Recently one of our High School youth asked me, “Why does Texas attract all the religious cults?” This question was prompted by a class that mentioned the events in Waco from 1993 concerning the Branch Davidians. I chuckled because to our high school aged members 1993 is considered history! I am feeling old…The question was a good one though and it does relate to the events that surrounded Our Lord’s birth that we celebrate this month.
I answered the question like this: “It isn’t so much that Texas attracts religious cults state is considered a state that has limited government. Texas is often seen as the “Wild, wild West” where you can be left alone to live as you choose. This is a contrast to other states where you might not be so free regarding religious activities. This in turn is a blessing but it also presents some unique challenges in governing a state where freedom to practice your religion of choice will attract some strange practices.”
I then continued, “However, we are warned in the Bible that there is one religion that will always attempt to dominate all other religions, authoritarianism.” Authoritarianism is defined for our purposes as the fallen tendency and temptation of mankind to use power and authority for his own glory as opposed to God’s.
This religion will not tolerate any threats to the throne of pride that man and woman establish in their own hearts. Jeremiah 17:9 warns, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” Matthew 20:25, “But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.”
Authoritarianism is practiced wherever there are sinners. Wherever the kingdom of God is preached and practiced, authoritarianism will rear its ugly head because fallen man cannot tolerate a judge who disagrees with them. So even though a state or government may speak and advertise freedom of religion, there is behind this freedom a certain evil that states all religions are equal. The 1st commandment of authoritarianism is “no one religion is wrong.” If authoritarianism is king, so- called tolerance is queen.
Authoritarianism makes man judge of God and declares all religions equal. The only religion that authoritarianism rejects is one that claims exclusivity. This is why tolerance of all religions is really no tolerance at all but the entrenchment of a religion like universalism. The first commandment is “No one can say I am wrong.” This goes against the 1st Commandment, “You shall have no other gods before me.”
When Jesus was born authoritarianism was alive and well in King Herod. He was a half- blood Jew that ruled with an iron fist. No challenge to his throne was to be tolerated. He suspected some family members might be trying to take his throne and so he had them murdered. So when he heard that a new king of Israel had been born, he ordered the murder of all boys age 2 and under. King Herod didn’t care who you worshipped or followed as long as your god bowed to his authority.
Later in Jesus’ life again authoritarianism showed itself in Pilate and the Jewish leaders. “This man claims to be God.” the temple leaders yelled at his trial. Pilate wanted to make sure Jesus wasn’t a threat to the government and asked him, “Are you a king?”
The fact that Jesus isn’t fighting for earthly power baffles and confuses the authoritarians because they think this world and its pleasures are the end game. Those tempted by the promises of the devil will fight and murder so that they can hold onto whatever power they think they have because they believe they have nothing else.
More recently in our days we have seen an overly aggressive federal government that desires to push LGBT beliefs on its citizens. This is authoritarianism in the form of sexual pleasures. Those who hold authority use the temptation of sexual freedom as a tool to bludgeon those who would challenge the judgment of the state. LGBT rights and privileges are just a tool to feed the pride of those in power. Proverbs 18:12 “Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.”
Jesus though reverses the use of authority, “But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,1 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave,2 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matt. 20:26-28.
God himself who holds all authority in heaven and on earth uses his power so that he might die for our sins so that we would be lifted up with him. He doesn’t force his rule upon us but invites us to be brought into his kingdom by faith. It is this kingdom where Jesus prays, “that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.” John 17:21 And St. Paul writes, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Gal. 3:28.
We as citizens of the kingdom of Christ do not need to fret nor worry about who is in power or authority. When one of the most wicked kings was on the throne, God sent his son to be born of a humble virgin pledged to be married to a no nothing tradesman. In a small part of the world God was doing mighty things, even though to the eyes this work was unimportant and not glorious.
We have been freed from all tyranny and even freed from the temptation of authoritarianism that originates in our sinful flesh. Christ died on the cross to free us from sin. We as Christ’s baptized people do not need to fight and jockey for first place.
This Advent remember and reflect on the coming of Our Lord. Advent is Latin for “come.” Repent when that old authoritarianism creeps in your heart. Contemplate how Christ came that first Christmas and how those who prepared for his coming by contemplating his word and repenting received him with joy (Simeon and Anna in the temple, Luke 2). How does Christ come/advent now? Still in his word and now sacrament. Finally, we are encouraged that Christ will come again in glory to take us into his kingdom forever. That promise is a gift that is new every day.
See you on Sunday!
In Christ,
Pastor Ottmers