Force.

The right-wing fundamentalist socio-political groups in our world put their faith in sheer force.

They think that they can make everyone obey them by the force of their own will.

But this approach betrays its origins in fear:
Fear of punishment.
Fear of hell.

By doing this they resemble the mythological Beast that they claim to oppose.

The Beast relies on force, violence, hatred, and terror.
His methods are the methods of war.
And his nature is that of a tyrant.

But God's way is the way of peace and non-violence.
He does not use force or coercion.
He does not punish us.

"'Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord of hosts.'"  Zechariah 4:6b (NRSV)


[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division Of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.]

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