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While reading an e-newsletter to which I subscribe, I came across the following statement by Ronald Reagan, the 40th president of our great republic. He made these remarks at the annual convention of the National Association of Evangelicals in Orlando, Florida, on March 8, 1983. "There are a great many God-fearing, dedicated, noble men and women in public life, present company included. And yes, we need your help to keep us ever-mindful of the ideas and the principles that brought us into the public arena in the first place. The basis of those ideals and principles is a commitment to freedom and personal liberty that, itself is grounded in the much deeper realization that freedom prospers only where the blessings of God are avidly sought and humbly accepted. The American experiment in democracy rests on this insight. Its discovery was the great triumph of our Founding Fathers, voiced by William Penn when he said: 'If we will not be governed by God, we must be governed by tyrants'." As we look on with apprehension, and perhaps even a sense of approaching doom, at the folly of our current national leadership—and for many of us, our state governments as well—we might be tempted to say that there are no “God-fearing, dedicated, and noble” public servants. Greed and cynicism seem to have replaced higher motives. It often looks like virtue, restraint, and concern for the public good have all but been abandoned by our elected officials. Like Elisha’s servant in 2 Kings, chapter 6, we are tempted to believe that we are outnumbered and overpowered by the wicked. Ronald Reagan was not naïve. He knew that there were many greedy and cynical men in government. Like Elisha, however, he was not overawed by them. He trusted in God and believed that imperfect but God-fearing men could make a difference. He placed his hope in the forces of good regardless of the fearsome numbers and apparent power of the wicked. Mr. Reagan also knew that people who held public office, those who were given the care of the public trust, often needed to be reminded of the high ideals that had first inspired them to seek public office. Politics is a rough and tumble game. Some call it, and not without warrant, a blood sport. Many are the temptations to accept a more easily attainable “deal” rather than hold out for something closer to the ideal. Only men and women of uncompromising principle will rise above the allure of power and personal gain, to strive unwaveringly for the public good. The American people have long been known for their belief in the “freedom and personal liberty” of which President Reagan spoke. In the early years of our nation, it was commonly accepted that humbly seeking and receiving the blessings of God were indeed pillars of our freedoms. Sadly, too many Americans today do not know that. The average man in the street takes his freedoms to be granted by the State, and perhaps has only begun to realize that his freedoms are neither as great nor as extensive as those enjoyed by his great-grandfather. Legislative bodies have forgotten that they exercise a delegated authority under God, not the sovereign authority of God. God is sovereign over all things, and those who presume to take the place of God invariably demand the same hegemony. Thus the freedoms of the people are eroded and ultimately vanish. Today, we are increasingly being governed by would-be tyrants, men who believe we cannot govern ourselves. While our resentment of tyrants is understandable, we ourselves have given them their opportunity by failing to govern ourselves by the law of God. When men acknowledge God and give Him His due, when men order their personal behavior according to the Word of God, there is no opportunity for tyrants. If we soon find ourselves under a tyrannical regime in this country, we will have only ourselves to blame for handing over the scepter. When our nation was at its most religious in heart and practice, we were the strongest nation on earth. Although we were never perfect, we were the best of nations by most any measure. When churches were full, and pastors unflinchingly preached the Word of God, and families prayed often together, then were we invincible. Let us once again seek the face of God. Let us acknowledge that we have strayed from Him, and have not counted Him worthy of praise and honor. Let us admit that we have not humbly submitted to His law. If we will yield to God His due, He will bless us again with freedom and prosperity—and He will even bless us with public servants worthy of the name. Mark L. Beuligmann, M.S. Ed. Administrative Director Christian Liberty Academy School System |
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