The Morning After, 2010

This November 3, 2010, the day after the Congressional elections, I have been pondering what took place, the reactions of so many, and what it all means in the big picture.  I did my duty as an American, and played my part in the Grand Charade, then went home and didn't think much more about it until right before going to bed.  This morning, I checked in on several news sources to see the results that we once again have a bipartisan Congress.  I skimmed through all the emails I got from conservative sources talking about how great this turn of the tides will be... etc... etc... yada... yada.  The more I thought about it, the more I just couldn't help but feel strongly ambivalent [oxymoron intended].


As I pondered, I thought through some logical reasons for my general indifference.  Despite how the GOP managed to co-opt the Tea Party movement right out from under the independents, I have a hard time believing this was anything more than business-as-usual, using any tactic necessary to try and stay relevant.  Change?  Yes, some of the names changed, but I am not naive enough to expect much to come of it.  My inbox was loaded with messages from Pro Life groups talking hopefully about the possibility of the abortion scene changing.  Apparently, they've forgotten that nothing changed when we had Republicans in control of the presidency and both parts of Congress, or else I am not sure why they would expect much to happen with Republicans in control of only one of the three pieces of the Triforce of Power.


The reality is, government and law can not solve the problems we face as a people.  Government and law are only necessary in the first place because men choose to live in the squalor of their fallen natures rather than rise above to follow the Golden Rule.  Every time a government is formed, and every time a law is passed, it is an inherent admission that men are failing to love their neighbors and are choosing their own selfish desires over the just good.  Government and law are a desperate attempt to put the reigns on man's fallen nature.  These means almost never effect a change in man's behavior.  Instead, they merely give us a means to punish and put a temporary stop to the selfish acts of a single individual or group of people.  The bigger government gets, and the more laws we pass, the more we inherently admit that human sinfulness is getting worse, not better, and that we are powerless to do anything about it.


Why, then, do men of good will still make the foolish assumption that we can make the world a better place by government or law?  Government and law belong to the domain of human sin, and therefore cannot effect true good.  Law, despite our foolish hopes to the contrary, can not bring about "the greater good of humanity", it can only minimize "the greater evil".  Law really is the wrong tool for the job of changing men's hearts, just as a glass vase is the wrong tool for hammering nails into boards.


The only thing that can truly effect good in this world is the transformation of men's hearts.  When people truly desire goodness and justice and are willing to set aside their own selfish desires for the sake of others, then, and only then, can we begin to hope for "the greater good of man".  Law has never, and will never, bring about this change in men's hearts.  Only the love of God can bring this change to a human heart.


And when a man has been instilled with this love and chooses to seek the good and the just in all his actions, he will not need government and law to tell him what to do... he will know inherently from the law that is written in his heart.  All the more reason that men of good will should see the vanity in placing any hope at all in the governments and laws of man.  If these things are only needed where sin abounds, why should we hope for them to solve our problems?  If we spent more of our time working for the conversion of men's hearts, and less time chasing the false hopes of a government to save us all, perhaps real change could begin to take root.


I think of Moses in the wilderness.  At first, God only gave ten simple laws that were already written in the heart of every man who was honest enough to recognize them.  If men had lived in love, these simple laws would have sufficed in showing each how to do unto others as they would have others do unto them.  Rather, since sin abounded, a more elaborate Mosaic law was proscribed in an effort to reign in the wandering hearts that were following the selfish desires of the flesh.


I think of St. Augustine's command to "Love and do what you will".  Wow, how bold a statement.  To those whose hearts are weak, this sounds frightful and dangerous.  It is so obviously true, though, to anyone who governs their actions with an honest effort to love beyond oneself.  When you truly love someone, you don't need laws or governments to tell you how to treat that person.


So, I will continue to do my part to help put limits on the general sin of society, but I will never again be foolish enough to put my hopes in the vain structures and laws of man.  If you must, then be my guest, but while you are hoping for the tools of man's sin to bring about the promised land, I will be hoping for the day when there is only one law needed to govern man, that which is written in every heart.


Peace,
Todd Russell
November 3, 2010