#7:
Restraining Mankind’sInclination towards Selfishness
A wise man has said that power corrupts and absolute
power corrupts absolutely.
Where
do you see corruption in your society? Think specifically in terms of such
places as politics, business, and the courts.
Where
do you see corruption or injustice in your church? Why is there corruption in
the church?
Where
do you see corruption in your own life? Please be honest!
While
human beings are capable of acting virtuously, they are also born with an
inclination towards selfishness and wrongdoing.
All people have evil thoughts, speak harmful words, and make decisions
that harm other people and God’s creation.
Because
of this inclination towards selfishness, tyranny results when one person, or
one family, tribe, or clan has too much power.
Power can corrupt the best, most sincere human being—the more power that
is accumulated, the greater the potential for corruption. Human history proves
this to be true.
Freedom
will not be maintained without intentionally protecting it.
In
order to create free, just, and prosperous nations, a people must take into
account this human inclination towards selfishness. They create government
structures that diffuse political power to different branches of government
rather than concentrating it in one person or group. They also diffuse power between national,
regional, and local levels.
Having
multiple centers of political power provides a defense against tyranny by
creating a system of checks-and-balances. Another defense against tyranny is a
free press that can expose corruption, as well as political, economic, and
social abuse. When such abuses of power are not brought into the open, freedom
is undermined.
Credit:
Disciple Nations Alliance and Harvest Foundation
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