MACHIAVELLI

Niccolo Machiavelli was an Italian political theorist whose book, The Prince, written in 1513, describes the achievement and maintenance of power by a determined ruler indifferent to moral considerations. It became the basis of what is called Machiavellians which denies the relevance of morality in political affairs and holds that craft and deceit are justified in pursuing and maintaining political power.

There seems to be a whole lot of that going round in this present time, both in politics, civic affairs, business and religion. No matter what area we are talking about, God demands honesty.

Many politicians are Jewish. They claim that they adhere to the Old Testament law. Their law demands honesty. (Deuteronomy 5:19-20) "Neither shalt thou steal. Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour." Most politicians claim to be Christians. The New Testament requires honesty in Gentiles also. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11) "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you ..." (2 Corinthians 8:21) "Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men."

Machiavellians runs rampant in our land and is it any wonder?

We read about and witness on TV many, or most, of our elected senators, representatives, governors, yea, even our presidents, practicing lying, cheating, extortion and every conceivable method of dishonesty, and we, too, begin to think like they do. Dishonesty becomes the norm for the general public. Men and women lie about sicknesses to get free off time; steal products from their employers; falsify travel expenses; give lying excuses for shoddy workmanship; lie to customers about when to expect services or products; etc. Our boys and girls see their parents lying on income tax reports (and bragging about it), being instructed to lie concerning their whereabouts to phone callers, witness their thievery in regard to their employer's products, hear all the stories about the above dishonest maneuvers and then they receive scolding for cheating on a school paper or chastisement for their phony excuses of why they missed curfew. Who's to blame?

Yea, verily, Machiavellianism runs rampant in our land.

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