by: Allen Domelle
I was driving home from the hospital late Friday night and took that opportunity to look at a news source to see if there was any new news. On the top of the news was the indictment of Governor Rick Perry for abuse of power. Of course, an indictment does not mean that he is guilty. It’s sad when people from both sides of the aisle believe the indictment against Governor Perry is purely political. The history of this District Attorney’s office has shown an abuse of power for several years by indicting republicans only to have their cases overturned in the end. It’s sad that the office indicting the governor is guilty of the same crime of which they are charging him.
What bothers me about this is that the news media was quick to report an indictment against Governor Perry, but where have they been in the abuse of power going on in Washington D.C. Where have they been with the abuse of power by the IRS and Lois Lerner in singling out organizers of Tea Party organizations? How about IRS’ abuse of power of withholding charitable organization status when many of these organizations met the requirements to get their 501(c)(4)? Where are the front headlines on these continued investigations?
How about the NSA spying on the American people and the Senate? This has abuse of power written all over it. Innocent people have their phone data collected and the Senate has their phone calls recorded and nothing is done about it. This is absolutely an abuse of power.
We can go further and look at the Justice Department and Attorney General Eric Holder. Instead of using his constitutional power to launch an honest investigation into the previously mentioned scandals, he instead has chosen to use his power to cause racial tension among the black and white community. He would rather use his power to pressure local police departments and prosecutors to only look at incidents committed against African Americans and conveniently ignore all the black on black crimes going on in the city of Chicago whose mayor is a close friend of Holder.
I’m not for the abuse of power by anyone. I’m not for letting those who are guilty go free, but where is the news media in reporting all the abuses of power. Where is CNN’s Wolf Blitzer in reporting the abuse of power? Where is NBC’s Brian Williams, MSNBC’s Chris Matthews, CNN’s Anderson Cooper, ABC’s Diane Sawyer and George Stephanopoulos with all the abuses of power going on in Washington D.C. I’m not against them reporting an indictment of the Texas governor, but it’s time to stop showing their liberal bias and be true reporters and report all the abuses of power from the White House on down.
Abuse of power is always wrong. Using one’s power to abuse the powerless is not only wrong, but it is evil. We often look at the examples mentioned above, but I’m afraid as Christians we ignore our own abuses of power. As wrong as it is for politicians to abuse their power, it is just as wrong for Christians to do the same.
Unfortunately, I have seen a few pastors who have used their position to hurt those they lead, and this is wrong. It is also wrong for deacons to use their position in the church to wield power over the pastor and try to control him when they are simply to be a help to the church and pastor. Let’s go further and realize that school principal’s are not to use their position to pressure children to go against what their parents have taught them. No matter what your position is, you should never use it to hurt or pressure those you lead for your own gain.
The purpose of leadership is to serve. God says in Mark 10:42-44, “But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.” Leadership does not hold position to brandish their power, but to serve. They don’t hold position of leadership to be served, but they hold their position to service those they lead. Every leader should use the powers given to them to help others and not themselves. Abuse of power is when leaders choose to use their positional powers to benefit themselves and their agenda. God gave leadership their position to help those they lead. They should never use their power to wield on the powerless. When they do this, God becomes their enemy.
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN POWER IS BEING ABUSED?
1. Bring it to God and let Him handle it.
Hebrews 13:17 says, “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.” You will notice that leadership gives an account to God for how they lead, but you give an account to God for how you obey. You cannot take things into your own power when it is not your responsibility. Always remember, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.” (Proverbs 21:1) God can influence the right people to punish those who abuse their authority.
2. Use the proper chains of authority to deal with it.
Romans 13:1-2 says, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.” God shows that there is a chain of authority, and you must always go through the proper channels to deal with abusive powers. If you take powers into your own hands, then you are going to have to deal with God directly. Whenever an authority abuses their power, then they are no longer submitting to their Higher Authority, and God will judge them for this abuse.
3. Do right in spite of their wrong.
Even if authority does wrong, it does not give you a right to do wrong. The Ferguson, MO, riots are a classic example of people doing wrong because they perceive authority is wrong. Nobody presently knows whether the police officer in this case was right or wrong in his actions because criminals have used this situation to commit crimes. If the police officer abused his power, it does not give people a right to loot, rob stores and destroy property.
When I was a boy, I was always taught that we are to do right even if authority doesn’t do right. My parents always taught me that my responsibility is to always do right. Likewise, you must not do wrong just because an authority does wrong. We don’t do right because authorities do right, we should do right because God’s Word commands us to do right.
4. Don’t be guilty of abusing your own power.
Whatever you do, don’t be guilty of abusing the powers you have. As much as you hate it when authorities abuse their power, it is just as wrong for you to abuse any power you have. Always remember that God holds you accountable for how you lead those over whom you have authority.
Whether we like it or not, there are going to be authorities who abuse their power, but that never gives us a right to do wrong. Furthermore, let me say that most authorities are good. It is sad that the few authorities who abuse their power shine a bad light on the majority of authorities who are good people and use their powers to help. Don’t let the one or two bad authorities cause you to treat all authorities wrong. Do right and respect authority, and God will bless you for your actions.
Allen Domelle is the editor of the Old Paths Journal which is more than just a Christian’s publication. It is an excellent place to learn how today’s headlines will forge tomorrow’s laws and statutes. Keep yourself in tune with what is happening around the world, as well as in your own backyard with our daily updates and devotionals.