The One Principle II

by ProfDave, ©2024 

(Aug. 30, 2024) — [Editor’s Note: See Part I of this series here.]

Is there, in fact, a framework built into the structure of life and reality on this planet by its Maker?  Do we indeed have the freedom to accept or deny it?  Does our choice determine human and social flourishing?

Political and economic systems are debatable.  I do not see Democrats, Republicans, capitalists or socialists in the Bible.  The Ten Commandments tell me not to steal or to covet.  We are told to be generous to the poor, return lost items, and not to charge exorbitant interest.  The Creator owns all things and delegates all justice and power.  Be careful what you do in His name! 

The economic system set by the Law of Moses was based on land, delegated by God to a genealogical line – and returned to the original family periodically (debts cancelled).  Wouldn’t you like your debts cancelled every seven years?  Most do not believe this was literally intended for all nations and all times.  The principles remain, but the systems are debatable.

One of the fathers, emerging from the Constitutional Convention, was asked what kind of a government they had given the United States.  He quipped, “A Republic, if you can keep it.”  Another wise judgment of the time: “Democracy is a bad form of government, but all the others are worse.”  The founders understood human nature according to the Judeo-Christian model: made in the image of God, but broken and corrupted by rebellion.  Hence, unlike the French Revolution’s version of (direct) democracy, our constitution calls for a federal system of the indirect and limited democracy with divided powers.  No popular whim could become law overnight, nor any popular demagogue become Napoleon.  Unanticipated were the political parties and the vast bureaucratic system that sometimes bypasses the safeguards – and the public good – today.  Our freedom depends on thoughtful deadlock!

Newsflash: monarchy, direct democracy, fascism and “the dictatorship of the proletariat” all concentrate power in the hands of a few men and women vulnerable to error, prejudice, greed, and corruption.  “Absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Dispersion of power is essential for freedom in any system.  Even more essential is virtue, moral integrity and accountability to a Higher Power.  Another founder said, “Democracy is only suitable for a moral and religious people and is wholly inadequate for any other.” The decline of moral socialization in our parenting, our media, and our educational system is fateful for our future freedom.  The more we laugh at virtue, the more we will need law enforcement.  Doing away with crime by doing away with arrests just makes life nasty, brutish and short – reality bites!

Both capitalism and socialism depend, long-term, on the integrity of their participants.  Competition lowers prices and enhances creativity, productivity and prosperity, but can be abused by greed and corruption among the most successful.  Socialism professes “from each according to their ability; to each according to their need,” but is dependent on the virtue and patriotism of the leadership and bureaucracy.  The fatal flaw in Marx’s theory was atheism.  Without a common faith and morality, socialism punishes success, discourages achievement and creativity, leads to shortages and corruption, and fails to produce wealth. 

Sorry, folks, but history and reality are unambiguous.  2+2 has one and only one right answer – and all others earn red marks on our papers.  Thinking ‘5’ does not make it so. Our ‘truth’ is really just another name for our dreams or opinions.  We can argue all night about whose ideas are really True, but real reality – Reality Himself – is out there somewhere.

Conclusion.  While it is true that mankind knows little for certain and has many opinions about what is true, this does not cancel realities that are true in themselves – whether we know them or not, like them or not.  Secondly, yelling at each other cannot solve the problems of society.  Factional conflicts are among our biggest problems.  We need to face our problems and differences – social, economic, moral and political – with honesty, humility and objectivity.  Even science becomes mythical if its practitioners follow their prejudices rather than the data. 

Whether you are a believer or not, note the example of Jesus of Nazareth who lived, died and rose again to reconcile mankind to God’s truth and set an example of loving the downtrodden.  His Middle Eastern followers won Europe by applying His example – loving well, living well, and dying well.  Not by yelling.  Their world was just as messed up as ours – perhaps more.  Perhaps the hope of our world might be reason and virtue, too?

So, how are we going to save our country?  We need to revise and redirect our political objectives.  Progress?  Let’s stop looking at progress as ascendancy – conquest, really – of one interest group over another.  How about the unity and well-being of all?  Getting along in mutual respect?  Joy?  Our founders called it “the pursuit of happiness.”  Let’s stop seeking shortcuts to entitlement and licensed buzz.  How about equal opportunity to pursue the things that constitute human flourishing – faith, family and meaningful employment.  MAGA?  How about Make America Good Again?  A nation that uses its power responsibly on the world stage, welcomes legal immigration/the world’s true refugees, and keeps peace and safety in its streets?  A nation which turns from hatred and faction to commitment to the common good.  And most important, an America recovering the sanity, ethics, and morality of its citizenry.

You can do something about this.  Real change comes from the bottom up.  1) Pray, 2) change your own attitude, 3) vote your values, and 4) use your voice and influence in your own circle (family, church, neighborhood, workplace, associations).  And don’t be intimidated by loud noises.

David W. Heughins (“ProfDave”) is Adjunct Professor of History at Nazarene Bible College.  He holds a BA from Eastern Nazarene College and a PhD in history from the University of Minnesota.  He is the author of Holiness in 12 Steps (2020).  He is a Vietnam veteran and is retired, living with his daughter and three grandchildren in Connecticut.