Governing by 'Smoke and Mirrors'
By Buddy Hanson The Covenant News ~ February 17, 2011
Governing by "Smoke and Mirrors"
Perhaps George Orwell had this principle of Machiavelli's in mind when
he said: "The great enemy of clear language is insincerity." It is
Machiavellian to approach life as though there were no absolute
ethics. Since most people realize that it is better to treat others
"fairly" and "honestly," and to behave in a "moralistic" manner,
non-Christian civil rulers find it expedient to talk as though they
are moralistic and have the interests of their constituents at heart.
Machiavelli's Principle 18 states:
A prince...should seem to be all mercy, faith, integrity, humanity, and religion. And nothing is more necessary than to seem to have this last quality, for men in general judge more by the eyes than by the hands, for everyone can see, but very few can feel.v
This Machiavellian Principle is the epitome of approaching the world
with a non-Christian worldview and lifestyle which is not confined by
any absolute ethical standards. Machiavelli has no qualms about urging
civil rulers to be a "skillful pretender and dissembler," who "seem"
to have the virtues of good faith, charity, humanity and religion. The
reason for his counsel is that he believes that the masses "are so
simple and so subject to present needs that he who deceives in this
way will always find those who will let themselves be deceived."
Machiavelli apparently missed these words from Jehovah, as recorded by
the prophet Hosea:
The princes of Judah are like those who remove a landmark; I will pour
out My wrath on them like water. Ephraim is oppressed and broken in
judgment, because he willingly walked by human precept. Hosea 5.10-11
It would be hoped that Christian civil rulers would see the fallacy of
such hypocrisy. To attempt to live by Christian ethics on Sundays and
Political ethics Monday through Saturday is to approach life with one
foot in God's camp and one foot in man's camp. This is to view the
world as though it were a biverse (with many co-equal ethical views),
instead of a universe (with one absolutely true set of ethics). Are we
simply a "force of nature," as Machiavelli suggests, or a "force of
God?" Are we an evolved "animal," or a "creature of god?" Can cultural
salvation come only through the state? We should hope that Christian
civil rulers would be on their guard to not become caught in the trap
of governing by "smoke and mirrors" -- presenting themselves something
they are not, and that they would not resort to using "cruelty and
fraud to secure themselves" in their political offices (Principle 18).
Christian civil government is based upon biblical truths, not
political expediences. To opt for political expediency is to opt out
of trusting in and relying upon God's sovereign control of His
creation. It is to show our true colors as to just which god we
believe, and to demonstrate to all who are observing us (including the
triune God of Scripture) exactly to whom it is that we trust our soul.
Whether we're a legislator or not, we can all rest in full confidence
that it takes only three votes to be a winner in life: Those of the
Father, Son and Holy Spirit. May we never be ashamed to contrast the
best advice that man has to offer with the best advice God has to
offer!
It is Christian to incorporate biblical ethics into our approach to
life and civil government. Since we believe in absolutes and absolute
truth, we know that the best way to treat others is according to what
God says, not according to the latest opinion poll. Instead of
treating others in a moralistic manner, we treat them in a Christian
manner, because that is the only true way to live and govern
ourselves.
For non-Christians, words are merely tools by which one side in a
discussion attempt to manipulate the other side to agree with its
premises. For Christians, words have real and concrete meaning,
because "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and
the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were
made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In
Him was life, and the life was the light of men." (John 1.1-4)
While it is perfectly natural and understandable that non-Christians
will use words in an insincere manner, we must use them in a most
sincere and reverential manner. In their "darkness" (John 1.5) they
may not understand it, but our example can be used by God to "remove
the veil from their understanding." (2 Corinthians 3.15-17) This is
the only way to communicate sincerely and to govern transparently, and
not with "smoke and mirrors."
Excerpted from "The Christian Prince: How to Put Civil Back into Civil
Government," Buddy Hanson