Wisdom, Politics, Faith, and Fear

1 Kings 3:8-9 (NIV) 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

The founding fathers of our nation, those whose documents form our system of government, had great wisdom. Of course, they were not perfect men, but then neither was Solomon. They were men with differing viewpoints and political philosophies. They were flawed just like the men (and women) representing us in government today. Human flaws today are no different from the flaws of our past leaders.

Is the political arena more ugly today than it used to be? Certainly the Civil War was a very ugly time in American history. The division we see today seems as if it could be just as bad. We celebrate President Lincoln for removing the sin of slavery from our young nation but one cannot deny that almost half the nation likely hated him -one man had enough hatred in his heart to assassinate him

Few times in history were void of political turmoil of some sort. Historically, government has been rife with arrogance, abuses of power, questionable judgment, weakness, personal indiscretion, and lack of leadership. It will undoubtedly continue in the future.

There will always be differing political opinions and philosophies on social issues. There will continue to be self-seeking people in positions of leadership. Good leaders may make bad decisions and bad leaders could make good ones. Decisions of the High Court may be judged ‘righteous’ and others will be found to be faulty interpretation of the law.

Psalm 111:10 (NIV) The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding.

It is now ‘politically incorrect’ to say that one fears (gives reverence to) God and seeks His guidance. Since the Supreme Court ruled prayer in school unconstitutional, our country has become a nation that lacks a moral compass. Human reasoning has replaced wisdom. Zero-tolerance has replaced common sense. Political correctness has become more admirable than morality.

Christians have allowed ourselves to be persuaded that we are wrong to ‘force’ our religion on others because they may be ‘offended’. It is freedom of religion and freedom of speech that we are afforded in our First Amendment rights. It is not freedom from religion or from being offended at the speech of others. Are we afraid of offending others more so than offending God? Those of us who claim Jesus as our Savior need to decide whom it is we shall fear.

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV) …if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.