Posted by
ValiantForTruth on Wednesday, June 10, 2009 8:42:45 AM
The Pilgrims’ Governor, William Bradford, described the folly of embracing the theory of collectivism:
“The experience that was had in this common course and condition, tried sundry years and that amongst godly and sober men, may well evince the vanity of that conceit of Plato’s and other ancients applauded by some of later times; that the taking away of property and bringing in community into a commonwealth would make them happy and flourishing; as if they were wiser than God…”
http://townhall.com/Columnists/MeredithTurney/2009/06/09/americas_first_experiment_with_socialism
Governor Bradford and his elders held to the sufficiency of Scripture; they knew from the history of Israel that Joshua had divided the land according to family. This was the plan of God instituting the principles of private property, including the fruits of one’s own labor. Given the failure of collectivism, Bradford was bold in his faith to forsake the wisdom of this world and to venture all on the authority of the Bible. His statement is classic and could only have come from a Puritan. Man in his depravity and his autonomous wisdom thinks “as if they were wiser than God.”
Now, has anything changed with man? We have new Platos and many drones who advocate naturalism and collectivism. Man is still lost in his depravity and is unwilling to seek the eternal wisdom of the self-revealed God. He still seeks the same failed solutions dictated by the autonomous wisdom of men that is the same in every generation.
Now, we have new evidence that supports our doctrine of depravity. In the face of the unparalleled blessings of prosperity and freedom resulting from a culture that built on the foundation of Jesus Christ, a new generation has arisen that does not know its heritage. They are ignorant of the origins of liberty and cannot see the danger of losing what has been given to them from past generations. They would consume the foundations on which they stand.
It is past time for the Bradfords of this generation to speak up. Let us not deceive ourselves as if we are wiser than God.