The Wellspring. No.22
“Understanding
is a Wellspring of Life to him that has it.”
(Proverbs.
16:22)
Occasional papers by Arthur & Rosalind Eedle
The Use and Abuse
of Power
We have seen
that there is a power in the practice of the TRUTH that is wholesome and
acceptable to the Lord. We have also seen that there is a power in the practice
of THE LIE, which is corrupt, inwardly defiling, leading to the
self-destruction of those who dabble in falsehood of any kind. In this article,
we shall look at the subject of POWER itself.
First
Baron Acton (1834 - 1902) the English Historian and Moralist, had this to say
in a letter to Bishop Mandell Creighton in 1887. "Power tends to
corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always
bad men . . . There is no worse heresy than that the office sanctifies the
holder of it."
One of
the commonest of human drives is the quest for power, and it has shown itself
in history in all the wars, conquests, and political achievements of
"great men." But seldom can one find record of any great political
man who has been a true Shepherd to his Sheep, one who does not glory in the
acquisition of his high office, and once having obtained it, whether by
military action, cunning, or intrigue, does not then abuse the power he enjoys.
This is the sad tale of history, showing us that as human beings very few of us
have the ability to handle power justly and mercifully.
Let us
see what men of influence have said about the acquisition of power. Count Leo
Tolstoy, (1828 - 1910) the Russian writer and moralist, said, "In
order to obtain and hold power a man must love it. Thus the effort to get it is
not likely to be coupled with goodness, but with the opposite qualities of
pride, craft, and cruelty." Thomas Jefferson, (1743 - 1826) third
American President, said, "I have never been able to conceive how any
rational being could propose happiness to himself from the exercise of power
over others." Stanley Baldwin, (1867 - 1947) British Prime Minister,
said at an election rally in 1931, "Power without responsibility has
been the prerogative of the harlot through the ages." William
Hazlitt, (1778 - 1830) English essayist, critic and journalist, wrote in 1819, "The
love of liberty is the love of others; the love of power is the love of
ourselves." And finally, Aung San Sun Kyi, the Burmese
statesman and founder of the National League for Democracy, who was placed
under house arrest in 1989, but was the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in
1991, said, "Concepts such as truth, justice, compassion are often the
only bulwarks which stand against ruthless power."
Surely
power is an intoxication; Henry Kissinger called it "the ultimate
aphrodisiac." The greater the power, the more dangerous the
abuse. From the days of Nebuchadnezzar, through the power of the Medes and
Persians, to Alexander the Great of Greece, and the Roman Caesars, we come down
to more recent times and remember Napoleon, Hitler, and Stalin. And since
then we have witnessed the rise of such evil men as Chairman Mao, Idi Amin of
As in the
world of politics, so also in the religious world, we find the corruption of
power. The Old Testament is an embarrassingly accurate and self-condemning
record of the failings of many Israelite rulers, such as Saul, Solomon (in his
later days), Ahab (with most Northern kings) and Manasseh, just to mention a
few. During the Messiah's brief mission, He laid down all the necessary
qualities needed for righteous government, but this was rejected by the ruling
authorities of His day, so they disposed of Him. During the first century of
Christian missionary work, those good principles were put into practice, but
shortly afterwards the lust for power began to rear its ugly head, and we find
the power house of Catholicism taking over in the world. History records its
savage record with over 20 million slaughtered who refused its dictates. Its
political power no longer exists, but its ecclesiastical power remains
undiminished. Their catechism anathematises all who do not accept the Catholic
Church as the only legal church. Alongside this is the rise of Islamic
power, a raging bloodthirsty beast with a great horn, seeking to destroy all
who do not accept the teachings of Mohammed. In both of these power houses,
exclusivism is preached. A similar exclusivism is found in numerous other
smaller religious organisations, for example, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Mormons.
And the abuse of power is seen in many free churches where ministers lord it
over their flock. Heavy shepherding, rife in many Charismatic Churches, is
another example of where leadership has gone badly astray.
But
history books only provide us with the actions and works of those who rise to
prominence. All lesser mortals remain as silent as the grave in historical
records. But we must consider the principle of power, not only in the
highest echelons of government, but also at ground level in the lives of the
average "man in the street."
People
with "drive" always seem to attract attention. They receive the nod
of the head of those around them, who say, "Oh yes, Jack Jones will go
places. He's got it in him to rise in life. Good luck to him. Wish there were
more like him." Then they might sigh, and say, "My Bill ought to take
note of Jack instead of being satisfied with mediocrity." Yes, the drive
to "be at the top" is always honoured, and worshipped. But the very
same people who look encouragingly at "Jack" in his early days, might
very well change their tune when he reaches the pinnacle of power. They will
then be heard to say, "Jack Jones ought to be ashamed of himself. He's
making the lives of many a misery. It's awful the way in which he handles his
high office."
Should we
then denounce all forms of power, and say that it is dangerous? Should we all
be content with mediocrity? No, not at all. The Bible shows the way, and
declares it with great clarity. First of all, let us look at what the Mosaic
Law said about the responsibility of Kings. Deuteronomy 17:18-20. "And
it shall be that when [the king] sits upon the throne of his kingdom, that he
shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book out of that which is
before the priests, the Levites; and it shall be with him, and he shall read
therein all the days of his life; that he may learn to fear the Lord his God,
to keep all the words of this law and these statutes to do them; that his heart
be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the
commandment, to the right hand or to the left; that he may prolong his days in
the kingdom, he, and his sons, in the midst of Israel."
The
words, "that he be not lifted up above his brethren" ring
out with a clear and unmistakeable challenge. What was true of Israelite kings,
should also be true of every other servant of the Lord who rises to any
position of authority. See what Paul recommended for Bishops in the church. 1
Timothy 3:1-7. "If anyone aspires to the office of Bishop, he
desires a good work. The Bishop then must be irreproachable, husband of one
wife, sober, discreet, decorous, hospitable, apt to teach; not given to
excesses from wine, not a striker, but mild, not addicted to contention, not
fond of money, conducting his own house well, having his children in subjection
with all gravity, (for if one does not know how to conduct his own house, how
shall he take care of the assembly of God?) not a novice, that he may not,
being inflated, fall into the snare of the Devil. But it is necessary that he
should also have a good testimony from those without."
The words
"that he may not, being inflated, fall into the snare of the
Devil," are exactly similar to those appertaining to the King, "not
being lifted up above his brethren." Our Lord's words ring true -
"The Scribes and Pharisees have set themselves down in Moses' seat;
all things therefore, whatever they tell you, do and keep. But do not after
their works, for they say and do not, but bind burdens heavy and hard to bear,
and lay them on the shoulders of men; for they make broad their phylacteries,
and enlarge the borders of their garments, and love the chief place in feasts,
and the first seats in the synagogues, and salutations in the market places,
and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. But you must not be called Rabbi, for
one is your instructor, and you are all brethren. And call not anyone your
father upon earth; for one is your Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called
instructors, for one is your instructor, the Christ. But the greatest of you
shall be your servant. And whoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled, and
whoever shall humble himself shall be exalted." Matthew 23:1-12
The
Apostle Peter was granted leadership of the 12, and to him were given the keys
of the
When the