When will we learn?
Ideas have consequences, and bad ideas can bring real devastation. A two-kingdom perspective about how God is at work in the world brings a certain sanctified “common sense” to many of the issues we struggle with today. If one studies history, or even gets involved in trying to make this world a better, civil, more humane place, one learns very fast that things are really broken. Even the good things that we seem to accomplish bring consequences of which we weren’t aware. A two-kingdom perspective on how to preserve the world even as God saves it realizes that human beings are sinful and bent towards evil by nature. All efforts that we engage to overcome our failings and make things right tend to get skewed along the way (we can NEVER be saved by our works). Therefore, “the quest for perfection” is often the enemy of a better (not perfect) solution.” And, there will be times we all face the reality that there is no “good solution” to an issue, but there is the lesser of two evil ones that will require action and forgiveness, even with the best of intentions.
For that reason, we must be aware of the foolishness that seems to be invading our college campuses.[1] In our history, Americans have always suffered a propensity to pietism, the notion that we could create, by our efforts, a perfect society. It stems from our puritan roots, though those roots were helpfully tempered and directed by an obedience to God. But pietism in all its forms wrongly overestimates our ability to do what’s right and underestimates the scope of our propensity to destruction even through our “best,” most passionate efforts.
Neo-Marxist thought alarmingly amplifies “pietism” even as it disconnects it from any notion of God, faith, morality, and obedience. Its self-righteous is built on the premise that human beings aren’t sinful or evil by nature. No. Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, they claim that it is merely the structures of our world that are evil. And if those evil structures are removed (even if by violence), and if pure, just, and egalitarian structures are put in their place, good people will be good to one another the way they were meant to be. This myopic focus on systemic, structural “sin,” not personal sin and responsibility, masks rather than illuminates.
So, what’s the point? Well, because of the reality of our universal “sinfulness, depravity,” utopian intentions tend to bring tyrannical, despotic results. Say what you will about the violence caused by religion in history; it’s nothing compared to the violence and murder perpetuated by the likes of Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Mussolini, Pol Pot, and others, all seeking the perfect structure for the perfect society. With a sanctified, common-sense view of the depravity of the human heart (including ourselves), with a knowledge of our propensity to evil in amidst the best of circumstance, public service is at best a “tradeoffs endeavor seeking the most good,” with a humble knowledge that even our best efforts may be a lesser of two evils, needing moral action (directed or limited by God’s commandments) and forgiveness both. With that in mind we can strive to think as the Bible teaches “to think about others more highly than ourselves,” and seek to serve others with our strength, motivated by God’s love, directed by His moral truth. In God’s preserving work, we must always seek “good” solutions, or at least the lesser of two evils solutions, always remembering that salvation (the perfect solution) is something that only God can bring to humanity in the person and work of Jesus. That’s wisdom that works for all, if we’d only learn it anew!
The Rev. Dr. Gregory Seltz is the executive director of the Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty.
Be Informed
Lutherans Have Been Valuing Life For As Long As We’ve Existed! Learn About The Value Of Life As Its Written Even In Our Lutheran Confessions With The Rev. Michael Salemink, Executive Director Of Lutherans For Life.
Be Equipped
Our Savior Lutheran Church in Carol Stream, Ill., serves families in the community through its monthly Breakfast with Baby event. Any chance your congregation would consider doing the same?
Be Encouraged
“If you would have peace, then—yes, beautiful peace, even in this life, peace in your families, peace at your place of work, peace with your neighbors, peace in your home—then first be at peace within yourself. And if you would be at peace in yourself, then be at peace with God—and all of these things will be added to you. And if you would be at peace with God, then put yourself in the path of His conquering grace, which conquers not by rage but by mercy, not by hate but by love, not by destruction but by a new creation. And if you would put yourself in the path of such conquering love for the sake of being at peace, then know now . . . that the path of His march of conquering peace leads right through the center of this place, from heaven, through that altar, and indeed to your pew and the very place you sit.”
