Revolutions
Feb 18
The more I look back at history the more I see many common threads that seem to keep repeating. The most recent one I have observed is a tendency for the new generation on the planet to have some kind of “revolution”. They look at the way their parents or the past generation did things and think, “There must be a better way!”. A very visible example of this was the hippie movement that preached that peace is better than conflict among other things. This was a reaction to how the generations before had handled international relations and conflicts. While that mindset still exists in a great number of people, there are those who do not agree and when a big enough group decides that they are tired of this world view, there will be a change, they hope, for the better.
The truth is, everyone is looking for change or a fresh look at the world and its systems. We see the flaws that exist in the current system and look across the proverbial fence toward greener pastures. “If only this would change I would be happy”, we say. People join groups that they feel are moving in the direction away from the flaws they find so distasteful. But keep in mind that if a revolution wins out it soon becomes the very establishment that people want to overthrow.
I want everyone to understand very clearly that I am not suggesting just accepting the world the way it is. There are always improvements that can be made and we should all strive to make those changes. What I am saying is that we should not expect the changes we make to be perfect in any way. We will never arrive at a time when we have ironed out all the wrinkles because of changes we have made. Do not ever assume that your way is the best way or that joining this revolution or that one will ultimately fix anything. Every institution of man is fallen. Sin corrupts even the best intentions. If you think you have found a better way, great, but don’t look with scorn at the old way when your way is subject to the same sin that ruined the old way. By all means, keep trying to improve the world we live in but recognize that the best world will only come when Jesus does.
Brian
Amen!
Personally, I blame America. I mean, we started with one revolution, and it was about the most (relatively) clean and effective revolution in this history of the world. And it resulted in a truly revolutionary nation–one that *at its core* established the will of the people as primary. (And it still didn’t work out perfectly–slavery wasn’t abolished, and our initial economic success was based on forcing the natives off their land.)
But in general, I think G.K. Chesterton (one-time member of the English Communist party) summed it up quite well: “Every revolutionary is right about what is wrong in the world. It is just that every revolutionary is wrong about the solution.”