When Power Corrupts: What Christians Must Do Differently

Faith Facts

• Recent high-profile abuse scandals reveal a pattern of power misuse across institutions, including churches
• Christians are called to examine their own use of power and influence, no matter how small
• Scripture provides a clear model for servant leadership that heals rather than harms

In an age marked by scandal after scandal involving powerful figures abusing their positions, it’s tempting for believers to grow discouraged. From corporate boardrooms to political offices, and tragically even within church walls, stories of exploitation and harm have become all too common. But Patrick Regan argues that this cultural moment presents Christians with a crucial opportunity for self-examination and transformation.

The pattern is unmistakable: those entrusted with authority often use it to serve themselves rather than those in their care. This betrayal of trust damages not only individual victims but undermines faith in institutions themselves. For Christians, these revelations should prompt serious reflection about how we wield whatever influence God has given us.

“We should take the opportunity to examine ourselves, and ask how we can use whatever power and influence we have to heal, not hurt,” Regan emphasizes.

This isn’t just about high-profile leaders. Every Christian exercises some form of power or influence—whether in our families, workplaces, churches, or communities. The question isn’t whether we have power, but how we use it. Do we leverage our positions to build others up, or do we subtly manipulate situations for our own benefit?

The biblical model stands in stark contrast to worldly power structures. Jesus himself, though possessing all authority, chose the path of servant leadership. He washed his disciples’ feet, touched lepers, and ultimately laid down his life. This is the pattern Christians are called to follow—using whatever influence we have not for personal gain, but for the good of others and the glory of God.

In practical terms, this means accountability. It means creating structures that prevent abuse rather than enabling it. It means listening to those with less power and taking their concerns seriously. It means choosing transparency over secrecy, and service over status.

The healing our culture desperately needs won’t come from new laws alone, though proper governance matters. Real transformation comes when people of faith model a different way—when Christians demonstrate that power and abuse don’t have to go together. We can show a watching world that authority exercised in submission to Christ looks radically different from worldly power plays.

This is our opportunity. Rather than becoming cynical or disengaged, believers can lead the way in creating cultures of accountability, protection, and genuine care. We can be the ones who use whatever influence we have—large or small—to heal wounds rather than inflict them.

The path forward requires honesty about our own temptations and blind spots. It requires humility to accept correction and wisdom to build safeguards. Most importantly, it requires daily surrender to the One who showed us that true greatness is found in service, and that the greatest power is exercised in self-giving love.

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