If there is one thing I'll miss about being on maternity leave (other than being on maternity leave) it's Daytime TV. I hate to admit it but I watch quite a bit of television. In addition to all my PVR'd evening shows and some newbies that Dale and started to get into this Fall, I'm finding that I need to have my daily talkshow fix. Namely, Dr. Phil. Granted, some topics are just lame and I couldn't really be bothered. But recently they've been focused on a group I've always been somewhat interested in: FLDS. I'm not absolutely sure why I'm so intrigued by this religion, sect, cult or whatever they might be. Maybe because their self-appointed leader is in prison for heinous crimes and yet he still has a following. Maybe it's because I've never really understood (and will never understand) why women would agree to be in a polygamous marriage. Maybe it's because I can't fathom why anyone (women particularly) would want to live imprisoned, controlled, and secluded lives. The disparity of life as I know it in a relationship with a God who loves freely, offers salvation as a gift, forgives sin not based on merit but on his grace alone, versus life for one whose leader's absolute power corrupted both himself and others, intrigues me.
It's easy to judge people who choose this life and lifestyle and call them 'brainwashed' as a result. Maybe they are. But maybe the issue is much more. Generations of families have lived and grown up in these secluded communities, not knowing otherwise and being completely ignorant of anything outside what they have been indoctrinated to believe since birth. Can you call someone brainwashed if they do not know otherwise? Children grow up believing what they hear & see day in and day out from people they know and trust and do not get the opportunity to do otherwise. They aren't necessarily forced to believe or do anything but rather they obediently (save for the bold few) do as they have been brought up to do. In one way I can relate to this experience, but only in so far as being brought up in a household that valued church and having a relationship with God and thus making God-fearing choices. My parents raised us with their beliefs and values, but there came a point in our lives (my siblings and I) where we chose to know God and follow Him for ourselves, which is ultimately everyone's fork in the road.
"Absolute power corrupts absolutely." - Lord John Acton
Human nature is already drenched in sin out of which stems all other vices. Add power unchecked to the mix and you have a disaster waiting to happen. From what I've read and seen, Mr. Jeffs is the epitome of the quote above. Having claimed to be God's prophet and mouthpiece to his people, he used his power to manipulate children, deceive thousands, and feed his sick and twisted desires. And the worst part is that those in power who perhaps knew, did/do nothing about it and those who didn't/don't know blindly took/take his words as gospel truth from "God" himself. It angers me to know that there are people who say and do things utterly contrary to the nature and Word of the real Jesus Christ, the one true God, claiming their words and actions to have been directed by God's righteous, loving, and sovereign hand. Time and again religion has been used as a tool of power to persuade or propogate personal agendas. Even in the Christian church today corruption rears its ugly face when power struggles emerge and sin remains unexposed. It is complete folly to believe anyone's words or sayings or commands as revelations from God without holding it up to the scrutiny of Scripture (2 Tim. 3:16) which is our ultimate source of knowledge about who God is, who we are, and God's desires for holy living.
Well, those are my thoughts on that. Unfortunately, ignorance isn't bliss when it comes to questions of moral aboslutes, salvation, God, and His Word. Get educated, people!
