Read: Psalm 14 NLT – Psalm 14 – For the choir director: A – Bible Gateway
“Only fools say in their hearts, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not one of them does good! The wicked frustrate the plans of the oppressed, but the LORD will protect his people.” Psalm 14:1, 6 NLT
The term ‘perception of corruption’ has been trending on social media the last ten days since the California primary election here in the United States. It comes down to a simple observation of the modern technological age we live that all the ballots have not yet been counted. I am old enough to remember old relic voting machines that worked fine. When the polls closed 8 PM the vote totals were captured and sent to the county courthouse and on a good night the results were announced around 10 or 11 PM. Mail-in ballots, of course, were available to those serving overseas and for those who proved they would not been available to vote on election day in their precinct. Oh My, how things have changed.
Proponents of the new laws that have created this log jam say it is to ensure every person exercises their right to vote, and that every vote is counted. In all my years of voting I have never heard a report of a citizen registered to vote that had been denied that right, either in person or mail-in ballot, and their vote was counted. So, there must be another reason for reshaping the voting procedures in the United States. There is an old saying that goes something like this, ‘if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it.’ Well, it wasn’t broken, but it is now.
King David writing in Psalm 14 sheds some light on how and why this corruption may take place. Those who say there is no God are fools. This does not need to be an outright denial of God, but an arrogance of one claiming to be working for the benefit of others and believe that God is silent of their deception. As they work to help others they perceive their methods are righteous because they are legal, but as David wrote, “The wicked frustrate the plans of the oppressed.” (Ps.14:6 esv) It is indeed a perception of corruption. The people they claim they are trying to help are just as confused as the rest of us. Under the disguise of assisting others the powerful politicians become more powerful and filled with greed which they cannot let go of.
Christians today need to speak up whenever corruption raises its ugly head. But there are ways in which to act and ways not to act. We must be in prayer for our proper response and be praying for the United States and its election process that it will remain free from corruption and eliminating anything that enables a perception of corruption.
Word for the Soul 