Misconceptions abound everywhere. By definition a misconception is a mistaken thought, a misunderstanding, a false opinion. I would say if you believe a misconception you are believing a lie. We are swimming in a sea of misconceptions in 2024.
As a young adult, one of the earliest misconceptions I had was believing the world was run by a group of the best and the brightest. I know, kinda makes you shake your head to even read about my naivete back then, but I think it’s a popular misconception shared by millions of folks when they’re young. The good news is, it doesn’t take long to learn the people in positions of authority, the elite, the leaders in our society, businesses and government are anything but an example of the cream rising to the top. Or, maybe they are.
When you hear ‘the cream rises to the top’, it pays to remember cream rises to the top because it has the highest fat content that makes it separate. The fat that rises to the top may be suited to a cafe’ latte but it doesn’t make an elite class worthy to run business and government. Our current elites seem to better resemble this fat than the best and brightest. If you still have faith in the elite class running America, I’m afraid you’re buying into one of the oldest misconceptions around.
The first misconception on record stems from the king of lies in the book of Genesis. Satan planted the mistaken thought about what the Creator had spoken and the torrent of misconceptions began. The fact Adam and Eve didn’t question a talking snake shows how easy it is to buy into a misconception. The elites in that day led the people to build a great tower, later known as the Tower of Babel. We read what happened there. In 2024, the American cultural and governing elite are building a similar fiasco.
In January, the US Treasury revealed our nation’s elite have flooded the national balance sheet with total debt of more than $34 TRILLION. For context, this debt increased $1 trillion in the past 3 months, $2 trillion in the past 6 months and $4 trillion in the past year. The current interest expense alone is $1.1 trillion. That’s $250 BILLION more than the Defense Budget, $250 BILLION more than spending on Medicare and will surpass the $1.35 TRILLION spending on Social Security THIS year, becoming the single biggest outlay. It’s a misconception this tower won’t fall as well.
In America, our elite resemble doddering politicians and narcissistic old men and women. This past week the governing and corporate elite from around the world gathered in Davos. The agenda for these elites included population control, the next pandemic with Disease X and their scheme to roll out a new digital currency. Is it a misconception the world will fall in line and follow the plans of these elite?
A few months ago the elite leading the FBI identified Catholics at the top of the list of troublemakers. Last week the journalistic elite tried to spread the misconception that white evangelical Christians were the next group of dangerous and subversive people to watch. Academic elites have been targeting Jews since Hamas started murdering women and children inside Israel more than 3 months ago. One thing is certain, the root of the original misconception was centered on people’s faith and belief in the Creator of the world. In America, the elites are still advocating the same misconception.
The actions of so many in elite positions of power and leadership make it apparent our world is not being led by the best and the brightest. It is a misconception our corporations are being run for shareholders when DEI and sexual re-education trumps profit. It is a misconception the border is secure when millions of illegals walk across, pick up a prepaid Visa card and catch a bus or flight into the heartland. It is a misconception things will go back to the way they were. It is a fallacy to think this won’t end badly.
By definition, ‘elite’ defines the choice part and best of a class. The word has become adopted by men and women to be synonymous with a group of people considered to be superior to others because of their intelligence, wealth and social standing. Today, many consider themselves part of the elite. 2000 years ago, Jesus KNEW He was elite but that’s about where the similarities end. Christ didn’t consider His elite status, His ‘equality with God as something to be exploited. Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant…he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death-…’ Phil. 2:6-8.
God set the example for us of what a true elite SHOULD be. When He created mankind He gave of Himself and created us in His own image. When God sent his Son, Jesus lived out the true elitist mentality of what’s mine is yours. Jesus spent Himself for others, gave everything He had in life and death. The Holy Spirit continues to share what belongs to God with anyone who follows and is loyal. The model for elites is to be Christ-like and live out the God given mantra of sharing, what’s mine is yours.
Christ came to correct the misconceptions purported by the elite of that age. “‘Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.'” Matthew 10:34. To postulate or encourage a misconception is evil, wrong and sinful. ‘The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.’ 1 John 3:8. Before He returns, some elite need to look in the mirror.
We WILL see God step back into time again. God gave mankind the elite job and privilege of ruling His creation, but His idea of leadership doesn’t appear to be in vogue right now. GOD’S elite focus on sharing what’s been given to them, not taking for themselves. ‘Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others.’ This makes a leader truly elite and worth following. This elitism rewards us all.
So, WHY should the elite leaders in our world follow God’s Word and not what THEY believe is best? If for no other reason, fear. The Bible constantly reminds us that our Creator is a jealous God capable of wrath and punishment when He deems necessary. He eternally rewards those who lead with His love for others. In the next age, the paradigm seems to shift away from the current slate of elite leaders we now see. “‘But many who are first will be last and many who are last will be first.'” Matthew 19:30.
I’ll close with a convicting reminder to the elite and the common. Great gifts mean great responsibilities; greater gifts, greater responsibilities. Just as those elite in positions of wealth and power are inclined to see their gifts as God’s acquiescence to whatever they deem best for others, that could be a misconception as well. One of the wisest elites to ever live reminded us ‘the race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to all.’ Ecclesiastes 9:11.
This is a stark reminder to each of us. We all know men and women are created equally but we have been gifted differently. The talents and gifts we have are not equal to each other. Our rewards and punishment will not be equal as well. Lead and live accordingly.
‘From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.’ Luke 12:48.
Well done….I kept waiting for you to get to the punch line and you did: the “elite” very often do not have God anywhere in their equation of leadership