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The Scripture Readings this week are:
- James 2:12-17
- Luke 6:27-37
The Sermon title is Upside Down Power
Early Thoughts: Do you remember last January and Bishop Budde? She spoke truth to power. She lifted up a different understanding of how we could live together. She advocated for mercy and grace. Some thought it was inappropriate to bring 'politics' into a sermon (with the President and Vice-President sitting right there). Others thought it was the best time to speak the gospel hope for a renewed transformed world.
We all have power, to one extent or another. We all have power and authority in some sphere of life. Sometimes the sphere feels really small. Sometimes it is bigger than we imagine. The question for all of us -- those with great power and those with just a little bit -- is how do we use it.
There are those who say you use your power to get everything the way you want it. There are voices who will always say that those with the most power get what they want. And if we look at how the world works it appears that people with power have a tendency to use it to benefit themselves, their supporters, and their agenda. Governments pass legislation enshrining their policies in law. Influencers convince people to ignore decades of science or history (or sometimes just basic facts and logic) in favour of a particular idea or understanding. Those who resist or protest are seen as troublemakers or unrealistic dreamers.
Power can certainly be abused.
How are we called to use power as people of faith, as citizens of God's Reign? What does power mean in a worldview where the last shall be first, the weak shall be strong, the least shall be the greatest?
I think there are a few key points. One is that we use power to lift up and build up not to keep down and put down. We use power to create community rather than to divide. Another is that we use power with grace and mercy at the forefront of our decision making. A third is that we use power in ways that stand with the vulnerable and weak against the strong and powerful. Finally (and possibly the most importantly)is that we use it for the betterment of others, not just our own agendas -- sometimes we use it in ways that appear to set us back in the interests of our neighbour.
Obviously there is some overlap in those points. Life in faith ends to be a web of ideas.
Using power in the kingdom might look like going the extra mile. It might look like malicious compliance to point out the implicit injustice in a policy. Using power in God's Reign might look like caring for someone who can never reciprocate. Using power in a Christ-like way might mean making a bold choice to put others first at cost to yourself. It might look like challenging those with more power to be more gracious, merciful, loving. It might mean being seen as divisive or 'too political'. Using power as a follower of Christ means doing things that help us see that God's Reign is breaking forth all over the place.
Using power as a person of faith most certainly does NOT mean violating people' rights. It does not mean using your platform to dehumanize people. It does not mean helping the winners win bigger while the losers fall farther behind. It does not mean retreating into some worldview where the Reign of God makes not impact on how the world actually works, of telling people "your reward will be great in the next life" while they suffer here and now.
Bishop Budde had power by virtue of the office to which she has been called. She had the chance to speak to those with a different sort and understanding of power. One showed faithful use of power, one has consistently shown a different use and understanding. WHich way will we follow with our power?
To close this piece I share this screenshot I took sometime after Charlie Kirk was murdered. I think it too talks about power (and I encourage folk to search Benjamin Cremer on social media)...
MAy God help us to use power faithfully, lovingly, mercifully as we live into the "world God imagines" (as our hymn last Sunday put it)
--Gord
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