The oldest profession - politics

 

Image by Marcin Paśnicki from Pixabay

           Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For   there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

          Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

     For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. (Rom. 13:1-4)

In its broadest sense politics is the art and science of government (Concise Oxford Dictionary) but, when applied to the individual it encompasses how one governs i.e. sagacious, judicious, expedient, or even craftiness and cunning. The politics of leadership would therefore refer to directing, guiding, and leading using various means, such as wisdom, patience, fairness, or guile to achieve a goal or purpose, in other words, to put it bluntly, politics is the art of persuasion, of convincing people to follow a certain path or direction.

The Bickering Church

 

Jesus’ disciples were a varied group about which we know not much. Among them was a tax collector, a zealot, fishermen, and a thief. They all had different backgrounds, upbringing, temperaments, and status in the community.

The majority of the disciples were quiet and unassuming but Peter was the opposite, belligerent and demanding. John was loved and demonstrated his love. Matthew was wealthy. Thomas was a skeptic looking for proof. Simon was the fundamentalist zealot. And Judas, not Iscariot, is unknown except for the one question he asked. I can imagine him asking it while sitting among his companions and listening to their arguments and questions.