the Gallup Survey released in February 2013 that concluded: “The percentage of U.S. adults who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) ranges from 1.7% in North Dakota to 5.1% in Hawaii and 10% in the District of Columbia…” The point made was that every State in the Union is part of the overall statistic and that currently, since the change in military and civil law, the numbers have increased to an estimate that between 5% and 20% of the population can be included in the LGBT orientation and preference. The cultural chaotic slide toward Gomorrah is escalated further by the trends toward the legalization of marijuana use. Is this slide into Cultural Chaos and the nearing arrival in Gomorrah a surprise? Where are the persons of character and moral verities who will stand in the gap of humanity and say “ENOUGH – we have gone too far and must reverse these chaotic choices!”?

There are obvious reasons why this slide toward Gomorrah has occurred and is continuing to accelerate. Once we allowed for the removal of prayer, Bible reading, singing of Christmas Carols and the removal of Nativity Scenes from our schools, cities and culture, a vacuum was created that began to be filled with all kinds of things once viewed as anomalies. It’s interesting to observe how corrupt leaders can follow a subtle path in order to attain a devious goal and end. In terms of the children, Adolph Hitler wrote in Mein Kampf, “The state must declare the child to be the most precious treasure of the people. As long as the government is perceived as working for the benefit of the children, the people will happily endure almost any curtailment of liberty and almost any deprivation.” Where did this lead? History records the death camps, the targeting of all Jews (who were declared to be sub-human), the inhumanities toward ethnic peoples, and the desire to achieve the master race. This was allowed to mushroom because of the complacency, indifference and gullibility of people – and then – they had waited too long to be opposed to the turpitude (base and shameful character; depravity) of their leaders and the mistreatment of their fellow man.

The Bible addresses the subject of corruption and especially in the day wherein it is steadily increased within a culture that seems eager to embrace it. The question is – How can a follower of Jesus Christ survive amid the eroding, decaying and chaotic culture? In II Peter 1:3-4, we are given words of hope and confidence: “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” Romans 8:21-25 (selected) is a word of encouragement and hope: “the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God… For in this hope we were saved…we wait for it with patience.” You can and must make a difference for Christ and His kingdom in this corrupt culture. Consider these things with me.