A Deeper Gospel 5: Power

Largely the purpose of Salvation is to rescue us from ourselves. The Human animal that we are is constantly driven by inner needs and drives, fears and insecurities, into attitudes and behaviour that are effectively self and relationship destroying. Jesus changes the focus of lives from our drives, to what we believe, and then fills that space with positive beliefs, perfect example and a creative mission in life.

In all the secular studies of happiness, committed Christians as a group always come out near the top. So at least in that sense Salvation works.

That does not mean that these drives don’t constantly challenge us. For instance the great psychologist Alfred Adler discovered that the “will to power” is one of our basic drives. We seem to have an innate need to control.

When human being are told that they have the power of God at their disposal it is amazing what our desire for power can do with that. Suddenly, our wars are in the power of God, our rape of the earth is justified by dominion given in Genesis, fathers can excuse themselves for abusing their children, Elders can rule, Ministers can be authoritarian, Christian groups can extort money and claim allegiance for themselves, Church Councils can prohibit and ordinary Christians can manipulate others by claiming the power of God.

Power corrupts.

Here is a real basis for prayer. None of us would want to corrupt the power of God which the Gospel promises. And the Gospel does promise power. So our constant prayer is that we will have a right relationship with God, that we will have a right understanding of God’s power and we will be obedient and faithful in our use of it. There is no escape from this dilemma because, to not use it is to misuse it. We must all deal with this.

The power we are given by the Holy Spirit is the power of love – with boldness. It is never the power to control, but only to care. The Holy spirit changes our nature by promoting the fruit of the Spirit, (loving qualities) so that we will handle God’s power responsibly and he provides the Gifts of the Spirit, (functions of love) so we will be effective.

Thus, we are driven to our knees in prayer, because of the temptations of our drive for power and, so we can work with God for our growth and effectiveness. The greatest desire of our heart has become, that we want to be faithful to the mission of the Gospel of Jesus.

Adrian