If you’ve ever visited a third-world country where bribery is rampant, it’s easy to think that the United States doesn’t have a bribery problem. But the church is supposed to understand that sin left unchecked with always grow and that when it is allowed to grow among leaders and those who are exalted, it will grow even faster. And in that sense, America has a horribly bribery problem, and it getting worse every day.
In this episode, we discuss what the Bible says about bribery and why the word it uses for bribes means gift. We talk about bribery in different contexts, in the government, the church the workplace, and how in each case it perverts judgment and tempts men to serve someone other than their true master.
In the end, bribery is a picture of sinful man’s slavery to his desires. All men have an obligation to serve God, but his sinful desires cause him to pervert righteousness. Only those who are free from their sin can serve the Lord of earth faithfully and not be swayed by earthly things.
Listen to the audio version here: https://theconqueringtruth.com/2023/09/how-bribery-destroys-nations-ep-135-audio/
Thumbnail image by Marco Verch under CC BY 2.0
Timecodes
00:00:00 Intro
00:03:22 Are All Gifts Bribes?
00:10:51 What the Bible Says
00:21:55 Political Bribes in the USA
00:31:15 A Culiture of Bribery
00:39:14 Can You Pay Bribes?
00:52:32 Bribes in Church
00:59:29 Tiping in the US
Production of Reformation Baptist Church of Youngsville, NC
Hosts – Dan Horn, Jonathan Sides, Charles Churchill and Joshua Horn
Technical Director – Timothy Kaiser
Theme Music – Gabriel Hudelson