It’s a very old question. II Peter 3:11–18 asks, “What manner of persons ought yea to be”, then instructs, ”Grow in Grace and in the knowledge of our Lord”. Sound advice, though lacking in details. Centuries of philosophy: theological; political; and otherwise, have done their best to fill-in those details. The theologians focused on souls. The politicians focused on material matters; principally, the inevitable dichotomy between social demands and individual freedom. Some other philosophers focused on foolish notions not worth considering further.
I’m not very interested in the theological arguments.
They hinge mostly on fine points of denominational doctrine. The words of Christ are more important, and they are quite clear. Theorizing is unnecessary.
That leaves political theory.
Every sort has been tried over the millennia – from kings, dictators and every other species of top-down government, to republics and democracies. The current clash of ideas is about two diametrically opposed democratic systems: socialist democracy and free-market democracy. The first gives precedence to the needs of the group. The second gives precedence to the needs of the individual. Different though they are, they have one thing in common.
Both require cultural cohesion.
A famous pianist, and somewhat obscure author,
Dr. Balint Vazonyi, developed a concept about cultural cohesion that deserves to be better known. He presented it as a set of anchoring parameters which he called: 4 Points of the Compass
1. Rule of Law
2. Individual Rights
3. Guarantee of Property
4. Common Cultural Identity
He maintained these four points determine the viability
of any free nation. Without their maintenance, things fall apart. Then tyranny steps in to restore order - but not freedom.
Dr. Vazonyi had direct experience of what happens when these four points are absent. He was a refugee from communist Hungary. He became a naturalized citizen of the USA, and took great pride in not being a hyphenated American. No one appreciates America more than those who weren’t born here. His book, America’s 30 Year War: Who is Winning? Expressed his concerns about the Cold War that then simmered.
The former United Soviet Socialist Republic was the archetypical model for modern socialist democracies. It was very efficient at: 1. Rule of Law. It had no interest in it; 2. Individual Rights, except to deny them, ditto for; 3. Guarantee of Property. Only the State could own property. They were intensely interested in: 4. Common Cultural Identity. In fact, they insisted on it to the point of torture, imprisonment and execution. Eventually, because the USSR neglected points: 2. and 3. - things fell apart. Some say they fell because they grew slack at enforcing points: 1. and 4. I say no system can deny people freedom and property forever.
Modern socialists at least pay lip-service to: 2. and 3. – but their real interest lies in using: 1. Rule of Law to enforce: 4. Common Cultural Identity.
This is not a good model for how we should live together.
The 4 Points of the Compass described by Dr, Vazonyi were about cultural cohesion, but a good society requires something more, something no political model can provide – apprehension of God. The Founding Fathers of America knew this. They said only a virtuous moral people would be capable
of self-government. They considered belief in God essential to self-government. They thought that without a moral sense of obligation to their Creator citizens would tend to live selfish unrestrained lives harmful to society.
The Declaration of Independence acknowledges the Creator and recognizes that all human rights come from Him.
James Madison said, “If people were angels, we would have no need of law”.
Most of The Founding Fathers shared Madison’s opinion of how likely people would be to check their own behavior. Laws were needed, but they also thought that the necessary laws should necessarily be, simple, clear, and few. They thought government’s role should be limited to protection of life, property, and national boundaries. Anything beyond that was left for a free, virtuous and moral people to decide for themselves.
Points 1. 2. And 3. were acknowledged and enacted.
Point 4. Was assumed to be no problem for a free, virtuous and moral people.
They assumed correctly.
Who could have anticipated after two centuries of roaring American success the sad transition of a once free people into groveling supplicants. We surrendered the sovereign rights our Founders absolutely declared for citizens - and just as absolutely denied to government. What duplicitous reckoning led us to forfeit our God-given and constitutionally declared freedom to bloated overweening government?
The answer is hubris.
We were led astray by imagining that modern theories of governing could improve upon the Founder’s tightly construed framework. Just think how many more benefits Government could provide if only it weren’t so rigidly constrained? Couldn’t we, shouldn’t we, cautiously loosen those constraints, if only a little, to take advantage of the newest thinking coming from the best and brightest among us.
A better world was only as far away as new legislation.
It’s an error as old as ambitious government.
We forgot the hard-nosed realism at the core of the American constitution. Our Founders trusted in God, but not in man. They purposely designed the three branches of government to be strong together, and weak apart. They feared any concentration of power. They assumed that any branch of government that tried to seize power would be checked by the other two. State domination of anything would only be possible when all three branches were in agreement.
The Founders thought such agreement would be rare – likely only on matters of real national consensus.
They wanted government to be safely curbed from interfering in the day-to-day business and interests of the people. It was a wonderful idea. It worked as planned, for a long time.
The first breech came with the civil war.
Our country was founded as: The United States of America. The main reason the union was made possible was that the various mistrustful States were assured - by the Constitution - that they could withdraw from the Union whenever they considered it necessary.
Before the civil war we were a union of free and independent States bound to each other by a mutually affirmed constitution. After the civil war we were America – the once free States were now little more than provinces of a single all-powerful government.
As the decades rolled on, that single all-powerful government grew and grew. There seemed to be no end to the decisions the omniscient State could make better than you. Because it happened so incrementally, over so many years, few noticed. Also, only a minority of people ever really cared about freedom. Most will follow anyone at the head of the herd.
That’s the sad reality.
Not content with near complete legal control, the next focus of Magisterial Government would be Hearts & Minds. Shouldn’t the core culture also be controlled by the enlightened ideas of the ruling class? How then, can the unwashed be pried from their troublesome clinging to Bibles, guns, & quaint belief in the America way of life
The answer is bit-by-bit, one step at a time.
The first step away is to persuade as many as possible that truth is relative. All gods are equal, or better yet, there is no God. Everything is a matter of personal choice. The next soggy step is to believe that all cultures and all forms of government are equally good. Just choose the sort that seems nicest to you, otherwise it doesn’t matter. The third step is to mix it all up. Yes, that’s it: diversity. We’ll have a little of this, a little of that and all these cultures will live happily side-by-side; each group in their own special way. The greater diversity of differences will enrich the national character.
Unfortunately, not all of those diverse cultures will agree that a multiplicity of diversities is best. Some may decide that their diversity could be improved by terminating your diversity.
If diversity was an unequivocal good, the former Yugoslavia would have been a paradise.
Finally, after point 4. has been pushed aside long enough, the result is a sort of a mad tea party serviced by the barbarians that slipped through the door while you were busy making sure everyone was included on the guest list.
Ideas matter. Not all Ideas are equally valid. Some ideas are so toxic they should be burned, buried and forever forgotten.
How then shall we live together?
1. Preserve the American Constitution, as written - without novel interpretation.
2. Respect the rights of all individuals as you respect your own rights.
3. Protect your American heritage: encourage assimilation; be cautious of diversity.
4. “Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord”.