Climbing the greasy pole of power

21.APR.11

by Bishop Sonny E. Williams
– Presiding Bishop,
Pentecostal Assemblies of the West Indies – St. Vincent and the Grenadines District

This Easter’s reflection is focused on the powerful Pontius Pilate. Observe his attitude in these words to Jesus: “Knowest thou now that I have the power to crucify thee and have the power to release thee?” (Jn. 19:10) Pilate had at his disposal considerable military power. Formally, no one did anything without his permission. He was the only one with authority to have Jesus put to death. Everything depended on his judgment.{{more}}

Pilate’s show of his might is a vivid commentary of human power games. In like manner, in our quest for power, we often refuse to stoop down for anything as stooping is associated with being weak. We,therefore, will never stoop to ask for help or to admit our mistakes.

The object of our power game tends to get high on the heap of life and stays there. And once we get there, we fiercely defend our turf in order to hold our position. The power game can be so competitive that if you slack up for a minute you’ll be knocked down to the bottom of the hill. Consequently, you have to start all over again.

The first power play started in the Garden of Eden. The first promise of prestige was whispered to Eve by a fallen angel, Satan. “God knows when you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Gen. 3:5). Power play comes in different forms. It may be the husband who refuses to be kind to his wife, as he believes if he does he will lose his most powerful weapon; that being her fear of rejection. It is the wife who withholds sex both to punish and persuade. It is the employee who sacrifices personal integrity for personal ambition. It might be taking someone’s life, or the taking of someone’s turn. It might be the taking over of a nation by a politician or the taking over of a church by a preacher.

They all spell the same: P O W E R. The goal is the same as is expressed in Man Licado’s summary: “I will get what I want at your expense”. The power game is about push, shove, take, manipulate and lie. This kind of power is unreachable. The pole to the top is greasy. When I get to this make-believe top, there is nowhere else to go but the bottom. And the fall is often painful.

Those who are ambitious of climbing must be warned that the pole is greasy. The Roman Emperor Charlemagne unfortunately discovered this. Legend has it that he requested to be entombed sitting upright in his throne with his crown on his head, his scepter in his hand, his royal cape around his shoulders, and what an open book be placed on his lap. Two centuries later, when his tomb was examined, they found a Bible opened on his skeletal lap. One bony finger pointed to Matthew 16:26: “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul”. This mighty Roman Emperor’s life goal was to rule the world.

Pay attention to Jesus’ answer to Pilate’s question in John: 19:10 “Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it was given from above: (v.11).

On behalf of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the West Indies – St. Vincent and the Grenadines District, I wish you all a blessed Easter holiday.

April 2011