Nothing of the existing objects has ever operated without structure. No one can even imagine how an organization could operate without structure. But, nothing of this world, whether appearing well or not, has ever brought sustainable structure. The Roman Empire, operating under a perfectly delineated structural system, lasted longer than any other, although, nevertheless, it also eventually crumbled.
Christianity is founded upon Jesus’ teachings. However, a careful analysis reveals that, while Jesus advocated for operating without structures, His teachings confirmed the only permanent structure in existence. The idea of worldly accepted norms of leadership is different from Jesus, whose teachings were not for the ordinary people. He advised only His disciples to operate devoid of structures, without enforcing His teachings to ordinary humans, stuck on cultural norms.
“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you have one Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:8-12 NIV).
Jesus was emphasizing a structureless organization, where His followers were supposed to serve one another. His disciples constituted a structureless organization but expected to be united after Jesus had left. Humanly speaking, what Jesus advocated is assumed as impossible to last for a long time. But, Jesus taught what is sustainably applicable in the laws of the physical universe.
The structure-less suggestion carries an unknown workable solution to human governance. The first Christian organization, after the dark ages was the Roman Catholic Church. But even with its apparent strong structures, the Roman Catholic first cracked, following Martin Luther’s thesis. This introduced an avalanche of systematic cracks afterwards. Schisms continue among Christian groupings of different sizes across Christianity.
This reveals that the implementation of human structures in corporate governance cannot be sustainable. Should we not say, that now is the time to consider the workability of Jesus’ structureless philosophy? There is structure in what Jesus advocated, although not visible, but spiritually sustained. The difference between Jesus’ formula and the humanly advocated structures lies in that Jesus’ structure is spiritually advocated and incorruptible.
“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but God works all of them in all men. Now to each one, the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:4-7 NIV).
The workability of God’s ideas, as advocated by Jesus, is the exclusion of group considerations when filling positions. Each member fulfils his role, according to his God-given abilities. The functionality of that group is self-sustaining. But each group member enjoys providing the best service to other group members. Paul likened this to how the human body functions. Which part of the human body can claim to be more essential than others?
“Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,’ it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,’ it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body” (1 Corinthians 12:14-20 NIV).
The above statement subscribes to a sustainable structure. It can only be an insane individual who assumes some parts of his body are more important than others. Those body parts are as indispensable as the owner of the body cannot even dream of losing any of them. Making such suggestions is considered deranged. Coexisting with insane people is the most accursed condition, incomparable to any other illness.
The apostle Paul illustrated the workability of Jesus’ idea using the functionality of the human body. The body structure is axiomatically crafted, although most people fail to appreciate it. Jesus’ ideas are sustainably workable in the physical universe. The humanly designed ideas are deranged, suggesting the reason for this world to be viewed as deranged.
There is truth in that a mentally sick person, viewing things from his sickly condition, considers normal things abnormal. The definition of structure can be derived from any perceivable unit. The original author of any organism ever to exist is God. When observing any natural structure, as designed by God one perceives the true significance of a structure.
A tree plant is a structural organization. Leaves cannot be roots, just as roots cannot be stems. Even though not coordinated by anyone, a tree is naturally an organized structure. No one can accuse that tree of failing to configure itself according to the preferred structure.
The designer determined how the lives would be shaped and how the branches would manifest. Some of the roots would spread sideways, while others would sink deeper. But no sane person would curse that tree plant for shaping itself in a particular structure. There may be other designed structures causing tree plants to be shaped in particular ways.
For instance, a tree plant that is planted by the riverside cannot be similar to one planted among the rocks. The natural phenomenon of rocks in a particular area cannot be explained by anyone, except by the designer, himself. This is why some trees are said to be sustainable in tropical areas, while others are sustainable in cold weather patterns.
A lion feeds on meat, rather than feeding on grass. In God’s creation, one observes magnificent structures that are natural, rather than synthetic. But the most outstanding structure, among all God’s creations, is the human being. The structure of an organism created in God’s image, cannot be changed. But humans, formed of dust, carry the capacity to manipulate God’s creation.
Humans are capable of organizing anything to suit their requirements. Imagine man-made structures, like Lake Kariba. The only structure that humans failed on is corporate governance. The semblance of success in human governance is the pursuit of democracy.
However, this has been characterized by narratives, rather than as a Godly template. Hence, corruption is endemic, virtually in all areas of democratic processes, including those, considered highly advanced in matters of democracy. We have to analyze the workability of a structure-less organization, recommended for an important institution like Christianity.
