I wanted to pursue this quote from Ellul a bit more.
"No matter what may be its form or level, it inevitably tends to enhance itself and to initiate a movement towards centralization. No political power will ever reduce itself or accomplish decentralization. There is a law that power will grow without limit. The only recognized limit is fact. Power will always go as far as it possibly can geographically or judicially. It ceases to expand only when it comes up against an obstacle that is more powerful than itself. Power is under the necessity of becoming absolute and totalitarian. This depends neither on the men who wield it nor on the ideology nor on the circumstances. Political power would not be power if this were not so."
I had several conversations today that revolved around the idea of power. For myself they all ended up in the same place. POWER CONTINUES TO GROW UNTIL IT COMES UP AGAINST A STRONG POWER.
Doesn't this make the whole idea of Conservative political ideology an oxymoron? This recent Republican administration certainly confirms Ellul's point. But I have a pretty good idea about what is going to happen. The "true" conservatives will say that Bush wasn't and isn't a "true" conservative and that is why the governments centralized power continued to grow under this administration. Whether one of these representatives of the "true" conservative movement wins this next Presidential election or not, at some point they will again be in charge and those trusting in worldly power limiting itself will once again be disappointed. I am convinced of this. Worldly power will never choose to limit itself and empower something other than itself.
This statement: Power is under the necessity of becoming absolute and totalitarian, is in my estimation proving itself to be true also. I had a handful of conversation with folks today that are so willing to give up more democratic freedoms in exchange for our government "protecting" us. If the government could protect us that might make sense? Maybe? But that can not guarantee us the protection they promise. That is a big uncertainty. But I am coming to a place that I can guarantee you this......our government's power will continue to grow, regardless of what party is in power, until she faces a power from the outside that is more powerful.
I chose to weigh this out in terms of government but this applies to any situation when it is worldly power at work. It effects our economic....political....and religious institutions. It effects personal relationships from marriage...to parent/ child...and all other friendships.
The sad thing about all this is that very few people recognize or at least live like they believe that this worldly power was publicly displayed as defeated a long time ago by the greatest and only power that chose willingly to actually limit itself. It's something to think about.......
2 comments:
Powerful, Kent.
I have seen God over the years revealing these Truths to me about myself. There is a peeling away like an onion that needs to take place within us, a peeling away of our perception of being and desiring to be personally powerful.
It is only as I have purposed to set out to become powerless, nameless and faceless as it were, that I have found the true peace there is in knowing that "while we were yet powerless God sent His Son to save us."
I bring nothing to the table, Kent. I know this now. And it is my utmost blessing to simply be one with Him and believers like you. Not by might. Not by power. By His Spirit.
You're a blessing, Kent.
This thing of power has been so much a part of my life over this past year especially. I think it is at the heart of freedom in Christ. As long as we are embracing worldly power it is impossible to embrace God's power that was revealed in the cross. It is the only power that limits itself by choosing to do so. Jesus was fully free (and I mean FREE in the true sense) to choose to take up worldly power but being fully free he submitted to God. That is what the temptations in the desert were about.
Another paradox.....fully dependant on his father....but no less fully free. It's the only freedom there is.
This thing we have been tricked into believing is freedom is as much alienation as any other human experience under any other kingdom of the world government.
But might it be even more deceptive? When one thinks he or she is free and is not.....how much harder is it to remain awake or simply awaken in the first place?
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