The Bible has multiple references to the corruption of ancient Israel and its neighbors.
Historians have documented how corruption infected the Roman Empire in its later days and eventually led to its downfall. Even so, I have come to believe that corruption is one of the most urgent justice issues of our day.
If we as the church care about injustice and inequality and the suffering of the poor and oppressed, then we must be deeply concerned about corruption.
It is “an insidious plague that has a wide range of corrosive effects on societies. It undermines democracy and the rule of law, leads to violations of human rights, distorts markets, erodes the quality of life and allows organized crime, and other threats to human security to flourish.”
What exactly does the First Amendment say?
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Corruption compromises public safety, erodes the law, and provides impunity for immoral, destructive acts. It keeps accountability at bay, providing cover for evil of all kinds.
As written in Proverbs 4:19, “But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.” Corruption keeps the poor as poor and the powerless as powerless as corruption and inequality “feed off each other to create a vicious circle between corruption, unequal distribution of power in society, and unequal distribution of wealth.”
Those impacted by corruption are most often low in income and social status; they are also the ones most in need of protection from government leaders, public safety officials, the justice system, and policies and programs. “The burden of corruption largely falls on the poor and it makes them extremely vulnerable to injustice.
As written in Proverbs 4:19, “But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.” Corruption keeps the poor as poor and the powerless as powerless as corruption and inequality “feed off each other to create a vicious circle between corruption, unequal distribution of power in society, and unequal distribution of wealth.”
Those impacted by corruption are most often low in income and social status; they are also the ones most in need of protection from government leaders, public safety officials, the justice system, and policies and programs. “The burden of corruption largely falls on the poor and it makes them extremely vulnerable to injustice.
In the US, once upon a time we were fortunate enough to live under a relatively strong set of regulations against corruption, which meant that its presence was less palpable in our day-to-day lives.
But we don’t have to look far to find stories of money flowing illicitly between, say, politicians and officials and government and government regulators and corporations in exchange for privileges, access, or influence over public policy.
The more a business spends on lobbying, the less it pays in taxes.
No wonder, then, that God condemns the corruption of ancient Israel so strongly in the beginning of Isaiah. “Woe to the sinful nation, a people whose guilt is great, a brood of evildoers, children given to corruption! They have forsaken the Lord; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him” (1:4).
What, then, are the people of God to do in the midst of such a pervasive and powerful evil? We must first take a stand against corruption in ourselves, always choosing what is right and good over what is fast and easy. If we are in positions of influence in government, business, or the NGO sector—whether in the US or abroad—we can commit to no-tolerance policies against corruption within our own organization and insist that our partners and contractors do the same. We can advocate for regulations, transparency, and checks and balances that make it more difficult for money to flow between public officials, corporations, and others.
We can financially support and pray for organizations that bring corruption to light, including NGOs like International Justice Mission and Transparency International, multinational agencies like the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and news media that conduct investigative journalism. We can also speak up on behalf of those who are oppressed through petitions, blog posts, and other outlets.
Most importantly, though, we must pray desperately for the God of light to make himself known in these dark corners. As Job assured his doubting friends in Job 12:22, “He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings utter darkness into the light.”
Successfully Fighting Corruption with Bible Truth is what can move mountains to make such a change in Christ Jesus name.
That same force is the one in The same force that moved Paul to renounce the life of a Pharisee to become a stalwart follower of Jesus Christ.
“The word of God is alive and exerts power,” he wrote. (Hebrews 4:12) Today, Scriptural truth still promotes honesty, even among those who have been deeply involved in corruption, However, loyalty rarely exists among those whose living depends on corruption until beaten up by Rhizo made one think seriously about a needed reversal in the purpose of their life. Other words, although living by honest standards means earning a lot less money, one can feel that they have a future with a life that has real meaning over former life-styles and all of its expensive trappings were simply just houses of cards in wait to collapse at any moment.
Although True, it may not be easy to live by honest standards today. Nevertheless, Jehovah assures us that in the long run, “a greedy man brings trouble to his family, but he who hates bribes will live.”* (Proverbs 15:27, NIV) By renouncing corruption now, we show our sincerity when we pray to God: “Let your kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also upon earth.”—Matthew 6:10.
As Alexander discovered, Bible truth can move a person to overcome corruption. He made changes in harmony with what the apostle Paul says in his letter to the Ephesians: “Put away the old personality which conforms to your former course of conduct and which is being corrupted according to his deceptive desires; . . . you should be made new in the force actuating your mind, and should put on the new personality which was created according to God’s will in true righteousness and loyalty.
Wherefore, now that you have put away falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, because we are members belonging to one another. Let the stealer steal no more, but rather let him do hard work, doing with his hands what is good work, that he may have something to distribute to someone in need.”
Wherefore, now that you have put away falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, because we are members belonging to one another. Let the stealer steal no more, but rather let him do hard work, doing with his hands what is good work, that he may have something to distribute to someone in need.”
(Ephesians 4:22-25, 28) The very future of mankind depends on such transformations.
Left unchecked, greed and corruption can ruin the earth, just as they contributed to the ruin of the Roman Empire. Happily, though, the Creator of mankind does not plan to leave such matters to chance. He has determined “to bring to ruin those ruining the earth.” (Revelation 11:18) And Jehovah promises those who long for a world free from corruption that shortly there will come “new heavens and a new earth . . . and in these righteousness is to dwell.”—2 Peter 3:13.