“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you have one Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:8-12 NIV).
What was Jesus talking about? Would there not be chaos in that arrangement? People see things differently. If none of them would be expected to take over the position of leadership, how would the structure be sustainable? However, anyone posing such questions does so, from a derangement viewpoint. This is as absurd as questioning how a human body would structurally grow, without an observable body organ calling the shots.
In the Christian structure, recommended by Jesus, everyone would function according to God-given abilities. Raising questions like, which, among those body limbs, should be regarded as more fundamental than others, is uncalled for. Each one serves according to the natural pattern of those ligaments. Their importance sustains the importance of the structural body.
Out of ignorance, those sitting in the comfort of holding academic titles stated how impossible CCC would be unable to operate without structures. Their theories are not based on the author of the physical universe. They base their theories on personalities like Karl Max, whose theses have since been exposed as a catastrophic failure. However, our shameless scholars continue to project such shambolic ideas, insisting that it is impossible to sustain an organization without structure.
Zimbabwe is currently emerging to become the greatest civilization ever found on this planet. The reason emerges from a seemingly structure-less political organization. Citizens know their respective responsibilities, thereby enabling accountability of those in governance. This is better than the overly rated democracy. It is only surpassed by Jesus’ Church.
Democracy is currently rated as the best in human governance. The only problem with democracy is that it cannot appeal to the uneducated people. Being educated means the ability to appreciate one’s worth in his environment. For instance, most people assume that mineral resources are more important than themselves. This is tragic but considered so, by most people.
A democracy releases people to choose what benefits them rather than what empowers them to contribute sufficiently. Democracy seeks to address the question of what is there for one, rather than what one can do for other people. That alone is what makes democracy unattractive. This is why in poor countries democracy has been shambolic, riddled with seismic corruption.
Used among those aware of their worth in society, democracy is potentially a better form of governance. Each person becomes aware of his/her responsibilities, seeking to change the environment for the better. But one of the greatest handicaps bedeviling democracy, especially in Africa, has been the structures. With structures, you have some people wielding authority that makes others feel weakened, or unable to confront corruptible activities.
In an imperfect world, this can only be addressed by a structure-less arrangement, where no one claims to be better than others. Everyone is answerable to those who voted them into power. I cannot think of anything better, except the spiritually organized Christian Church. The citizens can recall the elected ones, who would be failing to meet the voter’s expectations.
The citizens cannot blame anyone, except themselves, when things go wrong in their respective environments. This model has not been sufficiently explored, among Africans, appearing as suspicious of Western democracies. It places citizens at the centre of governance, although unaware of the nitty-gritty of governance. A human being was created in God’s image and therefore deserves not being abused by fellow humans.
The optimum human potential is characterized by ethical conduct when exercising responsibility. Humans are more gladdened when aware of their respective responsibility. Self-determinism is a lost provision, yet being the first gradient, enabling humans to reach the standard of controlling their respective environment.
The condition of humanity is that of seeking to please others, rather than be oneself. Even those who have attained what is considered the highest level of learning, still lack confidence. The only reason scholars prefer being identified with their academic titles is their lack of self-confidence. A truly educated person does not think about educational titles, because he would be self-sufficient.
Jesus was a true Scholar, whose knowledge was ahead of every one of His times. The fact that people could not understand Him, does not take away the fact that He was millennia years ahead of them. Sadly, most of His contemporaries failed to take advantage of His brief period on this planet. Most of them were busy perusing Scriptures, unaware that those Scriptures were about the same Man they were despising.
“You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life. I do not accept glory from human beings, but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his name, you will accept him. How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?” (John 5:49-44 NIV).
What appears structureless, is due to ignorance of who God is. We live in a world where some people assume being the Creator, due to not knowing who God is. However, the only way one can have an idea of God’s existence is first by appreciating having been created in God’s image. This demolishes any form of human structure, serving only to empower a few individuals, said to be “Shefs” according to the communistic pattern.
Andrew Masuku is the author of Dimensions of a New Civilization, laying down standards for uplifting Zimbabwe from the current state of economic depression into a model for other nations worldwide. A decaying tree provides an opportunity for a blossoming sprout. Written from a Christian perspective, the book is a product of inspiration, bringing relief to those who have witnessed the strings of unworkable solutions––leading to the current economic and social decay. Most Zimbabweans should find the book as a long-awaited providential oasis of hope, in a simple conversational tone.
The Print copy is now available at Amazon.com for $13.99
Also available as an e-copy at Lulu.com for $6.99
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