“The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of the mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one.” – Wilhelm Stekel

Social change almost always comes from the young.  Born into a world not of their own making, it is natural and healthy for the young generation to question the traditions and ways of the older generation.  This tendency of the young to question the world is a built-in method of protection and renewal in society.  If not for this mechanism, society would deteriorate like an unattended garden.  However, this mechanism is also to blame for many of the wars and social schisms throughout history.  I write this article to the young, and young at heart, who wish to see change in the world around them.  Reform may take years to grow, but revolution can draw blood in a day.

So You Say You Want A Revolution?

Revolutions throughout history have had a range of consequences, from the American Revolution being looked upon as good, to Hitler’s Nazi revolution being looked upon as horrible, to the French Revolution which is still debated as to it’s virtue.  One thing which is the same is blood, death, and war.  It comes down to a basic mindset among revolutionaries of “us vs. them”.  Revolutionary thinking forms a basic disconnect between those wanting change, and those in charge of the status quo.  We are all human, and what revolutionists often fail to see is they would probably be just like those they are revolting against if tables were turned.

Man-made systems are, to be obvious, made of men.  Though some may feel the injustices imposed on them are from man-made systems, but when they go to war against the system, they are going to war with men.  The point of all this is to say the worst of revolutions are those which fail to see the faults in the systems are the faults inside ourselves.  It doesn’t matter how perfect a system is, the faults of man will eventually corrupt it.  We cannot change our world by the tearing down and building up of systems.  All that does it restart a cycle, which while it have difference faces, has the same problems.

Viva La Reform!

The other problem with revolution is, once a new system is in place, the idealism behind it quickly disappears.  After all, once the new system is in place, all the problems fought against are now starting to sprout up again.  Revolution fails to see the true requirements behind a just society.  It is not “change” we need, it is virtue.  Only by disciplining ourselves, by looking at our own character, can society improve.

“..how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye?  Hypocrite!  First remove the plank from your own eye, and the you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” – Luke 6:42

Reform is, in essence, taking the attitude of “I will be the change I want to see in the world.”  Instead of setting our sights on the highest offices and most powerful people, we look at ourselves, our neighborhood, and our own community.  It is sad that just about everyone knows all the twists and turns of the presidential election, but most people don’t know who their own mayor is.  This is a pity, because the most of the high-and-mighty come form the once lowly communities.  If we focused on the people we can see, the neighbors we can know, the town meetings we can actually attend, then we would grow better elected officials from the ground up.

Reform is a rare thing, and there are few true examples in history of it.  One obvious example I can think of is the Black Panthers were revolutionist, but Martin Luther King Jr. was a reformer.  Revolutions overthrow governments, but reformers heal their communities.  What right do I have to criticize an elected official for ignoring the “common man” when I, the common man, won’t attend a local town meeting to keep another Wal-Mart from being built?  The truth is the real heroes in this world are those you may, at best, only hear about on a local news “feel good” spot.  The people keep this world held together are those who can run a business, organize a charity, inspire community efforts all regardless of what government they have.

Beyond government, the “revolution” mindset ruins our churches, schools, and even our volunteer organizations.  We don’t as many churches as Starbucks because we are spiritual, but because we can’t get along with each other.  Whenever we can’t make people around us do what we want, we revolt.  We need the patience and discipline to make a stand which, by the way, means NOT MOVING.  Making a stand means you live and act in the way you wish others to act, and then remain present and visible in the community.  Over time, the immovable presence of a true reformer inspires others to reform and becomes a movement.

Part of the resistance Jesus encountered from the Jews of the time was that they wanted a revolutionary messiah.  Even Jesus’s disciples were, at first, waiting for Him to lead a revolt against the Roman Empire.  When Jesus made it clear that He had no interest in revolution, many people left Him.  Jesus instead started a reform of religion, one that took many generations to grow.

The rarity of reform is because it is very hard to accomplish and tests the virtue of those seeking it.  Those wanting reform not only have to have the humility to examine their own character, but the fortitude to endure persecution without running away.  Reformers often never live to see the fruit of their labors, either because of assignation or just old age.  In fact, true reform takes generation to ingrain itself into a society.  However, reform is always worth the struggle because it changes people’s hearts, not just the system.

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