Power can corrupt, when turned for selfish reasons. But it can also be used to bring life, fight injustice, and create beauty. Listen as Susie is joined by Andy Crouch, executive editor of Christianity Today. We take a fresh look at power, humility, and what it means to use our position for God.
Andy points out that the conversation about power within the Church has taken on a cynical, negative tone. We’ve seen the abuse of power throughout the centuries, and it creates hesitation for those who try to address it. “It’s amazing how quickly we think about corruption when we think about power… God is going to restore and mercy is going to be the last word. All the good uses of our power will not be forgotten.”
Andy and Susie explore the power discussion as we touch on:
• The definition of power.
• The four most overlooked chapters in the Bible, and what they have to do with power.
• The connection between power and vulnerability.
• Whether or not it’s sinful to be ambitious. In Andy’s words, “When ambition goes wrong it becomes ‘all about me.’ The right kind of ambition is part of what it means to be made in the image of God.”
• How our identity as image-bearers affects power. Andy points out that God’s given us both authority and vulnerability, and we carry both into positions of influence.
• How God acted through the disciples in the “aftershocks of the Resurrection” and equipped them with His power.
• Passive-aggressiveness.
We are fully dependent on God, which keeps us humble. But Andy draws a distinct difference between being limited and being oppressed. In one sense, “there’s something very good about being a limited creature, but God hates it when His image-bearers are not free to flourish.” He points to acts of oppression including poverty, abuse, and human trafficking. God gives limited creatures access to His infinite power so they can free those who are being oppressed. Andy’s book is Playing God.
Key Scriptures: John 21:18-19; 1 Corinthians 4:20
Theme Song: Ain’t No Grave by Selah
