One of the great problems in our day has to do with government overreach. Yes? Yes! Now that this simple proposition is settled, let’s move on to another side effect of this ominous reality. And that is that we subtly allow the government to have a greater voice in our affairs when we treat them as the apex of knowledge.
The State is never a neutral institution. She always opines intelligently or not; with data or not. She can’t remain silent. We may all have opinions on all sorts of issues, but if we feel we have to share our opinions on all sorts of issues we are fools. The State, similarly, is supported by the imbecile’s currency. She needs to speak on everything and on everything she must speak in order to preserve her power and authority over the populace.
Our crisis is one of too much information and little wisdom which means we will always be in a position where we feel like we must know precisely what to do at all times in all places. And the State is always there for you to tell you how you are to live, when to mask on, and how to think. We have swallowed the State’s pills without questioning much at all of her intentions and presuppositions. I suspect, by now, we all feel sick in some way.
We need a healthy skepticism of every word that proceeds out of the mouth of D.C. Those men and women are highly syncretistic and are always ready to please their gods before the good of the people. And the very best way to draw the masses is by acting like all power and wisdom resides in one place. Those who are weak will find refuge there. The State will keep talking and talking and doing their very best to tell you that there is only way to do things. But the wise know that very often, too often, the State is basing their opinions on their agendas and even without knowledge they have to opine to keep you at ear’s length.
I believe it was Rushdoony who once noted that “Life is rarely easy, but, with Christ our King, it is always good.” I think that’s a healthy principle to keep in mind. There will be many times when we don’t know what to do; hard decisions will challenge us and our faith; and we may even have a sense that we are being lied to by powerful voices. In such times, when the radar of veracity is going all over the place, it’s all right to trust in local figures who have your best interest in mind. In fact, they may even be wrong at times, but at least you know that they trust in the goodness of God working on your behalf. The same can rarely, if ever, be said of the State.
