As a part of the series of reflections regarding changes that have happened through the decades of ministry as I look back on many my years, there has been a major philosophical change in the attitude of our culture. When our nation was founded the underlying premise was that man was basically flawed and he needed to rely on his creator for wisdom and guidance in managing the affairs of society. Built into the system were guidelines that allowed man to pursue his destiny without interference of those responsible to govern that culture. Our founders learned from the corrupted practices in former European cultures.

Wherein there was much reliance on a higher wisdom that came from his creator, I have seen a definite shift that elevates man himself to that position, thinking that he can solve all of the problems regarding his culture. There is even an attitude that the “intelligent” leaders of our society know what is best and can manage the affairs of the rest. We have seen this especially with our present administration. It has been labeled as the “progressive movement.”

But that totally contradicts the Bible and it denies the whole purpose for which Jesus came to this earth. He came to redeem man from his sinful and selfish nature. It really gets to the bottom of it all which is pride. That is what separated man from God in the first place when he said, “I don’t need you. I can handle life all by myself.” That has resulted in war and crime and corruption. We could go on and on! The Bible is right when it says that “the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked.” What we need is a transformation of the heart and reliance upon a higher wisdom that can only come from the one who created mankind in the first place. Let us never forget that we will answer to Him.