LAW 15 CRUSH YOUR ENEMY TOTALLY All great leaders since Moses have known that a feared enemy must be crushed completely. (Sometimes they have learned this the hard way.) If one ember is left alight, no matter how dimly it smolders, a fire will eventually break out. More is lost through stopping halfway than through total annihilation: the enemy will recover, and will seek revenge. Crush him, not only in body but in spirit. Romans 12:17-19 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." Adam Clarke Commentary I will repay - In my own time and in my own way. But he gives the sinner space to repent, and this longsuffering leads to salvation.
LAW 16 USE ABSENCE TO INCREASE RESPECT AND HONOR Too much circulation makes the price go down: the more you are seen and heard from, the more common you appear. If you are already established in a group, temporary withdrawal from it will make you more talked about, even more admired. You must learn when to leave. Create value through scarcity. When I look at Scripture, I see that we (or leaders) should indeed use absence, but not for any of the reasons described above. For example, ToEveryNation.com offers a list of six reasons for there being times when the Messiah chose solitude over people… Six Reasons Yeshua Chose Solitude Over People: To prepare for a major task Luke 4:1-2, 14-15. After Jesus was baptized He spent 40 days praying in the wilderness. After this He was tempted by Satan and then began His public ministry. To recharge after hard work Mark 6:30-32. Jesus sent the 12 disciples out to do ministry. When they returned He encouraged them to separate from the people who were following them to rest. To work through grief Matthew 14:1-13. After Jesus learned that his cousin John the Baptist had been beheaded, He went away by Himself. Yes, even the Son of God grieves. Before making an important decision Luke 6:12-13. Early in His ministry Jesus spent the whole night alone in prayer. The next day He chose his 12 disciples. In a time of distress Luke 22:39-44. Hours before Jesus was arrested He went to the Mt. of Olives and went a short distance away from His disciples to pray. He was in great emotional agony knowing what he was about to face. To focus on prayer Luke 5:16. Many times in Jesus’ ministry He spent time alone in prayer. The site goes on to mention the fact that time spent in solitude with God is not time spent alone. Solitude can benefit believers greatly if the time is used to sort through with Yahweh whatever is on our minds and in our hearts. Also, it might be said that in one sense Christ has been absent for over 2000 years—though NOT in the truest sense! Yet in any case, it seems to me that it is through withdrawing from the immediate scene that a leader affords his or her followers an environment in which they will not only mature, but also fully develop what they have been given, and learn to (totally) rely on and unite with one another as they fulfill the purpose for which they exist. All of this I see reflected in the kind of text found in the 16th and 17th chapters of John, including the following: It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them. Ephesian 4:11-16 communicates the same sort of ultimate goal when it comes to the endgame for leadership... And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
SO... YOU'RE GOING TO BUY A GUN??? Given what is happening in the USA today and the actions of the Democrat Party, as soon as I'm able to move into my own place, I'm planning to purchase a pistol in case I should ever have occasion or need to protect myself from others intent on showering violence upon my person. In preparation for that day (if and when it should come) today I have begun to educated myself regarding the particulars of firearms. "But wait!" I tell myself. "You need to consider whether you, as a Christian, can even own a weapon—let alone fire one." To answer that question, I began by meditating on Matthew 5:39, where the Messiah says… "But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also." However, I don't think this is necessarily meant to be taken literally. Rather, the Messiah is dealing with attitude. He is addressing the disposition of one's heart. According to the commentary by Adam Clarke… That is, rather than avenge thyself, be ready to suffer patiently a repetition of the same injury. But these exhortations belong to those principally who are persecuted for righteousness' sake. Let such leave the judgment of their cause to Him for whose sake they suffer. The Jews always thought that every outrage should be resented; and thus the spirit of hatred and strife was fostered. So then, it is wrong to harbor an attitude of hatred and bitterness—especially if one is on the receiving end of hostility due to the act of advancing the cause of God’s Kingdom. Nonetheless, this should not necessarily be interpreted to mean that one should act as a doormat in any and all circumstances. Yet and still, in his Commentaries on the Bible, Coffman gives an example of how this CAN apply when serving as an ambassador for Christ… Illustration: Colin Byrne Smith of Australia told of a missionary who called on a tribe of cannibals. Taking his life in his hands, he crossed the inlet in a small boat, and when confronted by the tribe, meekly endured every insult. Long afterwards, when he had succeeded in converting many and establishing a church among them, he asked, "Why did you not eat me when I came to