Disarmed

He disarmed the rulers and authorities and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in it. 

 - From Colossians 2

There you have it. 

In our times, we have had the sad splintering of the Church, thanks to the one half of it, that has placed more trust in rulers and authorities than in their fellow believers in Christ. 

Paul talks about rulers and authorities. He does not qualify the remark. Rulers and authorities. All of them. You may consider the phrase with prejudice. Rulers and authorities means all rulers and authorities! Even the ones claiming to be believers. If they hold a temporal political position of authority, or rule, over all of us, they will find it very difficult to be both a bold and humble servant of Christ, as well as a temporal leader.

In reality - it may be impossible to do. 

Paul employs an ages-old rhetorical device. He appeals to people's desires to be thought of well by others. He taps into our yearning to be on the right side of history. Nobody likes being wrong. In fact, we hate being wrong. Our resistance to ever acknowledging our errors may be even more responsible for suffering on the earth, than romance, commerce, or even . . . yes, that ancient scapegoat for everything wrong: religion. 

Paul says that God will make an example of rulers and authorities. 

They will not be allowed to just slink off into some corner. There is going to be a reckoning. 

It's a very safe bet: When you have a choice to make - between siding with your family (both earthly and Heavenly families) and the world's rulers . . . uhhh . . . . 

 . . . Don't choose the world's rulers.