The Change We Long For

"Change has come." It's been over three months since the turn of the new administration in the Philippines and exactly 100 days on October 8. There have been much controversy and attention surrounding us during that time and so much has been said on both sides of the spectrum but I want to pull away from the noise of it all. I want to take a step back and make my thoughts clear. I just want to lay my thoughts on the table and let people think about them.

Many, if not all, people wanted change for the Philippines and ultimately, we place that responsibility upon the shoulders of our government. When change does not happen, we become dissatisfied and at times, turn our backs on the people we voted for. Look at how people changed their minds about the former President Noynoy Aquino. He had tons of supporters at the beginning of his administration and so many of those become critics just before he leaves. It is quite interesting to observe the way people react to events around them and how quickly they would change sides when something wrong happens. Though I am not surprised, that's politics for you.

With the new administration under President Rodrigo Duterte, what I find most amazing is the tenacity and conviction with which he executes his plans. He definitely stands out from all the presidents we have had so far. He speaks his mind and he could care less about what people may think about him. What matters most for him is what he believes to be the right thing to do given the situation of the country. I admire his audacity in the face of many attacks though I admit that some of the critiques against him are valid especially with the manner he conducts himself as the head of state but casting those aside, he is delivering on his promises.

People believe that change can be brought by changing the leader of our country and to a certain extent that may be true. New policies, laws, and campaigns can help in establishing order and in stimulating the economy especially if everybody in the three branches of government support it. It also helps to have a strong government with leaders who are firm in implementing their policies and who seek to improve the quality of life for the citizens of the country and not merely to increase the size of their pockets. But I believe all this can only bring about change on the surface because they don't tackle the root cause of the issues that plague our nation.

We can make people obey the laws of the land by imposing certain external reinforcements but only to a certain extent - our government has limits too and it's not their fault. I believe that the root cause of our problems is really internal, within the heart of every human being. And as much as the government tries to change people's behavior, they really do not have authority over the human heart and they do not have the power to change it.

Matthew 15:18-19 says, "But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander." Somewhere else in the Bible, in Genesis 6:5, it says about the condition of the human heart, "The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." 

Though people clamor for change, they cannot fully depend nor blame the government because it is an internal issue and the external problems that we see like crime and corruption are only symptoms of the real cause which is sin. If we really want to see genuine change in our country then we need to seek God to change the lives of individuals and use those individuals to influence society.

With regard to events associated with the government's campaign against illegal drugs and even with the plan of the president to bring back capital punishment, I would say that whether it gets approved or not, I would be all right with the decision because the Bible does say that God has given government the authority to maintain peace and order and to impose justice in the land. Furthermore, God gave them the sword to restrain chaos. Romans 13:4 says, "For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil."

Of course, with great power comes great responsibility and rulers in government cannot just bring punishment to people on a whim. But we can say that according to the Bible, God administers justice through the leaders that he appoints in the government. Therefore, if we were to bring back capital punishment, I would be all right with it as long as the proper procedures are being taken and that government does not abuse its power rather they must exercise their authority to maintain peace and order as they are supposed to do.

Whatever your thoughts may be about President Duterte, all I can say is that he was elected for a reason and despite his frequent tirades and lambasting, he is our leader and we must give him the respect that is due a leader. There has never been a perfect ruler but I believe God sets those in authority to work for His good will. What we can do now is simply obey what the Bible says which is to submit to the authorities placed over us.