New Possibilities for Power
New Possibilities for Power
New Possibilities for Power
New Possibilities for Power
We all have been given great power. It’s the kind of power that can change the world for good or for bad. How we choose to use our power is highly dependent on our belief in the Source.
Every one of us has more power than we realize.
Right now, you have the power to stop reading or to continue reading this article. If you continue reading, you have the power to give the author positive or negative feedback. Likewise, if you think the article could be helpful to some of your friends and/or coworkers, you have the power to forward it to them. These amazing powers are available to you just by clicking!
With the press of a few buttons, you can use your power to influence those around you. But of course, there is much more power available to us than this.
We all have been given great power. It’s the kind of power that can change the world for good or for bad. How we choose to use our power is highly dependent on our belief in the Source of all power! It’s also dependent on whether or not we obey the commands that the Source gives us regarding how to use our gifts.
Power Is a Gift
It’s important to acknowledge that power is a gift. We’ve learned that gifts must be used for the benefit of others – or it’s not a gift! Andy Crouch, in his book Playing God: Redeeming the Gift of Power, writes, “Why is power a gift? Because power is for flourishing. When power is used well, people and the whole cosmos come more alive to what they were meant to be. And flourishing is the test of power.”
Crouch does an amazing job explaining how flourishing is the test of power. He does this by contrasting the two kinds of power. The first is the power to gain personal privilege/status; this is idolatry. The second is the power to utilize our God-given, image-bearing abilities to help others flourish in this earth and the next. Keep reading to understand why Crouch comments on this dichotomy.
“Here is what we need to discover about power: it is both better and worse than we could imagine.
Power at its best is resurrection to full life, to full humanity — Whenever human beings become what they were meant to be, when even death cannot finally hold its prisoners, then we can truly speak of power.
Power at its worst is the unmaker of humanity — breeding inhumanity in the hearts of those who wield power, denying and denouncing the humanity of the ones who suffer under power.
Power is idolatry — All idols begin by offering great things for a very small price. All idols then fail, more and more consistently, to deliver on their original promises, while ratcheting up their demands, which initially seemed so reasonable, for worship and sacrifice.
The problem is not economics, nor economists, nor the human economy of creativity and commerce, all of which are in fact very good things. The problem is expecting ultimate things from them, expecting them to give us godlike control… On the other hand, idolatry results from the extraordinary vulnerability, the powerlessness or sense of powerlessness these image bearers feel.
At the end, idols completely fail. They not only fail to deliver the godlikeness and immortality they promised at first, they rob their worshipers of even the most minimal human dignity and agency.
Of all the charges the biblical prophets file against idols, the most damning is this: "Those who make them become like them." And in the end, idolatry does not only rob image bearers, the culmination of creation, of their dignity; it robs the whole creation of its goodness.
Power Redeemed - Expect Miracles - The grand pattern of creation is good, to very good, to glory.
Miracles happen outside the framework of expected power, serving as a sign that we do not know what is really going on; they are a warning as much as a gift, and fully capable of producing just as many unhappy, unsettled bystanders as grateful beneficiaries.
The biblical accounts make it clear that how you ultimately interpret a miracle, or whether you see one at all, depends very much on where you stand and who you are.
Like Him [Jesus], we are meant to pour out our power fearlessly, spend our privilege recklessly, and leave our status in the dust of our headlong pursuit of love. We are meant to do all this like Him, because, far more than we ever dreamed or feared, we are made like Him, and like Him we will rise. He is the God we are meant to play."
- Excerpts from Andy Crouch, Playing God: Redeeming the Gift of Power
Crouch gives us a visual for his commentary on the proper use of power in his book Strong and Weak: Embracing a Life of Love, Risk & True Flourishing.
Our Grace-Filled Empowering Source
“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross!” - [.no-reftag]Philippians 2:5-8[.no-reftag]
Jesus is so much more than a good teacher or powerful example. He gave Himself completely without ever relinquishing power. He had the most authority and the highest vulnerability (see chart above). He used His power to give life and power to all. He gave His life so that we would have life and have it abundantly, forever! This is why He is THE teacher and THE example.
He gave His life so we would have assurance and power (Acts 1:8) to share what we can never lose. He gave His life so that we would go and do the very same work He did — to go and make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20).
