Taking Aim at the Root Problem
13-Feb-13
Well, the trend keeps appearing. In fact, I’ll just cut and paste a portion of an article I wrote last summer on a different topic: ”When facts are ignored long enough, the reality of natural consequences forces its way through. Then people are puzzled at why such “injustices” occur. Meanwhile, more legislation and programs are sought to ease the increasing discomfort that could have been avoided in the first place by simply having “uncomfortable” conversations. The result is the erosion of freedom and a country that is both paralyzed and polarized.”
Now, enter the tragic shooting in Newtown, CT. Obviously a horrifying and deeply sad situation, especially tugging at the hearts of parents. Seizing the opportunity, the politicians and media were quick on the draw to push gun control legislation. Then there’s the additional rally to study mental health for clues to recognize and stop would-be criminals. To top it all off, the shooter, Adam Lanza’s DNA is being examined for an “evil gene”.
What do these have in common? They are reactionary. This is because their proponents fail to consider the whole picture of mankind. When you ignore a major aspect of humanity, you are surprised when its effects surface. Consequently, you go about mindlessly treating symptoms while ignoring the root cause. But you needn’t look to humanity for a solution when humanity is the problem. Look no further than the Bible to give us the reason for our pain –we are sinners.
Sin is violation of God’s moral law and we all have a sin nature that’s oriented away from God, wanting to go our own way. In disregarding God’s law, we dishonor Him and hurt ourselves and others –we do evil. And you cannot define evil without a reference point for what’s good. God is that immovable reference point. Yet in our culture’s increasing intolerance of God, we are told there’s no universal moral code for everyone and that we can do whatever we want –create your own morality. But Adam Lanza was doing what he wanted; he obeyed his morality. Most criminals do.
But if you ignore God, who determines what’s evil? What if your DNA had an alleged “evil gene”? What if you were incorrectly diagnosed? Would you be locked up or aborted? Could you get a second opinion? Such ideas of purely genetic causes can only lead to the horrors of Nazi-style eugenics in the name of improving humanity. Indeed, many politicians are looking for reasons to create laws against anything that threatens their chances of achieving utopia, but by what standard of morality will they enforce them? Do you trust fellow sinners to define right and wrong, decide what you can or can’t do and what freedoms you should have? Ignore God and you will get injustice one way or another.
Perhaps it’s not comfortable discussing sin, but it’s better than dealing with its consequences. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. So instead of legislating from hysteria and treating only symptoms, what if we actually taught kids God’s law? That they shouldn’t lie, steal… or murder. That every life is precious, including their own. That God’s institutions of marriage and family are important, giving stability and security to children. If people like Adam weren’t from broken homes with broken hearts, barraged with dehumanization of life and burdened with defining their own morality, maybe they wouldn’t shoot others.
Laws and regulations will do little to restrain mankind’s sin nature. Human dreams of utopian societies will always be thwarted by sin and death. The Bible tells us we can’t overcome the bad news of our sin nature by simply obeying God’s law; we need the good news of the Gospel. That’s trusting Jesus Christ was punished for your sin to satisfy God’s justice for breaking His law. It’s believing God’s power that raised Jesus from the dead will not only raise you to eternal life, but give you power over your sinful nature. This Gospel holds the only power over evil and even death itself.
Now, enter the tragic shooting in Newtown, CT. Obviously a horrifying and deeply sad situation, especially tugging at the hearts of parents. Seizing the opportunity, the politicians and media were quick on the draw to push gun control legislation. Then there’s the additional rally to study mental health for clues to recognize and stop would-be criminals. To top it all off, the shooter, Adam Lanza’s DNA is being examined for an “evil gene”.
What do these have in common? They are reactionary. This is because their proponents fail to consider the whole picture of mankind. When you ignore a major aspect of humanity, you are surprised when its effects surface. Consequently, you go about mindlessly treating symptoms while ignoring the root cause. But you needn’t look to humanity for a solution when humanity is the problem. Look no further than the Bible to give us the reason for our pain –we are sinners.
Sin is violation of God’s moral law and we all have a sin nature that’s oriented away from God, wanting to go our own way. In disregarding God’s law, we dishonor Him and hurt ourselves and others –we do evil. And you cannot define evil without a reference point for what’s good. God is that immovable reference point. Yet in our culture’s increasing intolerance of God, we are told there’s no universal moral code for everyone and that we can do whatever we want –create your own morality. But Adam Lanza was doing what he wanted; he obeyed his morality. Most criminals do.
But if you ignore God, who determines what’s evil? What if your DNA had an alleged “evil gene”? What if you were incorrectly diagnosed? Would you be locked up or aborted? Could you get a second opinion? Such ideas of purely genetic causes can only lead to the horrors of Nazi-style eugenics in the name of improving humanity. Indeed, many politicians are looking for reasons to create laws against anything that threatens their chances of achieving utopia, but by what standard of morality will they enforce them? Do you trust fellow sinners to define right and wrong, decide what you can or can’t do and what freedoms you should have? Ignore God and you will get injustice one way or another.
Perhaps it’s not comfortable discussing sin, but it’s better than dealing with its consequences. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. So instead of legislating from hysteria and treating only symptoms, what if we actually taught kids God’s law? That they shouldn’t lie, steal… or murder. That every life is precious, including their own. That God’s institutions of marriage and family are important, giving stability and security to children. If people like Adam weren’t from broken homes with broken hearts, barraged with dehumanization of life and burdened with defining their own morality, maybe they wouldn’t shoot others.
Laws and regulations will do little to restrain mankind’s sin nature. Human dreams of utopian societies will always be thwarted by sin and death. The Bible tells us we can’t overcome the bad news of our sin nature by simply obeying God’s law; we need the good news of the Gospel. That’s trusting Jesus Christ was punished for your sin to satisfy God’s justice for breaking His law. It’s believing God’s power that raised Jesus from the dead will not only raise you to eternal life, but give you power over your sinful nature. This Gospel holds the only power over evil and even death itself.
For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.
- Jesus in Mt 15.19
The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it. - Pr 27.12
There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. - Pr 14.12
An oracle is within my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked:
There is no fear of God before his eyes.
For in his own eyes he flatters himself too much to detect or hate his sin.
The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful; he has ceased to be wise and to do good.
Even on his bed he plots evil; he commits himself to a sinful course and does not reject what is wrong.
- Ps 36.1-4
“It is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand.
The only foundation of a free constitution is pure virtue.” – John Adams
“We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion...
Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” – John Adams
“And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion…
reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.” – George Washington
“Neither the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt.”
– Samuel Adams
- Jesus in Mt 15.19
The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it. - Pr 27.12
There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. - Pr 14.12
An oracle is within my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked:
There is no fear of God before his eyes.
For in his own eyes he flatters himself too much to detect or hate his sin.
The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful; he has ceased to be wise and to do good.
Even on his bed he plots evil; he commits himself to a sinful course and does not reject what is wrong.
- Ps 36.1-4
“It is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand.
The only foundation of a free constitution is pure virtue.” – John Adams
“We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion...
Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” – John Adams
“And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion…
reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.” – George Washington
“Neither the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt.”
– Samuel Adams