Were We Created Not to Have a Hierarchy at All?

At our Saturday morning Free Store conversation we talked about Jesus' parable in Luke 12:42-48, "The Faithful and Wise Servant."  In this story the master puts one of his slaves in charge of his household and goes off on a journey.  As the days pass and the master doesn't return the servant starts to abuse his power, mistreat the other servants, and take the lion's share of the daily provisions for himself.  Things end rather poorly for the guy when the master returns and has the slave sawn in two (a rather fitting image for the Halloween season).

We started the conversation by talking about how Jesus told stories to change our perspective on things.  His stories tend to turn the world upside down (or maybe right side up).  Someone told us about the minister, artist, and cowboy standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon.  The minister looked out and said, "What a glorious display of the handiwork of God."  The artist remarked, "What a beautiful scene for the canvas."  The cowboy just shook his head and muttered, "What a terrible place to lose a cow."  The story made us laugh as we realized that though we might be looking at the same thing we can see it in different ways.

As the conversation progressed we talked about hierarchical relationships like that between master and slave.  The question was asked if there are parallels in our society?  Someone said that parent-child, employer-employee, and even husband-wife can be imbalanced.  Jack said that in some cultures women are considered as property.  He went on to say that even in our society, "Men have resisted the women's lib movement and often react in a negative fashion."  Another friend said that in unequal relationships there is an above/below, dominant/submissive, superior/inferior dynamic at work.  We talked a bit about how Jesus opposed abusive power relationships and we even wondered if he didn't oppose all forms of hierarchical relations between people.  Jack said, "Human nature doesn't change that radically.  These stories still have relevance and punch after thousands of years."

At this point in the discussion we looked at the abusive way that the servant acted in the absence of the master.  Rick said, "When the cat is away the mice will play" which made us laugh.  Somone said, "You can change the party that is in power but that doesn't really change things.  Power corrupts people."  Jack told us about friends of his that attend government dinner parties.  He said that the homeland security people sit at one table and the Obama people at another.  The homeland security people said, "We don't buddy up with either party in power."  Another friend asked, "Is the story making the simple point that we shouldn't abuse the power that we have been given?"  Robert said it reminded him of the line in Spider Man, "With great power comes great responsibility."

As the conversation moved toward its conclusion we talked a bit about the importance of acting responsibly even when there is no external power to compel us.  At this Rick said, "The law is a guideline rather than a rule."  Robert said, "Going back to the creation story were we created not to have a hierarchy at all?"  Jack said, "God established the rule of love.  There is a dictatorship of God."  At this someone said, "Thanks for that idea Jack but I don't buy it" which made us laugh.  He went on to say, "I agree with you about the rule of love, but I resist the idea that God is a dictator."