Category: Tyrrany

tyranny :cruel, unreasonable, or arbitrary use of power or control.

I’ve given a lot of thought to tyranny since my previous post. Here are some ruminations before sharing a cost/benefit analysis .

Tyranny is the default of fallen humans, an endless redux of our desire to be in control… deja vu the Garden of Eden. Choosing to be in control and become God.

Anyone who has had a two-year old child has met a tyrant.

Tyranny: is a vice.
 “If any point in political theory is indisputable, it would seem to be that tyranny is the worst corruption of government – a vicious misuse of power and a violent abuse of human beings who are subject to it.¹Adler, Mortimer J., ed. (1952). “95: Tyranny”. Great Books of the Western World. Vol. 3: The Great Ideas: II. Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica.

In my experience, I’ve never met anyone who admitted being a tyrant. However, most people, including myself, endorse the use of power and control. of course my use of power and control is never cruel, unreasonable, or arbitrary.

My name is George – I am a tyrant.
> Taught at home and church to be a man.
> Indoctrinated by Ford Motor Company to be a manager.
> Appointed deacon and elder in the church.

In each context, authority, power and control were presumed and expected to be used. Despite Jesus’ declaration “…not so among you…” most of my life the hammer in my tool box has been power and control (tyranny). To my credit, my first impulse has been benevolence —  …” rulers call themselves everyone’s friends”… ² Luke22 – CEV Deluded by echoes of praise— ‘nice guy” “good boss” great husband/father” “wonderful elder”—, Jesus’ words didn’t apply to me.
In recent years, searching for God stripped those illusions away and revealed the truth about myself. As a man, husband, father, manager, elder there has been failures (why didn’t I say sin?).

Experiencing tyranny as being demonstrated in our country, I have responded David-like:  “..the people who are doing this must be stopped! They must pay four times over, because they are doing such things without pity.” ³2 Sam 12, my paraphrase . Thankfully, a serious examination of tyranny resulted, yielding two judgements :
1) Tranny is morally wrong.
2) Nathan (Jesus?) spoke to me: “You are the man! Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes?“⁴2 Sam 12:7,9

Naked and ashamed I am connecting dots between power and control (tyranny) and sin. Remembering more notable failures, each was an occasion where I chose to exercise power and control rather than submit to God’s will.
Choosing to “despise” Jesus’ command, my exercise of power and control inflicted its toll on others and dishonored Jesus.

There are real problems in our country and choosing tyranny should not come as a surprise, it is the default of fallen humanity. What is more distressing are Christians embracing tyranny as the solution, a clear refutation of “not so among you”.
Tyranny is the nexus of the wide road to destruction and the hard narrow way to life.
“Go in through the narrow gate, because the gate to hell is wide and the road that leads to it is easy, and there are many who travel it. But the gate to life is narrow and the way that leads to it is hard, and there are few people who find it.” ⁵Matthew 7:13-14 GNT

There is a third judgement: All of us are tyrants!
??“What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?”

“Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! ⁶Romans 7:24-25 NIV

Because of my skepticism that “Jesus said” will be persuasive, even for Christians, the next post will attempt to make reasonable arguments against tyranny using cost/benefit analysis.

STILL ON THE JOURNEY

• 1
  Adler, Mortimer J., ed. (1952). “95: Tyranny”. Great Books of the Western World. Vol. 3: The Great Ideas: II. Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica.
• 2
   Luke22 – CEV
• 3
  2 Sam 12, my paraphrase
• 4
  2 Sam 12:7,9
• 5
  Matthew 7:13-14 GNT
• 6
  Romans 7:24-25 NIV