THE PROBLEM OF THE HEART
Living Stones Series: First Published in All Around Old Bridge Publication – September 2020, Pastor Lloyd Pulley
The Judeo-Christian influence in the founding documents of America did not make us a Christian nation, but they did pave the way for the kind of freedoms and prosperity that have caused this nation to thrive. Principles such as the dignity and worth of all human life are found in the Bible. The Bible reveals the depraved nature of people through sin and shows the need for human government to punish crime and let healthy self-government flourish in a just system. The Bible was the main source for abolitionists of slavery to influence the public conscience in acknowledging basic God-given human value. The Bible was key in providing a clear biblical framework, influencing millions in early-American education. Monuments abound in our capitals which acknowledge the great impact of the Bible. And today that history and that greatness are being systematically removed.
How did we drift so far as to permit a "cancel-culture" to rewrite our history and destroy the monuments of our past? "Tear it all down" is shouted by Marxist leaders of the BLM movement, which is clearly not about black lives mattering. Sadly, monuments are being torn down by those who have no clue as to why they were there in the first place. Highlighting a few evils among billions recorded is not representative of the whole picture but is useful to incite mobs by political agitators. But truth is not truth when it is not the whole truth! I am much more apt to trust the account of numerous local witnesses in these affairs than the cleverly manufactured and carefully edited mainstream media. In a time of similar political intrigue, the prophet Isaiah wrote in Isaiah 59:14-15, "Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands afar off, for truth is fallen in the street… so truth fails, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey."
The only place I am absolutely confident to get the truth of human nature and our world is from the Bible, from which we should test all ideas, theories and opinions. Modern theories driving socialist movements assume the basic goodness of people. The Bible contradicts this fallacy, teaching of the sin nature in all of us. This is seen clearly in our inherent tendency to lie, steal and live for self. A child needs correction and training to behave rightly. Considering the vast number of fatherless homes, no wonder we are imploding. There are those who maintain if we change the environment people will be good, but behavior modification works only for animals and not so much for humans. It does make for useful propaganda, however, for those who want to convince you that their vision of utopia will bring about world peace. But until there are no longer sinners, we will need to continue to rely on a balance of laws and punishment to hold evildoers accountable. America has been a shining example to the rest of the world for centuries, but wherever Communism has gone, oppression, death and destruction have followed.
While a hostile takeover of America by socialists is one extreme to bring about this utopia, on the other extreme is the new age or new spirituality teaching that if we can all just "think peaceful thoughts" we can bring about a great awakening and societal change. Some proponents go so far to say we are on the brink of a whole new age where we will evolve from humanity to godhood. And even further, some believe enlightened ones, even extra-terrestrials, are present to help guide us towards this great awakening. The Bible exposes this as the ultimate deception. Eve was tricked by Satan to believe that in rebelling against God, she could become like God herself.
Both socialist and new age alternatives attempt to distort the Bible’s teachings as repressive morality. But the Bible describes a path of freedom. Only by believing in God’s provision through the gospel can one experience a true change of heart and receive rescue from impending judgment. The gospel is the good news that the sacrificial love and substitutionary death of Jesus on the cross can save from sin. Having encountered the gospel in my own life, I can testify to how trusting Jesus broke long-standing chains of greed, hatred, racism and selfishness in me. The problem is not in the environment! It is in the heart! Jesus can change the heart.
When the heart is changed in vast numbers, society is greatly altered. This is evidenced in our history during times of religious revivals where many were returning to the pages of Bible. Lives touched by the love and forgiveness of God changed everything. This love is worked out in commitment in families where fathers and mothers sacrifice, pouring into their children. And those in public service actually served the public for its good conscientiously. When people follow the heart of Jesus in love for others racism and injustice fade away. "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends." (John 15:13). Read your Bibles!