Several years ago, when ISIS was in its heyday, creating havoc, decimating villages, and routinely broadcasting videos of gruesome executions, I was stunned to hear a State Department spokesperson on television attempt to explain these barbarous actions by stating, “They have no jobs in their region.” This was said as if to suggest that a successful job fair might be the answer to peace in the Middle East. After spending a while percolating on this strange comment, it dawned on me that whether she intended it or not, this government/political official had revealed the stark contrast between the way the right and left wings of the American political spectrum view the nature of man.
While the Bible teaches that human beings are born in original sin and are inherently turned toward immorality, the political left firmly believes that man will naturally be honest, decent, and cooperative with one another in the absence of economic or political oppression. In other words, the only reason people commit crimes beat their kids, cheat on exams, or carry out shocking acts of terrorism is because they have been provoked by those in positions of power and privilege.
Our founders certainly understood the flaws of human nature as is evidenced by their gargantuan efforts at protecting the new republic from power-hungry political leaders. A couple of quotes will illustrate:
“It may be a reflection on human nature, that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of government. But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary.
-James Madison
“In questions of power, let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the constitution.”
-Thomas Jefferson
Whether speaking of dictators, drug lords, or the man across town who secretly covets his neighbor’s wife, the human heart is corrupt, and the only difference between one person’s sin and another’s has to do with degree. The left’s presumption of human goodness can be seen in the policies they promote. For instance, a left-leaning individual might argue that if our country’s borders are opened to the world, those coming in will have no reason to resent the U.S. Therefore, they will behave well once admitted. This line of thinking would also assume that everyone who steals does so because he is hungry through no fault of his own. In giving these examples, I do not intend to sound hard-hearted concerning those who truly have had difficult circumstances thrust upon them. However, every human being is ultimately responsible for his own conduct. Rather than immorality being alien to human nature, it is, in fact, one of its most fundamental features. Both the Bible and all recorded history testify to this fact.
The philosophical schism discussed here may seem relatively small, but it translates into vastly differing worldviews and, ultimately, conflicting political policies. It is at the root of the polarization of Americans on such issues as abortion, gun control, crime and punishment, and immigration, as previously mentioned.
It is nothing new for people to disagree on matters of morality and human nature. Such issues have been debated for ages. However, it is a recent development in the U.S. for those who so thoroughly misunderstand human nature to control the primary levers of power. At this point, both our government and society in general are groaning under the ever-increasing weight of human immorality; even so, our republic still stands. For this, we can thank our founders and the one they referred to as “Nature’s God”.
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