preach to you?" The old chief, then a Christian, said, "You see, none of us wanted to eat you, because the reason we eat people is to acquire their skills and bravery; but nobody wanted to be like you, taking all those insults, and patiently bearing every blow against you!" When one strives honestly and faithfully to live up to Jesus' teaching in this matter, or any other, forces far beyond the knowledge of any man are working for the success of the obedient follower of the Lord. "Turning the other cheek" has taken the sport out of many an evil attack against the defenseless. But on the other hand, it could be argued that Luke 22:36 lends support to the principle of protecting one's self: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Whole Bible And he that hath no sword - There has been much difficulty in understanding why Jesus directed his disciples to arm themselves, as if it was his purpose to make a defense. It is certain that the spirit of his religion is against the use of the sword, and that it was not his purpose to defend himself against Judas. But it should be remembered that these directions about the purse, the scrip, and the sword were not made with reference to his "being taken" in the garden, but with reference "to their future life." The time of the trial in Gethsemane was just at hand; nor was there "time" then, if no other reason existed, to go and make the purchase. It altogether refers to their future life. They were going into the midst of dangers. The country was infested with robbers and wild beasts. It was customary to go armed. He tells them of those dangers - of the necessity of being prepared in the usual way to meet them. This, then, is not to be considered as a specific, positive "command" to procure a sword, but an intimation that great dangers were before them; that their manner of life would be changed, and that they would need the provisions "appropriate to that kind of life." The "common" preparation for that manner of life consisted in money, provisions, and arms; and he foretells them of that manner of life by giving them directions commonly understood to be appropriate to it. It amounts, then, to a "prediction" that they would soon leave the places which they had been accustomed to, and go into scenes of poverty, want, and danger, where they would feel the necessity of money, provisions, and the means of defense. All, therefore, that the passage justifies is: That it is proper for people to provide beforehand for their wants, and for ministers and missionaries as well as any others. That self-defense is lawful. Men encompassed with danger may lawfully "defend" their lives. It does not prove that it is lawful to make "offensive" war on a nation or an individual. But, doesn't Jesus say that those who live by the sword shall die by the sword in Matthew 26:52? Yes, but I would not equate readiness to defend one's self with a lifestyle of violence. Moreover, according to the Adam Clarke Bible Commentary, though the general meaning of this verse is that they who contend in battle are likely, on both sides, to become the sacrifices of their mutual animosities, it is also probably a prophetic declaration of the Jewish and Roman states... The Jews put the Messiah to death under the sanction of the Romans. Hence, both took the sword against Christ, and both perished by it—the Jews by the sword of the Romans, and the Romans by that of the Goths, Vandals, etc. The event has verified the prediction - the Jewish government has been destroyed upwards of 1700 years, and the Roman upwards of 1000. Yeah, but as a Christian, shouldn't I be content to let the Democrats do whatever they want to do—especially in light of the 13th chapter of Romans? Romans 13:1-5 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval,for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath, but also for the sake of conscience. On the other hand, it was based on Scripture that the USA was established on the contention that governments are instituted among a people—deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed—for the purpose of securing the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (among others); and that therefore, whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it. So then, yes, Romans 13:1-5 does say what it says…BUT…what is to happen when rulers ARE a terror to good conduct? What happens when the one who is in authority carries out the wrath of HELL, and one is afraid for doing what is RIGHT—when, for doing what is GOOD, one receives DISAPPROVAL? What happens when your child is forcibly taken from you because you educate him or her regarding deviant and depraved notions of human behavior? What happens when the authorities let criminals and murderers back on the street at the same time they confiscate the arms of law-abiding citizens and abolish departments of law enforcement? What happens when those in power alter the government so that it becomes a one-party system controlling every aspect of the lives of its citizens—WITHOUT their consent? In my opinion, at that point rulers—the ones who are in authority—become the devil’s servants for evil! So, to be in subjection to such would be tantamount to utter foolishness. The founders of the United States established the Second Amendment for good reason. And God blessed me with good sense, to whatever degree I have it, for good reason as well. So, for as long as I am able, I am NOT going to forsake either.
