As pastors, we are given power to benefit others. However, some use power to hurt others, resulting in spiritual abuse. As the authors say, though, “God comes against the power abusers and to the aid of the victims.” Throughout the Old Testament, God (through the prophets) took on the political and religious leaders who were abusing power. Jesus continued this in the New Testament by confronting “the ecclesiastical power abusers of his day…”
So, what do we do with all of this as pastors/church leaders? Certainly we need to lead by serving and not abusing those we’re leading. Equally as important, though, is how we respond to spiritual abuse/the abuse of power. We must have compassion for all, but not be afraid to speak against those who abuse power and inflict spiritual abuse. At the same time, we must do everything we can to help the abused heal and counsel and (if possible) restore the abusive leaders to leadership (gradually, and with oversight and accountability).
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ReplyDeleteI fully agree that leaders need to be extremely careful how they use the power that they are given. My experience has shown me that pastors that misuse their power are often times highly insecure people. For me personally, I know that the times I have been most tempted to resort to power games was when I felt threatened and unheard. What I have come to realize is that it is the truly strong that refuse to depend on their power.
ReplyDeleteIt is true that the Old Testament prophets stood up against the royal consciousness of their day, calling out the abuse of power, and subsequent injustice. But for me, what is even more interesting is how they stood up against those abusive situations. They fought against the abuse of power with persuasion, not coercion and manipulation. It almost seems as if they knew that, while it was their job to call out the abuse, it was not their job to force people to change by resorting to the same abuse they were fighting against.
As church leaders we would do well to realize that the use of power, coercion, and manipulation is the weakest form of leadership. When we resort to these tactics we might as well throw our hands up in surrender because we have already lost the battle.