Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended.

• Romans 13:1-3

Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.

• Titus 3:1-2

“Niebuhr criticized Liberalism in his first major work, Moral Man and Immoral Society (1932). He shows how the evils of society are caused as much by groups as by the selfishness of individuals. Furthermore, ‘the collective self—regard of class, race and nation is more stubborn and persistent than the egoism of individuals.’ This is why society cannot be changed merely by changing individuals, educationally or ethically. We must recognize that politics is ultimately a power struggle between rival groups.
“ ‘Relations between groups must therefore always be predominantly political rather than ethical — that is, they will be determined by the proportion of power which each group possesses at least as much as by any rational and moral appraisal of the comparative needs and claims of each group.’ (Moral Man and Immoral Society, Introduction)
Justice will be best maintained in society by ensuring a fair distribution of power between the different groups, preventing any one from dominating the others. ‘An uneasy balance of power would seem to be the highest goal to which society could aspire.’ ”

• Tony Lane, A Concise History of Christian Thought

Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971) was an American Reformed Theologian, born in Missouri.  He is noted for developing Christian Realism, based on our sin nature, our freedom, and the validity of the Greatest Commandment.  His views have influenced many politicians and activists, such as Martin Luther King Jr.  He also wrote the serenity prayer, used in Alcoholics Anonymous.

A Realism philosophy is basically defined by the quote above, only the middle paragraph being a quote by Niebuhr.  He is basically saying that human beings have a certain mob mentality about them.  They do not follow an individual as much as they follow the crowd, the group.  Groups could be political, ethnic, religious, etc.

In following a religious group, we adhere to their tenets and beliefs.  Thus, a realism philosophy depends on the various groups having to have equal power for justice to happen.  If one group is less powerful, they have to adhere to someone else’s moral code.

The problem with that in our upside-down society is that the disadvantaged groups, the “less than equals” are being heard by social equals and lifted above those that had traditionally been some of the equal groups.  Thus, language must change.  Logic must change.  And sadly, morals go out the window, jettisoned as being outdated.  And Christians are considered the group with no power, thus ignored (except when we go to vote – but is there anyone we would want to vote for?).

If Niebuhr could see how his philosophy has created anarchy, he might not believe it.  For the majority of his lifetime, most people were of like mind.  The differences were nothing to argue.  But as the differences became widespread chasms between warring factions, agreement is hard to come by.  Common ground is hard to come by.  Most people in the secular world would reject Niebuhr’s three essentials.  We cannot mention sin.  It hurts people’s feelings.  (But then we silently herd them into the lane headed for damnation.)  Our freedom gets us into trouble, so, for our own good, the politicians want to take that away, little bits at a time.  That way we do not notice.  And loving God and loving one another?  The world is in a huge quagmire of self-love to the point of making all others insignificant.

As I have said many times over, as a group, as a community, as a nation, as a world, we need repentance.  But it can start with each of us individually.  Then we need to find like-minded people to build a group, or the mob mentality of the rest of the world will steamroll the individuals into oblivion.

If you like these Tuesday morning essays about philosophy and other “heavy topics,” but you think you missed a few, you can use this LINK. I have set up a page off the home page for links to these Tuesday morning posts. I will continue to modify the page as I add more.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.