New Government—Same Problems
A commentary by Peter Hawkins
Pastor of United Church of God congregations in Bricket Wood and Tonbridge, England
The United Kingdom's recent election brings
some new faces to the political scene.
They must tackle the challenges
of running our country's infrastructure,
of determining its role as a player on the world stage and of setting
our tax levels that affect how much money is left in our pocketbooks.
Their policies will impact our economy and affect our jobs, investment
portfolios and pensions.
Over the last few decades we here in the UK have been spending
more than we have. Those who do behave responsibly end up paying for
those who don't.
Our health care expenditures are an example. Although our citizens
place heavy demands on public and private health services, most do little
to improve their nutrition or diet, or to take regular exercise. From
pre-teens to senior citizens, previously unaffected age groups now overindulge
in alcohol and 'junk' food. Drug addiction is increasing.
Obesity, smoking, 'recreational' drugs and the excessive
use of alcohol are threatening to become the spectre kindled in the Victorian
era by poor sanitation and disease.
But government directives alone can't solve our lack of self-control that
escalates problems such as our health crisis. The truth is that very
few of us are ready to be held accountable for, or face the consequences
of, our own contributions to such problems, even when aware that they
and other social evils are fueled partly by our own lack of self-discipline
and ineffective relationships. Such challenges are not limited to the
UK. Governments around the world grapple with the negative effects of
their own economic and social problems.
Yet governments, educational institutions and religion have all been
unable to curb the escalating violence, the decline in moral standards
or the cancer of unscrupulous ambition. It seems that no one has a framework
for improving the human psyche.
Reflecting in 1945 on the effects of World War II, General Douglas
MacArthur observed: "We have had our last chance. If we will not
devise some greater and more equitable system, Armageddon will be at
the door. The problem basically is theological and involves a spiritual
recrudescence and improvement of human character that will synchronize
with our almost matchless advances in science, art, literature, and all
material and cultural developments of the past 2,000 years. It must be
of the spirit if we are to save the flesh" (emphasis added throughout).
While we would like to think that human nature has improved over the
past 60 years, conditions today show that humanity still faces the
same difficult problem we have always faced—the inability to discipline
ourselves.
But there is hope for those willing to receive the spiritual 'heart
transplant' that the Bible calls 'conversion.' To start
of that change we must see and acknowledge that each of us has been part
of—a contributor to—a way of life or social structure that
is becoming increasingly hostile to God.
Be honest with yourself. What standards of good conduct do you compromise?
If you desperately want a promotion at work—along with better pay,
more benefits and a leap in status—are you willing to do almost
anything to get it?
The truth is, we all fall short of God's righteous standards
(Romans 3:23). This we do "... because the mind set on the flesh
is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God,
for it is not even able to do so" (Romans 8:7, NASB).
How may we overcome personal flaws such as overspending, lack of self-control
or criminal habits? The answer is only by receiving a spiritual 'heart
transplant!'
God is able to change us, to create in us a new heart or new way thinking.
With that change of heart we then will have the ability to produce a
different society based on better principles.
Just think, what would it be like to live in a righteous society where
everyone took responsibility for his own actions? What if we always
had a caring frame of mind towards others and followed time-tested
values and standards guaranteed to create self-government? What
a stark contrast to the self-indulgent lifestyle
promoted by our consumer society now.
"My kingdom is not of this world," said Jesus nearly 2,000
years ago, (John 18:36). When He returns as King of kings His 'new' government
will redefine society over all the earth. Everyone will see the results
of God's law functioning in people's hearts and minds. Each
person will learn how to govern and moderate his own life.
  Why
wait? You can begin that change now! To find out how simply request,
read online or download today our free publications: Making
Life Work and Transforming Your Life: The Process of Conversion
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