John 2:15 And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; Too often, Jesus is depicted as a soft, sappy, guru, instead of the powerhouse He truly was. Incidents such as this show that Jesus was capable of action, righteous anger, and confrontation when it was necessary. One critical point to note is that Jesus personally makes the whip which He used to drive these men from the temple. He didn't pick something up in a rage and start swinging. There was deliberate intent behind His actions, and no mistaking His justified anger. The scourge of small cords was an emblem, not an instrument, of authority. Such a scourge, as a weapon of offence against numbers, would be useless; so that the buyers and sellers are to be understood as yielding, not to force, but to the authority which Jesus assumed as a prophet—an authority always held by the Jews in the highest veneration. The sad situation in the temple reflected Israel's spiritual state: stuck in a rut, wealth-obsessed, and uninterested in heavenly things. Jesus' disruption of the business there was certainly against local civil laws. So, it's to be expected that the local guards and priests would be upset with His actions. And yet, nothing in the Bible suggests that He harmed anyone, or any animals, or damaged any property. As verse 16 shows, Jesus doesn't just cause a commotion, He stays to explain His reasons. From BibleRef.com and Abbott's Illustrated New Testament
"Conservatives believe in limited government, true free markets, individual liberty, the value of life, freedom of speech, private property rights, the right to self defense, the right to self determination, freedom of religion, and the non-aggression principle (we won't harm you unless you try to harm us). "None of these ideals can exist in a globalist world because globalism is at its core the pursuit of a fully centralized tyranny. There are people on this planet that are not satisfied to merely live their lives, take care of their families and make their mark peacefully. They crave power over all else. They desperately want control over you, over me, over everything, and they will use any means at their disposal to get it. "I would compare it to a kind of drug addiction; globalists are like crack addicts, they can never get enough power, there is always something more to take. They tell themselves and others that they are 'philanthropists', that 'they know what is best' for the rest of us. They believe themselves superior and therefore it is their 'destiny' to dictate and micro-manage society for the 'greater good' of us all. "But really, when we witness their methods it becomes clear that they have no noble aspirations. They have no empathy or honor. They don't care about the average human being, or the environment, or the economy or society in general. They only care about themselves and their delusions of grandeur. These people are a cancer on the rest of civilization." ~Robert Barnes
LAW 17 KEEP OTHERS IN SUSPENSE: CULTIVATE AN AIR OF UNPREDICTABILITY Humans are creatures of habit with an insatiable need to see familiarity in other people’s actions. Your predictability gives them a sense of control. Turn the tables: be deliberately unpredictable. Behavior that seems to have no consistency or purpose will keep them off balance, and they will wear themselves out trying to explain your moves. Taken to an extreme, this strategy can intimidate and terrorize. See Law 3 (Conceal You Intentions) and Law 6B (Create an Air of Mystery).
LAW 18 DO NOT BUILD FORTRESSES TO PROTECT YOURSELF - ISOLATION IS DANGEROUS The world is dangerous and enemies are everywhere - everyone has to protect themselves. A fortress seems the safest. But isolation exposes you to more dangers than it protects you from - it cuts you off from valuable information, it makes you conspicuous and an easy target. Better to circulate among people, find allies, mingle. You are shielded from your enemies by the crowd. Or better yet, be shielded from your enemies by God... Psalm 18:2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 91:2 I will say to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." Psalm 61:3 …for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy. Psalm 119:11 You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word. Isolation prevents one from fulfilling his or her destiny... John 17:15-18 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.
