Mao Tse Tung, Pol Pot, Stalin and Change

What are the commonality between Mao Tse Tung of China, Pol Pot of Cambodia, Stalin of Russia and Hitler of Germany?

Among many other commonalities, there is one which is so obvious. They thought that they are the ones who will change the world for the better.

Yes, all of these murderous tyrants who killed millions of the people around the world believed that they are instruments of change.

In their pursuit of their vision of a better world they committed horrifying atrocities.

Those who are convinced that it is their "destiny" or "God-given" mission to change the world become "tyrants" who would do everything so that what they envisioned will come true.

This vision might be clothed in religious or secular terms.

Karl Marx described his vision in a utopia where there is equality among all, which is "communism."

In the name of this perfect society, his disciples like Mao Tse Tung and Stalin killed millions of their own people so that the new society will emerged.

In religious context, those who wanted the "Kingdom of God" to become a reality have committed the same murderous acts.

The Crusaders in their quest for the "Kingdom of God" killed countless Muslims in the Holy Land while those reformers like Martin Luther allowed the killing of Catholics in Germany, while Henry VIII in his "religious" fervor killed Catholics in England.

A favorite straw man argument of those who these fanatic leaders is that they are not the ones' responsible for the change but the Holy Spirit. I am wondering if whose Holy Spirit is right since both sides invoke that they are doing the works of the Holy Spirit.

Most often the "Kingdom of God" these leaders established is not of God, but their own agenda and hold to power.

The truth is that those who are moved to change the world are intent on power, whether that is political or religious power. With power comes not responsibility (as in the movie Spiderman) but wealth and authority. Everyone wants to have access to power because they also have access to the resources of society or institution which they can use for their personal gain or legacy.

The Kingdom of God would always be something that we can only hope for and not work for. It is arrogance to claim that we are working for the coming of the Kingdom of God because it is not something that we build but something which we receive. The Kingdom of God is a gift that God initiates to give.