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Dr. Del Tackett is the author, architect and teacher for Focus on the Family's The Truth Project, a nationwide initiative designed to bring the Christian worldview to the body of Christ.
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Political Wisdom from Dr. Noah Webster: Remedy for Political Evils
Posted on October 23, 2008
Filed Under The State |
In my last blog, we peeked into Webster’s 1834 Value of the Bible and Excellence of the Christian Religion and his commentary on public evils. His next entry is entitled “Remedy for Public Evils” and it won’t surprise us where Webster finds both the fault and the solution.
Here is his commentary. I implore you to read it carefully:
302. Remedy for public evils.—The command of God is, “He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God,” 2 Sam. 23:3. This command prescribes the only effectual remedy for public evils. It is an absurd and impious sentiment, that religious character is not necessary for public officers. So far is this from being true, that it is one of the principal qualifications, for any man making or administering laws. When the form of government admits men to office by hereditary right, rulers may or may not be good men; the people have no choice, and must submit. But in representative governments, if rulers are bad men, it is generally the fault of the people. The electors may indeed be deceived in regard to the principles of the man they choose; they are sometimes most woefully deceived. But in general, the calamity of having evil counselors, legislators, judges, and ministerial officers, is the fault of the electors. They do not regard the precept, to choose “just men, who will rule in the fear of God.” They choose men, not because they are just men, men of religion and integrity, but soley for the sake of supporting a party. This is a fruitful source of public evils. But as surely as there is a God in heaven, who exercises a moral government over the affairs of this world, so certainly will the neglect of the divine command, in the choice of rulers, be followed by bad laws and a bad administration; by laws unjust or partial, by corruption, tyranny, impunity of crimes, waste of public money, and a thousand other evils. Men may devise and adopt new forms of government; they may amend old forms, repair breaches, and punish violators of the constitution; but there is, there can be, no effectual remedy, but obedience to the divine law.
There is much of value to be gleaned from Webster’s wisdom. If our republic evidences laws that benefit some at the expense of others (”partial laws”); if there is corruption; if the public’s money is wasted; if evil is not punished; if legislators, judges and officials act more in their own interest than in the interest of the general public…then the fault, and the remedy, lies with those who have been entrusted with the privilege and the responsibility and the obligation to raise up, train, and elect good men, “just men, who rule in the fear of God”, rather than bad men to offices of public trust.
But, why, one might ask, does the citizenry move to such self-destructive behavior? Why would any citizen seek to elect bad men to office? Webster states that sometimes it is because they have been deceived. This certainly can be a partial answer. However, I am convinced, noting the truth about the nature of man, that once the citizenry loses its self-governing ethic, it will increasingly act in more and more selfish ways. This leads to seeking and electing men to office who will promise them not only more and more “spoils” from the public treasury, but demand officials and laws that grant increasing freedom to act as they wish without punishment or condemnation. When the morals of those who hold the reins of power fall, this is inevitable.
And in a republic, those reins are held by the voting public.
There is a quote that has been attributed to various people, but it conveys a sobering reality:
“A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can exist only until the voters discover they can vote themselves largess out of the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidate promising the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that democracy always collapses over a loose fiscal policy, always to be followed by a dictatorship.”
Although there is much truth in this statement, it is without hope…it denies the possibility that the “majority” can again begin to act with self-restraint, with biblical morals. I disagree. I believe it IS possible and I will continue to fight for the latter. Let’s pray and act in a way that will make it so.
Comments
11 Responses to “Political Wisdom from Dr. Noah Webster: Remedy for Political Evils”
“…in general, the calamity of having evil counselors, legislators, judges, and ministerial officers, is the fault of the electors. They do not regard the precept, to choose ‘just men, who will rule in the fear of God.’ They choose men, not because they are just men, men of religion and integrity, but soley for the sake of supporting a party. This is a fruitful source of public evils”
They choose men for the sake of supporting a party? That sounds quite a bit like today’s political world.
There are 5 candidates for president on the ballots in enough states to theoretically win a majority of electoral college votes. There is also the option in most states of a write in.
In order to vote for a just man who would rule “in the fear of God” often times it means we vote alone. But, as John Quincy Adams once said, “Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.”
More interesting words from Noah Webster. Thanks for sharing his thoughts with us!
And of course in a welfare state the “good man ” is the one who promises the most from the public treasury. We have lost our moral compass. But if God allows, by His grace we will get it back!
Mike W
In the Truth project you make it very clear that we are being deceived from all angles of our lives. It’s apparent to me, based on Noah Websters comments, that these deceptions were the same then as they are now. We just have many more forms of deception. Thank you Del as always for these great articles of information that you share with us all. I agree with you that we can act with self restraint and with biblical morals. And will stand to defend Truth. We are the light that others will want to follow if we act in a Christlike manner.Sorry for not sticking completely with the mentioned subject.
Jack
With all the muck and mire of public information about a candidate, it is a wonder that anyone can tell a “good” man/woman from a “bad” man/woman. Public Relations campaigns to “clean” an image–even if it is only for the moment a candidate stands before a select group, only adds to the deception.
Then when a “good” candidate is elected who knows whether he/she will or will not adhere to the image they presented on the campaign trail.
This all may sound cynical–actually it is, however, I cannot help but wonder how far down the slide this nation has gone since we “suppress(ed)the truth in unrighteousness…” Romans 1:18f
It seems from the comments herein that we spend far too much time in the wringing of our hands, wondering how in the world we will ever be saved, except for the return of Christ. However, He has not given us a spirit of timidity (2 Tim 1:7). We are called to service and Dr. Tackett is doing his part to help train us up. We must be involved! Join your neighborhood association, your PTA, your service organization, your city council, your school board or the race for your legislative district next time. We cannot lament the lack of good leaders if we are not leading in our own sphere. We have the truth and we are aware of the cosmic battle. We must join in and do our part. Thank you Dr. Tackett for doing yours!
I agree with Ms. Schrader. I beleive that the two main priorities that we have before us as “lights in a crooked and preverse generation”,as Peter the Apostle puts it,is to 1) fast and pray to God, asking His forgiveness for our sins of omission and commission,and 2) laying ourselves on His altar, surrendering ourselves completely to whatever action He intends to carry out to through us as our “reasonable act of worship”.
Thank you for giving us an opportunity to hear a voice of Godly authority moving us toward action rather than grumbling. We must not abdicate our responsibility before God or man. Taking back leadership by righteous men/women, on all levels of society is a responsibility we must face. May God give us the grace, compassion, and the abundance of His Spirit to carry out His Word. Sincerely, Carol K
I truely believe that the governing of a nation
is souly a reflection of the hearts of the people
of the nation. That reflection first starts with
the reflection we see every morning in the mirror. Jesus said, “let he who is without sin
cast the first stone”. Perhaps in a political
spectrum we could reiterate, “let he who is without selfishness cast the first vote. God’s word says, When the foundations are shaken, what
shall the rightous do? Maybe a more appropriate
question to ask at this time is, What have we as
God’s people left undone that has caused the
shaking of our foundations, and where will the
negation cease to regress?
I am more convicted than ever that the most important research that we can do on a candidate for any office is whether they put God first in their life. No by talk but by walk!
Very well stated in words that are so convicting. It grieves me to see the waywardness of christians. So easily convinced that we know better than God. How many really prays until God gives His answer, in all we do.