Seriously, if might makes right, then some of the most notorious characters in history must be deemed moral, ethical and correct. Ok, so most of us know better than to believe the person in power is always right. We have been under dictatorial leadership and have suffered for their wrongs. But how prevalent is this view in practice.

Let’s start at the top of the earthly chain of command. The president seems to be above the law. He is powerful so what he does is right. We as a people do not hold him accountable for moral, ethical or correct decisions. Like the recent prisoner exchange. Most Americans believe the president was wrong and have questioned the morality of the decision. But in this case, the presidents might and power was the final say. His words were, “I make no apologies for it. It was a unanimous decision among my principals in my government…”

How about the IRS? The leadership can “lose” month’s worth of emails that would shed light on the scandal they are facing. No conscious, no concern, no remorse, but you better believe you will be expected to save all of your papers, documents and files or face severe penalties and fines at their whim.

Then we can look at church leaders. Many throughout history have harmed people because they had the power to do so. They believed might makes right. Jim Jones, the Spanish Inquisition, extorting parishioners by selling forgiveness, the horrors of pedophilia by church leaders, and the list goes on. Too often people in authority use their might to justify their behavior. I have the power so I can do what I want.

I started this blog, because I have a supervisor that believes this. She declares it loudly be her commands, behavior, and attitudes daily. I do not think she would admit to it if you asked her. But neither do I believe that most people on this list would have agreed that they are right because they have the power. They would have other defenses and arguments. But whether it is stated or not, without God and his moral standards, power leads to might makes right.

I realized that most people, once they get a little might, they lord it over the ones lacking power. This is even true close to home, in fact in the home. Many parents dictate rules and behaviors based on the principle that might makes right. The children need to obey at the whim of the parents because the parents are the parents, not because the parents are right. When the children grow up, and they have the power, they conquer and force others into subservience. It is their turn to dominate.

This kind of leadership and dominance really aggravates me. In fact, it aggravates everyone being dominated. That’s because it is sin. Dictatorial leadership is against the nature of God, and our conscious reveals the immorality of it. We all rebel against this kind of authority, and yet when we get power it is easy to succumb to the temptation to lord it over.

Jesus teaches a different way. He teaches a better way. He teaches a moral and ethical way. Jesus taught and exemplified servant leadership. “And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”” (Mark 10:42–45, ESV)

Today, I want to lead differently. I want to serve and exemplify moral and ethical behavior, morals and ethics that are founded in the truth of God and not on my whims. I also want to view those in leadership differently. If they are living a habitual might makes right lifestyle, they probably don’t know Jesus. Oh, the pity and compassion I must have and show, for they are without hope, without true joy, they lack peace and contentment: they are eternally lost. Lord I pray that today they might be saved!