Over the last week, we have seen corruption more and more around the world. Ukrainian authorities stole $40 million meant to buy arms for the war against Russia.
Worse yet, the UN confirmed that some of its aid workers took part in the Hamas attack on Israel. Corruption is not a political problem it is a human problem. Corruption happens when what is supposed to be good becomes or does what is evil. It blurs the lines between two spiritual forces that are at war on this fallen planet.
- Good
- Evil
As God’s people we are called to be different from the corrupt world we live in. It is not enough to simply know the difference between right and wrong, from the two headlines above, we see we must do good and avoid what is evil or else we will become corrupt (Deuteronomy 6:18; 12:28, James 4:17.)
Sin and the corruption of the world began in the garden when humanity knew what God had commanded, yet chose to disobey by wanting more. Corruption always spoils what is good.
Corruption
Corruption is defined as a departure from the original or from what is pure or correct. The decay process turns what is good into something bad. Spiritually, corruption distorts what God made good into something evil.
The entire planet was created pure and good, until mankind’s desire for more corrupted its heart and caused mankind to disobey God. For over 2000 years Christianity has sought to be a catalyst against corruption.
Jesus taught His followers to be the salt of the world, salt retards and stops decay. The early church fathers warned the faithful about how corruption works and how to avoid it (Acts 13:34-37, 1 Corinthians 15:33, Galatians 6:8.)
As a former Pharisee, the Apostle Paul knew how easily corruption twists what is good (Romans 7:14-20.) As a Pharisee of the Pharisees, Paul was powerless against the corruption within himself.
Sāḥaṯ
Judaism follows gives harsh warnings about corruption that are found in the Torah. Israel has a lengthy history of being corrupted by the ways of this world. The Hebrew word used in the Old Testament for corrupt is Sāḥaṯ and it means, “To corrupt, destroy, ruin or decay.” The prophet Moses wrote about how the corruption of the world spread and God decided to put an end to it (Genesis 6:11-17.)
Even after God delivered Israel from Egypt, the corruption still ran through the blood of God’s people again they disobeyed and turned from God. The Ten Commandments were given as boundaries to help protect God’s people from their corrupt desires.
Still, due to the sinful nature of mankind, corruption continued to spread amongst God’s people, no one is immune to the corruption of our sinful hearts. Below are common forms of corruption God’s people have dealt with over the millennia and Judaism strongly condemns.
- Bribery
- Idolatry
- Greed
- Lust
- Deception
Corruption destroys each of us from the inside, that is why the prophet Jeremiah warned Israel about the deception of the human heart (Jeremiah 17:9-10.) Later Jesus taught His followers the same teaching about where corruption and evil come from the heart (Matthew 15:19.)
The Apostle Paul taught that our flesh and its works are corrupt, but God’s Spirit is pure (Galatians 5:19-21.) Our heart’s desires are corrupted by our sinful nature and its desire for more pleasure.
Pleasure
The other “Son of David”, King Solomon warned God’s people about the meaningless of pursuing pleasure (Ecclesiastes 2:1-2.) Mankind’s desire for more pleasure is never satisfied and that is how what God made good becomes corrupt.
The corrupt flesh always wants more. The world and Satan are always promising us more. However, the Apostle John tells us that both are fading (1 John 2:17.) Whatever pleasures we seek in this life are temporary and can never satisfy us.
- Wealth
- Sex
- Fame
- Power
We see the lusts of the heart corrupt people every day, God’s people aren’t immune either. This is obvious as we continue to see the power struggle and corruption dominate the GOP that is beholden to its fallen savior who promises to give them this clearly corrupt world (Sāḥaṯ!)
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