Former Blackout Artist

We often say, “Power corrupts.” But the Bible goes deeper. Power itself isn’t the problem. God possesses all authority and is perfectly holy. The problem begins when power becomes an idol – when holding on to influence matters more than serving others or obeying God.

I find it astonishing how addicted mankind is to this power. Once someone has tasted it, death often seems to be the only force capable of separating them from it.

We don’t have to look very far to see it – it’s here in our very own country. Public officials who appear far too frail, both physically and mentally, to fulfill the responsibilities of their office – continue to cling to their positions of power while their staff issue carefully worded statements assuring everyone that they are merely “resting” and will soon return to full duty. But months go by. Their constituents rarely hear from them directly. And yet – resignation is unthinkable, because surrendering power is harder than surrendering to health.

I’m reminded of that old campaign slogan from the National Rifle Association many years ago, the one with the guy who has been badly wounded in battle, clinging to his pistol while bleeding to death: They can have my gun when they pry it from my cold, dead fingers.

We see the same impulse on the world stage. Some leaders have so intertwined their identity with their office that they would rather isolate their nations, militarize their societies, silence dissent, or risk devastating conflict than to relinquish control. The names change… North Korea, Russia, China, Iran… and, in different ways and to varying degrees, even democratic nations such as Israel and even the United States. But the temptation remains the same: Maintain power, at all costs.

Isn’t it interesting how power has such a deceptive way of convincing people that they are indispensable! Yet history repeatedly reminds us they are not. For those of us who follow Christ, all we have to do is open our Bibles and read.

Whether it was King Saul refusing to give up his throne until death (1 Samuel 31), Babylon’s King Belshazzar boasting in his greatness right til the very end (Daniel 5) or Herod Agrippa accepting worship as god (Acts 12) – Scripture consistently portrays power as a gift that’s to be stewarded, NOT possessed.

The issue isn’t power itself, but the heart that refuses to let go of it.