What have Monty Python ever done for us?

A jovial look at the subject of escaping Roman law without becoming "New Romans"

As part of my presentation last week on “Spiritual Exit from Law” I used the canonical reference of spiritual wisdom in Western society, that being Monty Python’s “Life of Brian”. For those who are not familiar with the comedy, it is a satire on religion, based on the “true story” of Brian, who is mistaken for the Messiah. It is incisive precisely because it lampoons self-righteousness, and by implication flatters the righteous. What it illustrates particularly well is the conflict between the tyrannical order of the Romans under their law, and the chaotic hypocrisy of their opponents who pretend to virtue while having the same vices.

The relevant clip is embedded above, or you can click here, or read the script here. It is three minutes of classic comedy, so your homework viewing assignment is not burdensome!

So what does it show us? The "White Hats" are plotting to capture the wife of the Emperor, and may dismember her and send pieces back. Their demands are impossible, so it is a cruel and futile gesture. Furthermore, they are blackmailing the Roman leadership while claiming to refuse to submit to blackmail — making them hypocrites. The problem of tyranny is framed correctly as one that has lasted generations, with the Romans taking everything off them, but they have done little to counter it.

Meanwhile, the Romans have delivered sanitation, aqueducts, roads, irrigation, medicine, education, wine, public baths, safety, order… and peace. The rabble recognise they need the Romans: “Yeah, they certainly know how to keep order. Let's face it. They're the only ones who could in a place like this.” Read that again… nothing has changed since! We have a “freedom movement” full of narcissists operating in self-will that is unconsciously trying to weaponise the the law to impose their own object of worship upon others, be in the natural environment, suffering children, or even extraterrestrials.

Finally, Brian finds them all hiding (while professing to be in it to death), illustrating how they live in fear and lack faith. He is then given a title — “From now on, you shall be called 'Brian that is called Brian'.” — so they are just “New Romans” with the same methods of operation. Even the size of the graffiti on the Roman wall is exaggerated, so they live by lies, and are in spirit no better than the Romans, and quite possibly substantially worse. Does any of this resonate with your experience of being in a truth and justice movement, and the characters you have encountered who “fight the law”?

As I can only write and cannot read, I have not actually perused the Bible (or any other book in many years). Thankfully, I have friends who do have the focus and patience to look away from a computer screen, and I took Bible verse recommendations on this matter and put them through ChatGPT asking: “Now I will paste a list of Bible verses... for each, do a brief analysis (one paragraph) of how it relates to this scene, and how it illustrates that the participants were unconsciously showing the same spirit as the Romans.” This is what I got (with a few edits to add headings):

---

Here’s a brief analysis of how each Bible verse relates to the Monty Python Life of Brian scene and how the participants unconsciously show the same spirit as the Romans they oppose:

Romans 13:1, 3, 6, 12 — Submit to Authorities

• Verse Summary: Romans 13 encourages submission to governing authorities, as they are instituted by God for order and justice. It warns against rebellion and urges people to live honorably, casting off deeds of darkness.

• Connection to the Scene: The People’s Front of Judea (PFJ) members, in plotting rebellion against Rome, unconsciously adopt the same brutal and violent tactics they accuse the Romans of. By advocating extreme measures, such as mutilating Pilate's wife, they reflect the same oppressive spirit of the Roman Empire, despite supposedly opposing it. The call for submission to authority contrasts sharply with their actions.

Colossians 2:15 — Christ Disarms Powers

• Verse Summary: Christ disarmed the powers and authorities, triumphing over them by the cross.

• Connection to the Scene: The verse highlights how Christ's victory was not through violence or rebellion but through sacrifice. The PFJ's aggressive approach contrasts with the way Christ disarms oppressive powers. Their fixation on violence shows that, rather than disarming authority, they perpetuate the same mentality of domination, proving them no different from their Roman rulers.

Titus 3:1 — Ready for Good Works

• Verse Summary: Titus 3:1 calls for Christians to be obedient to rulers and authorities, to be ready to do good works, and not to slander.

• Connection to the Scene: The PFJ's plotting against Rome demonstrates the opposite of the obedient and good nature described here. Instead of trying to work within the system or encourage good, they fall into violent rhetoric, slander, and schemes that mirror the oppressive tactics of the Roman authorities. This ironic inversion shows how they mimic the very attitudes they condemn.

1 Peter 2:13-17; 3:22 — Honour All People

• Verse Summary: These passages instruct believers to submit to every human authority for the Lord's sake, emphasizing respect for rulers and honor for all people, including the emperor.

