Self-Preserving Politics

Self-preservation is the behavior that ensures the survival of an organism. For example, if something causes us pain then we will try to find what it is that is causing the pain and put a stop to it. If we become afraid, we will turn away from whatever is causing the fear. We will seek safety. Self-preservation is not just for the living. It is for the dead as well.

In Ancient Egypt, the mummy and the pyramid were elaborate attempts at self-preservation. One of the first things that a pharaoh would do when taking the throne was to draw up the plans for his burial place. To construct a pyramid, stones averaging 2.5 tons had to be hewn out of rock quarries by laborers with hand tools, hauled across the desert, and carried up ramps to be put into place. Archaeologists estimate the Pyramids at Giza took around 25,000 workers 80 years to build. The primary purpose of the extravagant pyramids was to protect the Pharaoh’s body. The body itself was mummified for maximum preservation. A team of 70 embalmers spent 70 days performing the task of preparing the Pharaoh’s body for burial.

The pharaohs used large amounts of their kingdom’s wealth and work force to preserve themselves. They act of self-preservation contributed to the downfall of the Egyptian kingdom.

The only thing that has changed with political leaders mummifying themselves is that now they do it while they are alive. Politics is about self-preservation. The ads we see on television are about either preserving their position in politics or putting themselves in a position to later preserve their position in politics. Self-preservation in politics leads to the reality that persons desire to rule over their fellow humans no matter what form of government. Jesus says, "you know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them" (Matt. 20:25). In this passage Jesus does not condemn the fact that some "lord" over others. He just states the fact of reality. So even if Lincoln can stand in a field in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and declare we are "government of the people, by the people, for the people," it doesn't mean that we are governing ourselves. It means for democratic rule that those we elect in office, the rulers who "lord" it over us, will hopefully listen to us. At least that is the hope of my participation in democracy.