Possibilities for Power Made Practical
“Instead of accumulating power to benefit ourselves or exploit others, we use it to generate possibility for those who have less access to opportunity. We commit to the practice of gleaning — frequently sacrificing opportunities for our own advancement to intentionally create pathways for others. We also practice chastity and fidelity, honoring the men and women with whom we work.” (Praxis, A Rule of Life for Redemptive Entrepreneurs)
We may not all have the same access to the powers that appear to rule the world, but every human has the power of free will. Born into unequal circumstances, we all have equal free will. We all have agency to make choices that determine the spirituality of the moment and how to use the power we have been given.
3 Practical Uses of Power
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” - [.no-reftag]2 Corinthians 12:9-10[.no-reftag]
[.text-color-blue]1. Start with Surrender[.text-color-blue]
- This is the heart of faith — trusting and doing based on the strength of Jesus, not on our own strengths.
- Admitting weakness to coworkers and clients opens the door to vulnerable, honest relationships.
- Build long-term relationships and partner with others for maximum flourishing.
[.text-color-blue]2. Sacrifice Opportunities for Others[.text-color-blue]
- Stop making decisions based on accruing temporary power. Ask, “How long will this last?”
- Look for opportunities to let others take the lead.
- Look for opportunities to help others increase their standing and power.
[.text-color-blue]3. Stop and Ask, “Is This Love?”[.text-color-blue]
- Eliminate any action for your benefit that could harm someone else.
- Start by considering what the best way is for the other person to flourish now.
- Continue caring for them by doing what is good for them for eternity. Share the Good News of Jesus once you have built trust.
True Power Knows the End of the Story
Live in the light and truth of where this world ends and where the new external world begins. Jesus has won! One day, not very long from now, everyone will know. Every person you meet will bow and acknowledge that Jesus is Lord!
Let’s win as many of them as possible now, with all of the power Jesus has given us!
“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” - [.no-reftag]Philippians 2:9-11[.no-reftag]
Resources:
Video: "3 Keys to the Discipline of Redemptive Power" | Howard Graham
Article on Power in Weakness: "World Impacting Strategy: Leveraging Weakness"
Article: "Weakness May Be Your Greatest Strength" | Desiring God
Sermon: "Christ’s Power Is Made Perfect in Weakness"
Article on Free Will: "Choose Opportunity — Choose Relationships First"
Book: Playing God: Redeeming the Gift of Power | Andy Crouch
Video on Use of Power: How Slaves Pursue the Salvation of Their Masters - 1 Timothy 6:1–2, Part 1" | Desiring God
Every one of us has more power than we realize.
Right now, you have the power to stop reading or to continue reading this article. If you continue reading, you have the power to give the author positive or negative feedback. Likewise, if you think the article could be helpful to some of your friends and/or coworkers, you have the power to forward it to them. These amazing powers are available to you just by clicking!
With the press of a few buttons, you can use your power to influence those around you. But of course, there is much more power available to us than this.
We all have been given great power. It’s the kind of power that can change the world for good or for bad. How we choose to use our power is highly dependent on our belief in the Source of all power! It’s also dependent on whether or not we obey the commands that the Source gives us regarding how to use our gifts.
Power Is a Gift
It’s important to acknowledge that power is a gift. We’ve learned that gifts must be used for the benefit of others – or it’s not a gift! Andy Crouch, in his book Playing God: Redeeming the Gift of Power, writes, “Why is power a gift? Because power is for flourishing. When power is used well, people and the whole cosmos come more alive to what they were meant to be. And flourishing is the test of power.”
Crouch does an amazing job explaining how flourishing is the test of power. He does this by contrasting the two kinds of power. The first is the power to gain personal privilege/status; this is idolatry. The second is the power to utilize our God-given, image-bearing abilities to help others flourish in this earth and the next. Keep reading to understand why Crouch comments on this dichotomy.
“Here is what we need to discover about power: it is both better and worse than we could imagine.
Power at its best is resurrection to full life, to full humanity — Whenever human beings become what they were meant to be, when even death cannot finally hold its prisoners, then we can truly speak of power.
Power at its worst is the unmaker of humanity — breeding inhumanity in the hearts of those who wield power, denying and denouncing the humanity of the ones who suffer under power.
Power is idolatry — All idols begin by offering great things for a very small price. All idols then fail, more and more consistently, to deliver on their original promises, while ratcheting up their demands, which initially seemed so reasonable, for worship and sacrifice.
The problem is not economics, nor economists, nor the human economy of creativity and commerce, all of which are in fact very good things. The problem is expecting ultimate things from them, expecting them to give us godlike control… On the other hand, idolatry results from the extraordinary vulnerability, the powerlessness or sense of powerlessness these image bearers feel.
