The Corruption of Power

Power has the ability to corrupt people if they are not humble. The misuse of power is an ugly thing, and can show itself across the spectrum, from the lowest committee to world leaders and politics. There is the potential for it to infiltrate every institution, or agency where people and leadership are involved.

There is a substantial difference between being a leader who is interested in the needs of the people, from someone who controls people. The one who controls people has his own selfish goals and interests in mind; while on the contrary, a good leader looks out for the needs of the people and their happiness, while bearing in mind who called him to be a leader. A leader may not always be well thought of, and friends with everyone. However, it is evident when his personal agenda becomes his motivation factor.

A proper leader is under the authority of whoever called him to be a leader. If it is his country, he is bound to lead in accordance with its laws. If he is a minister of the gospel, he is under the authority of God, and His Church. A leader who makes his own rules then plays by them ceases to be a leader; instead, he becomes a dictator. No proper leader has absolute authority over people.

We have many examples of both good and bad leaders in the Bible. Moses and Joshua were good leaders, while King Saul was not. Well, I should rephrase that. King Saul started out good, but in the end, he let his own selfish interests take control. Jealousy and pride became his downfall.

When we read the story of Moses, we will see times when his popularity with the children of Israel was very low, and they did not have confidence in his leadership. Sometimes he became frustrated with them for their complaining, while other times he pled with God on their behalf, so that God would not destroy them. His role as a leader was difficult. He was called of God to lead a people that grumbled and complained; yet he had a love for his people. He understood his responsibility both to God and to the children of Israel. In this he trusted in God as his source of strength. He did not have a personal agenda for the people but carried out the will of God to lead His chosen people to the promise land.

The misuse of power has its roots in man’s ego, pride, arrogance, lust, greed, and the small man syndrome; no one is immune. However, the problem is not always only the leader’s fault. In order to exercise power, there are those who enable them; this may be intentional or unintentional.

Often people who misuse or seek power are influential with large personalities and a commanding way of getting people’s attention. While gaining the confidence of people, they use manipulation to bring about their own cause. In reality their supporters may not realize what is happening until it is too late. Many times, there is deception involved which blinds the followers to the real motive behind the scenes. They are caught in a net which is slowly being drawn in without them knowing what is happening.

The one in power walks in his own deception; choosing to believe that what he tells himself is the truth. The truth is, he may not have as much power and influence as he thinks he has; in reality, he is only as powerful as he can control people. Once the people he is controlling become wise to what is happening, and act, he can quickly lose his power.

Let us look at an example of how power seeking could work. Imagine Joe is an employee of a business or organization. Somewhere he comes up with something he does not agree with or an idea he thinks should be pursued. He may tell his boss about it and when he does, it was not met with as much enthusiasm as he thought appropriate. His boss may tell him he appreciates his idea but does not think it is something they should do. However, Joe still thinks his idea is good and something should be done about it. Instead of accepting his rebuff, he begins to seek support for his idea from his coworkers and friends. After receiving some favorable responses to his idea, he may feel like he has a legitimate cause and support to pursue it. He may then attempt to use his supporters to push his own agenda. At this point, this may force his superiors to let him go, or endure the divisions which he is causing in the organization, which is disrupting the unity of the workers.

Incidentally, his original idea may have been a good one, yet not compatible or in the interest of the company, church, or institution. Instead of looking out for the interest of the group, he became taken up with his own agenda. In this way, spirits and attitudes of division can find an inroad in a church or organization. A similar thing can happen when leaders are overbearing, lacking in compassion, and understanding of their people. This will cause the people to begin to seek freedom and change. Consequently, things will begin to fracture within the group.

A manipulative person seeking to gain power may shower his compatriots with gifts of praise and cordiality, making them feel important to him. On the other hand, if they do not agree with him, he may just as likely then revert to silence, guilt control, and indifference; intending to play on the emotions of his followers. Some of these people are experts in disguise and may keep their cover for a long time. However, when you cease to go along with their plan, they may speak badly about you, and cut you out of their life.