LAW 19 KNOW WHO YOU'RE DEALING WITH—DO NOT OFFEND THE WRONG PERSON There are many different kinds of people in the world, and you can never assume that everyone will react to your strategies in the same way. Deceive or outmaneuver some people and they will spend the rest of their lives seeking revenge. They are wolves in lambs' clothing. Choose your victims and opponents carefully, then—never offend or deceive the wrong person. Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. Luke 12:4-5 I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! Matthew 16:26a For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Romans 12:18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 1 Samuel 25:29-31 If men rise up to pursue you and to seek your life, the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living in the care of the Lord your God. And the lives of your enemies he shall sling out as from the hollow of a sling. And when the Lord has done to my lord according to all the good that he has spoken concerning you and has appointed you prince over Israel, my lord shall have no cause of grief or pangs of conscience for having shed blood without cause or for my lord working salvation himself. The Second Book of Samuel has a great illustration of what can happen when one offends the wrong person: The situation was when the son of King David, Absalom, tried to overthrow David's kingdom. This coup attempt was compounded by the defection of Ahithophel, the most esteemed advisor that David had. "For every word Ahithophel spoke seemed as wise as though it had come directly from the mouth of God." So, why would David's most trusted advisor leave him for Absalom? Ahithophel had been David's right-hand man for years. This just does not seem to make sense! In fact, Ahithophel appears to be more than a casual conspirator because he wanted to personally kill David. What was going on? What was driving Ahithophel to pursue this desperate course of action? A major clue is found in 2 Samuel 23:34, where it's revealed that Ahithophel had a son named Eliam. Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, was the daughter of Eliam. This means that Ahithophel was the grandfather of Bathsheba. The daughter of his son had a tragic end to her marriage because of David. Uriah, Bathsheba's husband, was killed through the conniving plan of David in his desperate attempt to hide the fact that he was the father of the child that Bathsheba was carrying. When David had learned that the woman he wanted was married and the granddaughter of Ahithophel, his most trusted advisor, he should have come to his senses and abandoned his plans of taking advantage of her. Instead, he forced himself upon her in spite of this information. His decision to sin in this way had tragic consequences for him and many others. As a result of these observations, it seems very possible that Ahithophel never got over this betrayal by David and he was waiting for his opportunity to get revenge because David had harmed his family. What a tragic story! ~From LifeAtCrossroads.org
LAW 20 DO NOT COMMIT TO ANYONE It is the fool who always rushes to take sides. Do not commit to any side or cause but yourself. By maintaining your independence, you become the master of others—playing people against one another, making them pursue you. 2 Corinthian 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? Albert Barnes Paul proceeds here to state reasons why there should be no such improper connection with the world. The main reason, though under various forms, is that there can be no fellowship, no communion, nothing in common between them; and that therefore they should be separate. The word "fellowship" ( μέτοχὴ metochē) means partnership, participation. What is there in common; or how can the one partake with the other? The interrogative form here is designed to be emphatic, and to declare in the strongest terms that there can be no such partnership.
LAW 21 PLAY A SUCKER TO CATCH A SUCKER—SEEM DUMBER THAN YOUR MARK No one likes feeling stupider than the next person. The trick, then, is to make your victims feel smart—and not just smart, but smarter than you are. Once convinced of this, they will never suspect that you may have ulterior motives. A somewhat related example from the Bible... David was not safe in Israel since Saul sought to kill him. He thought he would be safer with the enemies, the Philistines. The Bible does not say why David thought he would be safer with the Philistines. Perhaps he thought they would not recognize him as the one who killed Goliath, and that they would welcome him as a wayfaring stranger. The Bible does say that when David arrived in the Philistine town, people recognized him right away. After all, in addition to killing Goliath, David had a reputation for exceptional military prowess. David became afraid when the Philistines recognized him. Would they imprison him? Kill him? So David pretended to be insane: "pounding his head on the city gate and foaming at the mouth, spit dripping from his beard." (The Message Bible, 1 Samuel 21:13) The Philistines wanted nothing to do with him. Achish the king said, "Can’t you see he's crazy? Why did you let him in here? Don't you think I have enough crazy people to put up with as it is without adding another? Get him out of here!" (The Message Bible, 1 Samuel 21:15) And so, David managed to escape. ~from Papertrell.com