Lycurgus and Numa Pompelius

Lycurgus and Numa Pompelius scare me. They were men who set out to reform their countries and did it. Plutarch claims they set us a sort of democracy, but it was more Orwellian communism to me, only scarier, because these were real people living this way, not just characters in a book. Both of their ideas a threat to the freedom and happiness God designed for His children, and no doubt Satan was doing a happy dance for the 500 years that the society Lycurgus set up flourished, and the generations affected by Numa. Not to mention the fact that these writings are now here for any one to read and be “inspired” by.

They both seemed to have stated good intentions; peace, equality, and eliminate poverty and crime. Lycurgus set out to accomplish his goals using violence and education. Numa choose peaceful means and religion, but neglected the education. Here in lies the reason for the success of Lycurgus and the ultimate failure of Numa. Lycurgus taught love of government and obedience from the time they were little children. Plutarch wrote, “Reading and writing they gave them just enough to serve their turn; their chief care was to make them good subjects and to teach them to endure pain and conquer in battle.” he also left the child raising decisions up to a committee of experts, ie old men, because they didn't really belong to the parents, but to the state. Numa didn't worry about education and left children to their parents.

Lycurgus essentially broke up the family. He kept them separated much of the time and made regulations and laws that made it impossible for relationships to be developed. Children were sent to school at seven. Men couldn't even dine at home. Sex was for procreation only and wives could be sold to another man so he could have children after her husband had enough. Numa, essentially, weakened the family but still left it in tact.

There are many other laws and practices they instituted that I am not going to elaborate on because I feel like these are not to emulated, but avoided. As I was reading this I got the feeling that these ideas are so far from God's plan, yet close enough to be mistaken or twisted by some to seem a part of it. I will just leave it at that these men had high ideals, but without God's Spirit to guide us we are guided by Satan. I am go thankful to have a knowledge of the true plan that God has for His children and can see the evil in this kind of society. The people could not have been happy, their animal instincts for food, shelter, and sex were satisfied, but what about the instinct to love and be loved? There could not have been much love anywhere in their society, except that lust that is often mistaken for love, but does not last.