10 POLITICAL Things America Can't Do While Following Jesus:
https://howmanydaystill.com/its/election-day-2018
1) Support capital punishment — execution.
2) Devalue education.
3) Turn away immigrants.
4) Limit the rights of a select group of people.
5) Withhold healthcare from people.
6) Let people go hungry.
7) Cut funding that hurts the least of these.
8) Favor the rich over the poor.
9) Advocate for war.
10) Force your religious beliefs and practices on others.
If you are using the government to compel people to practice your beliefs, you might be the reason baby Jesus is crying.
https://www.corp-research.org/trump-organization
Favoring the rich over the poor is a slap in the face of Jesus, his life, and his teachings!
https://howmanydaystill.com/its/election-day-2018
1) Support capital punishment — execution.
2) Devalue education.
3) Turn away immigrants.
4) Limit the rights of a select group of people.
5) Withhold healthcare from people.
6) Let people go hungry.
7) Cut funding that hurts the least of these.
8) Favor the rich over the poor.
9) Advocate for war.
10) Force your religious beliefs and practices on others.
If you are using the government to compel people to practice your beliefs, you might be the reason baby Jesus is crying.
https://www.corp-research.org/trump-organization
Favoring the rich over the poor is a slap in the face of Jesus, his life, and his teachings!
Trump Says He’s a Great Negotiator, but the Evidence Says Otherwise.
https://yourcountdown.to/the-next-presidential-election
http://fortune.com/2016/07/19/donald-trump-negotiating-the-art-of-the-deal/
Top 4 POLITICAL Things that should not be Done While Following Jesus.
https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/bible-verses-about-hypocrisy/
2) Devalue education.
We learn in Proverbs that wisdom is something in which God delights daily. As a matter of fact, according to Proverbs, wisdom is better than gold. When you look at the percentage of our budget that goes to education and at what Congress is trying to do to student loans, it's pretty clear that delighting in wisdom is something our government no longer does.
4) Limit the rights of a select group of people.
Jesus loves everybody – but he loves me best. Kind of sits the wrong way with you, doesn't it? Well, it should and with good reason. If you spend any time reading the Bible you know that we all were made in God's image. Exactly which part of us is in God's image is less clear, but what is clear is that we were equally made in the image of God. Any law that doesn't treat people equally is as good as thumbing your nose at God. Even worse? Doing it in the name of God or based on religious beliefs.
7) Cut funding that hurts the least of these.
To some degree, this is the inverse of #8. Favoring the rich is despicable. We Jesus minions should avoid it. Hurting the poor? Well, that's just … just ... um, something a whole lot worse than despicable. Despicabler? Über-despicable? When Jesus said, “Whatever you do to the least of these, you do it to me,” he meant it. When you cut funding and it hurts people, according to Jesus, you are hurting him.
8) Favor the rich over the poor.
This is actually related to #4. Favoring the rich over the poor is a slap in the face of Jesus, his life, and his teachings. In terms of the teachings of Jesus, it is bad enough when we allow the rich to take advantage of the poor, but when we create laws that not only encourage the behavior but also protect it? Well, let's just say it becomes crystal clear how ironic it is that we print, “In God We Trust,” on our money.
https://yourcountdown.to/the-next-presidential-election
http://fortune.com/2016/07/19/donald-trump-negotiating-the-art-of-the-deal/
Top 4 POLITICAL Things that should not be Done While Following Jesus.
https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/bible-verses-about-hypocrisy/
2) Devalue education.
We learn in Proverbs that wisdom is something in which God delights daily. As a matter of fact, according to Proverbs, wisdom is better than gold. When you look at the percentage of our budget that goes to education and at what Congress is trying to do to student loans, it's pretty clear that delighting in wisdom is something our government no longer does.
4) Limit the rights of a select group of people.
Jesus loves everybody – but he loves me best. Kind of sits the wrong way with you, doesn't it? Well, it should and with good reason. If you spend any time reading the Bible you know that we all were made in God's image. Exactly which part of us is in God's image is less clear, but what is clear is that we were equally made in the image of God. Any law that doesn't treat people equally is as good as thumbing your nose at God. Even worse? Doing it in the name of God or based on religious beliefs.
7) Cut funding that hurts the least of these.
To some degree, this is the inverse of #8. Favoring the rich is despicable. We Jesus minions should avoid it. Hurting the poor? Well, that's just … just ... um, something a whole lot worse than despicable. Despicabler? Über-despicable? When Jesus said, “Whatever you do to the least of these, you do it to me,” he meant it. When you cut funding and it hurts people, according to Jesus, you are hurting him.
8) Favor the rich over the poor.
This is actually related to #4. Favoring the rich over the poor is a slap in the face of Jesus, his life, and his teachings. In terms of the teachings of Jesus, it is bad enough when we allow the rich to take advantage of the poor, but when we create laws that not only encourage the behavior but also protect it? Well, let's just say it becomes crystal clear how ironic it is that we print, “In God We Trust,” on our money.
Therefore on account of you men Jerusalem herself looks to become mere heaps of ruins.”
ReplyDeleteCorruption devastates the society of Israel, just as it corroded Rome centuries earlier.
True to God’s warning, about a century after Micah wrote those words, Jerusalem was destroyed and abandoned.—Micah 3:9, 11, 12. https://youtu.be/qoX0Olfqziw