Developing a Theology of Power
One of the movies I’m currently looking forward to most is Ant-Man 3, which arrives in theaters in February and promises to blow open the Marvel Cinematic Universe in a big way. The villain, Kang the Conqueror, is one of the most powerful villains in the Marvel universe. The superhero genre is immensely popular with moviegoers of all ages. One reason I think that’s the case is because of the agency and power these heroes represent. Many of us are powerless to change the things we wished were different or to take a stand for our values like we wish we fully could, and we can vicariously live through these heroes and their powerful deeds.
This draw to power is something humanity has experienced since our creation. The rebellion of Adam and Eve was motivated by a desire to be like God - to exert power and control over their lives. I feel this same draw to power when I consider changes I hope to see in my church community, wishing I could simply exert my will. I feel this same draw to power when I experience disobedience from my young children, wishing I could simply compel them to obey. I even feel this same draw to power as I write these words, although I’m more likely to think in terms of “influence.”
It’s common for us to sanitize the way we identify our motivation for power.
I wager I’m not alone in experiencing this thirst for power and control, and while I haven’t experienced it to the level of scandal that some pastors fall into, it’s a reality that should not be ignored. Therefore, I think it’s crucial for youth pastors to develop a theology of power. It’s crucial both for instructing our students as they experience a desire for autonomy and influence, and also for our own sake as we seek to love and shepherd people well. Our theology of power begins with the all-powerful one.
The Lord Almighty
We believe in a God who spoke the universe into existence (Genesis 1) and for whom nothing is impossible (Jeremiah 32). He is repeatedly described as Almighty, and has demonstrated his immense power throughout history. God’s omnipotence is one of the attributes we do not share with him, and our theology of power ought to reflect this difference between us and God. God is all-powerful, and any power we have comes from him as a gracious gift.
What is incredibly fascinating, however, is the way God exercises his power. In contrast to the other creation stories of the Ancient Near East the God of the Bible creates in a carefully ordered and peaceful way, rather than creating out of power and violence. This all-powerful God deals gently with his creation. Even when he judges their rebellion, he does so with grace and always leaves a remnant.
Perhaps most striking to me is that God’s power is not one of the defining characteristics in the most common descriptor for him: “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.” (Exodus 34:6) The broad picture we see of God is that he is endlessly powerful but his power is often displayed through his mercy, patience, and grace. This shapes the way Christians define what true power is, and we have an opportunity to be youth pastors who teach our students how the gospel displays God’s power and patience.
The Lion and the Lamb
God’s omnipotence expressed in patient grace is seen most clearly in Jesus Christ. As God incarnate, he is the fullest revelation of God to us – “the exact imprint of his nature” (Hebrews 1:3). How did Jesus exercise his power? He laid aside his divine rights and humbled himself to become one of us (Philippians 2). He willingly submitted himself to torture and death on a cross while he was innocent. Jesus did not seek cultural influencers or power-brokers to spread his gospel – instead, the movement was full of women, slaves, and otherwise disadvantaged people.
The poor and powerless lead the way in the kingdom of God, and in their weakness God’s power is most clearly displayed (2 Corinthians 12). Jesus said that all power and authority belonged to him (Matthew 28) and yet he exemplified the same grace, gentleness, and compassion that God always has.
What Does This Mean For Us?
It’s one thing to understand that God is all-powerful and we are not, and God often acts in surprising ways. Good biblical theology extends to the practical outworking of the truth. As image-bearers of this sovereign and loving God, we are compelled to love God and love others by faith. To that end, here are a few suggestions for how we might implement a theology of power in our role as youth pastors.
1. Recognize the Power we do Hold
While we are not all-powerful, we do hold power, authority, and influence, especially in our roles as pastors. This power differential is especially clear in instances of clergy abuse. As we speak into the lives of adolescents and provide pastoral counsel, let’s be aware that we hold immense power to impact them for good or for ill. Be careful and measured in your words, especially in sensitive conversations and when discipline is necessary. Careless and hasty words from a pastor can cause significant bruising. It’s incredibly distressing and too common to hear adults speak of shame they’ve held on to for years because a pastor said something anti-gospel to them.
2. Seek to Lay Down our Rights and Control
When we recognize that we hold power, we have a choice to make: Will we exert that power to bring life and proclaim the truth of the gospel, or will we use that power to serve our own ends? The best and first way we can use our power to promote flourishing is by sacrificing our own desires, rights, and control for the sake of others. This flies in the face of the impulse to demand our rights and freedoms. If the all-powerful God who created the universe out of nothing willingly laid down his life for us, then we can certainly lay aside our power and influence in sacrificial love. Youth pastors often feel marginalized within the church. Rather than grumbling and demanding respect, we have the opportunity to humbly shape the disciple-making culture of our churches as we entrust ourselves to the Lord’s approval.
3. Live Like Jesus, Not the World
I think our theology of power all hinges on the kingdom we most desire. Do we truly desire the kingdom of God and his righteousness, or to gain power and influence in this world? Jesus encountered this with his disciples, who argued about who would be his right-hand man, and his exhortation was to not live like the world but to lay down their rights as servants (Matthew 20). I’ve heard this worldly power grabbing justified by claiming “it’s to advance the truth of the gospel.” But if our work displays the gospel solely in words and not in corresponding character (i.e. fruit of the Spirit) we fail to display the full beauty of the gospel. If Jesus is our lord, then our lives are marked by likeness to him, and that includes the way we exercise our power and authority. The students we serve feel the pull to embrace the kingdom of the world, and they need to see godly adults whose lives showcase their belief that the kingdom of God is at hand.
Fellow youth worker, God has given us power and authority to shepherd his sheep. I pray that we steward that power well and in ways that lead students to joyfully submit to the Lord. May we steward that power in a way that we will hear at the end, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”