Musing - How Critical is Religion to the Functioning of Democracy?

Hebraic Musing - How Critical is Religion to the Functioning of Democracy?

Subject of a recent email caught my attention – “If you take away religion, you cannot hire enough police.”  It doesn’t take me long to recognize a “Truism”!  The article was about a Harvard Professor’s conversation with a Marxist economist from China who was asked if he had learned anything surprising or unexpected about America.  Without hesitation he said “Yes, I had no idea how critical religion is to the functioning of democracy..."   Here are interesting snippets from the ensuing discussion.

The Marxist economist observed that the key reason democracy works “…is not because the government was designed to oversee what everybody does.  But rather democracy works because most people, most of the time, voluntarily choose to obey the law.  And in your past, most Americans attended a church or synagogue every week.  And they were taught there by people who they respected.”

This raised a critical observation and a question by the Harvard professor.  “Americans followed these rules because they had come to believe that they weren't just accountable to society, they were accountable to God.  As religion loses its influence over the lives of Americans, what will happen to our democracy?”

As early as May 1775 (during the “War of Independence”) Harvard President Samuel Langdon made some salient and biblical parallels in his address "Government Corrupted By Vice".  He observed "The kingdom of Israel was brought to destruction, because its iniquities were full ... because there remained no hope of reformation ... Their government degenerated … as their vices increased, till few faithful men were left in any public offices ...”   

And Langdon’s warning continued - "When a government is in its prime ... virtue prevails -- everything is managed with justice, prudence, and frugality ...  But vice will increase with the riches and glory of an empire; and this gradually tends to corrupt the constitution, and in time bring on its dissolution ...  This may be considered not only as the natural effect of vice, but a righteous judgment of heaven, especially upon a nation which has been favored with the blessing of religion and liberty, and is guilty of undervaluing them; and eagerly going into the gratification of every lust ..."  (Good preaching from a Harvard president!)

Langdon described what happens when a nation rejects God:  "They were a sinful nation ... who had forsaken the Lord; and provoked the Holy One of Israel to anger ... Their princes were rebellious against God ... seizing the property...  robbing the public treasury.  Everyone loved gifts ... they were influenced … by bribery ... they even justified and encouraged the murder of innocent persons to support their lawless power ...   And God, in righteous judgment, left them to run into all this excess of vice to their own destruction, because they had forsaken Him ...”

As a result, the nation is doomed - “The public greatly suffered, … and wished for better rulers and better management. ... But in vain they hoped for a change ... when the spirit of religion was gone ... corrupted, there could be no rational prospect of any great reformation in the state, but rather of its ruin ..."

Reminder – Langdon was preaching to a young America 245 years ago, concerned for the future of America.

There are many biblical examples of consequences to the Israelites due to forsaking the LORD.  One example - “But they forgot the LORD their God; so he sold them into the hand of … the hands of the Philistines …  They cried out to the LORD and said, ‘We have sinned; we have forsaken the LORD …. But now deliver us from the hands of our enemies, and we will serve you.”  1 Sam.12:9-10

Points to ponder   or   RSVP

How Critical is our Religious freedom to the Functioning of our Democracy?

While reading the above, what similarities did you see to America today?

What can we learn from Israel’s restoration?  Role of leaders, men of God, prophets?
 Prayer?  Repentance?   What is our role in the Third Great Awakening?

 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…”  Matt. 28:19

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                          July 28, 2020

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Note – Inspired and excerpted from – “American Minute” by Bill Federer (wjfederer@gmail.com)
            "If you take away religion, you cannot hire enough police" June 8, 2020