Convinced a “Jesus said” argument against tyranny is not persuasive, even for Christians. This post will attempt to persuade using cost/benefit analysis; “fighting fire with fire”.
It has occurred to me that the word tyranny may be off-putting for some, thinking it personally irrelevant. Let me disabuse that idea… as fallen humans we all desire to be god — tyrants, abusing power, control and authority to exercise our will over others.
BENEFIT
Tyranny is EFFECTIVE
Tyranny always works. If desired results are change, movement, attention, fear, chaos, confusion, compliance, obedience, conformity; abusive exercise of power and control is the answer.
It satisfies,
“something has to be done”
“better to do something than nothing”
“righteous anger”
“need to control”
It is justifiable,
“the end justifies means”
“this hurts me more than you’
“only because I love you”
“sometimes you just have to shake things up”
The calm voice at the helm says, “Make it so…” and with it, the mantra of modernity is invoked. The philosophy that governs our culture is rooted in violence, the ability to make things happen and to control the outcome. It is a deeply factual belief. We can indeed make things happen, and, in a limited way, control their outcome.
Fr Stephen Freeman
…we soon discover (and have proven it time and again) that our ability to control is quite limited. Many, many unforeseeable consequences flow from every action.
Perhaps consequences are not so much unforeseeable as they are hidden, masked by rationalization —
“It didn’t work as well as I thought, but just think how bad it would have been otherwise..”
COST
Human capacity – Potential
Tyranny inherently establishes upper limits. Demands are quantified to control and punish. Tyrants always calculate demands against risk of failure, rebellion or worse. Assuming achieving the demand is a possibility, threats, coercion, violence, fear will accomplish the goal. Unless additional pressure is applied, no goal will ever be exceeded. Because tyrants assume others incompetent and weak, they have no comprehension of the potential of what a person can do, mentally or physically. Imposition of tyranny will never experience full potential of human capacity.
Human capacity – Nuance
“Tyranny is the deliberate removal of nuance.” –Albert Maysles
Albert meant that tyranny was an attempt to remove thoughtfulness, creativity, and self-expression from society (often through physical oppression) at the expense of originality. Nuance is simply subtle differences in interpretation or expression, and tyranny is almost uniformly obsessed with uniformity 1https://quotesexplained.com/tyranny-is-the-deliberate-removal-of-nuance-albert-maysles/
A subset of human capacity, nuance —virtue, thoughtfulness, creativity, and self-expression—, is what makes us uniquely human. Its loss is tyranny’s highest cost, our humanity.
Tyranny is the ethos of powers and principalities, a Faustian bargain that costs our souls.
Jesus said, “…you are not to be like that…”
ITS UP TO YOU, CALCULATE THE COST / BENEFIT…
STILL ON THE JOURNEY
- 1https://quotesexplained.com/tyranny-is-the-deliberate-removal-of-nuance-albert-maysles/
Extreme measures are usually needed to affect change. In the hands of God these extreme measures take our breath away and arouse what Psalm 42:7 describes as “Deep calls to deep”.
In the hands of man extreme measures usually suck the breath right out of us leaving us forever changed. It alters our focus on self preservation to focus on the Divine promises. Extreme measures devised by men, in an attempt to control, leave us gasping for air. God’s extreme measures rescue and redeem. THAT changes the air we breathe.
Yes, thank you.