In a sign of either hope or desperation, Portland, Oregon voters have decided to throw out their city’s entire government structure and replace it with a weaker mayor, expanded City Council and ranked choice voting.
POLITCO reports that few American cities faced as much chaos as Portland over the last four years. This proudly liberal city has endured more than 100 days of often-violent protests, a fentanyl and homelessness crisis, a pandemic — and in arguably the nation’s boldest progressive policy experiment in recent history — the decriminalization of all drugs.
A major factor driving the decision to radically change Portland’s government structure was the passage of “Measure 110” decriminalizing all drugs in 2020, which was backed by 74% of Multnomah County’s residents. Voters, apparently, didn’t anticipate how much such a radical policy change would reshape a city already strapped for money, dealing with a public health crisis and confronting rising rates of homelessness and fentanyl abuse, as drug use increased, homelessness worsened and taxpayers fled.
The POLITICO article may be read in full HERE.
My brothers and sisters, for those who know the Lord and walk through life from the perspective of a biblical worldview, it comes a no surprise whatsoever that legalizing all drugs in any community is certain to result in more crime, lower standards of living, public education difficulties, a less reliable workforce, and great physical, mental and emotional harm to those using formerly illegal drugs with the ‘blessing’ of the government. Lord have mercy!
One of the more glaring examples of things going wrong happened during the ‘summer of rage’ in 2020, when following (or perhaps using as a cover) the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Portland fell into complete disarray, with George Floyd-inspired Black Lives Matters protests devolving quickly into violence, fires, looting and mayhem.
Letting emotions overtake reason and sound (godly) judgment, police department budgets were cut and gun violence increased significantly – which really should not have been a ‘surprise’ to any thinking person – considering the sinful nature of man who needs salvation through Jesus Christ in order to know the truth and to walk in the wisdom of God.
Similarly, when government announces that freewheeling drug use has become acceptable, it should have been a ‘surprise’ to none that ‘open-air drug markets’ and overdoses would increase and impact more and more persons, including the youth.
The liberal experiment hatched in Portland (Oregon) has been shown to have failed, at least according to most of its residents, and the result was an attempt to return to sanity by changing up the city’s government and public policies.
When ideology, government and politics becomes an idol and one’s god, the only outcome is going to be trouble. Let’s pray that Portland’s citizens and its elected or appointed officials will seek the wisdom of God first (see 1 Timothy 2:1-3 and 1 Corinthians 3:18-19), and make the necessary policy corrections quickly, but compassionately, as many of those languishing on the streets have suffered directly (or at least indirectly) as a result of the changes to common sense and godly public policies in 2020.
If the liberal policies shift, perhaps new businesses will flourish and others will elect to return or reopen in light of sound government policies. This writer does not begrudge any person or city from reflecting the will of its citizens (free will is God-given), but there is always the best way to govern and to live, and that is from the perspective of a biblical worldview, with the fear (reverence) of God in our lives (see Psalm 112:1)! There is no better answer to life’s troubles than seeking the will of God and walking thusly to the best of our abilities!
We should never forget that one’s body, as a born-again believer, is the temple of the Holy Spirit, bought at a great price, and that we belong to God and not to ourselves (see 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 and 1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
Praise God for a change of hearts and minds, and may a revival in Christ Jesus begin to take hold in Portland. May the churches become filled with Christians who understand the Great Commission and fervently reach out to those who are hurting and addicted in the community with the saving grace of God. As I’ve said ‘a thousand times’ – the Truth is a Person and His name is Jesus – not the wisdom of the world (see John 14:6)!
Sadly, the ones who are perishing are the very ones who find the message of the cross to be foolishness (see 1 Corinthians 1:18).
Here are the above-referenced scriptures:
1 Timothy 2:1-3 (ESV)
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior…”.
1 Corinthians 3:18-19 (NKJV)
“Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, ‘He catches the wise in their own craftiness…’”.
Psalm 112:1 (NKJV)
“Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, [w]ho delights greatly in His commandments.”
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (ESV)
“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.”
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NKJV)
Your Body Is the Temple of the Holy Spirit
“…[d]o you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
John 14:6 (NKJV)
“Jesus said to [Thomas], ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’
1 Corinthians 1:18 (NKJV)
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”