The Seduction of Power

This past Friday my daughter graduated from High School and the ceremony was held in a large church here in town. The facilities opened about a year ago and it was a nice change from previous graduations held at the athletic field where the audience sat for two hours in the sun on concrete benches. So I was very appreciative that the church allowed graduation to take place in their facilities.

However, (you knew that was coming didn't you?) the pastor of the church simply could not resist the temptation to put himself in the middle of the picture. He sat on the stage on a little elevated platform which held two armchairs. He was totally out of place and a distraction from the attention that was to be on the accomplishments of our children. Like a king on a throne surveying the activities of his kingdom he made sure he was in full view throughout the graduation. Then, even though there are many entrances/exits, only one, with two adjoining sets of doors, was unlocked for the large crowd to exit the building and he stood squarely between the doors to try to greet people as we tried to squeeze through the lone exits.

There is something that happens as men and women rise through the ranks and gain position, prestige, and power. It happens when people suddenly find themselves with wealth; it happens when politicians find themselves with power; and it often happens when pastors build large churches. Somehow, their sense of importance is unrealistically elevated and they have an exaggerated sense of personal appeal.

I've heard from local restaurant owners who cater food to the church and the demands for how the food must be prepared for "the Bishop" is almost comical. I've heard of politicians, who began with such sincerity, but then they get caught up in the political machine in Washington and they are making deals and accepting favors. Recently, there have been charges that Lee Scott, CEO for Wal-Mart, has been accepting favors from vendors and then allowing them to put their merchandise in the stores as a response. Sam Walton would be very disappointed with where Wal-Mart has gone.

The pull of power is so prevalent, and so prevailing, that one is tempted to believe that it is inevitable. The example of Jesus is that one can learn to serve and even empty himself or herself and identify with the least and the last among us. If Jesus is the ultimate example of leadership (and I think He is), then many pastors, politicians, and other powerful people have much to learn.