There is an old adage that
says, ‘For what you wish, be careful’.1
Here’s a wish in our world
that some day we may want to cancel.
It’s the increasing wish
for right leaning, ‘strongman’ governments,
To add to the heap of
others that we, for years, still lament! 2
This wish is fed by
ill-perceived costs of globalization.
It is fanning the well-known
flames of nationalization.
But to look only at the costs of global integration,
But no benefits, yields a one-sided examination.
Increasing national
conflicts and regional migration,
Add more fuel to this
growing, incredible situation.
But who’d argue that ‘right-leaning’
is both ‘strong’, and also ‘right’?
Between nationalistic and integral, which takes more might??
In sports competition,
every player looks for his ‘edge’,
Even if it means reneging
on whatever he pledged.
In economic competition,
nations do the same,
‘Till nationalism rears its
head, and changes the game.
Tariff walls, subsidies,
and tricks to manipulate the field,
Designed to bring ‘economic
competition dogs’ to heel.
‘Beggar thy neighbor’
economic and trading policies,
Project strongman egos...but
ensure mutual paucity!
As the pendulum of global
unity swings cyclically,
Here is a predicted outcome
worth pondering carefully.
In the past, the dark
clouds of myopic nationalism,
Have unleashed across the
earth much hellish opportunism.
You see, strongman economic
and trading policies,
Have clear side effects, and what I call ‘bleeding properties’.
Take a quick tour around
the world, and you’ll see what this has bred.
Such strongman policies
into most other sectors have bled!
Strongman tactics only work
when preceded by strong delusion
That makes of sound
governance a derision, and brings destruction.
Consider this: Strongman governance is
rooted deeply in pride.
This spirit defiles one man, and then quickly infects nationwide.
If you’re spiritually
alive, you’ll know this is not odd.
Where did I get it? It’s inferred
in The Book written by God!
‘To those who
have pleasure in unrighteousness, He’ll send to them,
Strong delusion to believe lies, and
thereby they’ll be condemned.’ 3
Pride is the root of all
evil, and goes before destruction.
It can ensure both personal
and national corruption.
One day, a prideful
strongman will arise to rule the whole world,
And over all nations, his
deceptive flag he will unfurl.4
His lies will be believed then,
as strongman lies are believed today.
His global government will
come, but it will not be here to stay!
He’ll be annihilated by the
brightness of Christ’s return! 5
Now my Friend, from this
Truth, for our world today, what can we
learn?
From this rhyme, here is a
warning I hope we all will heed:
Don’t ever look to a professed
strongman to meet your need.
Live by your
faith! 6 Don’t smear fear as a
salve.
If strongman
you want, then strongman you’ll have!
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1 Poetically paraphrased
2 Can you name the countries
where ‘strongman’ governments rule? 3 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 (paraphrased)
4 Daniel 7:23-27, 11:21-45; Revelation 13:8
5 Genesis 3:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; Zechariah 14:12; Revelation 19:11-21
6 Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 1:17, Galatians
3:11, Hebrews 10:38
