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The incident, however, led me to do some further thinking. It is surprising the extent to which "power" has become a bad word. My friend is a well-respected leader with considerable power--but he felt uncomfortable even using the term.
The reason, I suspect, is that power has been abused so often in our time that power itself is almost considered a synonym for abuse. For instance, sexual abuse and spouse abuse are at bottom a misuse of power; the abuser uses his superior power to abuse his victim. Similarly, the argument about women's role in ministry seems to revolve around power: Women accuse men of hogging it, and men accuse women of seeking it. In the midst of all this, some voices wonder whether the problem is the whole concept of power; perhaps we would be better off if our leaders had no power, if none of us had any power.
I understand the concern. There is no question that power is a great danger and temptation, and the greater the power the greater the danger and temptation. However, it seems to me that this running from the whole concept of power is misguided, impossible and dangerous.
We cannot live without power. Exercising power is unavoidable. Every time we buy or make something, we determine that certain of the earth's resources will be used in a specific way. Every time we speak or write or pray, we influence people to respond in various ways. Every time we vote or pay taxes or write a letter to a politician, we exercise power over government. Our possessions, our gifts, our talents and abilities, our positions, our relationships--all of these confer power.
Do we really want to be powerless? Do we want to have no influence over how our children turn out? Do we want our prayers to make no difference? Do we want to have no influence on society? Do we want to make no impact on a world in which people die of starvation, poverty, curable disease and war? Are we really content to sit back, keep quiet and watch idly while billions of people die in their sins and go to eternity never knowing Jesus Christ?
The reason we publish the Herald is so that we can make a difference in people's lives. As pastors, lay people, parents, friends, citizens and neighbours, we Christians want to make an impact for Christ. Whenever we do make an impact, we are exercising power.
A few weeks back, I attended our church's dramatic presentation of the Easter story. It was a powerful presentation of the gospel. I was struck by the figure of Jesus. He was humble, and yet as He walked through the crowd, He accepted the praise that was given Him, and He unapologetically used power to heal and change people. I wondered for a moment about my friend, who was playing the role of Jesus. I wondered how he could act as if he was Jesus; how he could accept praise on behalf of Jesus; how he could use power as Jesus used power.
Yet, as I thought more, I realized that I, like my friend, am called to be a representative of Jesus. All Christians are called to model their lives after Jesus. Jesus did not seek power or worship power. (In fact, He rejected these temptations of Satan at the beginning of His ministry.) He did not abuse His power by using it for His own benefit (turning stones into bread) or by violating the responsility of individuals to respond to Him voluntarily. However, He did not pretend that He had no power, and He did not shy away from using power. He used His power for good.
All earthly power is nothing compared to God's power. There is nothing I can do that God cannot overrule. Yet God has given me certain power, gifts, abilities and positions, and as I use them under the guidance of His Holy Spirit, I hope and pray that He is pleased.
Another word for power is responsibility. Maybe it's time we stopped apologizing for having power and started using it for good.
Return to the M.B. Herald Vol. 35, No. 11
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