The Unrestrained Nature of Man

by Joyce Reba Payne

October 15, 2013

History records that men unrestrained by civilization, proper leadership and rules are a very dangerous force as demonstrated by some armies who have ravaged villages and cities in certain cultures around the world. This is not a pleasant realization but it is proven through past and current events. For this reason God has established civilized societies with laws to give men leadership, legal authority over groups of people and wives. All of these components in a man’s life help to restrain his natural instincts to satisfy himself at any cost. Given the opportunity though, men will throw off these restraints and still try to satisfy their natural instincts to the full.

Men in Government

In our nation recently, we have seen examples of men in politics and business determined that they can have it all: as much as they want, whenever they want and where they want. We have seen men with the reins of wealth and power who tried to force themselves and their will upon our nation without restraint. Who was supposed to restrain them? The answer is you and me! We are a nation governed by the people that put the average man or woman in charge of these leaders to check their power and restrain their natural instincts to have their own way. And when we do not speak up, power can go astray and unchecked. That is when anarchy can take over. One voice standing up against a tank might get run over but it will still cause people to consider that maybe something is wrong or worth the fight.

Nations like the past Rome or Greek empires, and others more recent, were formed because of the brute strength of some conquerors. Those empires were also overthrown because of the unrestrained power of men on the inside of the walls while a greater power of men from outside invaded them during their chaos. This is a history lesson we all should know too well.

Men in Society

In civilized society where men have wives, the female counterpart is often a voice of reason and restraint to bring man back into remembrance of more acceptable behavior. May God help us if the wives of strong men keep silent! Equal balances for society are women in leadership positions that help restrain or give a voice to sounder methods. May God help us if women leaders become silent or as bad as unrestrained men! God made the nature of women different for a reason. Women are usually more domiciled than men. Women care about domestic life: homes, children, well being of others and the development of society. But most men by nature will try to prevent women from sharing power for that very reason: so they can have unrestrained power to do what they want, when they want. Thank God for Jesus, who as perfect man, honored his mother, accepted women co-laborers and established a new system that would allow women to have an equal role in society and in the church. Jesus knew that men needed women to help restrain the natural instinct of men to satisfy self.

Men in the Faith

The Holy Ghost said through Paul, “For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel (1Co 4:15).” In many churches, we have given one man control of the church family. Those possessing the Holy Ghost should already be subdued under the power of the Holy Spirit’s guidance to lead them in righteous ways. But those men that do not have the Holy Ghost or proper knowledge from God as their guide and restraint are more apt to use their natural guidance as they lead the church to submit to their authority. We have seen many examples of what can happen when male church leaders are not restrained by the Holy Ghost: they have consumed finances unlawfully, sexually abused women or men and established their own laws to satisfy their personal desires. For this reason God empowered and authorized church leaders that He called apostles and prophets who would receive holy guidance in establishing and correcting His church. However, not all men have a relationship with God or are restrained by the Holy Ghost. Some male leaders in church and society have reasoned together to give consent to authenticate without protest what God has not authorized.

Apostle Paul had an authority given by God to guide establishment of the church. Paul defended his authority when questioned and dealt with the behavior of a confused and immature church. He reminded the church that he was as a father to them and then gave instruction for correction.

For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 1Co 3:3

For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 1Co 4:15

Paul did not say he was king, Caesar or Emperor, but “father.” Paul had legitimate authority as demonstrated by his spiritual gifting and power to guide the church. A real father ordained by God will guide and protect his family because of his love for them. Paul was a single man that possessed maturity, strength, discipline and love toward the churches under his authority as he imitated the Lord. Paul was willing to suffer personally for the well being of these churches. Men led by the Holy Spirit possess strength for protection, nurturing and loving the church family like their Heavenly Father and as demonstrated by Jesus Christ in earthly ministry. This bible example has been established for men in our generation to be the best possible men as husband, father, brother, businessman, preacher, justice, or politician. It is not enough to be classified as a man but men must come up to a higher level of being righteous, mature and responsible men, who qualify to be husbands, fathers and leaders in society. Where men have not submitted themselves to the restraint of the Holy Ghost, we need even more the restraint of laws, protests from the people and the intervention of wives to check the natural instinct of men that are prone to demanding satisfaction of personal desires.

Current Events in American Politics

We have seen the natural instinct of men portrayed in our nation’s capitol recently. Unrestrained men, both politicians and businessmen, insisted they would have their way even after a law they disfavored was upheld and validated. They were not satisfied with the established process to protest the new law; but they purposed to use brute strength to overthrow it. These efforts bypassed the restraint of civil rule, the Holy Spirit, leadership control and evidently any restraint of their wives and the people. These leaders also threw off the examples of their forefathers who established these guidelines for government rule. The Republican Party insisted that they would have their way regardless of all the restraints that should have persuaded them their desire was denied. Whether the new Health Care law be morally right or wrong, it has been examined and confirmed as the law of the land. This political party refused to accept the rule of man’s law that had been confirmed and God’s law that required all men to submit to authority. They had gone beyond the restraint of the law into lawlessness because they stepped outside the American law which provided for legitimate methods of protest that had been exercised and lost. And the guidance of God’s law counsels “….in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established” (Mt 18:16).

 America’s History Lessons

Unlike many other nations around the world, America said that it would be guided by spiritual laws, natural laws, the people and God. America is unique in this commitment. Many other nations are run by emperors, tyrants or group rule without God.  America uniquely decided to allow God to rule over her leaders and people with respect for the laws of God and man. However, this decision is ineffective without the will of the people to insist that the Holy Spirit, the laws of God and man and yes, even wives still be used to restrain the natural instincts of men to force their way upon the multitudes. When all of these restraints have failed, righteous indignation or the move of the Holy Spirit in citizens must arise. If all else fails, God will arise and set things aright. But He has given us the help we need through the Holy Spirit, laws of the land, relationships and the righteous church to resolve our differences. When man has used his power to override all of these as is the case in America today, righteous indignation and the move of the Holy Spirit in people must arise to denounce and quash anarchy. Someone dared to say that maybe we needed the power of the armed forces to settle the pending issue! If America becomes lawless, God will use some means of force for restraint because God is still the Sovereign Power in the earth whether America wants to acknowledge it or not.

Where Do We Go From Here?

How often will we allow ourselves to come to the edge of the cliff or the anarchy we have seen in other nations before we come to our senses? We have merely to look at some of our neighboring nations to see where we are headed: nations that have denied morality and God to establish self rule. Once a people refuse to go forward with God, they automatically begin to go backward or into decline. Will we allow monarchical rule, ravaging of women and children, financial collapse, mob rule, or overthrow from enemies without? America is beginning to get a clearer picture of what happens when a nation decides that she no longer needs God. Sane minds should dictate that we restore proper leadership in our homes, churches and government while we can. Husbands do need their wives for proper balance. Churches do need the guidance of the Holy Spirit and proper leadership authority, including the voices of women to balance the power of men. Government cannot run properly in our nation without allowing the voices of women, the voting public and the church to call it into balance, lest it become as other nations that ravage the people. While we have tried to be a world leader and restrain the behavior of other nations, we have displayed the type of brute strength and immaturity that should cause us to be ashamed. Such an internal crisis should give us the motivation we need to bring about proper change before anarchy does occur. Righteousness should arise in our people to demand that the right choices be made. The present disaster in our homes, churches and politics is our wake up call. But will we wake up?▉

What are your thoughts on this subject?

• African American