Politics

A Nation's Conscience is Seared

by BenT
09/09/22
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Where are we now?

Like a patch of skin seared from scorching heat, conscience at both ends of America’s political spectrum is de-sensitized.

A small but vocal portion on both the extreme left and right are no longer able to feel the twinges of a pained conscience that allow them to judge themselves soberly. They no longer learn, grow or develop; their thinking and outlook have become stagnant and entrenched.

They have moved from assertively defending their truth to what they believe are justified, offensive attacks for the sake of their cause, and the effects are felt by us all.

Civil discourse is cast aside. The ends justify ugly, even violent means. Fear rules hearts, fear that others in their camp will view them as “soft” or moderate if they raise any doubt, any objection about their mission or how to accomplish it. 

How did we get here?

The root of the problem comes from the neglect of the part of us that is not physical, not material. You may call this your soul, spirit, mind, or whatever makes you you, minus flesh and blood.

Theologically, I would characterize this part of us as God-given conscience.

The apostle Paul speaks to this point in Romans chapter 2 (verses 14–16). In the context he is arguing that humankind lacks any excuse before God, who has revealed Himself through His creation, through our conscience, and through Christ:  “…their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them…”

So, our conscience gives each of us this sense of “ought-ness.”

This “rightness”, this “law “written on [our] hearts,” as Paul puts it, pervades every civilization, society, culture, every distinct ethno-linguistic people group on earth.

None of us are fireproof. In a sense, this is how we all got here. We neglect to think and to do what is right, what we ought. We ignore our conscience and lose our feeling.

Dangers Ahead

Society cannot function without some level of trust, some working social contract. 

Think of the worst moments of chaos, lawlessness or anarchy you’ve ever witnessed or heard about. If the Creator God at any moment took His hands off of us, decided to let us completely have our own way, then that kind of chaos and anarchy would be the norm; we would destroy ourselves.

Less than a thousand miles off the coast of Florida lies Haiti. Haiti provides an example of what happens when the conscience of a people, especially those who are in positions of power, authority and influence, is seared. 

As a scar from a burn, over time there’s no feeling, no awareness of what is right. Trust is broken down in Haiti. This is an oversimplification of Haiti’s situation, but I believe that’s what’s happened, fundamentally. Moral and spiritual darkness, chaos, lawlessness.

I see now in the U.S. a fearful, frantic, grasping for power and authority. As a follower of Christ, I would ask other believers: Is this a Christlike response for a member of His Kingdom?

Think about what most first-century Jews expected in a messiah. They wanted someone to militarily, violently throw off oppressive Roman rule. Sadly, I see this same strife and panic with some professing Christians in the U.S.

I am not saying that Christians should not be involved politically. We must actively engage, we should be involved, run for office, vote. The civil rights movement is an example that comes to mind of the kind of transformative work Christians can help catalyze, with non-violent means. 

But how might deep, inner wounds be healed? How can a whole nation’s trust be rebuilt, the social contract be strengthened and preserved?

A Way Forward

I think that healing and peace must come through our patient, courageous, moral action, not by rhetoric alone.

We must listen to that sense of oughtnessandrightness, not ignore it. 

Without the underpinnings of God-given conscience that’s open and yielded to this “law” written on our hearts, society will not get better.

From a Christian worldview perspective, I believe the primary responsibility for healing and for the rebuilding of trust lies with the Christian church.

True, sustainable, positive outward change of society and culture must begin with inward change, the kind only brought about by new life in Christ.

Followers of Christ who decide that violence is justified to “put things right” in America (yes, this is happening), are not actually following Christ. They’ve forgotten that the real War has already been won at the cross of Christ and through His resurrection.

Our current battles in this world are, as Paul teaches the early church at Ephesus, “…not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness…” (Ephesians 6:12).

For Christ followers, the battles we currently endure are to be fought on our knees in prayer, and through actions befitting a disciple of Jesus, characterized by Jesus’ love, joy, kindness, and goodness.