The Politics of Human Nature
The Politics of Human Nature: Christians are being molded by the world and its culture. Christianity for ages has believed that man is basically sinful. However, politics and popular opinion works from the assumption that man is basically good. Even political conservatives work with this assumption when they call for less government, and more freedom. Unfortunately, that sometimes means less regulation, and more corruption, waste, fraud, and scandals.
It seems to me that political right, though they are opposed to secular humanism, seem to agree with it anyway. They seem want less government and regulation, and more privitization. In all this, the individual is upheld as righteous and the government is demonized. Yet, if one is evangelical, then the government is being used by God (Rom 13), and the individual is not without sin. So, the religious right is in conflict with the political right. Just like the humanists, the political right say that education can be a solution in the case of morals. Instead of more regulation, they say (Michael Medved) competition will weed out the bad guys. For a picture of life without government regulation imagine driving without traffic signals. Most people believe that would be more freedom, like driving with only green lights. No, it's like driving around during a power outage, and every intersection is a four-way stop.
Romans 13:1-6 (NLT)
1 Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.
2 So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished.
3 For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you.
4 The authorities are God's servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God's servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong.
5 So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.
6 Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do.
7 Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.
Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved
In political discourse, the political right puts their faith in the individual, hoping that man is basically good. The political left are the ones who want regulation to protect the public from greed and fraud. Yet, they are often one who are pictured as the humanists, who believe in man being basically good. Here we have each side acting against their type.
Thom Hartmann has said,
While promoting his book, The 5 Big Lies About American Business, Michael Medved called for less government regulation of business. He said that since human beings were created in God's image, and God is creative, government shouldn't curb that urge. By stifling creativity, Medved said, government is lessening the prosperity of capitalism, and jobs.
Yet, Medved has missed the part about that image being tarnished by sin. Fallen human nature still allows for creativity, some good and some bad. Creativity comes from such masters as Divinci, Bach, and Bernie Madoff. Yes, ponzi schemes, derivitives, hacking, malware, software viruses, they all require creativity and intellect. Unless business can effectively police themselves, government needs to do its justice for society.
Conservative politicians' call for less government seems to have a humanist sound. Sarah Palin, for example, says, "only limited government can expand prosperity and opportunity for all and that freedom is a God given right and it is worth fighting for". It sounds like the 'freedom' she is talking about is similar to Medved's unstifled creativity. It sounds like she is saying man is basically good but government is a bad influence. I know this conflicts with her religious views.
In many towns and other governments, scales are licenced and checked periodically for accuracy, in order to protect the public from businesses that might cheat. In the bible, there are verses which call out the practice of using 'dishonest' weights and measures. Though, the bible supports free enterprise and property rights, it also supports regulation of business.
Bible verses on dishonest weights and measures (NLT)
Deut 25:14-16
14 and you must use full and honest measures. 15 Yes, always use honest weights and measures, so that you may enjoy a long life in the land the Lord your God is giving you. 16 All who cheat with dishonest weights and measures are detestable to the Lord your God.
Prov 20:10
False weights and unequal measures -
the Lord detests double standards of every kind.
Amos 8:4-6
4 Listen to this, you who rob the poor
and trample down the needy!
5 You can't wait for the Sabbath day to be over
and the religious festivals to end
so you can get back to cheating the helpless.
You measure out grain with dishonest measures
and cheat the buyer with dishonest scales.
6 And you mix the grain you sell
with chaff swept from the floor.
Then you enslave poor people
for one piece of silver or a pair of sandals.
Micah 6:10-11
10 What shall I say about the homes of the wicked
filled with treasures gained by cheating?
What about the disgusting practice
of measuring out grain with dishonest measures?
11 How can I tolerate your merchants
who use dishonest scales and weights?
Most churches teach about original sin, that mankind is of fallen nature, and no one is without sin. Yet, on the campaign trail, it is not politically correct to call the electorate 'sinners', 'depraved', or anything else perceived as derogatory. Yet, that is what conservative or evangelical politicians hear when they go to their churches. Remember the 2008 presidential campaign when the candidates' preacher's sermons were the subject. The self-critical, introspective message to the congregation seems appropriate. But broadcast that message to the general public, and it seems wildly offensive. A politician should ingratiate him/herself with the voter in the civil world, whereas, the church-goers are responsible to God. The difference in church, is they're talking about God, and they have a 'scapegoat' in Jesus. However, on the campaign trail (which can be year round nowadays) the scapegoat is government, 'those people', or the other party/side.
The progressives don't seem to think that mankind is without sin either, though they tend to have business corruption (and corrupt government) as sins. At least they see government as having a purpose, for the general welfare of the people, and not looking the other way when injustice happens. In some ways, the progressives are the ones who are trying to get government to correct unjust ways, and conservatives are the ones who are relying on the 'goodness' of human nature.
Thom Hartmann: Cracking the Code Michael Medved: Lemonade StandsOne factor in political selection is the emotions, and the American popular culture. In the movies, people have been conditioned to see things in black and white, good and evil - with good always winning. People want to be optimistic and believe the world to be like this. Sentimentality reigns. The rugged individual and the inherent goodness of the individual are American values (or myths) brought out in movies. Self interest and materialism come from this individualism. No wonder that someone like Ronald Reagan could project those values into the political area.
Those of faith tend to fuse these American values with their Christianity. In the book, Eyes Wide Open, William D. Romanowski states that 83 percent of Americans believe man is basically good, with 77 percent of born-again Christians agreeing. This is interpreted to mean that Americans are essentually good at heart in a world where others tend to be more evil. This is a case where Christians are being molded by their culture. This is not the way Christianity is suppose to work.