We once believed government would stay a humble servant—defending the nation, upholding justice, and intervening only when absolutely necessary. But over time, we turned it into a provider of retirement, healthcare, education, and nearly every other human need. That transformation has led us to the brink of economic collapse. We traded responsibility for ease. And in doing so, handed over far more than we realized.

We did not arrive here by accident. Yet, neither party dares to take the blame and name the root cause: an overreaching government promising to be society’s provider. This is not just an economic crisis—it’s a moral and structural one.

This is Leviathan’s toll—steady, silent, but destructive. As Thomas Jefferson and James Madison warned, power grows while freedom shrinks.

Growing Government Debt

America’s government was once lean, focused on defending borders, enforcing laws, and securing liberty. Before the 16th Amendment in 1913, there was no permanent income tax. Even the Civil War’s temporary tax was repealed once the crisis passed. But the 20th century marked the turning point. With the New Deal and Great Society, the government began promising retirement, healthcare, welfare, and more. These programs offered the illusion of security—but at the cost of growing dependency and shrinking liberty.

Now, the numbers have caught up to the fantasy. We spend more than we collect, every year.

Enter Elon Musk’s DOGE: a Department of Government Efficiency meant to trim government waste. Indeed, it has identified some needless contracts and streamlined staffing. But even its $115–$160 billion in claimed savings barely dents the $2 trillion annual deficit or $36 trillion debt. As Reason Magazine noted, “DOGE earned attention—but real solutions must come from Congress.”

Even Wall Street agrees: trimming bureaucratic fat is no substitute for structural reform. DOGE may reduce waste, but it cannot fix a system built on unrealistic promises. Entitlements, mandatory spending, and tax code overhaul remain untouched—while the debt deepens.

The U.S. national debt has surpassed $36 trillion, with annual interest payments nearing $1 trillion (CBO, 2024)—soon to outpace defense or Medicaid spending. Social Security and Medicare face projected insolvency by 2035 and 2036 (SSA, 2024).

The deeper problem is not budgetary—it’s spiritual. We’ve embraced a false belief: that every problem in life—retirement, illness, poverty, child-rearing, unemployment—can be solved by public programs.

This is not neutrality. It is a kind of religion. A quiet worship of Leviathan.

A Moral Reckoning

We’ve taught ourselves and our children that the State is the first and last resort for life’s needs. But this has made us weaker, not stronger.

Leviathan grows not simply by taking power—but by convincing people to give it.

That’s why many Americans, even Christians, now view any call for spending cuts or program reform as cruel or extreme. But their unsustainable costs threaten future generations, burdening them with debt for promises we cannot keep.

Like Israel requesting a king in 1 Samuel 8, we surrendered freedom for protection—and received debt, diminished sovereignty, and looming crisis.

Christian liberty calls us to take back what we’ve outsourced: personal responsibility, charity, family support, and community care. Austerity is not cruelty. It is stewardship—faithfulness to God’s design and care for the next generation.

Taming the Government

The State is not our provider—God is. The family is the first economy. The Church is the first charity. Community is the first safety net.

Government, when functioning rightly, supports the framework—it is not the framework.

The time for soft reforms is over. Taming this overreaching state—call it Leviathan—requires bold measures grounded in biblical responsibility. It demands a return to first principles:

• Restore responsibility to individuals, families, churches, and communities for education, care, and support.
• Encourage citizens to plan for their future, not offload it to the next generation.
• Call for radical austerity measures, meaning deep cuts to mandatory spending, entitlements, and low-priority programs.
• Support limiting government to its constitutional roles: protecting life, liberty, and property.
• Reject the notion that fairness means equal handouts from Washington.

This isn’t just policy change—it’s a cultural and moral shift. If we do not return to a biblical view of responsibility, we will suffer the judgment that always follows idolatry. Economic collapse is not just possible—it is inevitable when spending is built on delusion and funded by debt.

The time to tame Leviathan is now. Start in your own life—plan for your future, support your family, and give generously to your community. Then, speak out: urge your leaders to prioritize fiscal responsibility and limit government to its rightful role. Together, we can reject the delusion of endless debt and restore a foundation of liberty and responsibility.