Sometimes to really understand a situation, it’s best to step away from it and take a look from the outside. With the country being in such turmoil, that sounds like an impossible task. But let’s look at what’s happening to our republic with the idea that since the tilt is to the Left, the proper societal balance is gone.
By definition, balance is: “equipoise between contrasting, opposing, or interacting elements; equality between the two sides of an account; mental and emotional steadiness; to bring into harmony or proportion; to become established in balance; physical equilibrium.”
There are also further definitions of balance as it can relate to weights and measures, finance, and scientific inquiry (both physical and philosophical). For our purposes, let’s focus on two aspects of balance: the societal aspects and differences of being balanced or unbalanced; and scriptural examples of true balance.
There is now an entire library worth of material dealing with how the Left has coopted every conceivable institution. While many think this started during the Obama years, Leftist influences started much earlier. It’s basically the result of failed conservative leadership.
It’s Aristotle who is credited with the saying “nature abhors a vacuum” (or horror vacui). While this is a postulate of the study of physics, it’s also noteworthy that any absence of good leadership in society will eventually be filled with something less beneficial.
Examples of what the Left has done to fill the leadership vacuum are legion, but due to space considerations, let’s look at five.
Fear vs. Facts
COVID and the subsequent response to it are the best recent examples of being out of balance. Let’s forget about things like natural immunity and affordable, readily available medicines such as Ivermectin. No, let’s close the country down almost to the point of its collapse.
Education
So once we were allowed to reopen schools to actual on-site classes, let’s ignore all the important fundamentals of a child’s education. It’s far more appropriate to teach them to be climate activists, ignore their gender, disregard their parents’ authority, and manage to see racism everywhere. The only English language lessons available involve bizarre, made-up pronouns.
Racism
Speaking of racism, all of Dr. King’s work to bring a balance of racial equality is now gone. “Equity”, or “woke”, or whatever it’s called this week, is now dominant in all levels of education. We’re back to the 1950s, with racially segregated dorms, graduations, and now “whites not allowed” safe spaces for everyone else.
Military
I pray we don’t go to war. While our military has been focused on Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity, China has expanded its navy and is actively threatening Taiwan. North Korea is playing with missiles again, and Iran is closer to nuclear capability. Russia’s Putin is actively trying to reestablish the old USSR. There have been calls for the Chairman Of The Joint Chiefs Of Staff, Gen. Mark Milley, to resign. He’s adamantly refusing to do so. It’s been thought that he’s gone completely rogue and outside his authority. Only time will tell.
The Green New Deal
There’s just too much to say about this scam in a short article. However, the way it fits into the theme of balance is this. Our energy problems are the result of the Left creating an imbalance in the fuel supply. Conveniently, they ask us to compensate with overpriced, inefficient, and somewhat dangerous EVs. Now, they’re trying to go after our kitchen appliances; all because of the problems they created.
So, how do we as Christians fit into the scenario of an out-of-balance society?
I’ve written before about an old preacher I knew back in the 1970s who used the phrase “the Bible explains the Bible” a lot. Portions of scripture that may appear to be contradictory, actually present a balanced perspective within context. Here are a few examples.
Discernment or Judgmentalism?
Mt. 7:1 says “judge not, that ye be not judged.” In verse 20, same chapter, we find “…by their fruits, ye shall know them.” The balance here is how we interact with each other individually, contrasted to how we are to view any organization (i.e. businesses, schools, agencies, even the church), that we might wish to be a part of. Obviously, sometimes being “judgmental” will save us a lot of grief.
Faith
Faith is found as a Gift Of The Spirit in 1 Cor. 12:8-12, and as a Fruit Of The Spirit in Galatians 5:22,23. So, two kinds of faith? Yes. As a fruit, we all have to nurture and develop our faith. Faith is given as a gift for the purpose of ministry because such a calling often regards layers of sacrifice. Faith is balanced by what you do, as well as what you believe. In the book of James, which was written for 1st Century Christians, we find this: “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” (James 2:17)
Old Testament Examples
Moses set up the system of Judges (Exodus 18:13-27) which lasted 410 years. When Israel tired of this and wanted to be like other nations, God allowed it (1st Sam., chapters 8, 9). Israel’s first king was Saul, who was a disaster. This started the process of good king, then bad king, then good king, etc., etc. It was this way for almost 600 years until Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians (around 597 BC).
This history is quite extensive, more so than we can go into here. The balance is that God Himself gave Israel a system, but their desire to follow the world’s way led to years of turmoil.
The Church
We all know that “the church” is NOT the building or even the organizational structure. Paul’s Epistles dealt with early doctrinal issues and organizations. At that point, that type of direct leadership was needed. It’s been two millennia since then, and a lot of good has come through “the church”. Often, though, we still fall out of balance concerning the relationship between the organization and the individual.
To put it into perspective, consider these two verses:
Heb. 10;20 “Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together.”
Mt.18:20 “For when two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
It’s obvious we need the fellowship of others, but the balance is that we’re all responsible for our own relationship with the Lord.
Christ — Perfectly In Balance
The many attributes of Christ present the most perfect example of balance we’ll ever find. Being our Lord and Saviour only begins to scratch the surface of who He is.
He was a tradesman and worked a physical labor job, in an era before power tools. Mt. 13:55 called Him the “carpenter’s son.” Mk 6:3 refers to Him as “the carpenter.” Some scholars feel that “carpenter” is a misinterpretation of the same Hebrew word used for “stone mason”. Nonetheless, Christ came from the working class.
He was also an intellectual. Luke 2:41-50 tells of the time He was 12 years old and found in the temple conferring with the Jewish religious leaders.
His Jewishness was never in question. He was descended through the royal line of King David (Luke 3:23-38), and when under judgment by Pilate and asked if He was indeed a king, He confirmed it. (John 18:28-38)
Also while Christ’s loving, caring nature is never denied, let’s not forget that this is balanced with how He returns in Rev. 19:11-16.
In conclusion…
Right now, our republic is in danger of collapsing. We are probably close to where we were historically in the 1860s right before our Civil War. The anger is palpable, and thankfully some are trying to address it without violence.
Country singer John Rich has a great new song and video called, “I’m Offended”.
Solo artist Oliver Anthony’s “Rich Men North Of Richmond” is getting even more attention. With just himself, his guitar, and practically no budget, he accurately nails the mood this country is in.
He’s been criticized for swearing in the lyrics. Well, so what? That’s reality, that’s where we are. People are becoming more than angry. No one wants violence, except of course Antifa, BLM, and the Democrats. If they keep “poking the bear”, pretty soon they’ll do it one too many times. God helps us all when that happens.
Now is not the time to be unstable and unbalanced. Along with our commitment to Christ, each one of us must reaffirm our commitment to the nation, our communities, our families, and even to ourselves.
Please take the time to read James 1:5-8.
