It occurred to me today that people don’t like being controlled.
Especially in America, considering the American concept of freedom, and how people tend to have an over-inflated defense mechanism when it comes to their freedom. Freedom is talked about in discussions about America probably as much as any other of the central concepts at work in our nation. To many Americans, freedom is a central part of the identity of being an American. When they merely consider the possibility that they aren’t in control, they break out in hives.
Additionally, the idea of control is central to interpersonal relationships in our society, especially those of a romantic nature. Husbands and wives have been wrestling each other for control, in the goings-on of their families, for the length of human history. In fact, the feminist movement of the second half of the twentieth century is predicated on a basic argument for control. While I don’t necessarily agree with many of the underlying sentiments of the feminist movement, I do believe that A) women would be less interested in having more control if men had been doing a better job managing the control that they’ve historically been given, and B) women should NEVER NEVER NEVER be treated in any manner that subjugates them.
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One of the major problems with control is this: if someone has it, someone else does not. Or, at least that’s what most people believe, despite the fact that we can all probably think of plenty of examples where control is distributed among people for the betterment of an organization. A correlate of this mode of thinking is that, for people who tend to be in control, giving control away is a scary proposition.
Another major problem associated with control is the idea that people seem to always want as much of it as they can get, but unfortunately, those same people would prefer to avoid the responsibility that comes with control. For example, earlier in this post, I suggested that men in America have, through their own incompetence, been accomplices to the feminist movement that so many of them oppose. Shirking the responsibility that comes with control should always result in someone losing that control. If you aren’t going to handle control properly, including handling the responsibilities, then don’t position yourself
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I have a lot of different things to say when it comes to control. But, the concept for this blog post originated as a theological discussion in my mind; to whatever extent I’ve been able to discuss the idea of control up to this point, all of that previous discussion has been secondary to my main point.
The concept of control: who has it, who wants it, why we wrestle for it, why we want to avoid situations where we are without it; all of these issues shouldn’t be issues for members of the Christian faith. After all, Christians have, as a part of their faith, agreed to giving up control of their lives as part of the agreement –the covenant– with Jesus and with God.
Christians who have problems allowing others to be in control have some serious issues indeed.
And, I hear the arguments coming from the people that I’ve made uncomfortable. They probably sound something like this, “I don’t have a problem letting God be in control. He’s God. It’s people that I have control issues with.”
So, imagine, if you will, Jesus himself, being subject to the control of authorities who were, well, people… AND THOSE PEOPLE WANTED TO KILL HIM.
If a Christian is a ‘Christ-follower’, if a Christian is attempting to emulate Jesus, and He put Himself in the hands of people as an ultimate demonstration of His faith in His Father, why do Christians have control issues? Shouldn’t one’s faith in God, as a Christian, keep one from having to worry about who’s in control?
May I be so bold as to say this: show me a Christian who has issues with allowing others to be in control, and I will show you a Christian who maybe hasn’t given all of God the control that He’s due. Or maybe, Christians have problems with other people being in control because their faith is so small that it can’t imagine a God who is on top of everything.
Here’s a timely example:
I am a Michigan conservative, and I have been for all of my life. I’ve voted for Republicans and/or conservatives every time I’ve entered a voting booth. But, despite my political affiliations, I have truly appreciated the leadership, dignity, and courage of our state Governor, Gretchen Whitmer (D). I haven’t had any issue, at any point, with her control over the people of my state because I’ve 1) kept my faith in God and in His selection of Governor Whitmer, and 2) appreciated her leadership and concern for the people of my state.
That hasn’t stopped a lot of my fellow ‘Christians’ from spewing hate-filled, disrespectful, bitter rhetoric about the governor. And, every time I bring it up, the arguments are always the same, and they tend to demonstrate a disturbing lack of faith.
“Her decisions are costing people their jobs!”
–>God supplies those people with their jobs. It is certainly within His Power to make sure they get new jobs.
“She’s responsible for the death of Michigan’s economy.”
–>God will supply for all of the needs of His Children, and He has been running the economy this whole time.
“She’s violating my rights.”
–>Well, gee, I wonder if Jesus ever had his rights violated?!?!
Talk about control issues!
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Now, don’t get me wrong –> I haven’t given to God all of the control that He is due. I still wrestle with the parts of my life over which I want to be in charge. I am working on trying to not put myself first so much of the time. I still have to work at keeping the faith.
I just wish everyone else was doing the same thing.
And, as much as I love America and the life that God has blessed me with in this great country, I don’t think that a rabid love of freedom goes well with a genuine faith in God.
At maybe, this issue of control is at the heart of the broken relationship that people have always had with God. I want to do what I want to do and God (or anybody else, for that matter) is only going to get the amount of control that I’m willing to give to them.
It Occurred To Me Today 