Broken Government

There is a presentation I have seen a few times on CNN titled "Broken Government". It sheds a light on the major issues that America faces today and the inability of our leaders to provide workable solutions, due to their constant bickering and party politics. Isn't it interesting that, two thousand years ago, Jesus spoke the following, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand", Matt 12:25. If anyone knows something about broken govenment, it is our Lord. The Old Testament prophets had a great deal to say on the subject, as it was a major concern in their day as it is in ours. It should not be a surprise to anyone reading this that nothing has changed. Today's issues are the same ones ancient Israel faced thousands of years ago. We may live in a time of unprecedented advances in education, technology, industry, communication and travel, to name a few, but human nature is the same beast it's always been. As long as man resides in these sinful bodies, human nature will always play a role in his thought processes and decision-making. Without God's spirit, man is not capable of ruling himself.

Let's visit the writings of the ancient prophets to see if we recognize the very same nature we see in our leaders today. Isa 1:23 says, "Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them". Isa 5:23 says these, "Justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!". Isa 10:1 declares, "Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed". He goes on in Isa 59:14, "And jugment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter".

Jeremiah speaks of the wicked in Jer 5:28, saying "They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge". Ezek 22:27 speaks of Israel's leaders, "Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain".

Micah 3:1-3 declares God's word to the leaders of His people, "And I said, Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob, and ye princes of the house of Israel; Is it not for you to know judgment? Who hate the good, and love the evil; who pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones; Who also eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them; and they break their bones, and chop them in pieces, as for the pot, and as flesh within the caldron".

These words could easily have been spoken of our leaders today. Every day we read in our newspapers or hear on TV revelations exposing the downfall of yet another politician, who fell prey to greed, corruption and dishonesty. We're all painfully aware of the Washingtom lobbyists who control legislation through bribery. We witness the chaos, power struggles and party politics that drive our government today and often wonder where it will lead. Add to that the voice of the people, which reveals how divided we have become as a nation. Our polarization is at a fever-pitch, to the point that it is becoming increasingly impossible for lawmakers to serve effectively on our behalf. If we are honest, we may find that we bear some responsibility for our disfunctional government. Many of our politicians' main focus is often on keeping his or her job. It's already evident that their votes on any issue must be balanced between following their conscience or the will of their constituents. We send them to Washington to serve, but if they don't do what we want, we kick the bums out.

I have found the same to be true of our spiritual leaders. In some denominations, a pastor is nothing more than hired help. Instead of being regarded as one within whom is the Spirit of God, who speaks the word of God, some congregations hold sway on what can or can't be preached. If he (or she) strays, the proverbial trapdoor opens and out they go. Nothing has changed. Isaiah speaks to the people of his day, "That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord. Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits", Isa 30:9-10. I have personally known some ministers who knew a truth that they supressed, because they believed their congregation would not accept it. I have also seen those who dared to preach the truth and had to endure the wrath of their flock and the loss of their job. Maybe that's why so many do not speak the true word of God. It's more important for them to have a following. For some, preaching is nothing more than a job, and a very profitable one at that. Many, in the pulpits across our great land, do not know the word of God. They preach for gain and glory. They tell people what they want to hear. They fear exposing the sins of our nation, or the need for repentence. They are like the Pharisees of Jesus' day, "The blind leading the blind". Isa 56:10-11 says of Israel's leaders, "His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter".

Micah 3:11 tells us regarding both civil and spiritual leaders, "The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say, is not the Lord among us? none evil can come upon us". Have you ever heard it said, concerning America, "This is God's country", "We are a Christian nation"? It's the same thing that Israel said. We can do what we want. We are God's chosen people.

Read God's scathing judgment upon Jerusalem, His chosen city, through the prophet Ezekiel. "There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst therof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof. Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shown difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them:, And her prophets have daubed them with untempered mortar, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord God, when the Lord hath not spoken", Ezek 22:25-26, 28. Jer 2:8 says of them, "The priests said not, Where is the Lord? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit". Again, in chapter 5:31, he says, "The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?"

The 23rd chapter of Jeremiah is well worth reading in it's entirety. It is a scathing rebuke against Israel's spiritual leaders, but is applicable for all ages. I will paraphrase in the present tense, so as to help us see how this speaks to our nation today. The Lord pronounces coming judgment upon the pastors that have scattered his sheep, declaring that both the prophet and priest are profane, bringing wickedness into His house, the holy temple. He denounces them for prophesying in the name of Baal, a pagan god, and causing His people to sin. They are guilty of adultery and walking in lies. He says they strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that none turns from his wickedness. He tells the people not to hearken unto their words, for they speak in vain out of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord. They speak peace to the people telling them that they can all walk after the imagination of their own heart, yet no evil will befall them. The Lord says, if they had stood in His counsel and caused His people to hear His words, they would have turned from their evil ways. Instead, they prophesy lies in His name, deceit out of their own heart. They cause people to forget the name of the Lord. They prophesy falsely, declaring that they have heard the word of the Lord, when He has not spoken to them, causing the people to err. Habakkuk 1:4 sums up the problem, "Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth".

There is a correlation between the spiritual health of a nation and the manner in which it is governed. When the Lord chose Israel to be his nation, He was to be their total authority in both civil and spiritual matters. There was no separation of church and state. When a nation refuses to hear the word of the Lord, it's leaders cannot possibly lead in righteousness. Wisdom and judgment come from the Lord. Without His guidance we are like rudderless ships, directionless, cast out to sea. America's government is indeed broken, but it follows a broken connection to God and His eternal laws. Every man does what is right in his own eyes. We do not live by absolute authority.

It will not always be so! I have good news for those who long for righteous government. Our Lord is soon to return to this earth to usher in the kingdom of God. Make no mistake. The entire world will one day live by his commandments. Dan 2:44 tells us of the day when our God shall set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed. It will replace all the present governments of this world. David tells us in Psa 145:13 that it will be an everlasting kingdom. Jesus' message at his first coming was concerning the future establishment of this kingdom, where only peace and righteousness will dwell. Read my article titled "Good News" to get a glimpse of what it will be like in that day. Jesus taught his disciples to pray, "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth", Luke 11:2. That should be the constant prayer of all who love the Lord and look for His coming.

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