How Powerful are You?

How powerful are you? Think about the last time someone disagreed with you. How did you respond?

• When you were not allowed in a business because you had to wear a mask…
• When you saw a news article that had a political agenda opposite to yours…
• When you read a post that says, “America is systemically racist…”

How do you feel? How do you respond? Do you quietly disagree…. agree to disagree… post an angry emoji… write a stinging comment… voice your own opinions loudly with those that agree with you…?

How you respond is a reflection of what you believe about agreement. It’s about power. It’s about control.

Most people think that being powerful means being in control: Being the BOSS. We then create hierarchical structures to protect our personal power and authority (or cover for a lack of it). This is done through physical intimidation or positional power. It is also done through relational or emotional power. Sadly, it is also common using religious control. This version of power is based on a WRONG CONCEPT OF GOD. It is rooted in the false belief that God has all the power and He uses it to control the world.

WRONG belief: God has all the power and we are powerless.

God IS all powerful, but He doesn’t need you to be powerless in order for Him to feel powerful. The opposite is true – He uses His power to MAKE you more powerful!

God does not want to scare you into Heaven. He doesn’t manipulate you into doing what He wants you to do. He doesn’t even use His infinite wisdom or limitless love to get you to do something that you don’t really want to. What kind of God is that?!

What is the truth?

God (so powerful), so secure, so confident, so loving… that He showed the world true power: to lay down your freedom so that others could become free. So that His sacrifice empowered those who followed to become the best version of themselves.

God (most perfect) chose relationship over being right. He chose to be wronged (Christ died wrongfully) so that you could become rightfully restored into fullness of relationship.

God (most powerful), gave man (so ignorant), choice. Adam got to choose in the garden. We get to choose every single day what we will do with our life… and eternity.

God (the Creator), was confronted by the man He created and gave power to. Moses confronted God. Abraham confronted God. In both cases, GOD adjusted.

God (all powerful) was so secure in His leadership that He made a new covenant with us (gave full access to God – power, resource, love…) even when we were clueless about Him and what this covenant truly gives us access to. EVEN when we were dead against Him and conspired to rebel against His ways.

God made us powerful and free because that is who He is

God does not lead through fear and control. He leads through love and empowerment. He honors us because that is who He is, period. It does not depend on what we do or don’t do. His behavior is not determined by our behavior.

And He says to lead the same. He says model the same kind of ‘power.’

So, how powerful are you? What does your ‘powerful’ look like? How do you lead?

How free are those around you? How much do they get to choose?

Can you be confronted? Are those around you afraid of you or intimidated by you?

Who are you really modeling and re-presenting?

What will you do about that?

For more on this subject, see Bob Hasson’s book The Business of Honor or Culture of Honor by Danny Silk.