At the end, idols completely fail. They not only fail to deliver the godlikeness and immortality they promised at first, they rob their worshipers of even the most minimal human dignity and agency.
Of all the charges the biblical prophets file against idols, the most damning is this: "Those who make them become like them." And in the end, idolatry does not only rob image bearers, the culmination of creation, of their dignity; it robs the whole creation of its goodness.
Power Redeemed - Expect Miracles - The grand pattern of creation is good, to very good, to glory.
Miracles happen outside the framework of expected power, serving as a sign that we do not know what is really going on; they are a warning as much as a gift, and fully capable of producing just as many unhappy, unsettled bystanders as grateful beneficiaries.
The biblical accounts make it clear that how you ultimately interpret a miracle, or whether you see one at all, depends very much on where you stand and who you are.
Like Him [Jesus], we are meant to pour out our power fearlessly, spend our privilege recklessly, and leave our status in the dust of our headlong pursuit of love. We are meant to do all this like Him, because, far more than we ever dreamed or feared, we are made like Him, and like Him we will rise. He is the God we are meant to play."
- Excerpts from Andy Crouch, Playing God: Redeeming the Gift of Power
Crouch gives us a visual for his commentary on the proper use of power in his book Strong and Weak: Embracing a Life of Love, Risk & True Flourishing.
Our Grace-Filled Empowering Source
“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross!” - [.no-reftag]Philippians 2:5-8[.no-reftag]
Jesus is so much more than a good teacher or powerful example. He gave Himself completely without ever relinquishing power. He had the most authority and the highest vulnerability (see chart above). He used His power to give life and power to all. He gave His life so that we would have life and have it abundantly, forever! This is why He is THE teacher and THE example.
He gave His life so we would have assurance and power (Acts 1:8) to share what we can never lose. He gave His life so that we would go and do the very same work He did — to go and make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20).
Possibilities for Power Made Practical
“Instead of accumulating power to benefit ourselves or exploit others, we use it to generate possibility for those who have less access to opportunity. We commit to the practice of gleaning — frequently sacrificing opportunities for our own advancement to intentionally create pathways for others. We also practice chastity and fidelity, honoring the men and women with whom we work.” (Praxis, A Rule of Life for Redemptive Entrepreneurs)
We may not all have the same access to the powers that appear to rule the world, but every human has the power of free will. Born into unequal circumstances, we all have equal free will. We all have agency to make choices that determine the spirituality of the moment and how to use the power we have been given.
3 Practical Uses of Power
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” - [.no-reftag]2 Corinthians 12:9-10[.no-reftag]
[.text-color-blue]1. Start with Surrender[.text-color-blue]
- This is the heart of faith — trusting and doing based on the strength of Jesus, not on our own strengths.
- Admitting weakness to coworkers and clients opens the door to vulnerable, honest relationships.
- Build long-term relationships and partner with others for maximum flourishing.
[.text-color-blue]2. Sacrifice Opportunities for Others[.text-color-blue]
- Stop making decisions based on accruing temporary power. Ask, “How long will this last?”
- Look for opportunities to let others take the lead.
- Look for opportunities to help others increase their standing and power.
[.text-color-blue]3. Stop and Ask, “Is This Love?”[.text-color-blue]
- Eliminate any action for your benefit that could harm someone else.
- Start by considering what the best way is for the other person to flourish now.
- Continue caring for them by doing what is good for them for eternity. Share the Good News of Jesus once you have built trust.
True Power Knows the End of the Story
Live in the light and truth of where this world ends and where the new external world begins. Jesus has won! One day, not very long from now, everyone will know. Every person you meet will bow and acknowledge that Jesus is Lord!
Let’s win as many of them as possible now, with all of the power Jesus has given us!
“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” - [.no-reftag]Philippians 2:9-11[.no-reftag]
Resources:
Video: "3 Keys to the Discipline of Redemptive Power" | Howard Graham
Article on Power in Weakness: "World Impacting Strategy: Leveraging Weakness"
Article: "Weakness May Be Your Greatest Strength" | Desiring God
Sermon: "Christ’s Power Is Made Perfect in Weakness"
Article on Free Will: "Choose Opportunity — Choose Relationships First"
Book: Playing God: Redeeming the Gift of Power | Andy Crouch
Video on Use of Power: How Slaves Pursue the Salvation of Their Masters - 1 Timothy 6:1–2, Part 1" | Desiring God