This morning another scandal hit the news about Wikipedia, the online Encyclopedia that claims that "everyone" can edit it. Wikipedia also claims to be open, transparent, and democratic. I left Wikipedia three years ago after realizing that it was actually a strict dictatorship with a definite political agenda contrary to the public interest. Commenting on today's scandal, an anonymous party wrote this good analysis of the how democratic groups work:
From: Opportunist
To: Slashdot
Subject: Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutelyIt's funny and tragic. And by far not limited to Wikipedia. Try your average club and you'll see exactly the same development. Hell, try anything where some people who have nothing in common but the goal at hand aggregate.
First, you'll see people form groups. Then you'll see (some) groups trying to gain power. No matter how petty (and in Wikipedia's case it's anything but petty. People have replaced Google with Wikipedia as a source for good links).
Generally, you'll have two kinds of groups in every assembly of human beings. Those that want to push the cause along and those that want to control it. The latter will most certainly claim they belong to the first group (often even to themselves), but in general they would do anything to aggregate more power, no matter whether the group moves anywhere anymore.
With power and the lust for it comes paranoia. Because the knave thinks the way he is, they start seeing usurpators who want to control the group anywhere. So they become secretive and paranoid. Anyone who is "good" (as in, is actually pushing the cause ahead and keeps things moving) will be seen as a threat, because he will invariably be liked by those who're also in for the cause. Someone who is liked has peer backing, and that could threaten the power base of this group. So he will be mobbed until he leaves.
What's finally left is a dead hulk. Everyone who wanted to move the cause along will have left, what's left is the power hungry group and some tagalongs and posers who present no danger to said group, but who are also not getting the cause anywhere. They're just in for the "experience" and the fame of being "there" and being part of it. Because if they would actually start pushing ahead, they would be seen as a threat to the power group and removed.
Sad, really. But if you can't get rid of such power whores, you'll end up with a dead project.
— Slashdot comment number 21569923
Democracy does not work when people are divided. When people come from diverse backgrounds, and have diverse needs, desires, and opinions, you need strong leadership and hierarchy to keep things rolling along.
Over the past few years, every small group of people who seemed to have a common vision, and a democratic bent, have been taken over by power-craven and stopped all forward progress to their goals. The comment by "Opportunist" is exactly true. I have watched the procedure happen over and over again. It happens in religious groups, cultural groups, sports groups, political groups, charitable groups, activist groups of all sorts.
Jesus knew that the Faith had to be taught to a wide variety of people with different backgrounds. So he prepared for it. The Church of Jesus is not democratic. He appointed his twelve apostles to be chief of the assembly. And that also was not enough. He set Peter to be chief leader over the twelve. Then later on the apostle Paul gave instructions that elders should be appointed in every city.
Titus 1:5
For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
Even among elders, there was hierarchy. There were apostles, prophets, teachers, and then the deacons.
1 Corinthians 12:22-31
22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:
25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.Ephesians 4:10-15
10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Did you notice what Ephesians 4:14 said? It said that the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers were appointed so they could help us grow up in the faith and NOT be tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine. But if you are a spiritual baby, your spiritual discernment is not right yet; you may (and most people DO) reject God's truth, thinking that "something so socially acceptable and repulsive could not be of God". Babies will spit out beets, but adults can relish them. A baby cannot drink beer or wine, but an adult learns to enjoy these things. A baby may catch botulism if it eats honey, but even a toddler can enjoy honey safely.
In a united society, in a nation joined by bonds of kinship, language, heritage, and religion, then you can have democracy. Look at Switzerland. Switzerland is the least diverse country in the world, and its democracy works very well. Japan is not democratic, but it is also not diverse. Japanese society is peaceful, harmonious, and accomplishes many amazing things. Japan would accomplish more if it adopted God's Law, but it is still very impressive for a bunch of unbelievers.
In Israel, which was racially and culturally homogenous, sharing bonds of kinship, blood, language, faith, law and ethics, they had no need of kings or strong leaders. Why is that? Because they had common interests and goals, they could rely on God to raise up a leader for them when one was needed. Read the book of Judges in the Bible. The entire book is about Israel getting into trouble, and then God would raise up a king or a general to lead them out of trouble. Whoever was the right man for the job, he was the one God would raise up. Very democratic, very egalitarian. This is similar to the provisions that the United States constitution put in, that the President could assume dictatorial powers in time of emergency or war. This is Biblical.
