If You Were a God

If you were a god, if you had subjects who worshipped you, would you rule with an iron hand? Would you want them to fear you? Probably. Why? Because deep down you would feel that if you did not rule with an iron hand, your faithful (fearful) subjects would run to another without that tight grip. Besides, your ego would be basking in the glory of it all-the adoration, the accolades.

Isn't that how dictators rule? Through fear and manipulation. Syria's now deceased leader said "the people love me, they would die for me." He was certainly out of touch with reality. In North Korea, the people had pictures and shrines to their leader, who recently died and referred to him as their Dear Leader. And they hated America while wearing American products. These dictators and others lived in splendor while their loyal subjects lived in abject poverty, squalor and dispair. No one would dare speak against their leader for fear of torture, imprisonment or death. If you were targeted by the wrath of the leader or ruling party, the consequences were usually swift and often deadly. Just look at the atrocities happening in parts of Africa and the Middle East where entire groups of people (men, women and children) have been targeted for genocide.

Media shows the killers riding around cheering and holding their guns but I dare to venture this thought. Taking the lives of the innocent, raping women and girls is having a toll on the killers, I assure you, and leaves a void in their soul. They don't show that pain for fear they would meet the same fate as their victims. (Remember the creed of the Mafia? Once in, the only way out is death.)

OK, I'm making a point here. Here's a question for you. Did the God of the Old Testament use fear and manipulation to keep His highest creation, man, in line? "Worship me, obey me or else death and destruction to you."

The New Testament talks love, love, love but still says if you do not obey, you will live in hellfire for eternity. The church preaches the same thing, using different words. "Our way or the highway-to hell." Is that a little contradictory and confusing? Christ says come as you are. The Church (dictators) says this way or else.

Something to think about, isn't it?

God and Wisdom

Are God and Wisdom one and the same? In Proverbs 1:20-33, Wisdom basically says, because you did not heed my counsel, I will not answer in your time of calamity. Yet in Hebrews 13:5, God says He will never leave or forsake you. Which is it?

Just asking.