Dear friends:
 
Pardon me while I rant, and philosophize a bit.

It is easy to get frustrated and disappointed with politics and government.  As I watch the TV news, it is easy to get “in the flesh” and forget that Jesus is Lord over all and has a perfect plan.  Sometimes I feel like growling “Grrrrrrr!” 

But I stop and say, “Thank you, Jesus.  I know you are in charge.”
 
Government can be so inefficient and sometimes corrupt in its administration.
 
Politicians can be such demagogues, and so self-serving and disingenuous (a nice word for lying).
 
Both main political parties have their problems, but one party is especially bad at lying, distortion, and twisting of facts. I won’t mention the name but it is the one which is spelled closest to the word “demon.”  That is the same party where both major candidates support sexual perversion and the brutal killing of innocent unborn babies.  Shockingly, millions of people, especially special-interest groups, praise and support these candidates.  Many of these supporters are supposed to be committed Christians.  I am convinced they would vote for the devil if he represented them.  They are selling their souls.  They know who they are, and they will someday give an accounting.
 
No government in this evil world is perfect, although with all its flaws I would rather be under an American- or Western-type democracy than any other, especially the various despotisms around the world.
 
But is there really such a thing as a perfect, or ideal government? 
 
The ancient philosopher Plato said the ideal government is that of a “benevolent dictator,” or an autocrat or king with everyone’s best interest always in mind.  Plato was born over 400 years before Christ -- before the One to whom he unknowingly referred.
 
Plato was right, and what he said was prophetic.  Such a government is coming, under the reign of the King of kings and Lord of lords. That type of government is called a “theocracy.”  The ancient prophet Isaiah wrote, “the government will be on His shoulders” (Isaiah 9:6).  He was talking about the Lord Jesus.  His arrival may be sooner than most think. 
 
Because of the commitment of Christians to righteousness in society, liberals accuse them of wanting a theocracy in the here and now, but that is another lie.  Active Christians are just trying to hold back the tide of evil.  Without their salt, this society would be deeper in the toilet than what it already is, or might not even exist.
 
In the meantime, it is left for fallen people to govern themselves in a fallen world.  No wonder it is such a mess!
 
But our loving God did not abandon us. 
 
He led our Founding Fathers to fashion a government with checks and balances, to help protect against human selfishness and sin.  Most of those founders were Bible-believing Christians with a biblical world view.  Even those who were not born again saw things from a biblical perspective.
 
For example, Thomas Jefferson was not known as a born-again Christian, but biblical truths guided him, such as the pervasive sinfulness of man, which he acknowledged.  “In questions of power then," wrote Jefferson, "let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution."
 
The three branches of government provided for in the Constitution were pattered after the Scriptures: “For the LORD is our judge (judicial branch), the LORD is our lawgiver (legislative branch), the LORD is our king (executive branch)” (Isaiah 33:22).
 
The founders also incorporated the biblical concepts of private property and free enterprise, which spurred individual initiative and pride of ownership, in contrast to the inefficiencies of socialism and communism.  A collectivist (communist) approach was initially attempted at the Jamestown settlement in the early 1600s but was abandoned due to inefficiency and the stifling of incentive and productivity.
 
For fallen human nature, America's was a divinely inspired government and the best humanity could attain.  In spite of national sins and continual selfish squabbling amongst factions, it has produced the most prosperous, the most powerful, the most benevolent, and the most free nation in history.  Much of the world owes its sustenance to American generosity, and we have become the largest missionary sending nation in history, supplying some 80% of the world’s missions resources. 
 
Yes, it has worked well.  However, Founding Father and second U.S. President, John Adams, made a sobering warning: "Our Constitution was made only for moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for the government of any other."
 
That is our Achilles heel.  As America has moved away from God, problems and threats have mounted.  Our freedom has also allowed much evil to be exported.  Freedom is great but it carries responsibilities.  God allows freedom, but He holds us responsible. Institutions such as academia have become actively anti-God, atheist, and too often socialist, Marxist, and even anti-American.  Government has largely banned God, or given equal opportunity to false gods.  Most citizens know nothing about Him or His Word and live in spiritual darkness.  Even many churches have been influenced by the culture's evil values and have lost their spiritual anointing.
 
In the 1830's, French diplomat Alexis de Tocqueville toured America.  When his tour had been completed, he made this profound observation: 

“I sought for the key to the greatness of America in her harbors…; in her fertile fields and boundless forests; in her rich mines and vast world commerce; in her public school system and institutions of learning.  I sought for it in her democratic Congress and in her matchless Constitution.  Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power.  America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.”

Human governments will all pass away, and the perfect government is coming, hopefully soon.  In the meantime, God tells us:

“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone -- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1-4).

Amen.
 
Jim

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