Do Pastors Wield Too Much Power?
Recently during our weekend services I realized how much power I wielded as a pastor. I’ve served in vocational ministry over 30 years, and I knew intuitively that my position brought with it power over people, but not until recently did I understand a unique power my position carried.
When I say ‘power’ I don’t mean destructive power seen in high profile mega-church pastor melt-downs or in the abuse cases in the Catholic church. Peter eloquently reminds us in the following verse not to misuse our position.
1Pet. 5.2 (NLT-SE) Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. 3 Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example.
Rather, I mean power to bless others. These simple interactions I’ve recorded below helped me realize this influence I carry.
- In one Saturday evening service as I chatted with a couple with two young daughters, out of the blue the mom said, “You want to hear my daughter quote the names of the presidents of the United States?” I replied, “Sure.” As I knelt down, the kindergartener quoted them. I replied with, “Wow, that’s super. Good job.” The following Sunday the grandmother beamed with pride as she recounted that brief encounter. Her kids had told her about it.
- That same Sunday as I talked with a single mom, she said, “My daughter made straight A’s this year. She’s one of the top five students in her school.” I looked at her daughter and said something like, “Way to go. Keep up the good work.” I could tell that my simple affirmation encouraged that mom, and the daughter as well.
- The same weekend during my improv class get-together on a Saturday, I complimented several in the group on how well they performed. Most of those in my class don’t go to church and they all know I’m a pastor (and they still like me). Yet, I could sense that my genuine compliments meant a great deal to each of them.
As I’ve done the proverbial “put two and two together” I now realize more than ever that our position gives pastors a power to bless others in a unique way. Although everybody has that same ability, I wonder if other people give greater weight to our blessings (or lack of) than they do others. If that’s true, perhaps we should bless others a lot more than we do.
What do you think?
- Do pastors wield this kind of beneficent power?
- Am I overstating this influence?
- Do pastors use it enough?
- Can and do pastors misuse it for their own ends?
I’d love to hear from you.
If “to bless” means to prosper and succeed (as it does in Hebrew), then you’ve succeeded. Way to go, Charles!
Do not stop blessing; however, beware of the pedestal on which pastors find themselves. If people feel your words are special because you’re the “pastor,” then there is a danger that they idolize your position. What makes your praise of your improv classmates credible, that they know you, or that they know you’re a pastor? What about people in your congregation? What is more relevant to the listener, what is said or who is saying it?
In dealing with the multitudes, John the Baptist said, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” In your ministry, how do you decrease?
I agree with John Ramsey but would also like to add that we ALL have more power to bless than we realize.
I agree with your findings that being in a position of authority gives your ‘blessings’ an extra weight in many people’s minds, but I think that all too often those of us not in a position of authority forget that peer praise is very important too!
People that are “looked up to”, I believe, wield a greater power when they withhold blessings or words of encouragement. It gives satan an opening for discouragement and division.