POWER AND CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY

It must be remembered that this is a theological book and written by an Anglican bishop who at present is Principal of St John’s College in Durham. The subject of power in the church and society is highly relevant in these days. The subject of power is examined from a historical perspective, from the sociological and from the Scriptures seeking to tease out an understanding of this most crucial of subjects. The misuse and abuse of power has frequently been manifest in the churches and in society in general. The subject of power is large, all pervading and unavoidable. Hierarchies of power are endemic to the creation. God set them there. But how does the church view the subject and what to the scriptures reveal? That we are suspicious of power is a fact and based upon our observations and experience of its misuse. Can we dispense with it though? God Himself is known as ‘the God of power and of might’. An examination of the scriptures reveals a kind of ambiguity. On the one hand they have no difficulty accepting the fact of powers and hierarchies but on the other, because of the fallen states of the creation, power must be handled with care duly considering its dangers and the ways in which the presence of self-deception can blind all concerned. This book airs the whole subject, it does not give neat answers. It challenges by opening up the matter and forcing the reader to consider things in regard to power that usually lie hidden. Nowadays there are reactions to power, the idea of ‘soft power’, there is the influence of the democratic ideal as it affects the churches. The so-called power ministries and place of varying forms of leadership in the churches. These things come in for comment in this book but it is the ambiguous way in which we view power that comes under the microscope most. We know we need authority and yet we do not enjoy it, it is open to such misuse and abuse. The place of sacrifice in the lives of those who are in power, the servant spirit, all these things are looked at. So, here is a book to make thinkers think a little more and those in leadership realize more seriously the dangers and privileges that are present in their work.