The Dynamics of Power

A Lenten meditation by The Rev. Dr. Michael Battle of CREDO:

Then they prayed and said, 'Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen to take the place . . [of] Judas . . . .'--Acts 1: 24,25

Power. We can't live with it and we can't live without it. Such a dilemma is a good thing to reflect upon in Lent. Like fire, power can be used for both good and evil. Maybe, Judas would've benefited from a deeper awareness of power. This is also deeply true for those of us who lead the church. The problem here was that Judas thought he had God's power figured out. If we're not careful, we'll follow Judas's lead and also think we can mastermind God's plan. It would do us well to reflect upon how to safeguard power and use it effectively for only good. I think we do this first by looking at our assumptions.

What I most assume the church is not, is: First, another power group among others in society; and Secondly, the church is not the same as society.

God wants us to pay attention. Think of how an organism of people behaves just like a rapidly turning school of fish. And how such an organism of people insists upon the primacy of faith, worship, and justice known in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And as our attention span increases, we realize that our true power is in Jesus, who quickly gave such power away. It is from such detachment from power that I conclude we, as the church, should have trouble excluding people and even recognizing enemies. We should always be too busy turning to Jesus and away from our Judas-like power.

Let us pray,Almighty God, who in the place of Judas chose your faithful servant Matthias to be numbered among the Twelve: Grant that your Church, being delivered from false prophets, may always be guided and governed by faithful and true leaders; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.