Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Wednesday October 19, 2005

The truth of the status change given to us by the Lord upon our salvation is powerful doctrine that God uses to keep us going when life and people seem to gang up on us. Over the years I have learned to cling to the promises of the Lord as to who I am in Jesus Christ. I come from less than an illustrious lineage, I was born naked. Due to this, I was also a sinner, yet the Lord loved me and gave Himself for me. As long as I hold this truth with its ramifications in the front of my mind, I can stay on top of the world, the flesh and the devil, in other words, knowing and focusing on the man Christ made and is making me is a mighty elixir for victory.

Our bulletin girl at the church, Madonna, not related to that other Madonna, had a piece in the bulletin this week that caught my attention. I don't know where she found this, but if it is original with her, I will put her in charge of column of these letters!

"Maybe you live or work with somebody who is emotionally abusive, always putting you down and criticizing you, telling you what a terrible person you are. Let that misinformation go in one ear and out the other. Constantly remind yourself that you are made in the image of Almighty God. Remind yourself that He has crowned you with glory and honor, that you are God's own masterpiece. Don't let other people play games with your mind, deceiving you into thinking that your value has diminished."

I assume this piece is directed toward someone who is a position of some authority and abuses this responsibility. To be in authority over another bears a burden that most do not recognize. Many men in my calling are more than willing to take the title, and the perks of the responsibility for a flock, but shirk the awesome responsibility for the development of the flock.

To go on a tirade about the men who attempt to 'Lord it over' their family, without taking full responsibility for the spiritual as well as the mental and physical development of the family would be redundant, for a healthy family under the leadership of the father is a biblical requisite for spiritual leadership in a larger group. We must get in line with this ancient teaching, which has fallen on hard times in these days of performers rather than prayers, of players rather than proclaimers of sacred truth.

Of course abuse of power is not limited to men, or to clergymen.

We in positions of power have an obligation to God to learn how to use it effectively and in the right spirit. To ask yourself a few questions can save grief in the family, in the workplace and certainly in the Church of The Lord Christ. Will this use of power help to develop the person upon whom it being exercised or am I just having a fit?

William Hazlitt said, "The love of liberty is the love of others; the love of power is the love of ourselves."

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2005 Use with credit.

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