Yes, that is a rather baiting title. Let’s talk about it.
I’ve heard people say that society is the problem, that if we could just change the way things are that people would turn out better. This is true, but not the way people go about it. Many people say that if we worked on the environment, the outside, then somehow the inside of a person would be different. But that’s part of our problem, people don’t change from the outside in. We change from the inside out.
So how is society the problem? When people say society is the problem, they seem to forget that we are society. We, the people, are what makes up society. We are the ones who make things what they are. We are the ones of which society is comprised – you, me, family, friends, neighbors, people we interact with and pass by on a daily basis! So when we say society is the problem, we should acknowledge that the problem is actually us!
Humans are not basically good. If we were, then we wouldn’t have nearly as many problems as we do. If we were, we wouldn’t have to teach our children to share. If we were, we wouldn’t have to tell our children not to hit another child with the plastic dinosaurs. If we were, we wouldn’t have to take the plastic dinosaurs away only to realize a doll, or even bare hands, will do just as well for hitting. If we were, we wouldn’t be so worried about people having guns. If we were, abortion wouldn’t be an option. If we were, we wouldn’t have so many abandoned children. If humans were basically good, there would be a lot of things that worked better. But because we are naturally inclined to prideful sin, we ruin everything we touch. (See also: Proverbs 12:15 & 21:2; Romans 3:23; Jeremiah 17:9; Isaiah 53:6)
So if we can only change from the inside out, but inside we are naturally bent to ruin everything, we’re in a lot of trouble. Fortunately God doesn’t want us to stay this way, and has given us a way out of it. God can change what you’re like on the inside, and that will work its way towards the outside. Take a look at Romans 8:29-30 and 12:2. When you agree with God, believe in Him, trust Him, and confess all of that, then He comes to be in you and you agree or not to let Him shape you into who you should be.
Society has a problem and it’s us. God has a solution and can change our very cores.