Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”And then Buechner observes:
MATTHEW 2: 1– 2
The foolishness of the wise is perhaps nowhere better illustrated than by the way the three Magi went to Herod the Great, king of the Jews, to find out the whereabouts of the holy child who had just been born king of the Jews to supplant him. It did not even strike them as suspicious when Herod asked them to be sure to let him know when they found him so he could hurry on down to pay his respects.So what was it that made these wise men so foolish that it took a dream from God2 to prevent their returning to report to Herod? Were they that obtuse about the nature of power — its perennial, obsessive pursuit, protection, and abuse?
Perhaps this is one possible answer. As wise men – as Magi – they were, in all likelihood, frequent associates and colleagues of the powers and authorities of their day. As friends and associates of those wielding power, they simply could not see what they did not want to see – a classic case of confirmation bias3 in First Century A.D. (or perhaps it was Last Century B.C.).
Should this not put us on notice that striving for or feeling privileged affinity to world powers and power systems can blind us to motives and agendas? that prestigious connections / associations cloud our judgment? skew our perceptions of reality?
Has this not been repeated time and again in history and current events?4 The power elites fraternize with other power elites and like unto King Solomon, the wise become foolish because they will not see; they will not know what they know; they forget these repeating, historical truths that:
"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men..."5 [which] “conveys the opinion [nay, the 99% historical verity?] that, as a person's power increases, their moral sense diminishes.”6
A rise or fall in hierarchical position [pecking order position] can radically rearrange the way we see the world.7
But as humans (especially leaders), it seems we are continually striving to rise in the eyes of the world, if not by our own efforts, then by privileged connection with those higher, till, as friends of the powers, we no longer see things as they really are; no longer see ourselves as we really are; no longer are able to speak with the bluntness of Jesus or his OT prophets or NT apostles about world powers and systems.8 Thus we fall under the spell of self-justification; fall in with the spirit of power9 as we lose connection to the “power of the Spirit.”
How dangerous it is to become popular; to seek for or have thousands or millions “like” us or our views, works, achievements. How dangerous it is to not recognize how this knowledge of human nature has been used (by the adversary and his technocrats) to set us up for our own individual temptation to seek after and to partake of the fruit of popularity; of high-ranking / privileged association.
What was the example of the One we have covenanted to always remember?
1. Buechner, Frederick; et al., Faith That Matters (p. 392). HarperOne. Kindle Edition. (Bold emphasis added.)
2. New Testament | Matthew 2:12 ~ And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
3. “Confirmation bias is the tendency to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms or supports one's prior beliefs or values.[1] People tend to unconsciously select information that supports their views, but ignore non-supportive information. People also tend to interpret ambiguous evidence as supporting their existing position. The effect is strongest for desired outcomes, for emotionally charged issues, and for deeply entrenched beliefs.“ Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation_bias
Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye must watch and pray always, lest ye be tempted by the devil, and ye be led away captive by him. And as I have prayed among you even so shall ye pray in my church, among my people who do repent and are baptized in my name. Behold I am the light; I have set an example for you. … ye must watch and pray always lest ye enter into temptation; for Satan desireth to have you, that he may sift you as wheat.10-----------------------/
1. Buechner, Frederick; et al., Faith That Matters (p. 392). HarperOne. Kindle Edition. (Bold emphasis added.)
2. New Testament | Matthew 2:12 ~ And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
3. “Confirmation bias is the tendency to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms or supports one's prior beliefs or values.[1] People tend to unconsciously select information that supports their views, but ignore non-supportive information. People also tend to interpret ambiguous evidence as supporting their existing position. The effect is strongest for desired outcomes, for emotionally charged issues, and for deeply entrenched beliefs.“ Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation_bias
4. Remember Israel's kings? Gentile leaders and kings? so many religious leaders? one of the latest being the tragic case of the gifted Ravi Zacharias: See: Ravi’s Ministry Declares He Was Guilty (My thoughts) (Whaddo You Meme?? | December 23, 2020 | Time: 6:08) at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-PUfczEBkM
5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dalberg-Acton,_1st_Baron_Acton
6. The proverbial saying 'power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely' conveys the opinion that, as a person's power increases, their moral sense diminishes. Source: https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/absolute-power-corrupts-absolutely.html
7. Bloom, Howard. The Lucifer Principle: A Scientific Expedition into the Forces of History (p. 291). Grove Atlantic. Kindle Edition.
8. New Testament | Matthew 23:5-7 ~ But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
New Testament | Matthew 23:11-17 ~ But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. ¶ But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?
New Testament | Matthew 23:24–27 ~ Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
New Testament | Matthew 23:33 ~ Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
New Testament | Acts 23:3–5 ~ Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law? And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest? Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people. (Bold emphasis added above.)
9. https://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.com/2019/06/the-spirit-of-power.html
10. Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 18:15-16, 18 See also:
Doctrine and Covenants | Section 10:5 ~ Pray always, that you may come off conqueror; yea, that you may conquer Satan, and that you may escape the hands of the servants of Satan that do uphold his work.
Doctrine and Covenants | Section 20:32-34 ~ But there is a possibility that man may fall from grace and depart from the living God; Therefore let the church take heed and pray always, lest they fall into temptation; Yea, and even let those who are sanctified take heed also.
Doctrine and Covenants | Section 31:12 ~ Pray always, lest you enter into temptation and lose your reward.
Doctrine and Covenants | Section 88:126 ~ Pray always, that ye may not faint, until I come.
Doctrine and Covenants | Section 93:49 ~ What I say unto one I say unto all; pray always lest that wicked one have power in you, and remove you out of your place.
6. The proverbial saying 'power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely' conveys the opinion that, as a person's power increases, their moral sense diminishes. Source: https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/absolute-power-corrupts-absolutely.html
7. Bloom, Howard. The Lucifer Principle: A Scientific Expedition into the Forces of History (p. 291). Grove Atlantic. Kindle Edition.
8. New Testament | Matthew 23:5-7 ~ But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
New Testament | Matthew 23:11-17 ~ But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. ¶ But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?
New Testament | Matthew 23:24–27 ~ Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
New Testament | Matthew 23:33 ~ Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
New Testament | Acts 23:3–5 ~ Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law? And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest? Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people. (Bold emphasis added above.)
9. https://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.com/2019/06/the-spirit-of-power.html
10. Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 18:15-16, 18 See also:
Doctrine and Covenants | Section 10:5 ~ Pray always, that you may come off conqueror; yea, that you may conquer Satan, and that you may escape the hands of the servants of Satan that do uphold his work.
Doctrine and Covenants | Section 20:32-34 ~ But there is a possibility that man may fall from grace and depart from the living God; Therefore let the church take heed and pray always, lest they fall into temptation; Yea, and even let those who are sanctified take heed also.
Doctrine and Covenants | Section 31:12 ~ Pray always, lest you enter into temptation and lose your reward.
Doctrine and Covenants | Section 88:126 ~ Pray always, that ye may not faint, until I come.
Doctrine and Covenants | Section 93:49 ~ What I say unto one I say unto all; pray always lest that wicked one have power in you, and remove you out of your place.
