Elsewhere in this issue of The Christian, we have commented on the failure of government in the hands of man all down through the ages. But now we are truly in what Scripture calls “the last days” — days that are described as being “perilous times” (2 Tim. 3:1). There have indeed been serious times in the past, but God in His grace has allowed revivals. However, it is a principle with God that light rejected always brings about a worse state of things than if the light had never been given. The light from God in this dispensation of God’s grace has far exceeded any that was ever given to man before, and thus, when this light is given up, the resultant devastation is worse than anything seen before. The description of the last days given in 2 Timothy 3:1-8 is not depicting the pagan world; no, it is Christendom, that now has “a form of godliness,” but denies the power of it. And as Christendom has had an influence for good in this world, so in these last days its evils also affect the entire world.
Democracy
This brings us back again to the question of government and its failure today. Someone has aptly said that in a democracy, people generally get the character of government they deserve. There is a large measure of truth in this, for those who are elected reflect the values and morals of those casting the votes. As an example of this, in one Western country, a leader who campaigned some years ago against a corrupt and incompetent government lost the election, not because any questioned his competence to govern, but because of his “social conservatism.” His conservative (and biblical) views on issues like abortion, homosexuality, and same sex marriage did not square with many, and thus he was rejected. This trend has been general in the Western democracies, although some countries are affected more than others. Another has written the following concerning the U.S.A.:
“The most obvious signs of moral decay in America are the prevalence of out-of-wedlock births, the breakup of families, the amorality of public education, and the eruption of criminal activity. But there are other signs as well: the decline in civility, the lack of integrity in both public and private life, and the growth of litigation as the chief way to settle disputes.”
The same author also writes as follows:
“One cannot blame government for all of society’s ills, but there is no doubt that economic and social legislation over the past 50 years has had a negative impact on virtue. Individuals lose their moral bearing when they become dependent on welfare, when they are rewarded for having children out of wedlock, and when they are not held accountable for their actions. The internal moral compass that normally guides individual behavior will no longer function when the state undermines incentives for moral conduct and blurs the distinction between right and wrong.”
The Fall of the Roman Empire
A similar situation has developed in Europe. A European author, writing a little over two years ago, draws a comparison between the fall of the Roman Empire and the present condition of Europe. He points out that the Roman Empire fell because it was corrupt; moral corruption was the essential concept. The rule of law was either circumvented or frankly ignored. All took care of their personal interests and neglected utterly the general one. He then remarks that the Romans of that day would not feel disoriented in the present European Union. Another has written concerning the European Union:
“True education begins with a knowledge of God, but [in Europe] this is being replaced with a secular agenda that is teaching social justice, gender neutrality ... sexual inclusiveness, LGBT rights, on demand abortion, a welfare state, entitlements, rewriting Christian history ... and other leftist ideologies.
“European education has completely rejected the Judeo-Christian values bequeathed to them during the Protestant Reformation. The great Christian principles of the Reformation shaped the European landscape, but modern liberals today are describing the Reformation period as a time of discrimination, hate, racism, slavery, homophobia, misogyny, colonialism, genocide and anarchy.”
The Purpose of Government
We could go on, but these quotations are sufficient for us to see which way things are headed. In the Word of God, we read that the government is a “minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil” (Rom. 13:4). To the extent that governments carry out this mandate, we can be thankful, for it is God-established government that is referred to in 2 Thessalonians 2:6: “Ye know what withholdeth.” Even evil men would like evil in others to be held in check, while leaving them free to practice their own wrongdoing.
The above quotations reflect the tremendous change in the moral standards of the Western world during the last 50 years, and this, of course, has been reflected in government. However, for some time biblical moral values that had shaped the culture, constitution and laws of the West at least had “lip service” paid to them, even if these values were not followed practically in society in general. But in the past 20 years or so, we have seen those old values almost completely discarded. Immoral and corrupt principles of conduct have been enshrined into law, and those who oppose all this are labeled as intolerant and guilty of “hate crimes.”
In all this we see what might be called a vicious circle. As the morality of the people declines, so inevitably does the morality of government. But then, when the government enacts laws that suit the people they govern, the result is further decline.
Command Governments
Up to this point we have focused on the Western democracies, but we are also seeing changes in the imperialistic or “command governments.” Despite the atheistic tendencies of many of these totalitarian governments, as we have already noted, Christendom has had a beneficial effect on the world. Man cannot entirely deny his conscience. Those who stood firmly for absolutes of right and wrong commanded respect, even if they were not emulated. But now the lack of principle among many in Christendom is having an adverse effect on atheistic and pagan nations. The lack of uprightness exhibited by the West has emboldened other governments to act in their own interests, without regard for morality.
Needless to say, all of the bad behavior of totalitarian governments cannot be laid at the feet of the West. So-called “command governments” have always tended to act without regard for right and wrong, but the decline of Christendom and its effect on despotic regimes has accelerated this tendency. The aggressiveness of dictatorial governments and the degenerate character of the democracies, combined with the frightful power of the weapons available today, has produced a most dangerous and unstable world.
In speaking about the evil character of the last days, Paul writes, “They shall proceed no further” (2 Tim. 3:9). God will intervene, although He may bear with the iniquity for a long time. But when it is fully ripe, God will judge it and institute righteous government. Isaiah prophesies that “I [the Lord] will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see My glory” (Isa. 66:18). Today governments and the men involved in them seek their own glory; in that day “they shall declare My glory” (Isa. 66:19).
W. J. Prost