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Even churches susceptible to power struggles

5 min read

Scripture reading: Genesis 4:1-12. Text: “Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. ‘By what authority are you doing these things?’ they asked. ‘And who gave you this authority?’ Jesus replied, ‘I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. John’s baptism – where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or from men?’ They discussed it among themselves and said, ‘If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From men’-we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.’ So they answered Jesus, ‘We don’t know.’ Then he said, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.'” Matthew 21:23-27. As we observe our life in the world as well as in the church, we recognize that we deal daily with different views, conflicting interests, opposing personalities and “either you or me” decisions. Power struggle is embedded in our thinking, behavior and action from childhood. Since we will never be equally wealthy and gifted, not everybody can become a leader, and from luxuries the demand is greater than the supply; we will always face competition, rivalry and even violence.

Unfortunately, the church is not immune to these human shortcomings either, and praise the Lord that they occur less frequently than in the secular world. Please read the provocative questions in our text directed to Jesus: “By what authority are you doing these things? … And who gave you this authority?” In other words, “Just what do you think, who are you?”

SOME SIGNS AND EVIDENCE OF WHO HAS THE UPPER HAND?

Please think about these questions and ask yourself, “Have I ever had to face or deal with some of them?” Who greets whom first? Who opens the door for whom? Who waits for whom? Who is seeking whose favor? Who is correcting whom? Who depends on whom? Who speaks first? Who listens to whom? Who will have the chance to retaliate? Who has better connections? Who can inflict financial pressure on whom? Who can influence the public opinion better? (Do not forget election is coming up soon and we will cast the ballots!) What promises should one make before election to be elected? (Are not the Protestant pastors elected the same way as those who are running for public office?)

It was said: “Do you wish to chase away your pastor? Just do not go to church and do not donate. If enough members will do the same, he/she will have to resign. If it works, the higher authorities may even encourage the minister to leave.”

THREE EXAMPLES THAT ARE HIDDEN AND EVEN DENIED YET THEY EXIST UNDER THE SURFACE.

PERCENTAGE REPRESENTATION. When do 10 persons have bigger influence? When they are among 500, or 200, or 100 or 50 people? When the congregation has only 20 members, 10 persons will represent FIFTY PERCENT.

From this calculation the conclusion is obvious; a power-thirsty group in a congregation does not want the church to grow. The fewer people in the church, the less will be the donation, therefore, the easier it will be to control (or fire) the pastor.

THE ECCLESIASTICAL VERSION OF THE CHICKEN OR THE EGG? Which one was first, the chicken or the egg? (The biologists know the answer.) It is assumed (and unjustly practiced), when a pastor does not feed the flock spiritually, that is does not preach the Bible, the faithful are not expected to put up with the nonsense and are justified in quitting the church and withholding their offerings. Is this the right order of cause and effect? Or, because people do not want to go to church and donate (money is needed for something else), the pastor is deliberately found not being up to par.

THE ALTERNATIVE GAME. Create an alternative situation, (should we buy a new organ or repair the old one?) make the minister select between the two choices or feuding parties, and after he/she made the decision, blame him/her: WHY DID NOT YOU SELECT THE OTHER CHOICE, it could have been better? Often, the vote between the two hostile groups is around 60 percent to 40 percent but the smaller group could be financially stronger.

Now the words of our Lord become clear: ” …whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'” Matthew 20:26-28. It sounds illogical, but this is the way it works.

The Rev. Alexander Jalso is a retired United Methodist minister living in Brownsville.

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