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Saints and sinners: Being civil to each other needs to be a habit in modern day society

Wayner Keller / guest columnist

Authority people often become authoritarians. Authoritarians appear everywhere: In homes, neighborhoods, offices, schools, athletics, politics and even in churches. They demand one thing from us — unquestionable obedience. They achieve their goal through fear, which they create through anger — by withdrawing, threatening, pouting, hitting, by whatever method works. Their domination relegates us to slavery. “Do what I demand, or suffer the consequences!”

Nothing new in this analogy. We have seen it, do see it, and will see it throughout society, from the church to politics. Actually, we quote from the warrior passages of the Old Testament to justify such behavior. Seldom do I hear quotes from Jesus who came to bring peace, starting with us and our family, and who told Peter to put away the sword. Jesus took the abuse, torture, death, along with millions of other Christians since his death, rather than strike back. This awareness leads me to ask, “What weapon would Jesus choose to kill someone?” Any ideas?

Also, I’ve noticed recently that we now attack each other and call each other names for having different opinions. That, too, happened to Jesus. So, I’ve asked myself, “How do you decide that your opinion is more important than mine?” Opinion is opinion, not the whole truth. I do realize that we no longer begin a sentence, “In my opinion….” Instead, we proclaim, with great authoritarian authority, “The fact of the matter is….” No debate, no civil discussion.

However, you can also know, when people are angry at you, that you have power over them. What you’re actually hearing is their fear. One of the male actors on “Murder She Wrote” hit the nail on the head when he said, “We men talk tough when we’re scared.” Jesus had power over all of those who did him in, even when he appeared to have no power at all.

So, once and for all time, claim your own power. Give it to no one else. If you do, you will lose it, and may never get it back. Take to your heart, mind, will, behavior — this statement from Sheldon Kopp’s book “If You Meet the Buddha on the Road, Kill It.” “No one is any stronger or any weaker than anybody else.”

Unless we give our power away, or unless we allow someone to take our power from us. All of us have as much power as did Rosa Parks. Use it in holistic, healing, nurturing, healthy ways.

Reach Wayne Keller by writing c/o The Herald, P.O.Box 517, Puyallup, WA 98372-3364 or by e-mail: editor@puyallupherald.com.