From that place in the street, they saw another city that was merged with this one. Its name was Religion and there was a man with a megaphone standing behind a self-made podium giving a speech. He stood tall almost on the border, but he was inside the limits of Power yelling into Religion.
_______________
_______________
Christian was curious so he led the others over to the man who was giving a speech. He stopped, stepped down off of pedestal and asked, “Do I have your vote?”
“Do not vote for him!” another voice came from the connected, adjacent city, “He would force religion on us all!”
Critic stepped forward, “What does she mean, force religion?”
The man, still holding out a pamphlet, “She’s just blowing smoke, I work for the people.”
“If you truly work for the people,” Critic quipped, “Why do you try to solicit votes for yourself?”
The politico lowered his hand, “Well, I can’t work for people without a platform, can I?”
The others joined the conversation. Christian replied to his question first, “What needs do you see that make you want to run for office, Mr?”
“My name is Politic,” the man replied, “and I see that people are not that well off financially. This is a problem I promise to fix.”
“How will you fix it?” Christian asked.
“Well, I have a four part plan that is outlined in this pamphlet.”
Christian took a pamphlet, looked at it briefly and passed it to his comrades, “What are you doing now toward this goal?”
“What can I do?” Politic questioned, “I have no power now.”
Critic, now holding the pamphlet spoke up again, “But you have money…”
Politic looked at him to insinuate that he desired Critic expound on his statement, and he did, “You spent money on your own campaign instead of using it to genuinely help the poor. How are you any different from any other power-seeking politicians?”
Politic did not have an answer, “What do you suggest?”
“If you genuinely cared for the welfare of people, you wouldn’t be trying to gain power over them. You’d be serving them,” Critic explained, “In a way, you, just like many other politicians, are forcing your religion on others while yourself not living genuinely according to that religion. If the poor are important, serve them and employ them. A redistribution of wealth cannot solve this issue, but only create a state of perpetual dependence and poverty. Genuinely caring for people will.”
“But this will not get me elected,” Politic admitted.
Christian inserted himself again, “This attitude assumes that the goal in life is to have power over other people. If our goal is power, then we cannot serve others genuinely. There was a time that the King sent his son across the chasm to build a bridge. The son brought the materials from that great city and began building a bridge across the chasm. While he was building the bridge, many people were curious and stopped to talk with him about the King’s city and went on their way. He provided medicine for many people and gained a few followers. After completing the bridge, he invited anyone who would come to cross the bridge and join the King to live in a perfect land. Even the King’s son, who had all authority on both sides of the chasm, humbled himself to serve people. Despite having all dominion, he did not gain a degree, seek an earthly political position, force people to buy into his ideals or require people to follow his plans. He humbled himself to become a servant and provided the most important path we can take on this side of the great chasm. He built a bridge that we can cross and live in a perfect land and gain a life we cannot see here.”
“I recognize this story,” Politic answered, “but I do not follow the King. He has too many rules. He is much too restrictive.”
Critic replied, “You say that the King is too restrictive, and in doing so declare a restriction on Him. Surely the King has the right to make laws and to keep them. Still he made a bridge so that even lawbreakers can come to Him. The King, though He has all authority, seems to be very gracious.”
Politic dropped his pamphlets, “Please tell me how to get to this bridge.”
After giving him direction, Critic dropped the pamphlet that he was holding, “I am also concerned too much with power. I am no different than this politician, only I use words to dominate others. I no longer want to be Critic. Let me strive to encourage others and only offer criticisms if it will build them up. I hope all of our leaders become servants first and foremost, because no one can lead well if he does not first serve well. Striving for degrees and positions matter not and are plentiful, love and service are all that matter and are rare.”
Christian and Witness congratulated him and agreed as they walked together toward the border of Power and Religion.
andrew paul cannon 
Leave a Reply