By Mark Wilmoth

Five hundred years before Christ, the city of Athens, Greece, birthed the world’s first known democracy. Though only male citizens could vote (women and slaves were excluded), the idea that people might determine their own laws and rule themselves was attractive, considered a great step up from the despotic rule of kings.

Even the arbitrary rule of kings, however, proved better than having no rules at all. Judges 17:6 (NIV) describes conditions in Israel before Saul was anointed as Israel’s first king: “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.” With no organized government in charge, justice was illusive, idolatry flourished, tribal jealousies abounded and Israel’s enemies often took advantage of Israel’s failure to maintain a system of self-defense. “Everyone did as they saw fit” resulted in chaos.

In a recent USA Today column, sportswriter Blake Toppmeyer examined the current conditions of football in the NCAA and lamented the fact that Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar was suing after the NCAA refused to grant him an eighth year of eligibility to play in the college game. “Now, a judge in Knoxville, Tennessee, will have an influential voice in determining the Vols’ starting quarterback for the 2026 season,” Toppmeyer wrote. “When an athlete sues the NCAA because it won’t allow him to embark upon an eighth college season, and when a local judge gets to shape his alma mater’s quarterback competition, I think we’ve officially jumped the shark.” Toppmeyer went on to point out that the NCAA has hundreds of pages of rules, but lacks the willingness or ability to effectively enforce those rules. Schools and players routinely turn to favorable courts to overturn, or at least grant exceptions to, those rules, so right now, in college football, it seems like everyone does what they see fit.

The problem with Toppmeyer’s article is its tunnel vision. The problem of people and organizations pursuing their selfish interest at the expense of rules and order isn’t confined to college athletics; it pervades our society. Politicians and protestors shop for favorable judges and ignore the rulings of judges they don’t see as sympathetic to their cause. People who aren’t immediately allowed to do what they want quickly file lawsuits, knowing that even if they can’t find a judge to rule in their favor, they can often tie up the issue in the courts for years, forcing their legal opponents to run up a tab so steep that caving in becomes more cost-efficient than defending a principle. The legal boundaries of our culture are constantly in flux, determined not through the careful deliberations of a legislative body, but by the arbitrary decisions of biased judges and the wallets of organizations and their insurance companies.

“Everyone did as they saw fit” brought chaos to ancient Israel, and it may well ruin our own society as well. Ever since Eve joined Adam to walk on this Earth, there’s been a great need for rule and the keeping of order. In Romans 13, the Apostle Paul points out that God is the architect of society’s order: “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” Then Paul goes on to warn, “Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” God not only intended for there to be order, He warned that everyone must follow the rules or face the consequences. God never intended for everyone to do what they see fit!

Unfortunately, today’s legislative bodies often lack the will to make difficult decisions, and egotistical judges and politicians are more than willing to fill the gap. Many courts seem to believe they have a role in creating new rules, rather than simply enforcing the laws written by others. And because human beings enjoy popularity, power and attention, it’s unlikely that courts, legislatures and politicians will reform their ways and revert to the “rule of law” anytime soon.

The solution to this problem, as always, lies in the human heart’s willingness to submit to God’s plan. When fearing God becomes more personally important than “lawyering up,” civilized society might stand a chance. Until then, however, the chaos will continue. Sadly, rebellion against the rules dates back to the time when only two people walked the earth. I don’t see that changing anytime soon.

Mark Wilmoth is with Pinehurst Christian Church in Marietta. For more information regarding Pinehurst Christian Church, go to www.PinehurstChristianChurch.org.