The present circumstances in South Africa reflect a tragic unraveling of a once-great nation, showcasing full-fledged societal disintegration. Its murder rate ranks among the highest globally, its economy struggles, and its most talented citizens are fleeing to more promising lands. This decline mirrors a broader clash of values, akin to the differences between Israelite and Gentile cultures, where Gentile rulers often exercise power to dominate and amass greater control, as seen in historical strongmen. In contrast, cultures influenced by biblical principles tend to follow rule-of-law and power-sharing systems like democracy or constitutional monarchy, prioritizing principles over individual aims. These systems have proven superior, curtailing the excesses of the power-hungry while unleashing the creative and economic potential of the governed. A truly great civilization emerges not from strongman rule but from societies that enshrine biblical principles of governance, enjoying peace, progress, and prosperity far beyond crude dictatorships. The more a society incorporates God's laws of good governance, the greater and more lasting its civilization becomes.

We often consider ourselves as living in the most advanced civilization that has ever existed on this planet. It is evident that we likely inhabit the most technologically advanced society in man's history. In recorded history, no people have ever lived as well as we have on so many levels, with unprecedented access to basics like food, clothing, and shelter, alongside remarkable abilities to travel and communicate. A person's opportunities for gainful employment and advancement have never been so widespread, and the boundaries of intellectual pursuit seem limitless. However, the question of how advanced we truly are arises in social, moral, and ethical domains. Despite astounding progress, this time in man's history is also marked by appalling evils. Though we have moved far beyond open fires and spears, only a thin veneer of civilized behavior conceals our underlying savagery. If this veneer is stripped away, the barbarism of self-interest emerges prominently. Despite its advances, the twentieth century witnessed more death and destruction than any other hundred-year period in history. The evolutionary notion, advanced by Charles Darwin and his disciples, suggests that man improves with each progressive stage of development. Yet, this idea is false, built on scant proof. Though our reservoir of knowledge has expanded significantly, our fundamental nature remains unchanged. Just because we know more and have more options does not mean our decisions are any better than those of our forefathers.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans swiftly descended into a pre-industrial condition, as London's Telegraph aptly noted. Almost as quickly, the thin, frail line between civilization and anarchy began to crumble. The suddenly primitive conditions brought out many individuals' basest natures, where thoughts of unity were submerged under cries of self-preservation. Anarchy emerged as human conduct devolved to each person deciding for himself what was best, disregarding any recognized standard. Severe trials can pressure a person into actions never imagined before, revealing true character that must be developed prior to calamity.