Government, Heart Trouble and Johnny Cash
by Bill Allen
A few days ago my son asked what I thought would be the best form of government to live under; a democracy, a republic, a theocracy, a monarchy or perhaps even a benevolent dictator. And what would be the best economic structure for a nation? Would it be capitalism, socialism, communism or a mixed economy? I pondered these questions awhile and then we discussed the strengths and weaknesses of each form of government before I came to the conclusion that no form of government works well unless the hearts of the leaders are submissive to God. A democracy can quickly turn to mob rule and tyranny of the majority against the minority. A republic can become a system of nepotism where favors are traded for seats at the tables of power. Kings can be good or bad, a theocracy can end up as a government that usurps the place of God in the hearts of believers and enforces a system of beliefs through dictatorial methods. Our conclusion was that none of these systems was perfect or without serious problems.
No man-contrived system of order is going to be “just” unless the hearts of its leaders are good and just. Our hearts are not naturally good. Jeremiah stated this truth when he wrote, “The heart is deceitful above all things” therefore, it’s not surprising that governments are constantly trying to draft laws to deal with the lack of goodness in the hearts of rulers and citizens. Isaiah the prophet warned us that no amount of rules can replace hearts that seek to honor God.
"These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men” (Isaiah 29:13).
What the world desperately needs most is not more rules designed to restrain people, rulers and nations from committing evil deeds. What the world needs most is a system that turns bad hearts into good hearts.
Although not designed to be an instruction manual on government or citizenship the Bible is a good manual on how hearts can be changed and it offers us citizenship in a Kingdom where the goal of its leaders as well as its other citizens is to cultivate, nurture and encourage hearts to be brought in line with God’s goodness. No matter the condition we find ourselves in or the type of government under which we live, God’s kingdom is one where good hearts should and can rule our lives as they reach out to imitate the heart of Christ. Such a system is one where hate gives way to love, selfishness gives way to selflessness, greed gives way to generosity, hatred and vindictiveness gives way to forgiveness and mercy. It’s a system where charity and concern toward our fellow man is seen as a privilege and an opportunity to serve him rather than an obligation to be endured or forced upon others. It’s a system where personal responsibility to one’s self, his family and his community is not just a priority but is paramount and subordinate only to his responsibility to God.
One of the best benefits of this system is that it cannot be destroyed by military might nor is it limited to geographical boarders. It’s a system where the status of economic classes is inverted. (blessed are the poor). It’s one where ethnic, gender and difference in social standing become non-existent and give way to good hearts, brotherhood and a oneness of purpose. (Gal. 5).
Many will say, “that all sounds wonderful but I’ve been in churches where Christian weren’t like that and I’ve seen the way they behave when they’re not in Church.” But what such people are seeing is not the failure of the heart changing system. Instead, they are observing people with heart trouble who are less than fully compliant at following the prescription that changes bad hearts into good hearts.
Because God calls us but doesn’t force us to have good hearts we are all imperfect citizens in a kingdom only made perfect by the sacrifice of a perfect King with a perfect heart who presents himself as a perfect example for use to follow. When our hearts are not like his, we diminish the beauty of the Kingdom and inhibit the ability of the world to see how our King can change hearts. Those of us who struggle with keeping our spiritual hearts in good shape, know how important it is to keep our eyes on Jesus and not others. But to many outside observers, we may be the only chance they have of seeing the miracle of the heart-changing power of Jesus. That’s why it’s so vitally important to keep a close watch on the spiritual health of our own hearts.
Johnny Cash recorded a popular song with lyrics begining with these words:
I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep my eyes wide open all the time
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
Because you’re mine, I walk the line
Because men with good hearts are what the world needs most, I need to keep a close watch on this heart of mine. I need to keep my eyes wide open all the time looking for both dangers and opportunities my heart may encounter. I need to keep the ends out for the tie that binds me to Jesus and cry out, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10. And if I want to keep my heart in good shape, I will walk the line of faithfulness. “Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path” Proverbs 23:19.
Have a good heart and remember “All a man's ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart” Proverbs 21:2. Keep your heart pure and you eyes wide open all the time and you’ll be amazed at what you’ll see.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” Matthew 5:8.
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