8 Then Haman said to King Xerxes, “There is a certain people dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom who keep themselves separate. Their customs are different from those of all other people, and they do not obey the king’s laws; it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them. 9 If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will give ten thousand talents of silver to the king’s administrators for the royal treasury.” (Esther 3:8–9) [NIV]
The most common news story on life issues describes new legislation, court decisions, or referendums. All too often, it is an initiative to liberalize a right to sin.
The typical reaction is to propose counter-legislation, file a lawsuit, or craft a new referendum. We have watched this seesaw attempt to establish moral absolutes for countless years with little lasting impact.
Bad laws emanate from bad judgment and bad hearts. Both problems are addressed through education.
Education can be frustrating. Some call it “taking the long road,” which challenges our patience. It takes a long time to establish and then sustain a correct mindset. Yet, with a correct mindset, even bad laws can be ignored in favor of more God-pleasing decisions.
When I read the latest legislative initiatives in Nevada and Colorado, it made me recall the role bad hearts and bad judgments played in the story of the Jewish people and King Xerxes. Haman, a highly regarded assistant to the king, had a bad heart filled with pride and hatred. The King displayed a tendency to make bad judgments. The result was the potential annihilation of the Jewish people within the kingdom.
Haman was committed to his bad heart. The King, however, could be educated and was at significant personal risk to Queen Esther. Corrective action occurred.
In our form of governing, Christians serve God and others by the laws and leaders they support. We learn from Scripture that righteousness by mandate does not last. At best, it buys time.
While favoring good laws and opposing bad laws, we should simultaneously use our time to share the story of God’s love in Christ and to practice that love toward others. In time, many hearts change. Changed hearts change laws. It is time well spent for the good of all people.
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