Observations©

Donald S. Conkey

Date: July 26, 2007 # 930 – Evil vs. good (830)

Two disturbing news stories motivated this column, disturbing because they reflect on a negative trend in American society. 

One story related to the charges filed against Michael Vick for his alleged involvement in dog fighting. The other was a Tribune front-page story telling how two young men were arrested by the Cherokee County’s sheriff’s department and charged with aggravated battery and battery. Both were recent graduates of a Cherokee high school, both had received sports scholarships, both had great potential, and all three probably wish they could go back and make a few different choices.

What caused these talented young men, and thousands more like them, to engage in such unbecoming behavior, behavior that could, if indicted and convicted, destroy their futures? Is there a common thread here? I think there is. It is called attitude, an attitude that the law doesn’t apply to them? Where does that kind of arrogant “attitude” originate?

Fellow Eagle Watcher, Dr. Michael Litrel, one of Cherokee County’s premier writers, in one of his recent stories delightfully told how his application of “tough love” to a rebellious family member changed a negative attitude to a positive attitude. His story was about teaching family members “correct principles of behavior,” principles applicable to acceptable social mores. The home is where such principles need to be taught and then reinforced by the schools and society.

These “correct principles” were apparently not taught to these young men at home, nor were they boy scouts where proper attitude is taught, or they, using their agency ignored these powerful guidelines. Every parent learns that when children reach a certain age they begin to rebel. This built-in rebellious attitude is one of the “Laws of Nature” Jefferson wrote about in the Declaration. A little rebellion is the tool used to prepare youth to leave home and become responsible adults. But when parents fail to teach “correct principles” at home it often leads to repulsive behavior that can lead to self-destruction. What a waste of potential talent. 

America’s history of its first 125 years records how its families followed Moses’ counsel to teach their children correct principles, the “ordinances and laws” necessary to “shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work they must do” to maintain their freedoms.

In the twenties the intellectual elite – those that lust for power, self-glory, and distain the common man, organized, some into secret societies, and began to eat away, termite like, at America’s foundational principles of freedom, two of which Washington said were religion and morality. They gained followers in America’s universities and governmental circles and began their campaign to eliminate references to religion, which teaches about good and evil. They grew in influence and flourished during Johnson’s Great Society where today’s welfare state (socialism) began to take shape, and where government began to redefine the basic family, the very foundation of society, even to the extent of removing fathers from certain welfare homes.

The entertainment industry glorified these new trends and soon moral restrains began to fall. The educational system followed by mocking America’s historical heritages because of their religious connotations to the “Laws of God” that Jefferson said were the very foundation of America’s future freedoms and prosperity. Evil was beginning to overshadow good.

However, today’s ‘believer’ still believes that good and evil is weaved throughout their Bibles, beginning with its Council of Heaven where Lucifer, as Isaiah told us, was “the son of the morning,” perhaps co-counsel with Christ, but wanted all glory for himself, even the glory of the Father. John’s Revelations (12) tells how Lucifer’s pride caused a war in heaven, a war lost by Lucifer (Satan) who was then cast down to the earth that he “made to tremble, [and] did shake all kingdoms.”

Sadly, a “third part of the stars of heaven” followed Lucifer to the earth where their assigned role is to tempt mankind into believing there is no law, or they have no responsibility to the society that has given them so much.

The words of Moses resonate with me when I read; “Wherefore, because that Satan rebelled against me, and sought to destroy the agency of man, which I, the Lord, had given him, and also that I should give unto him mine own power; by the power of mine Only Begotten, I caused that he should be cast down; And he became Satan, yea even the devil, the father of all lies, to deceive and to bind men, and to lead them captive at his will, even as many as would not hearken unto my voice. …” Evil personified.

Moses makes it plain that “as one sows, so shall one reap.” Mr. Vick, and those that have made similar choices will eventually realize the truth of these eternal principles of freedom. As Moses said, Lucifer truly is the “father of all lies (evil)” and the price one pays for listening to his lies is a loss of personal freedom, and perhaps, even eternal life.