In a group of leaders, one can cause division by working independently of the group. It is quite possible for one leader to undermine the effectiveness of others by working behind the scenes. It may be unintentional; simply a personality to which people gravitate. This may render the other leader’s incapable of being proper leaders, while causing factions and divisions in the group. It is important for leaders to maintain transparency and communication between themselves to stave off divisive spirits.

Leaders may also find themselves in precarious situations. People may seek to gain their favor so they can use their power for their own personal agenda. Hence a leader can be drawn into situations which may be contrary to the vision of the group.

Leaders are also capable of misusing their elected power. This happens when they take the power which they have been given by the people for their own benefit or agenda. By using charisma or bullying tactics, and control, they can cause a lot of damage and divisions. Government leaders, Presidents, business managers, pastors, teachers; in essence anyone in a place of authority has the capability of misusing it.

A leader only has as much power as the people give him. He cannot lead if no one follows. He has a responsibility to not take advantage of the people with his leadership.

There are situations where the authority has oppressed the people to the point where they have become passive. When leaders rule by force, manipulation, and cruel repression, the people become helpless to help themselves, or so it may seem. This has happened in countries under communist rule; the will of the people becomes broken and passive, and they know to rise up, or fight the system can mean bodily harm or death.

Another similar tragedy like the one I just mentioned. may happen in abusive relationships, families, and organizations. The long-term effects of fear and emotional control may render people in those situations with the feeling of powerlessness, unless they have a lot of courage and some outside help. Many of them do not like their situation, and know things could be different, but have become brainwashed and think they are powerless to change. They may take personal responsibility for the evil perpetrated on them, feeling like the outside world is out to get them and does not like them.

There are many other ways in which oppressors oppress people. Some are intentional, while others may be acting out their own personal weakness and trauma; seeking to control the world around them. Personalities also may play a part. When an oppressor or leader fears losing control, he may begin to use force and coercion to maintain it. The end result is that in general the people lose their respect for him and he has to continue to tighten control to keep it, and this becomes a vicious cycle of repression.

`Although I have been addressing the corruption of leaders in general terms, this is especially tragic when it creeps into the Church of God. Honor seeking is part of the human family, and God’s children are not exempt from the temptation. Everyone wants to be noticed, and this opens the door to seeking honor and recognition. If spirits of selfishness and pride are allowed to grow, they will in one way or another seek to be noticed.  Humility and the Grace of God are the only ways to stave off this human weakness.

Though Jesus had all power, He only used it for the good of humanity, healing people and then dying and resurrecting for our sins. He did not misuse or abuse the power given to Him by His Heavenly Father. See verses; Isaiah 63:1, Matthew 9:6, Matthew 28:18, Luke 8:25, John 10:18, John 17:2, Acts 10:38; taken from: Thompson Chain Reference Bible KJV #3807 – Christ’s Power. Jesus was interested in only doing the work of His Heavenly Father. Likewise, if godly leaders are humble, free from honor seeking and wanting only the will of their Heavenly Father, they will not go astray.

Honor seeking and the misuse of power have been around since the beginning of time. Satan started it in heaven, rising up against God. Satan must have been really convincing to cause so much division that he was able to take some of the angels with him. This misuse of power is evil and has come down from the master deceiver. He would like nothing more, than to bring about confusion, and cause divisions to disrupt the unity of the people of God. Therefore, divisions must be addressed for what they are; evil spirits, exercising power through fear, pressure, and chaos.  

(I have no personal agenda in the writing of this article. I actually found it quite interesting, and soul searching. The inspiration for it was born one day while considering the conflict in Ukraine. In the political world, most everyone including world leaders and news agencies, try to shed the best light on their own agenda. This political power struggle, masks the full truth of what really is happening. We should not be surprised at that because human nature tends to put the best forward and hide the bad. My original inspiration was not preferring one leader to the other, rather in a conflict both sides are apt to have some faults and misuse power.)