The power of power!
True power isn’t characterised by domination and subordination or winners and losers, writes Michelle Nunn
Recently, I got to move my books from office to home and in doing so pulled off the shelf an old favourite, ‘The Power of His Presence’ by Graham Truscott written in 1969. A refreshing read, just what you need after moving hundreds, if not thousands of books!
The opening sentences read as aptly today as they would have done at the time they were written, a time when ‘calamity after calamity’ seemed ‘to be tearing our world apart’ (page 1). The author’s direction to the reader similarly stands the test of time as he encourages a desire for ‘more of the resurrection power and glory of Christ at work in your mission, your church, yourself’ (page xiv). Yet in a culture where power is either obsessed over, undermined, or abused do we still believe more power is the answer?
The answer is, of course, in our New Testaments where we read about different sorts of power at work in the world. There is ‘exousia’, used 103 times to speak of the power of delegated authority (Matt 10:1, 28:18; Lk 10:19; Col 1:16). Then there is ‘ischus’, used only nine times to speak of the power behind inner strength and fortitude (Mk 12:30; 1 Pet 4:11) and ‘kratos’, used eleven times, representing the power associated with dominion (Heb 2:14).
In Jesus’ time, just as in ours, worldly power was visible in the dominant, subordinating political and religious powers of the time. In Jesus and the believers’ lives, ischus, great inner strength and fortitude, was also manifest, particularly in the midst of persecution. Then there is the ‘dunamis’ power of the Spirit, mentioned 117 times, refreshing humanity by subverting and undermining those dominating and destructive influences in the world. A supernatural power enabling deliverance, healing, and the equipping of disciples. Empowering everyday people, followers of Jesus to use their lives, their God-given gifts and influence for the common good (1 Cor 12:7) through mutuality and reciprocity, even unto death.
When we seek the power of God, we must seek Jesus’ righteous power, not the culturally pervasive power of our time. Only this sort of power is sufficient to transform humanity during calamity after calamity in a world that often feels torn and broken. In friendships, families, public service, business, politics, and Christ’s church, we need more of this sort of power.
True power isn’t characterised by domination and subordination, winners and losers. We need God’s righteous, fruitful power, that unites, liberates, transforms, and values all, emanating from the Holy Spirit at work in us, declaring “there is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male or female, for all of you are one in Jesus Christ.” (Gal 3:23 NRSV).
Don’t be deceived, in this time this is the power we and our communities need.
• Michelle Nunn is Senior Pastor at Nantwich Elim church and serves on Elim’s National Leadership Team
This article first appeared in Direction Magazine. For further details, please click here.
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