The
answer to that question is not complicated. It was presaged by founding
father and second president John Adams on October 11, 1798, in a warning to the officers of the First Brigade of the Third Division of the
Militia of Massachusetts.
"While our Country remains
untainted with the principles and manners, which are now producing desolation
in so many parts of the world: while she continues sincere and incapable of
insidious and impious policy: We shall have the strongest reason to rejoice in
the local destination assigned us by Providence. But should the people of
America, once become capable of that deep simulation towards one another and towards foreign
nations, which assumes the language of justice and moderation while it is
practicing Iniquity and extravagance; and displays in the most captivating
manner the charming pictures of candour [sic] frankness & sincerity while it is
rioting in rapine and insolence: this country will be the most miserable
habitation in the world. Because we have no Government armed with power capable
of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion.
Avarice, ambition revenge or galantry [sic], would break the strongest cords of our
Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and
religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."
When
the immoral and irreligious are elected or appointed to positions of power, we
should not wonder that they devolve into the evil described by the prophet
Isaiah: "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute
darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and
sweet for bitter" (Isaiah 5:20 NASV).
The
great strength of our system of government is that it recognizes the power of truth
to assure justice. However, that very strength when perverted has the power to
assure injustice. "Evil men do not understand justice, But those who
seek the LORD understand all things" (Proverbs 28:5 NASV).
Our
great strength is also our great weakness. "When the righteous
increase, the people rejoice, But when a wicked man rules, people groan"
(Proverbs 29:2 NASV) For the sake of the people, may the righteous
increase!
