Sometimes spammers are stupid. When you run two sites (the other one is about photography) and you put the exact same spam on both places… But coming back to tyrants. There are two lessons from today’s reading.
The first is avoid working for the tyrannical, because they will cheerfully drop their minions under the bus.
And the second is do not accept praise due to God.
18When morning came, there was no small commotion among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. 19When Herod had searched for him and could not find him, he examined the guards and ordered them to be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there.
20Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they came to him in a body; and after winning over Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for a reconciliation, because their country depended on the king’s country for food. 21On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat on the platform, and delivered a public address to them. 22The people kept shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a mortal!” 23And immediately, because he had not given the glory to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.
24But the word of God continued to advance and gain adherents. 25Then after completing their mission Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem and brought with them John, whose other name was Mark.
Herod was a bastard. He manipulated the Levant (Tyre and Sidon –now in Lebanon because he could cut off their food supply. He executed the guards when Peter was released by the hand of God. And he accepted that praise that is due God.
In doing so, he broke the first commandment and succumbed to the temptation of Eve. Eve was told that if she ate the fruit she would be like God. He accepted that flattery and died. Now, this is so common: consider this observation by one of the more effective observers of women in the field
Even the commanding presence of Joan of Arc, while leading the armies of France, had a connection to something otherworldly. By their very nature, feminine mythology, by default, presumes women are more in tune with the nature of reality, while surpassing the ignorance of brutish men.
Women revel in their mythology. Since covert forms of communication are the preferred language of women, their affinity for secret information is a natural fit. Ever wonder why gossip seems to be uniquely endemic to women? Look no further than women’s innate impulse to acquire secret knowledge. Take away the Vampires and Werewolves – the metaphysical component – from the Twilight series and what you’re left with is a relatively bland romance novel. Add the otherworldly and you have a runaway hit popular with every female age demographic, from tweens to octogenarians.
So, what to do?
1. There is a time to run, not walk away from employment. When your company or force becomes an instrument for tyranny, and the boundaries or ethics of your profession are being compromised — and those who stand up and say “no” are being removed — leave. Get your butt our of Babylon. For Tyrants will throw anybody under the bus, and tyrants live as much in the corporations head office as it any parliament or presidential palace.
2. Mistrust flattery. It often a consequence of either manipulation or desperation, and reflects poorly on your character.
3. Accept you are mortal. You are limited. You will die. The consequences of your actions and life will live but for a while longer. For our hope relies more on Christ than it ever would on the modern versions of Herod.
And never forget that Herod will see you as a threat. Sometimes being under the bus is the best place to be.