• Connection to the Scene: The PFJ’s disrespect and desire to humiliate Roman rulers, such as demanding a statue with Caesar's "dock" hanging out, runs counter to the respect and honor these verses call for. Their rebellious spirit and desire to mock authority reflect their own power struggles, much like the oppressive forces they despise.

Ephesians 5:10; 4:12; 1:21 — Walk in Light

• Verse Summary: Ephesians calls for believers to discern what is pleasing to the Lord and to equip themselves for the work of service, elevating Christ's authority over all powers.

• Connection to the Scene: The PFJ lacks any discernment of what is morally or spiritually upright. Their approach to overthrowing Roman rule is driven by vengeance and violence rather than any higher principles. Instead of elevating good and unity, their actions reflect Roman methods of control and destruction, operating in the same worldly power dynamic that Ephesians seeks to transcend.

1 Timothy 2:2 — Pray for Peace

• Verse Summary: This verse encourages prayers for kings and all in authority, so that people may live peaceful and quiet lives in godliness and dignity.

• Connection to the Scene: The PFJ, with their chaotic plotting and demands, clearly reject the peaceable and dignified approach. Their violent plans mirror the very oppressive systems they hope to overthrow. This verse contrasts sharply with their tactics, illustrating how they unknowingly replicate the violent and divisive nature of Roman authority.

Acts 19:16 – Corrupt authority misused

• Verse Summary: This passage discusses an evil spirit overpowering individuals trying to invoke authority they do not possess, demonstrating the dangers of false power.

• Connection to the Scene: The PFJ’s demands for extreme measures like mutilation show their misuse of authority, which they don’t truly possess. They act in a way similar to corrupt rulers, claiming moral high ground while planning violence, showing that they are no better than the oppressive forces they claim to resist.

1 Corinthians 15:24 — Christ’s Kingdom Over Powers

• Verse Summary: This verse talks about Christ delivering the kingdom to God after destroying all dominion, authority, and power.

• Connection to the Scene: The PFJ believe they are fighting to destroy Roman dominion, yet their methods show they’ve absorbed the same domineering spirit. Rather than striving for a higher, peaceful kingdom as Christ represents, they perpetuate the same earthly struggles for power that they criticise in the Romans.

Revelation 2:26 — Divine Authority Over Nations

• Verse Summary: This verse promises authority over the nations to those who overcome and do God's will.

• Connection to the Scene: The PFJ crave authority and power over Rome but use violent, selfish methods. Revelation speaks of a divine authority granted to the righteous, but the PFJ’s actions suggest that they are no better than the Romans in their pursuit of control, unconsciously replicating the same flawed systems of governance.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 — Spiritual Warfare, Not Flesh

• Verse Summary: Paul explains that, though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. Spiritual weapons, not worldly tactics, are used to demolish strongholds.

• Connection to the Scene: The PFJ’s reliance on violence and blackmail reflects the very "worldly" way of waging war that Paul warns against. Their methods of rebellion are the same as the Romans’, indicating that they have not risen above the oppressive systems they despise but instead fall into the same patterns of conflict and domination.

Acts 4:1-; 17:6; 16:20-35; 28:18 – Church and Persecution

• Verse Summary: These passages describe the early church’s peaceful but firm resistance to corrupt authorities, as they are arrested and persecuted yet continue spreading the message of Christ without resorting to violence.

• Connection to the Scene: The PFJ’s plotting contrasts sharply with the behavior of the early Christians. The early church faced oppression with resilience, nonviolence, and a focus on their mission. The PFJ, on the other hand, resort to violent rebellion, mimicking the very oppression of the Romans instead of offering an alternative. Their methods show they are still trapped in the same cycle of aggression and power struggle that Rome represents.

In sum, while the PFJ believe they are overthrowing an oppressive regime, their violent, domineering tactics show that they have unconsciously adopted the very spirit of the Romans they seek to overthrow. The biblical verses highlight a different path, one of submission, peace, and spiritual warfare, which contrasts with the PFJ's misguided methods.

---

Do you get it? We are stuck in the same cycle! The “Great Awakening” is not about abolition of worldly authorities (as they have become corrupt), but respectful submission to them in their role... as long as they stick to their remit. The Romans serve a purpose: as long as we adopt the mindset of masters or slaves, we are children in need of a guardian to govern conflicting self-will. The “Law” and “Rome” are one and the same; we are ruled by the Roman cult for as long as we continue to squabble and rebel.

