The Real Answer

“You are the salt of the earth,

but if the salt loses its flavor, with what will it be salted?

It’s good for nothing but to be cast out and trampled on by men.”

Jesus, in Matthew 5:13 

In the absence of the influence of the gospel, human ability to reason is diminished and the precious sense of right and wrong is lost.  Where the influence of the gospel is absent, truth is redefined in order to accommodate the lusts of corrupt human nature, and those who are good become a prey.  Without the gospel's influence, children cannot develop a noble character because they do not learn the fear of God.  Nor can they develop a true sense of justice, for evil is made to appear good, and good, evil.  This is happening now in our culture, and it is frightening to watch.  We are watching the rise of a generation without a conscience.

The spiritual blindness of modern political leaders is astonishing, but the fault is not altogether theirs.  Their contempt for the gospel of Jesus is the result of the problem, not the problem itself.  The fault belongs to us who believe in Jesus, for our lack of power and conviction for righteousness.  The power of the Spirit, when God's people walk in it, influences the society those saints live in; it even affects the conscience of those who hate the gospel.  Without the Spirit's power, in men’s eyes, the body of Christ is just another sect of talkers.

Rather than grumble, then, about the foolishness and wickedness of the rulers of this world, let us who believe humble ourselves and pray for a revival of true holiness among us.  Let us pray for a restoration of the gospel's influence on the body of Christ!  For if God’s power is restored to the body of Christ, then the body of Christ will again be “the salt of the earth”, and the precious gospel of Jesus will again influence society, keeping even sinners’ souls from complete decay.

In sum, the next time you see the leaders of this government do evil, ask God to restore His power and righteousness to us who believe, that we might influence them to do good instead.