Judges 17:6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
Judges 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
Judges 2:14-19
14 And the anger of יהוה was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.
15 Whithersoever they went out, the hand of יהוה was against them for evil, as יהוה had said, and as יהוה had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed.
16 Nevertheless יהוה raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them.
17 And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of יהוה; but they did not so.
18 And when יהוה raised them up judges, then יהוה was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented יהוה because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.
19 And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way.
What does this mean for the Church of God? All the groups calling themself Church of God are splintering, disintigrating, disappearing, and dying. Young people are not staying in the church, neither are there weddings being had and babies being born. This is the death rattle. This is not confined to Armstrong's branch of the Church of God, but even the Church of God Seventh Day. Every man and woman is truly doing what seems right in their own eyes. They have idols in their hearts which are blocking them from further progress in the truth. They are arguing about intellectual things, but not connecting to each other with their hearts. Why? Because they are diverse, and there is no leader to say authoritatively "this is right, that is wrong".
In this time of confusion, when we are all scattered, watch and see. Is there any man that has the blessing of the Almighty? Is he keeping Torah? Does he have the fruitage of the Spirit? Then give weight to his words.
If this message offends you, then you are not one of the sheep. Sheep like to have leadership, as long as it is righteous and gentle. Goats all go in their own direction, not being willing to let anyone be over them.
Many sheep have been abused by leaders who were not Godly. They are shy. But if they are God's sheep, they will come around. A sheep cannot change his nature. Nor can a goat.
You will recognize a good leader when you see a man who keeps his focus. He leads only where he is supposed to lead, and does not micro-manage. Torah gives people a lot of personal freedom; a leader who takes away people's God given freedoms, the ones outlined in the Torah, is not from God. The true leader bows out and says "I am not qualified" on issues where he has no knowledge. The Catholic church is very careful to limit what it declares as dogma. This gives the members freedom to have different ideas and opinions, and change over time. This has also made the Catholic church the strongest church in the Christian world. The decline of the Catholic Church got its biggest charge 500 years ago when it added a bunch of dogma to its corporate charter, called the Council of Trent (1545-1563).
I said this several years ago to Lisa Sonderup and Valley Haeck, and I say it again. When enough of us repent, turn to keeping Torah, and pray the prayer in Joel 2:17, then God will raise up a leader, a prophet, to deliver us from bondage. I do not know his timeframe. But these are exciting times. As North America comes due for God's judgement (Deuteronomy chapter 30) God is also preparing a remnant of people, those who are willing to obey his Laws and commandments, no matter how silly or out of step with society they at first seem. This remnant is growing rapidly. If it grows fast enough, the judgement will be stayed. If it doesn't, then the remnant will barely escape with their lives.
Joel 2:17Let the priests, the ministers of יהוה, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O יהוה, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?
The pettiness needs to stop. We all need to take off our blinders. If there is a commandment, you need to study it and start keeping it as soon as you are able. I see many people who make progress, but then they stop on the beard issue. It is like they are blind. They just read Leviticus 19:27 and say "I don't see it in there." They ignore the examples of all the Godly men who had beards. They don't seem to care that not one smooth-shaven man is mentioned in scripture with favor. How do you bring sight to the blind? This question needs to be considered. How do you teach a baby to talk? What if the baby refuses to accept that he is a baby? Strong leadership comes in. When one is mature and developed, then one can interpret scripture and question it. Unlike the Catholics who limited the Bible to priests, I think all men should know the word. God says so in Deuteronomy chapter 6. But men who don't have time or mental capacity to do the study, they need to trust the men who do study, until such time as they can do study of their own.
There is a fine balance between authority and freedom. Those calling themselves the Church of God, have not yet found that balance. If you be sheep, seeking truth and hungering after righteousness, then may this article help you see with clearer eyes. If we can't trust a man calling himself "brother," who can we trust?
We are called to consider each other to incite to love and fine works. And yes, even rebuke each other if a brother is straying. It must be done in love, but it must be done. Anything less is disobedience to God.
Shalom aleichem.