Corrupt Leaders, Corrupt People?

There's a pattern over and over again in the history books of the Old Testament. It goes something like this, the king did evil in the sight of the Lord, in which he made the people sin, and provoked God to anger with their idols, (I Kings 16: 13). God is not human, and we are limited in our language to truly describe an Infinite Invisible Being. We use our human terms to describe outcomes or actions that are visible to us. The people viewed their King as their protector and advocate. If it went well with the King, it was well for them, even if the King veered from the teachings of their heritage, i.e. the Law of Moses. It seemed as if there was no real discernment on their part, but rather a complicity of going along with majority thought or rule. I could be wrong, but the phrase that the King made the people sin, makes me wonder. After all, isn't there personal choice with our decisions?

Are we any different today, on this July 4th holiday? We like to hold this day up as a reminder of our freedom, while still holding others in bondage, be it discrimination, injustice or prejudice. We support politicians and leaders who lie, curse, misogynize, and even abuse. Usually, this is done for their own power and gain. But their actions affect the people they govern or lead. And unfortunately, we the people fall into step with their behavior, as we actually elect them or put them into those positions of power.

There does seem to be a direct correlation, as there was in ancient days. Corrupt leaders corrupt the people. Perhaps we have no one but ourselves to blame in these days. We got what we wanted, the white Evangelical put their trust again in an individual who "alone could make all things right for them." Heaven on earth was promised with the "making of America great again." But the reality was more division among us, more injustice to those who were not like us, greater disparity among all people, and a growing disrespect in our vocal discourse with one another.

It's time to stop, question and ask. It's time to listen to one another. It's time to pause and lament, ultimately repent and cease from following the rhetoric of the corrupt. But are we too late?

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