A Healing Advent: Peace
In my work with those who have been harmed by spiritual abuse and church trauma, one overarching theme in their devastating stories is of the misuse of power. Clergy or church leaders use their power to manipulate, deceive, and control those they are called to shepherd. If you’ve experienced spiritual abuse, that is most likely a part of your experience, and for that I am so very sorry. Please know your pain is seen and heard. What often is most astounding to me in many of these stories, is that the one abusing power often doesn’t seem to believe there is anything wrong with the way in which they are leading. Truth be told, in many ways church trauma is caused not only by a misuse of power, but a misunderstanding of power. I do not say this to excuse clergy misconduct. Rather I say this for those of us who desire to bring healing to the church. If we want to see an end to church trauma and spiritual abuse, we must work to restore our human understanding of power. Thankfully, the season of advent helps us do just that.
If we want to see an end to church trauma and spiritual abuse, we must work to restore our human understanding of power.
The Christmas story is full of names for Jesus. We are reminded by the prophets who tell of his coming that he will be our “Prince of Peace.” Yet for those of us who have been harmed by those in power, this name may sound like a contradiction. Can leaders be conduits of peace? If so, how do they bring about this peace? Our world today seems to argue that peace comes through military defeat. Power is said to be demonstrated by control, strength, domination. Is this how our Prince of Peace utilizes his power? Does he bring peace through strong military action or through controlling, manipulative leadership? Or does this seemingly contradictory name for Jesus invite us to rethink power?
The lectionary text for the second week of advent is Isaiah 40:1-11, verses 10-11 provide us with the most beautiful picture of power as well as a powerful promise to all who have been wounded by those who were called to shepherd. Isaiah 40:10-11 reads, “Here is the Lord God coming with strength, with a triumphant arm, bringing his reward with him and his payment before him. Like a shepherd, God will tend the flock; he will gather the lambs in his arms and lift them onto his lap. He will gently guide the nursing ewes.” Verse 10, when held on its own seems to underscore our perceptions of power. It is strong, triumphant, it brings payment, or in some translations “recompense.” In other words, this seems to imply that the way in which God exercises power is militant and controlling. When read alone, verse 10 sounds violent. However, Isaiah does not leave verse 10 on its own, which means we cannot read it in isolation. Rather, verse 10 is followed immediately by a depiction of God as a tender shepherd. When read together, verse 10 and 11 tell us that when God’s strong and triumphant arm comes, it does not beat people into submission, it does not cause damage, rather, his strong arm pulls his sheep up onto his lap. His recompense, his reward, is that he will nurture his people in the way that nursing sheep are nurtured. By describing God’s power in such a way, Isaiah does not leave room for us to understand God’s power, and therefore the proper usage of power, to be one that demonstrates strength through manipulation and control, but rather through tender, self-giving care.
Advent, reminds us that the power of God looks more like a nursing mother pouring herself out for the nurturing of her child than a violent war leader seizing control.
Advent reminds us that the power of God looks more like atender shepherd than a domineering dictator.
Advent reminds us that the recompense of God is a gathering of people to his gentle embrace. It is the restoration of a family, not the destruction of a city.
This is the message of advent. This is the message of a small baby in a manger who’s life is threatened by a domineering king, but protected by the self-sacrifice of his poor parents. Advent is a season pointing to peace because it is a season that refuses to let our world define power. Rather it reminds us that the creator of the universe has defined power altogether differently.
For those who have been harmed by the church, advent is the promise that the power exercised in the name of Jesus is not the power exercised by Jesus. Advent promises that all who have been scattered by abusive shepherds will be gathered by the Shepherd. He will use his strong arm not to beat you down, but to pull you up. He will tenderly draw you into his embrace, and he will care for you as a mother cares for the infant on her chest. All will be restored, for he is our Prince of Peace.
The power exercised in the name of Jesus is not the power exercised by Jesus.
