Power, for what?

You have more power than you think

Power-there are few things about which we have such conflicted perspectives. Power seduces and repels us. Power struggles create tension in families, divisions in congregations and war between nations. In the eyes of the world, we live in the most powerful nation. Yet most of us plead powerlessness, often unaware of the power and privilege that come by virtue of race, gender or nationality.

Perhaps we agree with English historian Lord Acton's statement: "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." Yet, cannot powerlessness also corrupt-leading to a life of hopelessness, poverty, victimization and desperation?

It would be helpful to engage in thoughtful conversation about power: Is power inherently evil? Or is it the purposes for which power is used that make it evil or good? Over what are we powerless? What power are we given? For what purpose? To whom are we accountable? Is there a difference between power and authority?

We do not worship power. We worship a God who is powerful. The Bible witnesses to God's power to create, liberate, judge, forgive, heal, reconcile and love. The fullest expression of God's power comes through Jesus' life, suffering, death and resurrection. Paul boldly proclaims: "For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those who are being saved it is the power of God" (1 Corinthians 1:18).

Jesus rejected the evil one's temptation to use power for domination. Instead, he claimed the power of God's word. In the promise of the Spirit's power, Jesus began his ministry: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor ... release to the captives ... recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor" (Luke 4:18-19).

We publicly confess "that we are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves" (Lutheran Book of Worship, page 56). Yet, Jesus promised his disciples "you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses" (Acts 1:8).

We are heirs of that promise. We have received power to believe and testify to God's love in Christ for the whole creation. Does that not mean standing with those whom the world deems powerless? For us, it mean using our shared power-not for the sake of domination and control but for the caring of God's creation and the well-being of all God's children.

By: Mark S. Hanson

A monthly message from the presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. His e-mail address: bishop@elca.org.

Copyright Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Apr 2004
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