Many will come against the current “Modern Rome” and establish themselves at the top of the system as “Newer Better Rome™” through claiming sovereignty. This does not bring lasting peace, but instead resets the cycle. When we operate in self-will (sovereignty) under the law, we give up freedom for peace. When we exit the law and operate in divine will, we gain freedom with peace. The purpose of our movement is to bring lasting peace, which is only possible through submission to divine will. The pride, trauma, stubbornness, ignorance, or laziness that halt us in that journey are the true enemy, not the “deep state” or its criminal agents.

Again, let’s feed in some Bible verses into ChatGPT, not so much as to preach the good word, but rather to get the sense that we have been here before, and there is nothing new under the sun, so perhaps we ought to learn from those who went before us.

---

Here’s an analysis of these Bible verses in relation to the Life of Brian scene and the idea that human self-will and tyranny necessitate oppressive regimes for order. When humanity exits self-will (the Law) and operates in Divine Will, true freedom and peace are achieved, removing the need for such tyranny.

John 8:32-36 — True Freedom through Christ

• Verse Summary: Jesus tells his followers that the truth will set them free, and anyone who sins is a slave to sin. If the Son sets them free, they are free indeed.

• Connection to the Scene: The PFJ characters are slaves to their hatred, violence, and vengeance, which mirrors Roman tyranny. They are not free, despite fighting for liberation. This verse illustrates how, without aligning with truth and Divine Will, they remain bound by the same sinful, tyrannical spirit. True freedom, which Christ offers, is absent from their movement, as they focus on earthly rebellion rather than spiritual liberation.

Colossians 1:13 – Rescued from Darkness

• Verse Summary: God has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His Son, where we find redemption and forgiveness.

• Connection to the Scene: The PFJ, in their violent plotting, are still operating within the dominion of darkness, akin to Roman oppression. This verse highlights the possibility of deliverance from that realm. If they operated under Divine Will rather than self-will, they could escape the darkness of their violent mindset, gaining peace and redemption instead of perpetuating the cycle of tyranny.

Romans 8:1 — No Condemnation in Christ

• Verse Summary: There is no condemnation for those in Christ, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

• Connection to the Scene: The PFJ, walking according to the flesh—violence, revenge, and rebellion—are caught in the same condemnation that they associate with Rome. In contrast, if they were led by the Spirit, they would transcend the need for Roman-style tyranny, gaining freedom from both external oppression and internal condemnation. The spirit of vengeance keeps them enslaved to the same cycles of domination.

Galatians 5:13 — Freedom to Serve in Love

• Verse Summary: Believers are called to freedom, but they should not use their freedom to indulge the flesh. Instead, they are to serve one another in love.

• Connection to the Scene: The PFJ’s concept of freedom is driven by fleshly desires for power and revenge, which leads to violence and chaos, much like Roman rule. This verse explains that true freedom comes from serving others in love, which would create peace and eliminate the need for tyranny. If they operated in Divine Will rather than self-will, their freedom would be constructive and peaceful, not destructive.

Philippians 4:5-7 — Peace beyond Understanding

• Verse Summary: Believers are encouraged to let their gentleness be evident, not to be anxious, and to find peace in God.

• Connection to the Scene: The PFJ’s plotting is full of anxiety and aggression, lacking any gentleness or peace. This verse shows how, in operating out of self-will, they create chaos that requires the harsh control of Roman rule. If they embraced gentleness and sought peace through Divine Will, they would no longer need oppressive structures to maintain order, and peace would come naturally.

Matthew 5:9 — Blessed Are the Peacemakers

• Verse Summary: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God."

• Connection to the Scene: The PFJ are far from being peacemakers; they are instead focused on vengeance and violence. Their methods demand oppressive responses like Roman tyranny. This verse illustrates that peace through Divine Will, not rebellion, would bring freedom and unity. If they pursued peace rather than conflict, the Roman structure would become obsolete.

Romans 5:1, 8 — Peace with God through Faith

• Verse Summary: Romans 5 speaks of peace with God through justification by faith and God’s love shown in Christ’s sacrifice for us while we were still sinners.

• Connection to the Scene: The PFJ, driven by sin, reject the path to peace through faith. They are locked in a cycle of violence, which only perpetuates the need for Roman control. If they embraced God’s love and the peace that comes from reconciliation, they would escape the need for earthly rulers and the tyranny of human nature. Peace would replace the violent self-will that demands control.

John 16:33 — Christ Overcomes the World

• Verse Summary: Jesus tells his disciples that in the world they will have trouble, but to take heart because He has overcome the world.

