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Up-to-the-minute jumping-off points for sermons, linking the reading to the latest news and global issues
Christian use of power
All power comes from God, so we must use our power in God’s way (Luke 4.25-27).
Context
“Have mercy.” It’s rare for two short words to hit home with the force that these have in the past week. Bishop Mariann Budde’s sermon outraged President Donald Trump and infuriated his supporters, as reported not only in the international news media, but in publications as diverse as Bloomberg and Glamour. The news coverage is evenly spread across the political spectrum, but Left-leaning and Right-leaning media are diametrically opposed in their reactions: the former praising the Bishop of Washington for asking the President to reconsider his actions against vulnerable minorities, and the latter citing separation of Church and State and demanding that she apologise.
Context, of course, is all. It was not just the words “Have mercy” that enraged the political Right, but that Bishop Budde was asking this on behalf of LGBT children, immigrant workers, refugees and asylum seekers. Here, the repeated, emphatic Biblical demand that mercy be shown to the poor and the outcast, is in direct conflict with the modern notion that religion and politics should not mix.
In fact, religion and politics have always mixed: inevitably, since each concerns the way we treat each other and order our society. In Jesus’ community, the only law was religious law, and he repeatedly challenged the Pharisees responsible for its enforcement. Religion and politics have been intertwined throughout history, from Emperor Constantine, Hild(a) of Whitby, Margaret of Scotland and Thomas Becket, to Joan of Arc, John Knox, Mother Jones, Desmond Tutu and many, many others.
Ideas for sermons or interactive talks
As Christians, we often hear about our role as servants (the New Testament uses the Greek word douloi, ‘slaves’) of God. We learn about Christ’s ‘self-emptying’ (kenosis) in coming down from heaven to live among us. We hear of his washing the disciples’ feet, and praise the ‘Servant King’. Since the 6th century, most popes have followed Gregory the Great’s example in styling themselves ‘Servant of the Servants of God’ (Servus Servorum Dei).
By contrast, we rarely hear about the Christian use of power: the capacity to influence the thoughts, words and actions of others. From infancy onwards, we are taught obedience to the authority of parents, doctors, teachers, clergy, police officers, coaches, foremen, line managers – and there are many good reasons for this, often relating to our own and other people’s safety and wellbeing.
But the danger is that we find ourselves, as Christians, hesitant when people in authority use their power in ways that conflict with Christian teaching. Do we side with the bully or the victim? And what happens when we find ourselves in positions of power and authority? Sooner or later, some of us will become parents, doctors, teachers, police officers, coaches, foremen, managers – even (God help us!) clergy – or in other positions of greater or lesser authority. Do we become the bullies, or champion the victims? Or do we just look away?
For guidance, we must return to Jesus Christ, who exercised his own divine power and authority in very specific ways: to teach, heal and forgive, but also to confront those in authority who misused their power to exploit or exclude vulnerable people.
‘Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely,” wrote Lord Acton to Bishop Creighton in 1887. Following Christ, as Christians, we can and must find another way.
Questions for discussion
- What are the dangers of seeing ourselves only as servants?
- Who has power and authority over us? Do they use it properly?
- Whom do we have power and authority over? Do we use it properly?
- We know we should show mercy to those in distress, but how should we challenge those who cause the distress?
Robert Beard is an NHS worker and Church of England priest.
Check-in
Connecting faith with everyday, real-life issues for young people
What does love look like? Valentines Day is around the corner where love is shown by flowers, chocolates and cuddly toys. Is love always gentle and fluffy? What about when a friend is making some choices that you can see are going to bite them down the line? Is it loving to say “you’re great, I’m sure it will all be fine”? Or would real love need to say the difficult thing and help the person see where they might end up?
This week The Apprentice hits TV again. Alan Sugar is rarely known for being loving & fluffy but he argues that, by telling people when they have made a mistake, he is helping them to improve and get more out of their skills.
You might have had someone who says they love you giving you a tough time this weekend (cough, parents, cough).
The question today is, if God loves everyone, why is Jesus saying things that he knows will upset all the people in his home village (not just neighbours but aunts, uncles, cousins, friends)?
The Jewish people knew that God loved them and had chosen them centuries before and rescued them from slavery in Egypt. The truth that they were God’s chosen had caused them to miss (or ignore) the truth that God loves all his creation and intended them to be a blessing to the nations around them. They weren’t so interested in that truth and so get angry and violent when Jesus speaks it to them.
It’s worth noting that Jesus doesn’t get angry about them getting angry - but he also doesn’t change his message.
How does your love for someone affect the way that you speak truth to them? Does love ever stop you from telling them the truth?
Love can be tough sometimes.
Steve Taylor shares the job of joint-vicar of St Paul’s CofE Church, Harrow with his wife, Ali. They share their home with their youngest child, two cats and numerous fish.
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