The issue of control permeates many aspects of life, often boiling down to who holds power over what, when, and how. In the context of driverless cars, advocates seek to control traffic flow and people by removing human drivers and entrusting hardware and software with vehicular operation. Some politicians aim to further control individuals through government regulation of this technology, limiting personal freedom under the guise of safety and environmentalism. Conversely, opponents of driverless cars strive to maintain control over their vehicles, viewing this as symbolic of controlling their own lives and destinies, rooted in the principle of self-government and the right to move freely. In a broader societal context, the divide between liberals and conservatives hinges on control of the nation and society. The Left often desires a small group of experts and elites to make decisions and wield power, while conservatives advocate for individual citizens to control the nation's destiny through smaller government. This struggle for control extends to personal interactions, where the carnal mind fixates on gaining and maintaining dominance over others, often leading to conflict as individuals believe control equates to personal gain and peace of mind. However, the biblical perspective offers a stark contrast. Jesus Christ instructs His disciples in Matthew 20:25-28 that greatness among them is not about exercising authority over others, but about serving, even to the point of being a slave, relinquishing control to a master. Philippians 2:3-4 reinforces this by urging believers to avoid selfish ambition and conceit, which drive the desire to control others, and instead to esteem others better than themselves, looking out for others' interests. This teaching reveals that the carnal way of control is through selfish ambition, while Christ's way is through humility and prioritizing others. Ultimately, God's way emphasizes self-control over the control of others. As seen in Acts 24:25, Paul speaks of self-control, or enkrateia, meaning self-restraint or self-mastery, as a critical aspect of Christian life alongside righteousness and judgment. This self-control, a fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:23, requires rigorous discipline, as Paul illustrates in I Corinthians 9:24-27 with the analogy of an athlete mastering their body to win a prize. Christians are called to rule their nature and flesh, ensuring every action conforms to Christ's life, maintaining mastery over themselves through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

The concept of a Nanny State reflects a government that over-regulates individuals to enforce its desires, stripping away personal choice in pursuit of a self-defined utopia through legislation. Human governments, unable to change hearts, resort to controlling behaviors. Meanwhile, citizens, witnessing a nation spiraling out of control, demand action from leaders, electing those who promise change through laws that gradually erode freedoms. Political leaders become the arbiters of how every citizen should live, driven by the people's insistence on intervention. Many also expect the government to care for them, demanding programs and benefits to shield them from life's uncertainties, believing it is the state's role to provide healthcare, childcare, retirement, and education. This leads to policies of redistribution, akin to communism or socialism in softer forms, where the government takes and distributes according to its judgment of fairness, fostering dependency rather than responsibility. In parallel, the church faces similar pressures with the notion of a Nanny Church, where some leaders adopt dictatorial control, and some members expect the church to cater to their needs. This contradicts God's purpose of creating man in His character image, which requires the freedom to choose between life and death, blessing and cursing. God desires sons and daughters who internalize His values and character, making right choices of their own volition, not through external control. Jesus Christ, in Luke 22:24-26, contrasts the Gentile way of exercising lordship and authority over others with His teaching that true greatness in His church lies in serving, not ruling. The Gentile approach, whether through force, coercion, or benevolent provision, creates dependency and stifles character growth. Christ instructs that service in His church must focus on edification, helping members toward the fullness of Christ, without imposing iron-fisted control or doing for them what they should do themselves, as such extremes hinder preparation for eternal life.

