The world functions around power. Need to settle a political dispute? Line up the allies and pressure the errant state into compliance. If that fails, send in the army! Whether we realize it or not, American society functions as well as it does, in large part, because of power! Author Donald Miller observed that what makes America great is her justice system where the majority uses the courts and police to keep everybody in line! He's a cynic, to be sure. There are a lot of wonderful things about our nation that make her great besides her police force. Never the less, he's got a point. We live reasonably secure lives because we have empowered police to remove the bad guys from among us. Even on a personal level, we tend to use power to shape situations the way we want them to be. When there is a problem, we find the pressure point and lean on it to bring the other person around to our point of view.
But... you knew there was a 'but' coming soon, didn't you? ...Believers are instructed to focus away from power in their lives. The genuine relationships of the Church should not be based on power tactics. As a leader of a local church, I am both tempted and tested by the use of power. I am tempted to use whatever limited power I have to make people who live in my little sphere of influence 'get with the program.' I humbly admit that too often I have succumbed to that temptation when faced with a person who makes my life and ministry difficult. And I am tested, on a regular basis, by the power plays of individuals who become vocal critics hoping to force a change in me or church programs, who threaten to withhold financial support, or who 'boycott' the meetings of the church to get the attention of the board who they hope will lean on me for change.
Take a look at what the Scripture says about this. "Always be humble and gentle. Patiently put up with each other and love each other. Try your best to let God’s Spirit keep your hearts united. Do this by living at peace. All of you are part of the same body. There is only one Spirit of God, just as you were given one hope when you were chosen to be God’s people." (Ephesians 4:2-4, CEV)
Imagine living without resorting to power tactics, without threatening anyone, ever? That's what the Lord asks of us. It sounds so naive, but it what He desires from us. Our security and our personal happiness are not found in forcing our way or intimidation. They are found in giving away ourselves and becoming a part of God's work. "Be humble!" is not the prescription for worldly success. When I was young, my late uncle advised me about capturing attention and making my way in the world with this parody of a Bible verse, "He who tooteth not his own horn, the same shall not be tooted!" But, Uncle Dean was wrong. God's way is humility, serving without notice and taking joy from the opportunities that God gives - great or small. The gentleness that the Lord asks of us is an expression of ultimate trust in Him! A gentle person is not lacking in backbone or courage, though he is often perceived in that way. He is a person of amazing courage who has set aside power and decided to seek a greater good than his own agenda or his own comfort.
I am heartened that the passage I quoted gives a nod to the difficulties of human relationships. "Patiently put up with each other!" lets me know that people will be people: cranky, headstrong, selfish, and immature. (Me, too, from time to time.) The church is not a utopian community where 'never is heard a discouraging word.' It is an imperfect community of people 'in process,' who are called to choose patience over power, where we move - together- toward the calling of God - s l o w l y - but steadily as the Spirit leads us. And we are told to "Love each other!"
We make much of love, but understand it so little. Love is reduced, so often, to a expression of the ephemeral expression of our emotions. Love, as portrayed in the New Testament, is a robust thing, a choice from which all other choices flow. The model for our love is the love of Christ - which caused Him to enter the world, to live as an ordinary Man, and to walk boldly to the Cross, where He died an excruciating death and allowed our sins to alienate Him from the Father. And, why? Because of love - for you, for me. The quality of His love, which compelled amazing sacrifice, is far removed from the syrupy emotionalism that we mistake for love in our Christian relationships, isn't it? We are barely willing to put up with another's irritating habits or quirks, to say nothing of actually living with them for 30 years, fully entering into their experience, and then dying for them!
I propose an experiment for us today. When tempted to use power to gain compliance from another, even in the little things of life, choose the way of humble and gentle love. Let love compel you to step boldly into the other person's life, even for a moment, and then ask the Holy Spirit, how He wants you to respond. It will lead you to some amazing, awkward, and perhaps even Christ-honoring moments. And it will surely please the Father.
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Love Divine-- Wesley, Charles / Zundel, John
Love divine, all love excelling,
Joy of heav'n, to earth come down!
Fix in us Thy humble dwelling;
All Thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, Thou art all compassion;
Pure, unbounded love Thou art.
Visit us with Thy salvation;
Enter ev'ry trembling heart.
Breathe, oh breathe, Thy loving Spirit
Into ev'ry troubled breast!
Let us all in Thee inherit;
Let us find that second rest.
Take away our bent to sinning;
Alpha and Omega be.
End of faith, as its beginning,
Set our hearts at liberty.
Come, Almighty to deliver;
Let us all Thy life receive.
Suddenly return, and never,
Never more Thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve Thee as Thy hosts above,
Pray, and praise Thee without ceasing,
Glory in Thy perfect love.
Finish then Thy new creation;
Pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see Thy great salvation,
Perfectly restored in Thee:
Changed from glory into glory,
Till in heaven we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before Thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise.
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CCLI License No. 810055
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