We need to understand the social contexts of *why* we choose to have abusive leaders & why are they are so appealing if we are to create healthier cultures & systems of power. We need to understand this dynamic if we are to root out why our Christian cultures are often so blind.
Why are we addicted to toxic, abusive leaders in the church and in society? Why do we so readily put up with them?
I think ultimately we do so out of fear. We fear the social breakdown that we see all around us.
We cannot control the forces of politics, nature, religion that seem to steal away the good life we want so desperately so we turn to the "powerful."
We cannot control the forces of politics, nature, religion that seem to steal away the good life we want so desperately so we turn to the "powerful."
We elect leaders who we feel can "protect" us from what we fear and dread. We elect the "powerful" to hide us from the raw evil we have unleashed into the modern world.
We elect the people that act like us if *we* had power.
We elect the people that act like us if *we* had power.
We choose what seems solid and strong in a culture where everything is melting before us.
And so, we are more than willing to overlook the character flaws and godlessness of pastors, celebrities, and people in power who look like they are in the "right" so we can receive the benefits of their apparent strength.
We are willing to think the ends do justify the means because we have invested "our side" with messianic, salvific expectations of godlike proportions.
In reality, we have missed God and confused him with us and our side.
In reality, we have missed God and confused him with us and our side.
Another reason is the confusion of raw power and control for God.
Power is so often confused with the Sacred because it bypasses the hard work of vulnerability which can feel like intimacy but in reality it is only about control.
Power is so often confused with the Sacred because it bypasses the hard work of vulnerability which can feel like intimacy but in reality it is only about control.
Control and power-lust are a false substitutes for love which we turn to from the fear of rejection and not being loved for who we are.
So it makes sense why we confuse power for God and use power to “do things for God” when in reality we’re trying to force people to love us and fill a void in our own hearts.
And so, we choose the seemingly powerful among us to protect us out of fear and b/c we think they can force everything to "work out" as we want.
We choose the abusive & powerful to force the world to love us on our own terms without needing to be vulnerable and sacrificial.
We choose the abusive & powerful to force the world to love us on our own terms without needing to be vulnerable and sacrificial.
Without addressing these deep wounds and needs in our hearts and cultures, we will continue to fall for the power-trap and put such people in place. We will fall for them again and again.
I think that this is why pastors and leaders *must* find healing before going into ministry or positions of power:
https://twitter.com/word_water_wine/status/1296090254747865088
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