power

Leaders are in charge—mostly. Being a leader means you have followers. Otherwise, you’re just taking a walk. The sheer presence of followers provides leaders two things we really, really love: power and authority.

The role, reliability, and resilience of American pastors has been under the microscope, especially amid the pandemic. New data from Barna Research shows that improper stewardship of pastoral power may be contributing to Americans’ mistrust of spiritual leaders.

By definition, leadership has some sense of authority and power associated with it. On the other hand, there is something dangerous when power becomes the focus of attention.

Here are five practical ways pastors and church leaders can properly and biblically use gospel power to help foster healthy churches and communities.

Jesus schooled the world on how to understand and exert power. If pastors and church leaders are going to understand and exert power well and guard against its misuse and abuse, we must learn from Him.

Pastoral abuse of power can lead to the misuse of authority, the mishandling of finances, the sexual harassment of adults, the abuse of children, and a myriad of other sins. It's always disastrous.

Power is all around us, and in fact, it is within us. Pastors and church leaders should seek to recover a biblical understanding of power by understanding the subtlety, scope, and stewardship of power.

Nietzsche warned that a storm was brewing and that the death of God could very likely send humanity into a free-for-all tailspin reminiscent of the book of Judges where “Everyone did as he saw fit.”