The Rise of the Divine State

by Gary DeMar | February 17, 2009

While the extremes of Adolf Hitler's regime may seem like a radical comparison to present-day America, there is much about our own social and political condition that should worry us. Herbert Schlossberg's masterful study of power in his book Idols for Destruction is both prophetic and frightening:

Rulers have ever been tempted to play the role of father to their people. . . . The state that acts like a wise parent instead of a vindictive judge has been an attractive image to many people. They include ecclesiastical authorities who have completely missed the point of the gospel warning to “call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven” (Matt. 23:9). The father is the symbol not only of authority but also of provision. “Our Father who art in heaven. . . . Give us this day our daily bread” (Matt. 6:9, 11). Looking to the. . . (Continue Reading)