You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you. – Ezekiel 28:15

Today's Scripture Reading (June 30, 2020): Ezekiel 28

There is a Latin phrase that states, "corruptio optima pessima" – "the corruption of the best is the worst." It is the central theme behind the movie "Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice." The plot of the film explores a thought experiment on the part of Batman. Batman openly wonders if Superman operates with too much power and too little accountability. In the world of superheroes, that is actually a common theme. And the idea is drawn from some very mundane worldly examples. I do not live in a world where I am likely to meet a superhero on my way to the McDonalds drive-through, but there are segments of the population that sometimes seem to operate with little accountability.

One such mundane example is our police forces. I firmly believe that most of the people who police our streets are good, well-meaning officers trying to protect the peace. But, in a George Floyd world, the reality is that it doesn't take a lot of officers who believe that they can operate without significant oversight to cause a personal disaster. Only a few people are needed, and those few have the ability to tarnish all the good that is done by the many. Watching Derek Chauvin kneel on the neck of George Floyd is enough to make us all a little more careful, and fearful, whenever we are in the presence of those who have committed to protect and serve.

As a teenager working at McDonald's, I remember one such officer who frequented the fast-food restaurant expecting that his badge would gain him special privileges. While I did not see him maltreat anyone unnecessarily, his attitude of superiority over everyone else left a mark on me. In him at a young age, I experienced authority without accountability. And in the real world, that can be a scary proposition.

Corruption is always a bad thing, but the Latin phrase gets it right. Corruption of the good is always the worst. In the superhero world, the possible corruption of Superman is one of the worst things that we can imagine. And in the real world, the corruption of those who have sworn an oath to protect us can steal away our hope.

Inside of Christian circles, one of the ongoing discussions is about our creation. Are we, as the human race, fundamentally good or bad? Many theologians point to the Fall of the Human Race in the Garden of Eden and proclaim that we are hopelessly bent, unable to do what is right. And even the Apostle Paul supports that conclusion, declaring that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). But maybe it is Ezekiel that gets it right. Like Tyre, we were created blameless and good, until evil found its way into us. And in that moment, the best of what God created was swiftly transformed into the worst.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 29