• Connection to the Scene: The PFJ's focus is on the troubles of the world and fighting against Rome, unaware that true victory is already offered through Christ. By engaging in violence, they continue the worldly struggle for power, like the Romans. If they recognized Christ's overcoming of the world, they would transcend the need for conflict, entering into a peace that requires no earthly domination.

Colossians 3:15 — Let Peace Rule in Your Hearts

• Verse Summary: Believers are called to let the peace of Christ rule in their hearts.

• Connection to the Scene: The PFJ's hearts are ruled by conflict and hatred, which mirror Roman tyranny. The peace of Christ, if it ruled in them, would eliminate the need for either their rebellion or Rome’s oppressive rule. Peace in the heart replaces the self-will that requires external control, dissolving the structures of tyranny.

Romans 12:18 — Live at Peace with Everyone

• Verse Summary: "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."

• Connection to the Scene: The PFJ do not seek peace with the Romans but instead embrace conflict. This verse highlights the importance of pursuing peace where possible, and by doing so, the oppressive need for Roman rule would be unnecessary. When peace is prioritized, human self-will dissolves, allowing freedom in a harmonious society.

John 14:27 — Christ’s Gift of Peace

• Verse Summary: Jesus offers peace, not as the world gives, but a deep, lasting peace that drives out fear.

• Connection to the Scene: The PFJ’s rebellion is rooted in fear, anger, and conflict, which perpetuates tyranny. If they accepted the peace Christ offers, they would no longer need to fight against Roman rule, and the need for such an oppressive structure would fall away. Peace from Divine Will creates a different order, one that doesn't require human-imposed control.

Isaiah 9:6 — The Prince of Peace’s Reign

• Verse Summary: This prophecy speaks of the coming of the Prince of Peace, whose government will bring endless peace.

• Connection to the Scene: The PFJ’s violent rebellion is the antithesis of the peaceful kingdom prophesied in Isaiah. They mimic the very tyranny of Rome, unaware that peace, as brought by the Prince of Peace, would dissolve both their need for rebellion and the Roman need for control. Divine Will brings about a kingdom of true freedom, without the chaos that necessitates tyranny.

Galatians 3 — Law versus Faith

• Verse Summary: Galatians 3 speaks of the law as a guardian until Christ came, and now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.

• Connection to the Scene: The PFJ, acting in self-will, are still bound by the same law of power and control that governs Rome. They exist under the "guardian" of tyrannical rule because their actions perpetuate the need for such order. Once they exit the law and live by faith in Divine Will, they gain true freedom and peace, no longer requiring Roman tyranny to maintain societal balance. This verse shows that freedom is found not in rebellion, but in faith and spiritual transformation.

In all of these verses, we see the contrast between human self-will, which necessitates control through structures like Roman rule, and the peace and freedom offered by Divine Will. The PFJ’s actions are a mirror image of Roman tyranny because they operate from the same place of conflict, vengeance, and power struggle. If they, like those described in these scriptures, sought peace, faith, and divine order, there would be no need for oppressive rulers. Instead of fighting Rome, they would find true freedom by transcending the worldly systems that bind them. True peace and freedom come not from external rebellion, but from living in alignment with Divine Will, which dissolves the need for any earthly tyranny.

---

It has taken me over a decade of research, activism, and spiritual battlefield experience to get to this point, and everyone has their own “personal unique way of finding The One True Way”. Some acquaintances say it is hopeless to escape from the yoke of the law, and pointless to even try; we have Romans over us forever. Others of us have higher aspirations for humanity than being tax slaves or lab rats. There are two paths forward: to become “New Romans” and edify ourselves as better than the last lot of paedo cannibal torturer barbarians, or stop playing the master/slave game entirely by looking up and acknowledging the divine will of Creator. That’s it: the end.

There were two other videos I used from the Python troupe to open later sessions, and I will let you watch them and extract the spiritual lessons.

The first is the classic graffiti scene, which demonstrates adherence to the literal letter of the law over its spirit.

The second is the crucifixion scene, which counsels against rescuing “white tunics” becoming saviours and taking up the burdens of others operating under the law.

My experience is that many people are hideously abused by religious orders and clerics, and are allergic to Biblical wisdom as a result — myself included for a long time. Others have a self-righteous religious spirit, and are unable to have their beliefs challenged, since they know the word but lack the desire for truth. The use of satire allows these difficult themes to be addressed in a way that a wide audience can relate to, without being triggered. And as this last video attests, we can finally talk in public about our salvation through a messiah — JC — without triggering an automatic rejection response. May God bless 🙏John Cleese🙏, and all who jest with him.

A local brook here in Tennessee