Herod told these scholars from the East, probably from what we identify today as Iran, a boldfaced lie. Lying is one of the most blatant (and unfortunately effective, at least temporarily) forms of manipulation. Herod lied to them so that they would become be his “sleuths” to find Jesus. And the scholars from the East seem to have believed him.
Naïve, trusting, open minded, seekers from Persia meet powerful but fearful, dishonest, and manipulative Caesar.
I have a friend who says his parents did him a terrible disservice by raising him to be trusting, honest and didn’t show him how to “work the angles” in life. He says it’s a dog eat dog world and if you don’t eat, you’ll be eaten. He thinks it’s simply wrong to teach your children, that trust and honest are the way to make it in the world.
I like the Magi. They trusted, followed, believed, even naively. And they found the king and it wasn’t Herod. Herod, on the other hand, certainly did make it big in his world. Unfortunately for him, his world did not have the final word.
I understand your friend's sentiments. However, I agree that being trusting and honest is what we truly need to be in this world (an example Christ himself set for us). I have sought to teach my children to live by trust and honesty, but to keep a situational awareness at all times. That is, in be trusting but don't be naive. Yet if you error in this, error in favor of the other person and leave the reckoning to God.
ReplyDelete