Off to see the Wizard
Many will easily recall the story of "The Wizard of Oz." Curiously, we can gain some insights about spiritual authority from this popular tale. Dorothy, The Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion go to the Wizard because they believe he has the power to give them what they need. Dorothy needs to go home, the Scarecrow needs a brain, the Tin Man needs a heart, and the Lion needs courage. The Wizard sends them out on a quest to get the broomstick of the Wicked Witch of the West. If they bring back the broomstick, he (the Wizard) will give them what they need. They accomplish their mission by melting the witch and getting the broomstick, then return to the wizard's place to ask him to deliver his promise.
Our heroes enter the huge chamber where the Wizard of Oz conducts his business. They are met face to face by the Wizard himself, a big scary head; not a real person, just a serious face surrounded by billowing smoke & fire, making a lot of noise. With a thunderous roar, the Wizard demands to know how those four dare to challenge him. Here is the point: It is at this moment that Dorothy's dog runs over to a small room & pulls back a curtain. What is revealed to us is a simple, flesh & blood man who has long been hiding behind a mask of power. He operates behind a curtain pulling levers, making smoke, fire and noise. The result looks impressive, but is only a facade. Even when exposed he roars, "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!"
The Wizard is in fact a power abuser. He controls a whole city with a facade that postures power & punishes people for noticing. In the kingdom, the problem was that the Wizard couldn't deliver & Dorothy and her crew became the problem for noticing that there was a problem.
It is sad to think how often religious power brokers control their spiritual kingdoms with power. They rain down Bible verses on people about authority, submission, judgement, prosperity or end times. They penalize people for noticing that the man behind the curtain is just a human with no authenticity or authority at all.
As a maddening last lesson from this story, after all is said and done, the Wizard tells them , "You already have what you needed all along." They risked life and limb for what they already had.
In too many Christian families & churches, Christians are told to jump through spiritual-performance hoops to earn God's approval, something they already have because of Jesus death !
Think about it-- The WTBTS ??
