There is a pervasive, destructive addiction that has recently been seeping through the body of Christ. Actually, it seems to have been around the entire existence of the human race and simply worked its insidious way into the faith community. You probably know someone from church who has at least one of these symptoms:
- They’re known as a gossip. If anyone wants to know anything about a situation or a person, they are the primary contact person. You notice they get a great deal of satisfaction and pleasure knowing and controlling the right information.
- If a visitor of the same sex as them shows up in your Christian singles group, they feel compelled to learn everything they can about the visitor. It’s not because they are friendly, confident, and want to express genuine interest in this person and make them feel welcome. Secretly (but you can see it), it’s because they have a competitive streak and they want to compare themselves to that new person and find a flaw that will keep them top dog.
- They tend to micromanage people, schedules, and things around them. Every little item becomes a point of pride and a weapon to use against their unfortunate target. They’ll say they just want to make sure everything is done right, but others (like you) would say they’re a control freak.
- They hang with a fairly tight group of friends and do life almost exclusively with them. It’s been a long time since their clique has actually accepted someone in. Someone may try to get in, but if their group dislikes or feels threatened in any way by that other person’s talents, accomplishments, looks, possessions, or confidence, their group won’t let them in.
This addiction cuts across all denominations, all ages, all church and ministry positions, educational levels, incomes, careers, and personality types. Leaders and visitors, newbies and oldies, all can have this addiction.
It is more common than all the other major lifestyle issues that we typically associate with addiction, like drugs, alcohol, gambling, and shopping. It might not be bigger than addictions to food or pornography, but it’s just as powerful because anybody can do it. Possibly you might even have this addiction. Give up?
It’s power. Power itself is as addicting as cocaine, according to a couple of articles I 
encountered during my research for today’s post. Power as an addictive, destructive force is significant because it seems to be our basic human nature to gravitate toward power grabs as a way of getting our needs met. It’s a big problem when it happens in the church. Power as an addictive, destructive force is significant because it seems to be our basic human nature to gravitate toward power grabs as a way of getting our needs met. It's a big problem when it happens in the church. Click To Tweet
Power abused in the church is especially heinous to the Lord because it’s a distortion of who He is. He is completely unselfish in meeting others’ needs, and He alone has the resources within Himself to meet them. As an extension of His authority and power, He delegates power to help others, not coerce them into meeting selfish needs.
The Two Basic Types of Power
You can do the research about the different types of power, but when you review them all, they boil down to two basic kinds of power. There is the power of authority or position, and there is the power of influence.
When you look at French & Raven’s landmark research about the five types of power (now extended to seven by further research), they all come under these two categories. Legitimate power and, sometimes coercive power, are from authority or position; all the others are results of relationships and potential influence.
Both authority and influence can be used properly as well as abused. Both forms of power rest in the church and are regularly used and abused there at all levels.
As kingdom citizens, we are all called to properly manage every gift, talent, and ability we are given, including the gift of power. He will hold us accountable for using or abusing the precious gift of power.
Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit (NKJV).” How can we use the power we are given correctly: in a way that honors God?
Keys to Managing Power God’s Way
We have to accept responsibility for the power we are given. And we all have some measure of authority and influence. Just being a follower of the risen Lord Jesus intrinsically carries a measure of authority and influence.
- We need to recognize where authority and influence come from: God.
- We must understand and accept why authority and influence were given to us: to serve and assist others, to complete an important project, to protect those under our direct care, to represent the Lord, and to expand the kingdom of God.
- Realize that power was not given for our comfort, convenience, and acclaim.
- This includes the craving for attention (read: adulation and worship), companionship, control, and an air of infallibility (read: pride).
- Proverbs 28:13 and 1 John 1:9 have the keys for delivering us from this life-draining addiction to power: confess and forsake our sin.
- Know that it is a sin for us to abuse power, no matter how we rationalize it.
- If we recognize ourselves in any of the scenarios listed at the beginning of this article, or we become aware of other abuses of power that we do, we must go to the Lord and repent of the way we abused the power we were given. Be as specific as you can with Him. He already knows.
- Repent of the sins, character flaws, and issues that induced you to abuse your personal power. (Repent means ‘to change your mind’ in Greek. We have to change our minds and agree that He is God and we are not.
- Ask the Lord to help you manage the power, authority, and influence you’ve been given in a manner that honors God.
- Learn to do the opposite of whatever your power moves were: delegate, trust others to do their work instead of micromanaging, stop gossiping, become genuinely interested in others’ stories; seek to promote others.
We don’t need to be that clueless person who thinks they’re all that, but misrepresents God by abusing their power and grasping it as clout for themselves. Let us use all the gifts and talents He has given us in such a manner that He is glorified and honored. Don’t succumb to the church’s greatest addiction.
REFERENCES
Bochner, Daniel A. The Power and Control Addiction. Article for drbochner.com 2010. http://www.drbochner.com/articles_for_individuals/the_power_and_control_addiction, accessed 3/31/18.
Daily Mail Reporter. Power Really does Corrupt as Scientists Claim It’s as Addictive as Cocaine. Article for dailymail.co.uk updated 4/28/2012. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2136547/Power-really-does-corrupt-scientists-claim-addictive-cocaine.html, accessed 3/31/18.
Densu website. Authority and Power Scripture Verses in The New Testament. Undated free pdf for densu.com. http://www.densu.com/power.pdf, accessed 4/2/18.
Dictionary.com website. Definition of power. http://www.dictionary.com/browse/power?s=t, accessed 4/2/18.
Graves, Marlena. Three Temptations of Leadership: Abuse of Power. Article for christianitytoday.com/women-leaders 01/09/2014. http://www.christianitytoday.com/women-leaders/2014/january/3-temptations-of-leadership-abuse-of-power.html, accessed 3/31/18.
Haon, Abel. Identifying Leadership Power Abuse and Its Prevention in the Local Church Context. Pdf article for biblicalstudies.org.uk 2013. https://biblicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/mjt/29-1_104.pdf, accessed 3/31/18.
Hill, Graham. The Church Has Abused Power Too Often. Here’s How We Can Change. Article for theglobalchurchproject.com 4/22/2017. https://theglobalchurchproject.com/power/, accessed 3/31/18.
Linn, Shai. Authority and Its Abuse. Article for 9marks.org 9/30/2016. https://www.9marks.org/article/authority-and-its-abuse/, accessed 3/31/18.
Giang, Vivian. The Seven Types of Power That Shape the Workplace. Article for businessinsider.com 7/31/2013. http://www.businessinsider.com/the-7-types-of-power-that-shape-the-workplace-2013-7, accessed 4/2/18.
Orloff, Judith. Two Ways to Beat An Addiction to Power. Article for the Huffington Post updated 4/26/2014. This article is great because Dr. Orloff includes a link to several online self-tests where you can gauge where you’re at with various potential personal problems. https://www.huffingtonpost.com/judith-orloff-md/two-ways-to-beat-an-addic_b_4827039.html, accessed 3/31/18.
Paracelsus Recovery. Addiction to Wealth and Power. Article for Paracelsus-recovery.com 03/20/2016. https://www.paracelsus-recovery.com/en/blog/addiction-to-wealth-and-power, accessed 3/31/18.
Rainer, Thom S. Eight Types of Power Groups in Churches. Article for christianpost.com 9/22/2013. https://www.christianpost.com/news/8-types-of-power-groups-in-churches-105096/, accessed 3/31/18.
The Tablet. Abuse of Power in the Church. Article for thetablet.co.uk 3/26/2015. http://www.thetablet.co.uk/editors-desk/1/5074/abuse-of-power-in-the-church, accessed 3/31/18.