In the pursuit of understanding governance, we must recognize the inherent struggle within human systems to control others, often leading to the erosion of individual liberties. Human governments, as history reveals, possess a tendency to expand until they dominate every aspect, stripping away personal freedoms. This overreach is evident in the way governments, costly to maintain and producing nothing tangible, grow to affect economies dramatically while seeking to regulate and restrain beyond their rightful bounds. The biblical perspective urges a different approach, emphasizing that each citizen must govern himself, leaving the rest to God's care. This principle of self-control stands as the primary foundation for all conduct in relation to authority. As illustrated in historical definitions, such as Webster's 1828 Dictionary, the focus on self-government precedes responses to family, civil, or other forms of authority, highlighting that personal direction and regulation are paramount. Men are often apt to neglect controlling their temper and passions, yet this self-restraint is essential for aligning with God's will. Scriptural guidance reinforces this, as seen in the call to gird up the loins of the mind, directing and restraining conduct toward holiness to conform to the image of the Father and the Son, rather than succumbing to worldly lusts. Furthermore, the discipline to run the race with purpose, tempering oneself in all things, underscores the necessity of personal effort in maintaining control over one's actions and desires. In the development of governance, from the dominion granted to man over creation to the establishment of family and civil structures, the theme of control emerges repeatedly. Mankind's rejection of self-governance under God, as seen in the gathering under Nimrod to create a centralized power, reflects a desire for external control rather than personal responsibility. Similarly, Israel's demand for a king, rejecting God's reign, illustrates a surrender of liberty to human authority, mirroring modern trends where people yield freedoms to governmental powers. Even within church settings, the misuse of authority to control rather than guide has been a recurring issue. History shows that controlling administrations, whether civil or ecclesiastical, may solve problems temporarily but inevitably lead to rebellion. God's method of governance, rooted in persuasion and truth rather than force, offers a contrast, allowing individuals the space to make choices based on presented facts, supported by His Spirit for deeper understanding. Ultimately, all authority flows from God, and those in power are answerable to Him. Yet, the expectation remains that the governed must voluntarily render respect, taxes, and honor to authorities as appointed by God, without those in power overstepping to take for personal gain. The lesson is clear: true governance begins with self-control, aligning with God's design rather than succumbing to the human inclination to dominate others.

Unconverted mankind's basic approach to government is based on the application of external pressure to gain submission. This approach leads to many wars, divorces, and firings on the job because the carnal mind is unwilling to submit. Those applying force are called benefactors by people who feel a sense of security and order from rigid rule. God's government does not control through the application of terror even though He could easily do so. God governs to elicit the voluntary subjection of the governed. Human nature wants to control others because of pride, fear, and covetousness. Pride leads people to think they know better how something should be done. Fear motivates control to avoid inconvenience or pain through belligerence, manipulation, or arbitrary decisions. Covetousness drives people to do whatever is necessary to obtain what they want. The government of the church was essentially authoritative and in control of others based on the notion that the ministry is the government of God. The correct operation of God's government depends on each person possessing God's truth and governing himself without going beyond the authority God has given him. Jesus executed this flawlessly by always doing those things that please God without seeking his own glory.

Human nature desires to control others according to its own ideas in addition to controlling itself. This drive stems from pride, fear, and covetousness. Pride leads people to believe they know better than others regarding how things should be done, why they should be done, when they should be done, where they should be done, or by whom they should be done. Fear motivates attempts to seize control to avoid inconvenience or pain, resulting in behaviors such as belligerence, gathering allies to overpower opposition, manipulation through repeated arguments or induced guilt, bribery, pouting, and arbitrary decisions to preserve esteem. Covetousness drives actions to obtain desired outcomes regardless of means. Mankind normally exercises rule through the external application of force to produce submission in others. This approach contrasts with the government of God, which does not operate by whipping people into line through external pressure. Instead, individuals must govern themselves and make themselves subject through hupotasso, arranging themselves under authority voluntarily. In relationships such as marriage, submission by a wife to a husband involves her arranging herself under his authority as required by God for order rather than because of any inherent superiority. The carnal mind cannot subject itself to God, but conversion enables the ability to make choices without external control. God exerts very little control over individual decisions to preserve free moral agency necessary for developing His image. The authoritative control of others seen in certain church administrations reflects human nature rather than the government of God. All must contribute to order by governing themselves rather than seeking to control others.