The Temptation of Power

We just held an election. Across the nation people voted for all manner of candidates and resolutions. At the center of all of this activity was power. We had candidates vying for power. We had people voting to grant others or take away from others power to do everything from getting married to raising taxes. We elected a President, who in most estimations is the most powerful person in the world -- or at least one of the most powerful persons.
Power is an commodity that many seek -- and not just in the political realm. There is plenty of power politics going on in our families and in our churches.
I bring this up because I'm reading the third chapter of Henri Nouwen's In the Name of Jesus, a book the Elders of my congregation are reading. The book focuses on Christian leadership and emerges from his own experiences at the L'Arche Community. He writes:

One of the greatest ironies of the history of Christianity is that its leaders constantly gave in to the temptation of power -- political power, military power, economic power, or moral and spiritual power -- even though they continued to speak in the name of Jesus, who did not cling to his divine power but emptied himself and became as we are. The temptation to consider power an apt instrument for the proclamation of the Gospel is the greatest of all. We keep hearing from others, as well as saying to ourselves, that having power -- provided it is used in the service of God and your fellow human beings -- is a good thing. With this rationalization, crusades took place; inquisitions were organized; Indians were enslaved; positions of great influence were desired; episcopal palaces, splendid cathedrals, and opulent seminaries were built; and much moral manipulation of conscience was engaged in. Every time we see a major crisis in the history of the Church, such as the Great Schism of the eleventh century, the Reformation of the sixteenth century, or the immense secularization of the twentieth century, we always see that a major cause of rupture is the power exercised by those who claim to be followers of the poor and powerless Jesus. (In the Name of Jesus, New York: Crossroad, 1989, pp. 58-59).

What role should power play? Is it simply a tool? Or is it much more? As followers of Jesus, should we look to gain power? One of the things that galls many Mainliners -- including me -- is our exclusion from the table these past several decades. We've watched the Religious Right get invitations to the White House, and envied them their power. Now that Barack Obama, a Mainline Protestant himself, has gained power, do we see ourselves getting a seat at the table?
Yes, this is a temptation that affects us all. Indeed, I enjoy the trappings of power. But as a follower of Jesus, what should I do?

Comments

Anonymous said…
I agree that the Religious Right (RR) has been tempted and has been lured by the temptation into the trap of power. But I have not envied the position at the table asserted by the RR - I have been appalled by their failure to understand their mistake and by the tragedy which has followed.

It has not only been unseemly but it has distorted politics in America into a malignancy that will be many years in the mending - if ever. Political opponents who shared a vision but differed on the means have been wrought by the RR into evil enemies intent on the destruction of the American way of life.

I don't want to take their place at the table, and I hope they are permanently banished - an object lesson for all people of faith! We are called to be prophetic - we are called to be Nathan, not David. As soon as we dawn the crown of power, we forfeit the mantle of the prophet. The two are simply incompatible.

David may be a man of faith, so much the better for him to hear the truth from the prophet. But the role of religious institutions is best accomplished when they stand outside the halls of power and speak the truth. The truth cannot be spoken when religious institutions control the power of he state or when the state controls religious institutions.

I surely hope that more moderate Christians refrain from taking the place of the Religious Right in the new administration.

John
John
Anonymous said…
I too struggle with this issue, but I would caution attacking the "religious right". This is more of a media creation.. sure Dobson and pals do fight over the top on issue, however this election they have been very quiet compared to last time. Personally, I see the religious left starting to emerge and it will be interesting to see how they handle their new found power. Thinking of Pelosi on abortion, gay marriage issues on ballots, etc.

While I am on the "right" in some cases, I don't agree with the RR. Prayer in school sounds good.. assuming you are in a Christian district. What if its Muslim? The political end of the RR has morphed the Gospel into two hot button issues, which I strongly disagree with!

I have also been in the debates with those who favor the RR aggressiveness. The issue at least this group isn't trying to change the rules in their favor, but rather simply keep the freedom they have. In some cases, there good points. For instance.. the movement of the discrimination bills, churches essentially discriminate in hiring based on religion and sexual orientation b/c its contrary to their beliefs. What if the government requires them to hire?

=Chuck
Anonymous said…
OK this next comment is not for the mild mannered - be warned!

Chuck,

Thanks for the response.

You should know that I attack the Religious Right as a lifelong Republican who has witnessed their actions in warping the party away from the center and into a party which delivers a message of fear and exclusion, and converting their fundamentalist theology into a political ideology of hate and exclusion (e.g., "he's a Muslim," "he's a socialist," "he consorts with terrorists," "his minister is anti-American," "now that he has the White House and the Congress he's going to become a virtual dictator," "he'll bring all sorts of unqualified blacks into the White House," "he'll take this opportunity to allow blacks to get even for 200 years of white racism.")

The Religious Right is not a creation of the media but it is very real (if not completely coherent) coalition, from the media (Rush, etc.), from the political world (Huckaby, etc.), and from the fundamentalist and evangelical religious communities (Dobson, etc.).

Their fingerprints can be seen in their political agenda, which, aside from fear mongering vis-a-vis Obama, is captivated by the delusion of American Exceptionalism (we are the Nation Chosen by God to be the first manifestation of the New Kingdom or at least for Great Things) and focused on creating and enforcing political means of exclusion, first excluding those who disagree, and then excluding those on the margins, and finally dedicated to support for the wealthy - which they all hope to one day become.

Their agenda has become the Republican Platform, including: tax cuts in favor of the wealthy; legislative initiatives which are typically anti- immigration; anti-Muslim; anti-anything not Christian; anti-any people or conduct or rights viewed through their fundamentalist lense as sinful; anti-foreign; and anti-intellectual. There is little room for compassion and no room for institutionalized compassion.

They RR is not single issue oriented, not just focused on public prayer or on issues regarding church and parochial school hiring, or even on abortion or stem cell research. Their impassioned effort to import religion into the classroom by teaching Biblical creationism (which Palin supports) is a good case in point - their focus on this issue is not just to safeguard the moral and religious upbringing of their children, but to take control of the moral and religious upbringing of all American children. Their agenda is all encompassing.

In terms of political discourse, there is no room for moderation or compromise - to do so is to give in, not to the loyal opposition, but to the evil enemy out to destroy. I fear that Democrats may be falling into this trap as well.

I have watched the RR take control of and ultimately destroy the Republican Party. I doubt the party will mount a serious comeback for a decade if not a generation.

As for caution in my attack on the RR, caution is not the treatment required - they need to be excised from the party. Let them form a party of their own, shrouded in the hateful truth of their message, for all the world to see, not Trojan-horsing it within the Republican party. Until they are booted out, the Republicans will never be able to support an inspirational standard bearer like Barak Obama.

Glad I got that off my mind!!

John
Anonymous said…
Hey.. I have thick skin and I don't mind the venting. Don't get me wrong.. in my Bible study groups I am normally the guy speaking out against many of the issues. Frankly, I won't disagree with many of your statements either.

I will throw up a hand on creationism, only b/c many of the comments you make could be applied on this issue. If you watch "Expelled" with Ben Stein.. there are some interesting points.. but also some propaganda. The quick thought is that evolution is a weak theory with many holes. I could go and on.. but thats for another post. I will say there is a lot "anti-intellenge" on the other side too.

As for a Christian nation.. yeah, I struggle with this one as well. However, there is a lot of revisionist history too.. take this famous line:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Interesting we could quote word for word EXCEPT for that key phrase "endowed by their Creator".

Again.. not saying the iron fist of the RR is right or even helpful. But there is a silent minority of us that would like God put back into the actual history, as it really happened.

Chuck

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